Long outback drive, no premium, what to do?

[Bluey9N]

Hey Guys.

Im planning a big roadtrip next year for my wife and I that will involve crossing northern QLD and into the NT in our Polo GTi. After searching the various BP, Caltex etc sites theres not enough sites that stock Premium 95+ fuel for a good stretch of the road (like 1600kays). Im planning on bringing 40L of 98 premium in jerry cans with me but I dont think that will be enough.

So, what are my options? Does the 1.8T run on regular 91? I wouldnt think its advisable to do any long distance on it. Could I use an Octane booster additive if neccesary? Could I mix half regular 91 half 98 octane fuel to double to amount im carrying. As in when the tanks half empty with 98 fill it up with 91 and itll balance out OK?

Has anyone else done this sorta thing? I realise that theres much better cars (diesel golf would be good) to do a big country road trip on but we need to clock up some kays (lease car) and we want to see Australia so it makes sense.

Any pointers or ideas would be great. Thanks.

[Jarred]

couple of bottles of octane booster should do fine. Pop one in when you use 91. Much easier and more convienient than carrying a couple Jerry cans imo.

Although, spare fuel would be a good idea on such a long trip too, just in case

[Bluey9N]

Theres not a whole lot of room in the polo so we'll be rolling with the rear seats left at home so we can fit cans, water, tent etc in the back. Ill bring a 4 pack of Oc booster along.

[Manaz]

A spare 20L jerry can (or two) of fuel should be considered compulsory on long trips like this - getting stuck in the middle of nowhere because you're out of fuel would not be good.

I'd go with the octane booster idea myself - tip the appropriate amount in with each tank of RON91 to get it up to RON95.

[silvershadow]

A spare 20L jerry can (or two) of fuel should be considered compulsory on long trips like this - getting stuck in the middle of nowhere because you're out of fuel would not be good.

I'd go with the octane booster idea myself - tip the appropriate amount in with each tank of RON91 to get it up to RON95.

Agree 100% with carrying the octane booster but also suggest a spare fuel filter as well - if the outback servo is running low on fuel, it is not uncommon for the crud at the bottom of the tank to be picked up and delivered into your tank with the fuel. Don't forget BP "Opal" is the only fuel available in many locations to cope with the petrol sniffing problem.

Spare drinking water is more important than spare fuel if you have a breakdown and have to wait for help.

[gareth_oau]

perhaps before you go on the trip, fill your tank with 91 and try some booster.

Make sure your'e happy with the outcome before you try it for real

[Bluey9N]

perhaps before you go on the trip, fill your tank with 91 and try some booster.

Make sure your'e happy with the outcome before you try it for real

Excellent idea! Give it a trial run before being out in woop woop and hoping its gunna be OK.

Hadnt thought about the Opal fuel... Might ask BP about it.

She'll be getting a full service and new tyres before we head out so fingers crossed theres no issues. I wouldnt know where the fuel filter on the 1.8T is anyway but ill pack one just in case.

I'll be carrying two jerries of fuel and a 20L drinking water bottle as well as soon food. Must be prepared for any situation

[KWICKS]

Hire a diesel Landcruiser!

[Bluey9N]

Have a mate with one who probably would lend it to me but like i said its to get the kays up for the lease.

Id be tempted to go a more roundabout way with a cruiser and probably get myself into trouble anyway

[Manaz]

Hadnt thought about the Opal fuel... Might ask BP about it.

Opal fuel is simply regular fuel with some of the aromatics removed, so that it's of no use for sniffing. My understanding is that what they remove won't affect car performance, it just costs extra to do the additional processing (the government subsidises Opal in specific areas of Australia to ensure that motorists don't pay any extra for it).

EDIT:Lots of info on it here: http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarti...tentId=7024232. In particular, they make the following statement:

Independent testing was commissioned by BP in October 2004. The testing found that ‘There is no significant difference when a vehicle runs on Opal fuel compared to the same vehicle running on regular unleaded petrol.’

[h100vw]

perhaps before you go on the trip, fill your tank with 91 and try some booster.

Make sure your'e happy with the outcome before you try it for real

I'd try this without the booster and see what it does. Get someone with VAG-COM to log it and see if/how much timing is being pulled out by the ECU.

Personally I think it'll run without incident

Gavin

[Treza360]

Best bet would be to get into contact with Blitzen. He drove his Polo GTI from Darwin to Brisbane when he moved down here. I think he's got a thread with his road trip somewhere.
Cheers,
Trent

[Blitzen]

Hey Guys.

Im planning a big roadtrip next year for my wife and I that will involve crossing northern QLD and into the NT in our Polo GTI. After searching the various BP, Caltex etc sites theres not enough sites that stock Premium 95+ fuel for a good stretch of the road (like 1600kays). Im planning on bringing 40L of 98 premium in jerry cans with me but I dont think that will be enough.

So, what are my options? Does the 1.8T run on regular 91? I wouldnt think its advisable to do any long distance on it. Could I use an Octane booster additive if neccesary? Could I mix half regular 91 half 98 octane fuel to double to amount im carrying. As in when the tanks half empty with 98 fill it up with 91 and itll balance out OK?

Has anyone else done this sorta thing? I realise that theres much better cars (diesel golf would be good) to do a big country road trip on but we need to clock up some kays (lease car) and we want to see Australia so it makes sense.

Any pointers or ideas would be great. Thanks.

Hey mate.
Mine is a lease car too, but as in reagional NT there is a distinct lack of BP/Caltex/Shell etc, as most of the petrol stations are road houses, you will have to dip into your own pocket to get fuel, and recoupe the money later. You will get BP at Mataranka Springs, but the next one south of that is Daly Waters, then Tennant Creek and then Alice Springs. You will get BP and Caltex in Mt Isa and Cloncurry, and alot of the other towns in QLD, but be prepared to pay out of your own pocket for fuel.You won't have any dramas getting 98 in QLD all the way up to Mt Isa. If you are going through Winton and Longreach, you can get 98 there, as well as at most BP's in Western QLD.
I took a 10L jerry can with me as emergency fuel, and that was all. I didn't take octain booster, because the minimum I put in my car was 95. It ran very well, but just watch head winds on the Barkley Hwy. Barkley Homestead is very expensive(about 20 to 30c/L above standard NT fuel prices), buy you wont have trouble getting at least 95 in the NT. Don't worry about Opal fuel, because I have olnly ever seen it at Alice Springs. You will be able to get 98 again once you hit Katherine, and in Darwin, BP is the predominant fuel supplier. I found my average fuel consumption to be about 9.1L/100 with the A/C on and sitting a few km above the limit (won't say what I was sitting on, because I will get in trouble!!).
I will warn you that the further south of Darwin you are, the more expensive fuel is, but I have driving this way going both from Darwin to Sydney(via Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Winton, Longreach, Barcldine, Roma, Brisbane, Sydney), and Darwin to Townsville via Hughendon and Charters Towers. Don't sweat it if you run into dramas, as the roads are busy enough. There is almost no mobile reception south of Katherine and then all the way to Mt Isa, but the views are amazing.
The thread that Trent mentioned has been deleted at some stage, but here are some pics from the drive. Make sure you stop at Mary Kathleen between Cloncurry and Mt Isa, and at Daly Waters Hotel (its the one off the Stuart Hwy about 3km north of Daly Waters Roadhouse.

Packing



Still Packing...



Packed...



Daly Waters Hotel Camp Site...$5 for an unpowered site and access to the showers...



3 ways, North of Tennant Creek.



95 at Barkley Homestead (I'm sure its cheaper now)



Qld/NT boarder...



Mary Kathleen

[phaeton]

Who needs offroaders

[Bluey9N]

Thanks heaps for the info mate, was planning a stop at Daly Waters as ive read the pubs worth visiting. Ive just got a caltex card but ill ask if I can get a BP card too. Its amazing what you can fit into a small car if you put enough thought into it.

$2.15 a litre is incredible! O_o

What time of year did you go?