WA Our 2011 Bug-In road trip - Adeaide to Perth

[WEDEL.1]

Julia, Millie (the black Kelpie) and I set off on the 1st April on our road trip to the 2011 Bug-In in our Camper Trailer.

Tow vehicle is a 2008 Golf Edition, 1.9 TDI with Oettinger reflash and a 6 speed DSG. Wheels are 16" vVW Namib wheels wrapped in Pirelli P7 tyres. The white carbra is fitted and for the first time mirror bras fitted.

All set to go. I had refueled the Golf previously and added 300 mls of 2 stroke oil (Jaso FC). Our first destination was our on-site caravan at Pt Victoria. We will spend 2 nights here and leave for Elliston early Sunday morning.



We stopped at the Yorke Peninsula turn off for a very late luch, a cornish pasty bought at Port Wakefield. The Hummocks are in the background.




On arrival at Pt Victoria the MFD was not showing good numbers. Fuel consumption was higher than I anticipated, but we did have strong cross winds.




Klaus parked in front of our caravan.




You will note a detour via Minlaton for last minute supplies, and for a 4 litre container of Castrol 2 stroke oil. At $33 it was $7 cheaper than in Adelaide



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Maris

[MattyT]

Forgive my ignorance, but why are you putting 2 stroke oil into a diesel engine??

[WEDEL.1]

Forgive my ignorance, but why are you putting 2 stroke oil into a diesel engine??

Oooooooo, you've asked the 6 Million Dollar question there.

Best you have a read of the first few pages of this Freel2.com - View topic - 2-stroke oil and diesel

I don't want to start another 2 stroke war

Maris

[Water Boy]

Good work Maris!

[Preen59]

Oooooooo, you've asked the 6 Million Dollar question there.

Best you have a read of the first few pages of this Freel2.com - View topic - 2-stroke oil and diesel

I don't want to start another 2 stroke war

Maris

I totally recommend it. Definitely made a difference in the Caddy, although I keep forgetting to use it.

Good stuff, dude. Tim and I were going to do it in his Mk1 but it ain't gonna happen this year. Well done!

[kaanage]

I totally recommend it. Definitely made a difference in the Caddy, although I keep forgetting to use it.

I saw you mention that it seemed to slightly improve your mileage early in the local 2-stroke/diesel thread but you didn't comment at all in its recent resurrection. Maris and I were led to believe that no one here supported the notion.

BTW I also saw you mention Castrol R30 at one stage but I seriously would not recommend a castor based oil for this purpose as it doesn't really mix with mineral oil (of which diesel is a very light one) or petrol but rather it emulsifies if you mix it thoroughly enough which is ok for immediate use (like racing) but not great if the fuel sits for a while as it will separate.

Sorry for the thead hijack Maris.

I wouldn't think that the fuel consumption is that bad considering the size and poor aerodynamics of your trailer. Were you getting better before you contaminated your fuel?

Is that Millie in the foreground of one of the pics?

[WEDEL.1]

I saw you mention that it seemed to slightly improve your mileage early in the local 2-stroke/diesel thread but you didn't comment at all in its recent resurrection. Maris and I were led to believe that no one here supported the notion.

BTW I also saw you mention Castrol R30 at one stage but I seriously would not recommend a castor based oil for this purpose as it doesn't really mix with mineral oil (of which diesel is a very light one) or petrol but rather it emulsifies if you mix it thoroughly enough which is ok for immediate use (like racing) but not great if the fuel sits for a while as it will separate.

Sorry for the thead hijack Maris.

I wouldn't think that the fuel consumption is that bad considering the size and poor aerodynamics of your trailer. Were you getting better before you contaminated your fuel?

Is that Millie in the foreground of one of the pics?

Yes, we got 6.2 last year, but that was for a long weekend......now were packed for 4 weeks, and I mean packed.

Yes Greg, that is Millie.

Thanks James & Preeny...

Maris

[WEDEL.1]

Port Victoria is an old grain port. Grain was shipped to Europe by windjammers.

The "Pamir" and the "Passat" were the last Windjammers to call at Port Victoria for grain. The "Pamir" left on the 28th of May 1949 and the "Passat" departed four days later. Those who watches the two ships leave, witnessed the end of an era.

The jetty is still standing.



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[Preen59]

Way cool, Maris. I'll keep checking in on this thread!

I saw you mention that it seemed to slightly improve your mileage early in the local 2-stroke/diesel thread but you didn't comment at all in its recent resurrection. Maris and I were led to believe that no one here supported the notion.

BTW I also saw you mention Castrol R30 at one stage but I seriously would not recommend a castor based oil for this purpose as it doesn't really mix with mineral oil (of which diesel is a very light one) or petrol but rather it emulsifies if you mix it thoroughly enough which is ok for immediate use (like racing) but not great if the fuel sits for a while as it will separate.

Yes. I didn't see the latest discussion.. But people tend to not like change.. Or anything that seems a bit different.

Castrol R30 is a vegetable based oil..... NOT castor. I raced long enough and experimented with enough oils to know what's what..

My test was with Yamalube.. A full synthetic 2 stroke oil that was so good it actually removed the carbon from the piston, which made it no good for what we were doing in Karts.. Why? Well that's our secret.

[kaanage]

PM sent, (to not take Maris's thread further offline).

Lovely pic and commentary Maris - I'm holidaying by proxy through you
(One of the last ships being named Passat is a great conincidence)

[WEDEL.1]

PM sent, (to not take Maris's thread further offline).

Lovely pic and commentary Maris - I'm holidaying by proxy through you
(One of the last ships being named Passat is a great conincidence)

And a street in Pt Victoria is named Passat. Both ships were German owned. Pt Vic has a great little museum dedicated to the ships. We have been in there twice as it's only $2 ea to get in.

Maris

[WEDEL.1]

Day2. Port Vitoria to Elliston.






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We slept in this morning, but still got away in good time. Port Augusta came without incident and we passed the Shell servo with only one customer.

Whalla was the next town where we were to refuel and it was only 80 kms further. We arrived at the Shell to find it full of custmers. I wasn't going to wait, so we continued on, drove aroung the main town but ther were no other servos.....

I checked the MFD and we had another 130 kms left to empty, and Cowel was only 95 kms away. I watched in horror as the gap closed. It was like watching a one day cricket game as the side batting second reduced the run rate. I took the Golf off cruise in an effort to save fuel.

100 to 80 kms, 70 to 60, untill we got to 20 kms to 23. I was rewally worried, REALLY worried. I suggested that we drop the trailer off at the next rest bay, and one stay with the trailer, and one get the Golf refueled. Eventually we stopped on a down hill section(!!). We examined the option of uncoupling but found we couldn't remove the stabiliser bar easily, so we went for broke.

The gap reduced further. Our speed went from 100 to 80 to 70 to 65. We were a hazard on the highway, but luckily traffic was very light in our direction. My mouth was dry, and Julia & I spoke little. I turned off the CD & Air......I was desparate. The gap went to 20 to 23 and I knew we were in trouble. I was down to 60 km/h, and I was keeping fuel consumption down to 4.8-5.9 L/100km.

To my relief, we rolled into the servo with the trip computer showing 10 kms to empty. I don't ever want to go throught that again!!!

We had some lunch after refueling and headed for Elliston. TomTom decided that Elliston was 125 kms further than it was?? I trusted the road signs and arrived in plenty of time to set up. Annex won't be set up on the one nighters, not untill Esperance.

Crossing the bridge in Port Augusta.



Setting up in Elliston C/P



Finished.




Maris

[gareth_oau]

when are you due to arive in Perth? - we have a breakfast planned for Sunday 17th April and youre welcome to join us

[WEDEL.1]

Thank you, we will be staying at the Caravan Pk near the airport about a week before Good Friday.

Maris

[WEDEL.1]

Day 3. Elliston to Ceduna.




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Set the alarm for 6 am and eventually got up at 7.15 am. Everything we had left outside, table, chairs, bags and rear parcel shelf were all wet from the dew. Fantastic!

We methodically dried and packed as best we could. For a change things started to fall into place. We were ready to leave at 9.20 am, a record.

We refueled at the local Mobil at $1.679 c/l. Before leaving Elliston we did the cliff top tour which showed some spectacular coast line. Made stops at Venus Beach and the Eyre waterhole before arriving in Ceduna at about 2.15 pm. A quick bit of shopping and we headed off to the Caravan Pk and booked in. We had to pay a $50 bond for Millie. Obviously her reputation as a trouble maker had preceded her .

Fuel economy finished at 7.1 L/100 kms.

Tomorrow is a 500 km day to Eucla, and finally in Western Australia.

Pics from the cliff top drive at Elliston.



Scuptures are place around the drive. This one is of a pair of thongs.









Had a look at Eyre's water hole. http://www.outbacktraveller.com.au/S...reaky-Bay.html









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Maris