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12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 7:48 +0000
by Andrew.Fenwick
Hi Guys,
Have searched but haven't been able to find much on here.
We are about to take off from Perth heading to Melbourne and back towing the camper van.
I am going to take 3 x 60ltr drums of diesel with us as we don't want to fill up out in the bush etc (been caught with bad fuel before).

I'm chasing a 12v diesel pump that I could hopefully connect to the anderson plug and use this to refuel crossing the Nullabor. As its so close to Christmas, I'd also like to try and find stock in Perth if possible.

Anyone have any recommendations where I could source this type of pump?
Cheers,
Andrew

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 8:51 +0000
by dino12
Mate the Nullabor is a busy main highway these days. Not like it was back in the sixties with dirt from the border to Penong. Most of the roadhouses are high volume sites with good fuel. The only things you have to worry about are the high fuel prices and lack of mechanical support if you break down. But most roadhouses have a tow truck to get you back to the roadhouse with a small charge that will empty your bank account..
Fuel quality is fine.
Cheers.

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:21 +0000
by wyworrie

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:12 +0000
by Jacko9
We use Macnaught 12 volt fuel pumps on all our portable 5000l diesel tanks, and have all given great service, but whether you need it, is a different story, your carrying an extra 180 litres of fuel, plus tank weight, that might have a relatively negative effect on fuel consumption. If you do decide to go with the fuel, a agricultural supply shop should be able to set you right. Cheers.

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 2:20 +0000
by aandy
60L drums, in the tub i assume, why not just siphon them? you can get the dicky shakey siphon things from a boat shop if you don't like the taste of diesel, I personally love the taste.

Siphon or Syphon :twisted:

https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_item ... lutePage=1

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Wed, 16 Dec 2015 4:02 +0000
by Andrew.Fenwick
Thanks for the info guys.
We are towing a camper which weights about 1800kg and my lux really likes to drink the diesel when we put the camper on.
Its not so much about saving money but more of the quality of the fuel and the range.
If I had planned this better (read that as I was given more notice by the minister of war and finance) I would have had the long range tank fitted before we left.

Few months ago we were about 450km out of Perth in the bush and had to fill up. Filled up at a Caltex station and 20km later the fuel warning light came on. Had no other option than to keep driving.

This time I'll be getting 2 fuel filters to take with me :) and I thought the extra 180ltrs of Shell fuel might be better quality than whats out in the bush!

The jiggler syphon/siphon will probably do the job unless I can find thing at supercrap auto before we take off!
Cheers

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Mon, 21 Dec 2015 4:51 +0000
by johnwood
supercheaps
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online ... mendations

only 129L / hour, fine to do once your parked up for the night but maybe not in the middle of the nullabour - a siphon hose might run quicker!

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Mon, 21 Dec 2015 8:01 +0000
by fracturedranga
Have you considered going to the wreckers and picking up a fuel pump from anything really. Then a few lengths of hose some clamps and some wire and your done. Could be a cheap option

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Tue, 22 Dec 2015 2:40 +0000
by Alby
That is a lot of extra weight to be lugging around.
You may have just been unlucky before with the fuel filter and could have been totally unrelated to the fuel you just picked up, was there water in the fuel or was the filter just dirty, how old was the filter,? It may have just been due for a routine replacement ?

From a fuel brand point of view most people would buy the Caltex diesel product over the others....just saying

Re: 12v diesel pump

PostPosted: Tue, 22 Dec 2015 7:32 +0000
by Andrew.Fenwick
Thanks for the reply guys.
The first filter lasted about 70,000km (I replaced it after the 70k service as Toyota tell me they never get replaced) until the warning light comes on.

We were about 500km out of Perth and filled up at a Caltex, 200km later the fuel light was on. Filter was maybe 2000km old.

I normally fill up with Shell Diesel. I've found that I get more range from Shell than with Caltex. I've also heard Caltex/Woolies have started putting some anti foam stuff in their fuel to make it pump faster (not sure how true that is).

I bought one of these yesterday (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/malaga/o ... 1093506439). Cost $125 but it flows 40ltr per minute which means we should be able to refuel in about 2 minutes :)
Ill fit an Anderson plug to it tonight and I can connect it directly to the back of the ute or even the camper if I have too.

As for the weight, the tray will basically be empty (except for a folder up table, solar panels and some camp chairs). Everything else is in the camper so we should be well under weight.

I have 3 x 60ltr drums in the back now (pushed right up towards the front of the tray) and tied down with a ratchet strap. So that's about 190kg of extra weight. Camper weights about 1800kg fully loaded.

Hoping with the 80ltr the Ute has and the 120ltr of extra fuel we should get close to 2000km before we need to refuel.

I also bought 2 new filters to take with me just in case :)