[bumstein]

Hey there ppl!!

Been reading a little while and picking up on all sorts of cool stuff!! First time to ask a question

How much fuel does your Sierra use??

I'm picking one up tomorrow for a road trip and trying to plan the fuel stops. It's bog standard '93 SWB Sierra ragtop. I think they are a 40ltr fuel tank??

So how far does one normally get on a tank, or how many km/ltr, or ltr/100km??

I'm anticipating long country km's at a relatively relaxed rate. Standard tyres etc..

What to expect??

Cheers all

[shep]

You should get around 350km or more to a tank

[sideways]

I get about 200km a tank. :/

[bumstein]

wow!! Between 200km to 350km!! thats quite a difference!?

Could find a bit of info on a Vitara via the search function. Consensus was something like 42ltr tank, getting 300km to empty on the gauge and up to 450km to a dry tank.. Would a Sierra be similar??

Thanks for your fast replies!!

[BlueSuzy]

So many variables

carb
engine wear
worn bearings
tyres
airpressures
dented tank
blocked filter
real speeds
real km's

my 2dr efi vit got 450+ on a tank. A carb sierra will never get that.

[bumstein]

Yeah there will always be differences.. But if I split the difference and say 300km's a tank sound like a reasonable goal??

[shep]

A stock Sierra in good condition should easly get 350 out of a tank, at least my old wt hardtop did when standard. I have used a tank in 80km in my lwb

[alexxx]

id play it safe and buy a 20l jerry can. never let your car run below 1/4. fill up where ever you can.

[atari4x4]

alexxx wrote:

fill up where ever you can.

x 7865428672867528452424627494292643648624862462748163464812684164418521817764168795786.333

[alexxx]

atari4x4 wrote:

alexxx wrote:

fill up where ever you can.

x 7865428672867528452424627494292643648624862462748163464812684164418521817764168795786.333

X 2

[Samwich]

I let my car run below 1/4 around town cause I hate dirty fuel building up

[atari4x4]

around town is a different story, zero chance of running out of fuel unless you're a numpty.

[whincup]

i get 550-600kms to a tank depending on what im doing. long range tank makes it easier

[laurie]

alexxx wrote:

id play it safe and buy a 20l jerry can. never let your car run below 1/4. fill up where ever you can.

I agree with Shep for distance and the above comment for common sense

[bumstein]

Cheers peeps!!

The maximum distance I have planned between stops is 259km from Port Augusta to Wudinna.. The shortest is 92, but mostly 150-180kms..

I'm going to squeeze a 20ltr in there as cheap insurance!!

This road trip goin to be awesome!! I'll post some pics when I get back

[stockman]

Samwich wrote:

I let my car run below 1/4 around town cause I hate dirty fuel building up

Really?
What happens you mix it with new fuel.

The whole idea of not running too low is so you don't suck the shit off the bottom of the tank.

[oldmate95]

i get around 400 when im feeling really dangerous or poor i crave the adrenaline rush driving with the needle on empty provides. other times its about 350 to 380

[atari4x4]

bumstein wrote:

Cheers peeps!!

The maximum distance I have planned between stops is 259km from Port Augusta to Wudinna.. The shortest is 92, but mostly 150-180kms..

I'm going to squeeze a 20ltr in there as cheap insurance!!

This road trip goin to be awesome!! I'll post some pics when I get back

modded gumtree sierra, pretty sure the owner is a member on here?

[alexxx]

atari4x4 wrote:

around town is a different story, zero chance of running out of fuel unless you're a numpty.

im a numpty.....because i can!!!!!

[sideways]

Mine's a pretty special, worst case scenario sorta thing. It's got (had) a lightly blown head gasket, a flattened muffler, 30" mud tyres, no gearing and a dent in the bottom of the tank.

Just before I pulled it apart (as the head gasket got worse) driving on the highway was a 10 tenths effort from the little motor.

If a stock one in good condition got less than 300kms to a tank then I'd be pissed but a dodgy auto chock and a dent in the tank is all it takes for your fuel range to plummet.

Take a spare jerry and you'l be right.

[jono165]

km's out of a tank is a useless measure unless everyone is running their tank to completely empty, theres usually a few litres left at the end when most people refill.

Out of my sierra the best i have had is 9l/100km with a freshly rebuilt carb, stock gearing and 215/75/15 tyres, mostly highway ams sitting at 80.

With my current setup, bullbar, winch, 31's, transfer gears I get roughly 11l/100km. I dont drive it daily so i probaly lose a little to evaporation etc too.

[bumstein]

Good call!! Jono165.. But does give me a good idea when planning stops.. Not a drama during the day because there's heaps of stations open, but at night I need to know how far the next big town is..

Well the new Zook has been procured, the journey started and the first 170km's cast behind us!! Another 2530 odd Km's to go!! Wikid just a wee bit over 10ltrs/100km.. With a killer head wind.. Let u know how it progresses!!

[bulladean_]

i get around 150 ks out of my tank.

[bulladean_]

i think i do to many skids. I forget im in the sierra and not the commy :/

[GeckoXL7]

Get a long ranger tank, seen 60L and somewhere 70L tanks for Sierras.

If you really want to get good k's look up hypermiling Carbys lol some have got 2-4L/100K just a matter of driving, tire pressure, and the carby tuned just right and also the timing. Think they lean it right out and retard the timing, but cant imagine what that would do to your power and esp in the higher rev range. while some use special carbys that better mix the fuel, pre heat it and spray more of a mist or gass, but thats all just getting to darn complicated.

the 60L tank would be a much easier and cheaper option

[Reubs]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

If you really want to get good k's look up hypermiling Carbys lol some have got 2-4L/100K just a matter of driving, tire pressure, and the carby tuned just right and also the timing. Think they lean it right out and retard the timing, but cant imagine what that would do to your power and esp in the higher rev range. while some use special carbys that better mix the fuel, pre heat it and spray more of a mist or gass, but thats all just getting to darn complicated.

I can't detect the sarcasm in that obviously sarcastic post...

[sideways]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Get a long ranger tank, seen 60L and somewhere 70L tanks for Sierras.

If you really want to get good k's look up hypermiling Carbys lol some have got 2-4L/100K just a matter of driving, tire pressure, and the carby tuned just right and also the timing. Think they lean it right out and retard the timing, but cant imagine what that would do to your power and esp in the higher rev range. while some use special carbys that better mix the fuel, pre heat it and spray more of a mist or gass, but thats all just getting to darn complicated.

the 60L tank would be a much easier and cheaper option

Not sure if serious........

[GeckoXL7]

Yes and no, serious about the long ranger tank, not so serious about hypermiling as it is a 4x4

[bumstein]

Well the final verdict on my wee chugger is 340km from a tank..

Variables being

1) along the Nullarbor
2) moderate amount of slight inclines over a fair distance
3) bastard of a headwind!! At times restricted the speed quite significantly..

That's not shit for a 40ltr tank!!

And yep a long range tank is on the wish list.. But that's a long list!! Lol

[Reubs]

340km to practically empty sounds right if loaded and against a small headwind...

Personally I'd plan to about 300km to a tank and no more. If you are travelling long distances along the Nullarbor than carry jerry cans - especially if travelling after dark (especially across the top of the Eyre Peninsula - no fuel after about 8pm) or if you only plan to fill up on 98RON. If you buy jerry cans don't get cheap ones (Willow brand from Supercheap comes to mind as being rubbish). I use Scepter jerry cans with the internal spout.

To give you an idea on distances across the Nullarbor:

STOP - DISTANCE FROM PREVIOUS STOP
Ceduna, South Australia, Australia
Yalata, South Australia, Australia Break - 202km
Border Village, South Australia, Australia - 277km
Eucla, Western Australia, Australia - 12km
Madura, Western Australia, Australia - 182km
Caiguna, Western Australia, Australia - 156km
Balladonia Hotel Motel, Balladonia, Australia - 181km
Norseman, Western Australia, Australia - 191km

When I go to Perth next year from East-West, I will stop at Ceduna (BIG BP with cheap 98RON), Eucla (98 but shut after dark) & Norseman (Cheap 98) as I will have extra jerry cans in a LWB Vit.

In a Sierra with 2x jerry cans you'd have to make an extra stop or 2 - maybe just Balladonia, but it's a bit dearer than Norseman. Also note places like Eucla are shut after dark, but places like Border Village 12km away are open 24hr (only 95RON though).