Discovery 4 Fuel filter

[mowog]

In May this year I am doing a trip across the Savannah Way. My concern is I may come across some bad fuel.

How good is the Discovery 4 fuel filter system? Will it protect the injection system from a load of bad fuel?

Can a filter be changed on the road with standard tools?

[ADMIRAL]

Hi Mowog,

Others will undoubtedly jump in here. I would think the filter will stop a lot of contamination,( but once contaminated it will need to be changed ) but access to it is difficult when on the road. From memory, it is located under a cover around the middle of the vehicle a little to the right. On a hoist once the covers are off, it's a snap. On your back in the middle of nowhere....good luck. I would be looking at primary prevention. You can source good funnels with built in filters. Some of these filters will stop just about anything, including water. I would be starting some research at this level first. ........and have a look at the Tanami pumps. I have seen their advert on this site.

[jonesfam]

Mowog
Been living on & driving backwards & forwards across the Savannah Way for years.
Regarding Diesel, I have only ever heard about 1 person complaining of bad fuel. Looking at the state of that car I tend to think the filter wasn't to clean before their trip.
I have never had bad fuel that I can remember, the cars where I could drain water from the filters I did every 3 months, never got much out.
I do make sure that there is no or limited dust around the fuel filler & that the spout doesn't have crud hanging off it.
I am probably tempting fate but in 14 years out here I have never got bad fuel.
ULP wise I have not heard of any problems, only Opal is available in some places, like Doomadgee, which some people complain about. I have used it in my mowers & in bike for years without any dramas. So it would be alright for a while anyway.
Bring lots of money, fuel, groceries & stuff ain't cheap around here.
Jonesfam

[mowog]

Have you done the Normanton to Daley Waters via Hells Gate section?

[jonesfam]

Haven't been as far as Daley for a while, dry season 09 I think. But have been up to the Calvert R. just before this wet got going.
Normanton to B/Town has a lot of seal now as does B/Town to Hell's Gate, after the boarder it was a bit rough a month or 2 ago.
When do you intend coming through? We have just had a heap of rain & I think it will be June before you could get to Borroloola or Roper with a big van.
The Calvert stayed up till late August last year, though the rain was in April which is very late.
I am off work at the moment but when I get back & talk to the truckies & locals a bit more will give you an update. A lot of the locals have relies up that way so they will know when you can get through, mind they take risks that I wouldn't, in Yota's & Nissan's of all things.
Jonesfam

[mowog]

We are heading of May 21.

I was going to do a road check before we take on that section. The van will be our big limitation. It won't go through water as deep as the D4 can.

I really want to do that section but common sense will be in play.