CSR Fuel - well 33 community or well 23 fuel drop?

Well 23 and well 33 are fairly close to each other compared to the total length of CSR. If you use the fuel drop you need to be able to transfer the fuel from a 200l drum. There are often pumps there but I would not count on them being there or working. I also do not know how clean they are. I probably would resist using them on my TD as they were covered in sand when we went through. The community only sells diesel so if you need unleaded well 33 is not even an option. This may change with Opal being available. If you can not use 200l then you will be leaving some behind at well 23 unless you share with some one. At well 23 sometimes some utter b@stards help them selfs which causes its own problems. Drop at well 23 is organised through the Capricorn Roadhouse. It is not available all year round. You need to pay in full some time before hand (about six weeks I think). Who knows which will be cheaper. The drop was ~$2.20 a litre and the community was $2.50 a litre when we went through last year. This assumes you use the whole drum. The community has some restrictions on the hours it is open. They change so you need to ring to check. The community has some supplies but availablity varies.

Steve

G'day,
Steve is spot on.

I have done 8 trips along the CSR. the last 2 times I got fuel at the community near Well 33, the other times at the fuel dump near well 23.

I always take my own pump with me.
Only once did I hear 1st hand of fuel getting pinched. A few other times from someone who knows someone who's friend told him etc. etc....

Last time, going south to north we all had some left over in our drums. We resealed them, went to Rudall River and picked up the rest when returning from there.
We also did as Steve said, had each drum marked with the name of the owner.

We then also filled up a couple of jerry cans when we got to well 33.
I rather carry exess than run out :-)

With hopefully a bit of rain this season the CSR will be a great trip.

I may see you out there next year,
Mike

Alastair. The best option IMHO is to share a 200 litre drum at well 23 with someone in your group then top up at 33, then again at Billiluna this way you minimise the amount of fuel required to be carried as the first section from Wiluna north is the longest between fuel stops. If you are driving a petrol then you'll most likely have used enough already to take a full drum yourself.
Getting fuel out of the 200L drum is easy if you make a transfer pump. Just drill 2 holes in a drum lid. Fit a tubeless car valve in one & seal a hose through the other long enough to to reach the bottom of the drum, then simply screw your lid into the drum at 23 & pump it up with air. Very little preasure is required & emptys it in less than 10 minutes without any effort at all. A tap on the end allows you to turn it off quickly & avoid spillage. Always filter the fuel as some drums can be a bit dirty.
Very little fuel has been stolen over the years & I'm sure if yours is missing a call to Capricorn Roadhouse will tell you which other drum you can use as often people who order never get there.
Cheers Craig...............

Alastair,

Last year fuel at Well 23 cost $450 for a drum of diesel. At the community it was $2.70/lt.

The community will not take credit cards but has eftpos or will take cash. Timing is another thing. After hours and a fee of $10/$15 per vehicle will be charged.

The management was changed last year, so it might pay to phone and find out what is happening this year.

The owner at Capricorn Road House has also changed. Fuel was delivered last year in drums from BP. They were new and had the factory seal on the caps.

Take your own pump, the ones there are dirty. We have heard that if there is a problem with your fuel at Well 23, ring the road house and they will sort something out. They are very good.

On our trips through there and using the fuel drop, we have not had any trouble with the fuel or it being there.

BTW what time of the year are you planning on doing the trip. For me June, going south to north.

Wayne