Fuel Consumption and prices

[Bundalene]

Info for people travelling north over the winter period

We have recently returned from a holiday - basic route Sydney, Rockhampton, Cardwell, Mt Isa, Mataranka, Gapuwiyak (200kms west of Gove), and return via Mataranka, Mt Isa, Augathella, Mitchell, Moree, Willow Tree (on the New England Hwy) Singleton and home down the Putty Road

We drive a TD5 Defender and towed a boat one way to Gapuwiyak and left it there till our next trip in August. Total fuel capacity 180 litres (Main tank plus 70l+, drivers side auxilliary 65l and passengers side auxilliary 45l )

The cheapest fuel was at Cardwell at $1.05 and the Barkley was around $1.60 per litre. The most expensive was remote community of Gapuwiyak at $2.15 per litre.

The Excel spreadsheet below has the info.

Erich

[BigJon]

Next week I will be flying to Alice Springs for work.

From there I will be driving to Darwin with a side trip to Corroboree (on the road to Jabiru).

I will be interested in fuel prices, but only slightly. Got to love the company credit card :D.

[Xtreme]

That "130 km/hr + headwind" bit understandably knocked the consumption around a bit but to me the rest also seems a tad high.
Although, if you were doing 130km/hr with a headwind what speed were you doing when you weren't running into the headwind? At a guess, I'd say that you must punch the Defender along pretty well and or you've got a big roof rack.

[JDNSW]

For those who may not be living in Qld (I'm sure they know about it) Qld is scrapping their 8c/l fuel subsidy next month, which will add this much to prices, quite apart from any other changes.

John

[Bundalene]

We do not have a roof rack but were into a headwind from Townsville to Threeways across the Barkley. We were towing about 800kgs

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6228/09holsmaydisc1232.jpg (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=09holsmaydisc1232.jpg)

Erich

[dmdigital]

I'll keep a record when we drive out at the end of the month. Will be interesting to compare prices.

[roverrescue]

Sorry to clutter a good post but that wouldn't be a 435 hornet hiding under the covers... Im building a new trailer for a mate and would love some specific "hornet" ideas.

S

[Bundalene]

Sorry to clutter a good post but that wouldn't be a 435 hornet hiding under the covers... Im building a new trailer for a mate and would love some specific "hornet" ideas.

S

Yes, it is a Hornet. I made the trailer several years ago, and will have to get the old memory clicked in to recall all the details etc. Give me a day or two and I'll post the info. under Projects. Or if you want to have a chat, send me a PM with your phone number & I'll give you a call:)

Cheers, Erich

[Huwmungus]

Hi

While we're on the subject. I'm back from a trip to the red centre and my figures are attached - a lot worse but in a 130 dual cab (300tdi) with a canvas canopy and towing a camper trailer. Couldn't even get near the 130 speed limit - could only just do the 110 in SA!! Only problem we had was a siezed alternator at Kings Canyon. Had to wait two days to get a new one on the bus. We travelled with a '07 3L patrol Tray back and a '97 V6 Jackeroo. All three vehicles had similar consumption figures - Nissan slightly better, Jackeroo slightly worse.

We had headwind from Port Augusta to the Border and at times could only do 85 km/h.

Cheers Huw

97 Defender 130 D/Cab
03 Falcon XR6
(ex Disco 95 300tdi 3 door)

[ellard]

While we're on the subject. I'm back from a trip to the red centre and my figures are attached - a lot worse but in a 130 dual cab (300tdi) with a canvas canopy and towing a camper trailer. Couldn't even get near the 130 speed limit - could only just do the 110 in SA!!

Hi there

Are you sure theres not something wrong with your 130 - I live is SA (not far out of Pt Augusta) and let me assure you my 130 will do the speed limit all day every day.

Or you could be right, with the canopy etc - could cause a huge drag.

I found when towing the car trailer, my 130 will cruise at 100.......

But soulds like a great trip

Wayne

[Avrio]

My crazy moustacheod mechanic Andrew fitted a " high performance coil' and a pod filter to my 94 disco- sounds great and i have worked out i save $20 a week in fuel.
Also, the manual is quite correct driving at 90 kmph instead of 100 saves you a ton of fuel ...if you can stand the abuse from people passing you !

[Narangga]

If you'd driven 200km east Erich the price would have been $1.61

Before your August return the rivers will drop but I'm not guessing on the fuel price!

[Bundalene]

If you'd driven 200km east Erich the price would have been $1.61

Before your August return the rivers will drop but I'm not guessing on the fuel price!


Hi Dale,
Yes, I saw the price in Nhulunbuy a couple of weeks ago. Erich didn't make it into town but I was there for a couple of days with Sharon. She and a few others were attending a conference in Gove & there was a spare seat on the
charter so I managed to get a freebie flight. We flew over to Elcho Island and then to Gove. It was beautiful, the rivers full and still lots of water over the floodplains. Never flown so low over that area before. It was very special.

BTW Sharon has your spare wheel nut - which Erich forgot to send along with the wheel - she & Alfred will be driving into Gove later this week, I'll ask her to bring it along if that's OK with you?

Might catch up in August as we'll be in Gove around Garma time again.

The track wasn't too bad - we thought it would be much worse after the late rain....and I have no doubt at all the price of fuel will be more!

All the best,
Sheila

[JamesH]

Here are my fuel records since September 2006.

Its a Tdi, no roof rack, I don't tow and I cruise at 100kmh.

The July figures are done up traveling to and from the Kimberly from perth.

Check out the July figures in 2008! That was traveling east from Top Springs NT to Broome. With the front tank sometimes it doesn't fill so well and you can get a single figure that looks great only to be evened out when you fill next time and get worse figures. This series of figures was achieved over three fills. Very pleased.

[Narangga]

BTW Sharon has your spare wheel nut - which Erich forgot to send along with the wheel - she & Alfred will be driving into Gove later this week, I'll ask her to bring it along if that's OK with you?



I actually got it put on the MAF flight on the Wed arvo that you came in to Gove so I have it here already!

See you in Aug

[Bundalene]

I actually got it put on the MAF flight on the Wed arvo that you came in to Gove so I have it here already!

See you in Aug

I think you got the wheel & tyre via MAF...but Erich forgot to attach the Wheel Nut to it. Alfred has been minding it for you...:D

Sharon has your phone number and will give you a call when they get into town.

Sheila

[Narangga]

Thanks

[Huwmungus]

Hi there

Are you sure theres not something wrong with your 130 - I live is SA (not far out of Pt Augusta) and let me assure you my 130 will do the speed limit all day every day.

Or you could be right, with the canopy etc - could cause a huge drag.

I found when towing the car trailer, my 130 will cruise at 100.......

But soulds like a great trip

Wayne

It was a great trip, I Think the only thing wrong with my 130 is 275000 km!! I was a little concerned myself but the vehicle is well maintained. It did seem to go a bit better with a new alternator (the old one siezed) but that may have been a mind over matter thing. And it went better after I "blew the cobwebs out" on a downhill run near Peterborough and cracked 130km/h. After getting home and driving round here with no trailer and unloaded it can get 120 to 130 on the flat but is still allergic to hills a bit and once loaded (Load of Firewood on Ute and Trailer (1/2 - 3/4 Ton on each)slows up again.
After owning a Disco (didn't seem to make as much difference loaded)the Defender did seem a bit slow on this trip but from comments on the forum it seems to be normal to be slower?

It was handy having cruise control for the trip though - foot flat to the floor!!

I was impressed with Erichs TD5 figures though - didn't think it would be that much better than a 300tdi...

Thanks
Huw

[isuzurover]

Yes, it is a Hornet. I made the trailer several years ago, and will have to get the old memory clicked in to recall all the details etc. Give me a day or two and I'll post the info. under Projects. Or if you want to have a chat, send me a PM with your phone number & I'll give you a call:)

Cheers, Erich

That trailer is exactly what I want to build. It would be great if you could post some pictures or a buildup thread.

[Bundalene]

G'day Ben,

I posted a few pics and some information the other day on the Trailers, Vans & Campers site under "Independent Suspensions".

Have a look at that to see if it helps you with ideas etc. If you need more information, let me know .... or send me a PM and I'll give you our number if you want a chat.

Cheers,
Erich

[dullbird]

welcome back erich & Shelia....:)

when we drove up north we also hit a lot of very strong head winds, doing 130 lso we saw really horrific fuel usage on our scanguage....at times up to 18/19 how ever we did have a roof rack and roof top tent on so that would of made a hugh differenece but the head winds were bloody strong.

[Bundalene]

Thanks Lou,

We are going back to there in about 6 weeks. I bet we get headwinds again but hopefully not both ways across the Barkly.

Erich.

[wynnefraser]

After initially being a bit worried about high fuel consumption, worked out the usage for 3x single way trips between Hamilton & Ballarat (about 200km) and a little around Ballarat. Total 620km worked out at 9.8L to the 100km, which I am quite happy with. Vehicle is '99 TD5 130.

As long as it keeps it up.