Simpson Desert crossing (fuel usage)

[bblaze]

I have done some rough calculations on fuel usage for a desert crossing. Would like some real time usage figures from people that have done the trip with a 300tdi. Looking at doing the crossing late July this year.
Looking foward to some useful input.
cheers
blaze

[djam1]

Have a look at this

Simpson Desert @ ExplorOz (http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/Deserts/Simpson_Desert.aspx)

Full of people who have not much idea but some basics there

Have a look at the trekfuel link

[weeds]

5 down from the top
Simpson Desert Trek Fuel Data @ ExplorOz (http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/TrekFuel.asp?TrekID=2)

and my rough trip report..
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/sa-reports/23898-simpson-desert.html

[bblaze]

Thanks for the link. have checked it out.
I have been thinking a full tank at Mt Dare + 40 litres in jerry should be plenty. I figure that will be around 560km?, that of cours would depend on the route taken.
cheers
blaze

[muz22z]

I crossed the Simpson East to West in my RRC which is fitted with a 300tdi/auto. I filled the standard tank in Birdsville and took 4 jerry cans with me. Went on the French Line and crossed over to Dalhousie, Mt Dare Station, Finke, Chambers Pillar and onto Alice Springs. I had put all the fuel from the jerry cans in by the time I arrived in Alice but only had to put 20 litres in when I filled up.
Cheers

[Michael2]

We did it a couple of years ago, travelling East West. The story is in the Trips section of this site.

Fuel usage for a 200Tdi Defender carrying over 1000kg of weight, and ascending the dunes from the steep side, averaged at 13 litres per 100km from Mungerannie to Alice Springs (1000km). A 2.25 Petrol SIII used 280 litres for the same journey!

I suspect a 300Tdi would use about the same, and probably less if you're travelling West - East and carrying less weight.

I remember reading some magazine article about the Tdi Disco a few years ago that said it was the only 4WD available (then) that would cross the Simpson on a standard tank of fuel.

[slug_burner]

300 tdi defender, filled up at Mt Dare made it to Birdsville without having to top up. Went straight through without diversions other than a play on Big Red.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Birdsville to Mt Dare,,
3.5V8 = 160lt
200Tdi = 60lt

[Redback]

Thanks for the link. have checked it out.
I have been thinking a full tank at Mt Dare + 40 litres in jerry should be plenty. I figure that will be around 560km?, that of cours would depend on the route taken.
cheers
blaze

blaze, on my Simpson crossing I towed a camper trailer and use 80lts to Dalhousie, 17l/100k, averaged 17kph for the crossing to Purnie Bore.

Trip Report
Birdsville & the Simpson (http://www.d2au.com/index.php/topic,248.0.html)

Baz.

[Tusker]

Couple of times I've done East - West, via Rig Road etc its been about 90 litres. 200tdi then TD5.

Regards
Max P

[Scallops]

Mt Dare to Birdsville via French Line - Puma Defender - 66 litres.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

and thats the easy way!
you leadfoot!:D:D

[Bushie]

Some figures here as well (at the end) 2008 trip (2 crossings)

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/multi-state-reports/61384-edjits-tour-madigan-line-2008-a.html#post794098


When I did a straight run across the French Line in 2000 we used around 95 litres (Oodnadatta - Birdsville)
In 1989 with the RRC via Rig, French, Knolls track, French it was more like 200 litres (can't lay my hands on the figures atm) - I do know it cost more for petrol in 1989 than diesel in 2000.

Martyn

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Leeds & I did it East West last November in his 300Tdi. Drop him a pm and Im sure he'll tell you exactly how much fuel was used.

He has a standard 110 tank with an additional 45L wing tank. Filled it up in Birdsville and didnt need the spare Jerry before the Fuel stop in Mt Dare.

From filling up at Mt Dare, through Finke to Alice is no problem re fuel.

Regards,
Jon

[Graeme]

Mt Dare to Birdsville via Madigan's (excl camps 3,4,5,24) 110L 757km by the odometer in a TD5 manual D2.

[McDisco]

I did Mt Dare to Birdsville via French line, Rig road and WAA line on one tank. Td5 with std size tank. I reckon with a 200tdi you should be able to get across! Got into Birdsville and drove around town for another 2 days before the light came on.

If your in a manual, just try to stay in the highest gear possible without stressing the geears and the engine too much and just ease over the dunes.

Angus

[numpty]

Finke to Birdsville via Madigan Line and Geosurveys Hill......165 litres....Defender Td5. Around 940 k's from memory.

[bblaze]

Thanks to all.
There is nothing better than real life experiences from people who have done it
cheers
blaze

[scarry]

Td5 Disco auto

Birdsville...warburton track...Rig rd...Knolls track,french line to Mt Dare...95 litres

Mt Dare,French line,QAA LIne to Birdsville,including a couple of goes at Big Red...around 55to 60 litres.


Enjoy the trip

[cewilson]

I used 93 litres in 2005 - Birdsville to Mt Dare in a 200tDi 'fender. The reason for using more than the figures quoted above is that we were flooded in during that trip and had to do a number of detours.

What I'm trying to say is 'over' plan what you're going to use 'just in case'. But I would doubt if you would have any problems with a couple of jerries.

Cheers
Chris

[wally]

My Defender 110 300Tdi had two 80L tanks. I left Mt. Dare with both full and was pretty impressed that I arrived in Birdsville still running on the first tank. But it was good peace of mind to know that it was there in case I needed it.

[leeds]

If memory serves me right our fuel consumption was 17mpg for that section of the Oz 2008 trip. This equates to about 16 litres/100km.

When we did that trip it was during/just after a sand storm so the going was extremely soft and slow.

HTH

Regards

Brendan

[Redback]

I used 93 litres in 2005 - Birdsville to Mt Dare in a 200tDi 'fender. The reason for using more than the figures quoted above is that we were flooded in during that trip and had to do a number of detours.

What I'm trying to say is 'over' plan what you're going to use 'just in case'. But I would doubt if you would have any problems with a couple of jerries.

Cheers
Chris

Yep same year, same flood, same way but with a camper trailer:eek:

This is us at Spring Creek Delta bypass, as it was closed because of the flood, 2 hour detour to Dalhousie, very pretty though, which made up for the extra time to get there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/bazzar/DSC06306.jpg

Baz.

[Bushie]

Finke to Birdsville via Madigan Line and Geosurveys Hill......165 litres....Defender Td5. Around 940 k's from memory.

And tagging along in a 300Tdi :- 167 litres @ 920km, so really no difference especially given the vagaries of Defender speedo's/odo's.


Martyn

[garryc]

Birdsville to Mt Dare,,
3.5V8 = 160lt
200Tdi = 60lt
Our club RR of SA did the Simpson in Nov 2006 via Rig Rd. Had strong winds once into the desert, cooled it down but still have sand in my :eek: From Oodnadatta to Birdsville I got 14.1/100 in D3 TdV6, Td5 got 14.2/100, RRsport got 14.0/100 and didn't ask 300Tdi. On recent Cape trip met two guys with Nissan 4.8 motor, high lift, BIG wheels. Said he got 700km out of 210ltr tank :o :eek:

[Westie]

We calculate 7km/l or about 14l per 100km for the Simpson (just using our almost-worst-ever fuel consumption) - and have always had comfortable amounts left at the end of the trip.

Although we do add 25% for contingencies which has come in useful, if only to help out others.

Cheers,

Westie

[Discomark]

When we did it in 2003 we filled up the 90litre tank + 1 x 20lt jerry. We got to Mt Dare where it was a whopping $1.35 a litre for diesel so I thought i'd wait a while :o
Anyway barely made it to Maryvale and much to the delight of my two mates in Pajero's it was $1.38 :(
I reckon we crossed the Simpson on less than one Tank and the rest was used getting to Maryvale. Thats a Disco 300TDI with two adults, rooftop tent and a ton of gear. My mates driving Petrol Pajero's with 4 x 20lt jerrys each used most of the fuel by Mt Dare.
Cheers
Mark

[Westie]

And tagging along in a 300Tdi :- 167 litres @ 920km, so really no difference especially given the vagaries of Defender speedo's/odo's.


Martyn
At least, in our case anyway, the odo is reliably inaccurate - was 10% out, now with new tyres it's 5% out..

[Pam W]

I had a read of this thread before our Simpson crossing last week. Now I can do my own report!

Our Defender is a 90 - Td5 auto, fairly heavily laden with our roof tent, camping gear, tools, spares, water etc, plus a full expedition roll cage. Weight all up is probably just less than 3t.

Filled up in Birdsville today. For the Mt Dare to Birdsville via French/QAA we used 75 litres .... So that is 19.73mpg or 14.32 lt/100k.

As a comparison our best mpg for the 12 weeks travelling has been 30mpg (steady constant speeds on the Nullabor!) and average about 26.7mpg on mixed sealed highway/unsealed main roads.

Oh yes, and made it up Big Red! Just after, on the way into Birdsville we passed a group of Land Rovers heading west into the Desert, inc a G4 110, plus several Disco 3/4 etc. From what a bloke told us in the bakery later, having watched them all try BR - only the Defender made it! Would be interested to know if anyone one on here was part of the group??
(We had a brief chat with them on the UHF as they went by as they commented on our UK rego!) :-)

[alien]

...

Oh yes, and made it up Big Red! Just after, on the way into Birdsville we passed a group of Land Rovers heading west into the Desert, inc a G4 110, plus several Disco 3/4 etc. From what a bloke told us in the bakery later, having watched them all try BR - only the Defender made it! Would be interested to know if anyone one on here was part of the group??
(We had a brief chat with them on the UHF as they went by as they commented on our UK rego!) :-)
Some nice folk in that group, some are members here.
They are from the LRRegSA taking some folk from LRO magazine for a little 6 week drive.

[2stroke]

88L in '09 Mt Dare to Birdsville via French and QAA lines. This includes countless backtracks to tow 2 Hiluxes and a bit of a muck around on Rig Red. '95 300Tdi 130.

[DiscoMick]

So, these fuel consumption figures have me thinking about the group we are joining to go Alice-Mt Dare-Birdsville in September in our 95 Disco 300Tdi auto.
Is it worth putting in an extra fuel tank or should I just sling on a couple of 20 litre drums?
Being a tightwad, I'm inclined to just go for the drums, but I suppose the 45 litre gravity-fed second tank would be a good thing to have long-term, as we intend to keep the Disco indefinitely and do more touring than at present.
I haven't priced the tank install recently, but I'm assuming around $500.
The trip organisers told us to assume our fuel consumption would rise about 50% in The Simpson. With the current 89 litre tank, would I need extra fuel - if so, how much?
Haven't been out there before, so I'm inclined to overprepare just to be safe.
So, what do you think - necessary or just a nice extra to have?

[stallie]

This is us at Spring Creek Delta bypass, as it was closed because of the flood, 2 hour detour to Dalhousie.

Closed? This is Spring Creek Delta 2 months ago. The bypass road is the normal road now I believe.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/1507170_10151978341841537_5491555697131485256_n.jp g

10 mins 25 seconds of continuous knee deep water. Sitting in low range third, about 3000rpm tyres scratching for grip….

We got to Mt Dare just before this year's floods just before Easter. We were stuck in flash floods at Mt Dare for two days then headed off. Full 95lt tank out of Mt Dare and three 20 lt jerries. Used 2 jerries and put 75lt in in Birdsville = 115lt. Still had 1/4 tank left and another jerry at the end.

But this is high usage as Mt Dare to Purnie Bore took 2 FULL days. I'd used over 1/3 of a tank by Purnie Bore. The odometer read 16kms after 10kms out from Mt Dare due wheelspin… We were also fully laden with three kids and 130 lt of water.
Once onto the sand though, it was in perfect condition through. Only a dozen cars before us for the season apparently.

Disco Mick, multiply your price by at least 4…..

Fuel Prices just before Easter - Birdsville $1.75, Mt Dare $2.40, Oodnadatta $2.20.

[PAT303]

My Tdi did it on a tank and one Jerry can,I had four jerry cans in the back for safety. Pat