Adelaide to Perth - fuel estimate

[2 rocks]

Hi folks
Serious question...

Can anyone give me a fair guesstimate of the fuel cost to drive a V8 County from Adelaide to Perth?

Looking at a vehicle there, V8 + LPG, but I'm unsure of a County's consumption or the availability of LPG across the Nullarbor...

Thanks for any input...
Cheers
Mike

[Davo]

Are you going to buy one over there? Personally, I'd just look at the distance and go by about 12mpg consumption, (whatever that is in metric). No doubt there will be headwinds at this time of year, and apparently these V8s have better consumption at around 90kmh.

[superquag]

My Black Hole ('95 Vogue SE) gets around 14.1 mpg, which is 20 litres per 100km. I'd be inclined to allow 22 litres per hundred.

My fading memory informs me that Perth Adelaide is 2,850 km, which is 29 lumps of 100k, which is 638 litres at 22 litres/100km

Or 580 litres at 20litres/100, saving 58 litres. - worthwhile using only 90 numbers on your speedo. :eek:

Worst case IMHO would be 700 litres, (24 litres per 100km) and at an average of $1.85 per litre.... no change out of $1,295

Using LPG as and when available at reasonable co$t would make a decent hole in the above.

Hope those figures can give you a ussful point of reference. :eek:

[Blknight.aus]

My Black Hole ('95 Vogue SE) gets around 14.1 mpg, which is 20 litres per 100km. I'd be inclined to allow 22 litres per hundred.

My fading memory informs me that Perth Adelaide is 2,850 km, which is 29 lumps of 100k, which is 638 litres at 22 litres/100km

Or 580 litres at 20litres/100, saving 58 litres. - worthwhile using only 90 numbers on your speedo. :eek:

Worst case IMHO would be 700 litres, (24 litres per 100km) and at an average of $1.85 per litre.... no change out of $1,295

Using LPG as and when available at reasonable co$t would make a decent hole in the above.

Hope those figures can give you a ussful point of reference. :eek:

I'll back those numbers (that distance covers far side of ADE to far side of PER)

if you have racks/trailer and a full load if the head winds get bad pull over and wait them out, 3rd gear at high RPM's will push the fuel consumption past 30l/100.

LPG is available at every listed servo but not at all van stops that have fuel.

[BMKal]

If you can carry extra fuel easily, is always worth it on that trip. The prices can be pretty horrendous between Norseman and Ceduna. I've usually got enough range not to have to buy fuel in that stretch - or at worst, top up at Eucla. Prices are generally a bit lower at Eucla / Border Village because there's at least a little bit of competition there. At the other places, they can (and do) charge what they like.

At Norseman, if you drive in towards the town centre / Esperance rather than turn left onto the Eyre Hwy - the Ampol on the right just down the road is usually a bit cheaper than the BP roadhouse on the Eyre Hwy corner. ;)

[Owen]

Take your time and your speed down, headwind will smash your economy. I took my old G60 Nissan on Gas across and made every fuel stop on LPG.

I would get about 300KM per tank...76L of LPG. Cant give you a coast, have not been over for a long time.

[superquag]

Agree with BMKAL, second and later trips I took huge amounts of fuel, many disposable plastic containers from work, and a jerry. Was self-sufficient through the horror-stretch. (Nundroo etc )

Going east I would skip breakfast and get going 4 AM and drive till sunup for the first fill-up/rest. Night air gives better economy, but none of my cars (Crown, Holden v8, Valiant, Passat) gave good mpg over 90 km/h

Can give you $ figures.... First Trip in my Crown (2.3 litre six) was.... a few cents under $49 each way...:p:p:p - But the road was'nt sealed east of the border...and I had lots of hair and no spare tyre.:eek:

[BMKal]

Agree with BMKAL, second and later trips I took huge amounts of fuel, many disposable plastic containers from work, and a jerry. Was self-sufficient through the horror-stretch. (Nundroo etc )

Going east I would skip breakfast and get going 4 AM and drive till sunup for the first fill-up/rest. Night air gives better economy, but none of my cars (Crown, Holden v8, Valiant, Passat) gave good mpg over 90 km/h

Can give you $ figures.... First Trip in my Crown (2.3 litre six) was.... a few cents under $49 each way...:p:p:p - But the road was'nt sealed east of the border...and I had lots of hair and no spare tyre.:eek:

:Rolling::Rolling::Rolling:

My first trip over here when we moved across was also in a '69 Crown with a 2.3 litre 6 - and probably gave about the same fuel economy. Problem with mine (I bought it for $50 in Adelaide) was that it used nearly as much oil as it did fuel - I had containers that I filled up with used sump oil wherever I could get it.

I had hair in those days too ............. ;)

[2 rocks]

Hi and thanks to all for your advice, info and stories - with or without hair :wasntme:

I think from the above my most sensible option at this stage is to look at transporting, given I don't even know yet if I can get the time away from work.

If I had plenty of time and plenty of cash for fuel it would be a great way to bring it "home". But for now I think I'd better phone around for some quotes, I've had one for $1019 but I'm aiming to beat that... :p

Cheers and thanks again for the info and advice!
Mike

[87County]

Hi and thanks to all for your advice, info and stories - with or without hair :wasntme:

I think from the above my most sensible option at this stage is to look at transporting, given I don't even know yet if I can get the time away from work.

If I had plenty of time and plenty of cash for fuel it would be a great way to bring it "home". But for now I think I'd better phone around for some quotes, I've had one for $1019 but I'm aiming to beat that... :p

Cheers and thanks again for the info and advice!
Mike


Even though it would be cheaper to put it on a truck, if you have the time then it is a trip worth doing.

We did it in the heat in Feb and fuel consumption (diesel), being loaded up + a trailer, was 60%-70% higher than usual.

[gavinwibrow]

Hi and thanks to all for your advice, info and stories - with or without hair :wasntme:

I think from the above my most sensible option at this stage is to look at transporting, given I don't even know yet if I can get the time away from work.

If I had plenty of time and plenty of cash for fuel it would be a great way to bring it "home". But for now I think I'd better phone around for some quotes, I've had one for $1019 but I'm aiming to beat that... :p

Cheers and thanks again for the info and advice!
Mike
Mike, if you can get me to Adelaide, I'll drive it back for you for the cost of fuel, providing I can put 5 tyres/rims in the back which I have to pick up from Adelaide. Its been 18 months since I drove across and I'm getting withdrawal symtoms. Should only take 2 days to get back.

[2 rocks]

Mike, if you can get me to Adelaide, I'll drive it back for you for the cost of fuel, providing I can put 5 tyres/rims in the back which I have to pick up from Adelaide. Its been 18 months since I drove across and I'm getting withdrawal symtoms. Should only take 2 days to get back.

Hi Gavin, thanks mate, look I'd have no problem with that - but it's the fuel cost that's got me concerned - looking at the calculations above it would be more than the transporter :p

I'm still in the process of getting quotes and making offers on the car - so this still may not come off - however, if it does, what sort of cost have you been quoted to move the rims/tyres? If I was a bit more flush, I'd say chuck them in the back and I'll bring them over for you anyhow...PM me if that's worth pursuing ;)
Cheers
Mike

[gavinwibrow]

Hi Gavin, thanks mate, look I'd have no problem with that - but it's the fuel cost that's got me concerned - looking at the calculations above it would be more than the transporter :p

I'm still in the process of getting quotes and making offers on the car - so this still may not come off - however, if it does, what sort of cost have you been quoted to move the rims/tyres? If I was a bit more flush, I'd say chuck them in the back and I'll bring them over for you anyhow...PM me if that's worth pursuing ;)
Cheers
Mike
Best tyre quote so far is about $232 from memory for delivery in about 2 weeks. I've been waiting 6 months to pick them up so a little longer is no problem. If you do go ahead and drive back, I'd be happy to contribute to the fuel bill if you bring them back. I think most transporters these days won't let you put any gear in the vehicles.

[2 rocks]

I think most transporters these days won't let you put any gear in the vehicles.

Ahhh, I'll have to check that out...

The only one I've spoken to so far was talking 5 to 7 days...I'll let you know how things go.
Cheers
Mike

[ramblingboy42]

Don't be too unfair to the servos in the bush.....they don't charge what they like.....they charge what they have to. Last year at William Ck I filled up and while I was filling, the publican wandered out and said "enjoy the fuel at that price because the fuel truck is due in ten or 15 mins and I will be charged an extra 11c/litre freight" I paid $1.93. I finished just as the tanker pulled in and price went up to $2.04 on the spot. Not his fault, he has to adjust his price or shut down his service.

[2 rocks]

There's no need for defence. I don't blame them at all!!!!
Just saying that factor precludes me from doing what I would have liked to do :). If I had pots of cash it wouldn't be an issue, but I don't - therefore it is :(:(

[Michael2]

When I drove Melbourne to Perth in a 3.5V8 EFI 5 Speed Range Rover Classic, I used 14 litres (Petrol) per 100km across the Nullabour and into WA, and I had to watch my speed as it kept creeping up to 140kph. I tried to keep it at 110kph.

The same car used about 25 litres per 100km around town on Petrol. Economy only got worse with LPG, with consumption approaching 30 litres per 100km around town.

The V8 seemed to like the long run. Aerodynamics on a County aren't as good as the RRC, but you might be surprised, especially if you keep your speed around 90kph.

If you do drive, the cheapest fuel has always been Penong, about 100km W of Ceduna. And from memory the WA border servo is a bit cheaper than the Eucla one (at the Caravan Park).

I drove there and back with the same RRC on LPG a year later, but I was too distracted by LPG starting issues to remember the economy, though it was no where near as good as the 14/100 I got on straight petrol.

Last year the 300Tdi Defender copped a headwind on the Nullabour and returned a poor 11.7/100. Never will I go back to Petrol/LPG.

A couple of years ago I drove to Darwin with a mate who drove a Tdi D1 and kept the speed at 90-95. I drove a Tdi 110 at 105-110. He got 7.5/100 and I got 11/100.

If you do decide to drive, keep your tyre pressures up (50psi), keep your speed under 100, and try to get as much driving done in the coolest part of the day.