I am looking for a new motorhome and came across one that fits the bill , but it is Petrol . What if any would be the pitfalls ? Is petrol available everywhere out west ? It is a large motorhome 6.3 ltr Chev engine 340hp , it's not imported , made by Winnebago Aust. Very unusual to come across a petrol motorhome that size , usually they are imported. I look forward to your comments.
Thanks
Mick
valiant81 said
07:52 AM Jun 3, 2017
Hi all;
Petrol can be bought just about anywhere that sells fuel. If it was me i would seriously re think about the petrol version of your intended motor home, better off trying to get a diesel version. More power and cheaper to run as compared to petrol, and you would not be chasing a service station as much.
Aus-Kiwi said
08:30 AM Jun 3, 2017
200 hp turbo diesel would be far more economical . They have much more torque . "Pulling power " at lower rpm. Can cruise at very low fuel consumption . Mine is just over 6 ton and 6.5 turbo diesel, Exporer . The economy is great for its size . Head winds and steep hills it gets a little thirsty . Which is expected . Learnt quick to take it easy under these conditions . Most are converted to LPG ., This can lead to other issue such as valve recession etc .
Jaahn said
09:54 AM Jun 3, 2017
Hi Mick
MY opinion. There is only one down side to that engine. Fuel use !! I guess it is also an older carby model so more fuel ! Auto ??
You could get a gas conversion but really by the time you pay for that and muck around with the usual problems they cause, there may be no savings there.
You could get an allmost identical diesel version of that engine fitted too by some places who import them. But again do the sums first to see if you will own it long enough to save in the long term.
Or just accept it is a petrol guzzler and drive it appropiately and enjoy the power and the ride How many KMs are you going to do.
Jaahn
Yuglamron said
10:25 AM Jun 3, 2017
I'm with Aus-Kiwi here Go the diesel.
I have a Man 4.6 turbo diesel in a 8.5 ton MH. Slow on hills but great on the flat doing 1750rpm at !oo Kph. My engine was the last series to have manual fuel pump.
I was recently approached by an old guy in NSW who offered me $25K for my engine. He had a need for an older non electronic diesel.
I have made a few enquiries and I can fit a 6.9 litre new engine for $27K. Nearly twice the horsepower and believe It or not a 40% better fuel consumption.
Go the modern diesel.
How much would it cost to fit a good modern diesel in that Motorhome?
So much better for the larger MH than a Chev. petrol Donk
This country runs on diesel, nothing moves without the Truck. Not may petrol trucks out there.
madaboutled said
05:31 PM Jun 3, 2017
Came across a guy the other day with a GMC 6.1 lt petrol pulling a very large 5th wheeler . He said the motor was fuel injected at got 4 k's plus per lt. Our transit has a 302 Windsor 5.0 lt with 4 barrel carbie and we average 5 to 6'ks per lt. We just carry a little extra when doing long distances just in case.
Aus-Kiwi said
05:55 PM Jun 3, 2017
Possibly a SBC 383 Vortec engine ? Replace the oil
Pump drive if or when you take the sump off . They have a habit of spinning in oil pump . Losing oil pressure . They are usually throttle body injection ? Depending on year ? Lucky it's not the BBC 454 !! Then you know what a fuel guzzler is !!
macka17 said
08:25 PM Jun 3, 2017
We had an old Chevvy Big block under the bonnet of an old ex army crane yrs ago.
From memory it was around 1.7 gall per mile.
Used to install in Jet Boats too, 30 yrs ago. short open pipes.
THEY went.
Cut down 16\17ft glass hulls. with a huge Water jet under them.
Tingled the balls too when they wound up off the lights.
goldcoaster said
05:40 AM Jun 4, 2017
Thanks for all the comments , I do prefer diesel and their are other similar models for sale that are diesel on the same site. I now know why he's finding it hard to sell, even though it looks and has the goods.
Maybe if you got it cheap enough you would change the engine but at the moment he's still asking top dollar.
Thanks
Mick
macka17 said
10:04 PM Jun 4, 2017
You got a spare tanker trailer in yard.
Stick that on the back and go for it.
Don't forget the large wallet too though.
Not really practical with todays prices.
He MAY find a mug. But don't be him. OK.
Unless you only travelling $50 per day'ish.
Magyar Connection said
09:25 PM Jun 5, 2017
Is a dual fuel conversion an option?
A few years ago one importer was selling full sized motor homes with the 6.8Ltr Ford petrol motor (V10, I think). They were kitted out with an LPG conversion. I realise that there are times when LPG is not available at which time you would need to run on unleaded. I think they had a large LPG tank (about 300Ltrs from memory). LPG is still a reasonable price along the East Coast.
Just a thought.
Cruising Cruze said
08:36 PM Jun 6, 2017
"" LPG is still a reasonable price along the East Coast. ""
Nearly a dollar a liter bit much for an waste product I think
Cheers John
T1 Terry said
03:27 PM Jun 7, 2017
I'd go with the petrol powered job. Much cheaper to repair when needed, no fuel quality problem/accidentally putting the wrong stuff in and wrecking the whole fuel system, the fuel use difference is marginal once you get into the bigger cube stuff as full throttle can't be held for very long..... and petrol is actually cheaper than diesel in many areas. Not uncommon for people to quote more than 16ltrs per 100km from their diesel powered vehicle, driven the same I'd expect the fuel economy to similar, so what if it goes up to 18 ltrs per 100km, around $2.60 more per 100kms, not a serious problem to the wallet when you compare the difference in service costs. Ask the folk who are sprouting on about better fuel economy just how much the major services cost them for their high tech diesel engine..... you can buy a lot of spark plugs and 20w/50 oil and still have quite a few $$ left over to go towards the fuel costs if they are greater. As for more torque.... really, have you ever driven a 6.3 ltr Chev? that 340hp is backed by a bucket full of torque, but you will have to suffer being the one who gets to the coffee break/over night stop first and being all set up with beer in hand when the others finally arrive :lol:
T1 Terry
madaboutled said
07:30 PM Jun 8, 2017
Cruising Cruze wrote:
"" LPG is still a reasonable price along the East Coast. ""
Nearly a dollar a liter bit much for an waste product I think
Cheers John
The bit that really hurts is that we sell it to Japan for a few cents a litre. LPG is only worth it if it's less than half the price of petrol.
T1 Terry said
05:16 PM Jun 9, 2017
madaboutled wrote:
Cruising Cruze wrote:
"" LPG is still a reasonable price along the East Coast. ""
Nearly a dollar a liter bit much for an waste product I think
Cheers John
The bit that really hurts is that we sell it to Japan for a few cents a litre. LPG is only worth it if it's less than half the price of petrol.
That few cents a ltr is not current pricing and LPG would not be the price it is now if a certain pollie hadn't decided it looked like a quick money spinner and linked it to the same tax system as petrol and diesel.... even though it is non polluting with close to zero emissions so it should have been made economically better as it is a cleaner fuel.
Sydney buses now run on compressed natural gas aka methane, yet another emissions minimal fuel, if it became commercially available at the servo and diesel owners started to convert over to using it no doubt they would tax that as well
T1 Terry
-- Edited by T1 Terry on Friday 9th of June 2017 05:20:52 PM
I am looking for a new motorhome and came across one that fits the bill , but it is Petrol . What if any would be the pitfalls ? Is petrol available everywhere out west ? It is a large motorhome 6.3 ltr Chev engine 340hp , it's not imported , made by Winnebago Aust. Very unusual to come across a petrol motorhome that size , usually they are imported. I look forward to your comments.
Thanks
Mick
Hi all;
Petrol can be bought just about anywhere that sells fuel. If it was me i would seriously re think about the petrol version of your intended motor home, better off trying to get a diesel version. More power and cheaper to run as compared to petrol, and you would not be chasing a service station as much.
Hi Mick
MY opinion. There is only one down side to that engine. Fuel use !! I guess it is also an older carby model so more fuel !
Auto ??
You could get a gas conversion but really by the time you pay for that and muck around with the usual problems they cause, there may be no savings there.
You could get an allmost identical diesel version of that engine fitted too by some places who import them. But again do the sums first to see if you will own it long enough to save in the long term.
Or just accept it is a petrol guzzler and drive it appropiately and enjoy the power and the ride
How many KMs are you going to do.
Jaahn
I'm with Aus-Kiwi here Go the diesel.
I have a Man 4.6 turbo diesel in a 8.5 ton MH. Slow on hills but great on the flat doing 1750rpm at !oo Kph. My engine was the last series to have manual fuel pump.
I was recently approached by an old guy in NSW who offered me $25K for my engine. He had a need for an older non electronic diesel.
I have made a few enquiries and I can fit a 6.9 litre new engine for $27K. Nearly twice the horsepower and believe It or not a 40% better fuel consumption.
Go the modern diesel.
How much would it cost to fit a good modern diesel in that Motorhome?
So much better for the larger MH than a Chev. petrol Donk
This country runs on diesel, nothing moves without the Truck. Not may petrol trucks out there.
From memory it was around 1.7 gall per mile.
Used to install in Jet Boats too, 30 yrs ago. short open pipes.
THEY went.
Cut down 16\17ft glass hulls. with a huge Water jet under them.
Tingled the balls too when they wound up off the lights.
Maybe if you got it cheap enough you would change the engine but at the moment he's still asking top dollar.
Thanks
Mick
Stick that on the back and go for it.
Don't forget the large wallet too though.
Not really practical with todays prices.
He MAY find a mug. But don't be him. OK.
Unless you only travelling $50 per day'ish.
A few years ago one importer was selling full sized motor homes with the 6.8Ltr Ford petrol motor (V10, I think). They were kitted out with an LPG conversion. I realise that there are times when LPG is not available at which time you would need to run on unleaded. I think they had a large LPG tank (about 300Ltrs from memory). LPG is still a reasonable price along the East Coast.
Just a thought.
Nearly a dollar a liter bit much for an waste product I think
Cheers John
T1 Terry
The bit that really hurts is that we sell it to Japan for a few cents a litre. LPG is only worth it if it's less than half the price of petrol.
That few cents a ltr is not current pricing and LPG would not be the price it is now if a certain pollie hadn't decided it looked like a quick money spinner and linked it to the same tax system as petrol and diesel.... even though it is non polluting with close to zero emissions so it should have been made economically better as it is a cleaner fuel.
Sydney buses now run on compressed natural gas aka methane, yet another emissions minimal fuel, if it became commercially available at the servo and diesel owners started to convert over to using it no doubt they would tax that as well
T1 Terry
-- Edited by T1 Terry on Friday 9th of June 2017 05:20:52 PM