Alpine Diesel problems?

[Ubiquitous Steve]

I would be sending their CEO an Email....then publish response on this forum.

Every winter we get tips for snow driving.They state the obvious every year!

....this issue is of major concern...Hotham needs to address this ASAP

They need to make it easier for their consumers....

They need to provide a better response in dealing with these issues on the mountain when consumers approach their staff.

At the very least .....Ticket stations should have additive or kero on hand ...and can issue it for minimal cost should patrons enquire.
They need to improve their response....they need to treat their customers with more respect!

 

[FlatLander]

I would be sending their CEO an Email....then publish response on this forum.

Every winter we get tips for snow driving.They state the obvious every year!

....this issue is of major concern...Hotham needs to address this ASAP

They need to make it easier for their consumers....

They need to provide a better response in dealing with these issues on the mountain when consumers approach their staff.

At the very least .....Ticket stations should have additive or kero on hand ...and can issue it for minimal cost should patrons enquire.
They need to improve their response....they need to treat their customers with more respect!

I agree with this in parts...

Yes absolutely poor response, and doesnt matter whether it was RMB or Lift co a complaint should be made. The ladies and gents taking these calls are most likely not mechanics or diesel specialists and should simply state that. Yes have something on the website which probs should read " If driving a diesel to Mt Hotham please contact your vehicle manufacturer about Alpine Diesel and or additives to prevent "waxing".

The RMB should not be making claims about how to run your vehicle or what to put in it. Similarly they should not be selling additives as it could adversely affect or damage the engine, and they would be liable. Also they would need to carry every brand, and have a diesel specialist on hand to provide advice. I would not be going near this with a barge pole!

How much easier can it be made:
1. the road is sealed from top to bottom
2. the is yellow lines and snow poles, now with lights on them.
3. there is lighting in some chain bays
4. there is a website with plenty of info, could there be more yes there can always be more
5. there is something like 50+ signs that state, chains must be carried, danger, snow and ice, drive slowly etc etc
6. the vehicle owner must take responsibility, and not simply blame everyone else which seems to be the trend in modern society
7. the road is cleared 24 hrs/day
8. the RMB/Lift Co is not in charge of the fuel companies and how they manage diesel blends
9, The RMB/Lift Co do not manufacture vehicles
10. The RMB/Lift Co are not in charge of the road
11. and last but not least the RMB/Lift Co do not manage the weather

 

[Ubiquitous Steve]

RACV man/woman......!

We need to get him signed up on this forum to give us the relevant information and breakdown of stats relating to diesel waxing issue.

 

[Ozgirl]

Here was my experience from last week - filled up with alpine diesel (50l of a 75l tank) at Bright, Hotham dropped to minus 11 the night before we were due to leave, couldn't start the car mid-morning (ambient temp was minus 4). It took the RACV 30 minutes of careful hot air warming of the entire fuel line course from tank to engine before we were good to go. This was a familiar story all over the mountain as RACV had more than 60 call outs by 10am that morning. In the car park, there were 4 cars in a similar situation, with similar preparation. One had filled with both alpine diesel as well as a bottle of additive, the car next to mine, normal diesel (half a tank) and two bottles of additive. I found it most annoying that on perusal of all the major manufacturer's information, as well as the Hotham site, there is no additional information about the maximum lower temperature diesel fuel will safely tolerate before even a modern car can take. The challenge for the RACV was that my fuel line in my Merc sedan was so well insulated it wasn't as simple as towing the car 250m to the bus shed where there were 4 hot air blowers stationed that could re-dissolve the solids. I called Resort Management for some guidance, and got an unsympathetic earful about how it wasn't their fault if people coming up the mountain hadn't done their research before coming up. When I asked them where on their website they had published any useful information, they replied there was none, and frankly, "why should they" !? Anyway, I'm here now to point out that in the climate-change world, where alpine temperature ranges may well more frequently be lower than a few degrees below zero, use a full tank of Alpine diesel, and additive, and seek parking that is sheltered, in the sun, and check if your car will be affected 8-10 hours prior to your departure time in case you need to call on a mechanic to heat your car. I'd add, there are people on the mountain who are helpful, but I found there was an underlying sense of "too bad, silly town people" if you asked for help from Hotham Resort itself. They didn't even want to help with suggestions for emergency accomodation that was needed when we could't get the car started on the day of our departure.

Can i ask what date this was (your departure morning)?

And also how many nights your car was parked at Hotham?

I would also email Vail. Their customer service experience is vastly better than anything i have every seen in Australia. I agree that they should be providing helpful tips.

But its an interesting issue. So many people don't believe it, disagree with Australia getting cold enough etc. Pretty shit if as non believers they then had a go at resort staff.

However i do agree its not their fault to provide emergency accommodation 'tips'.

Not sure about RACV, but NRMA platinum members of which you MUST be a member of if your car is over a tonne (which a lot of 4wd are) would have paid for your nights accom. But they wouldn't have sourced it for you.

Same as Travel insurance don't find you a doctor.

 

[billykate]

Urgh, that sucks @GC1 . We left on Saturday lunchtime and were lucky. Filled up my 70L tank with 60L of alpine diesel in Caltex Myrtleford, plus half a bottle of additive. Started first go, but I was worried it wouldn't. Car totally buried!

 

[djam]

> Car totally buried!

That will keep in warmer then air temp often, as snow/ice is zero degrees, the air temp can be much lower.

 

[Ozgirl]

> Car totally buried!

That will keep in warmer then air temp often, as snow/ice is zero degrees, the air temp can be much lower.

Car igloo!

 

[billykate]

> Car totally buried!

That will keep in warmer then air temp often, as snow/ice is zero degrees, the air temp can be much lower.

True that!

 

[stansi]

Good tip.

Will be shoveling on. .... instead of off from now on.

 

[Ubiquitous Steve]

Stick nose into bank....and build upnlittle wall around wheel arches etc..

Team Bears still place blanket over top of engine....newspaper,old jumpers etcetc
Just not near battery terminals*****

But diesels still need “anti wax”treatment prior to driving up Mt.

And we still have woollen footy beanie over fuel filter element!

 

[N0frilz]

Urgh, that sucks @GC1 . We left on Saturday lunchtime and were lucky. Filled up my 70L tank with 60L of alpine diesel in Caltex Myrtleford, plus half a bottle of additive. Started first go, but I was worried it wouldn't. Car totally buried!

You need 90+% alpine diesel for it to be effective you’ll find the people having issues are using a blend.
Last weekend I ran bp Alpine diesel with no issues but it was 100%. Hell I even got a guy going within 45mins by adding a special
Blend of diesel into his car and using a torch under the engine bay.

Fill up with alpine diesel and treat what’s in the tank you won’t have an issue.

 

[stansi]

New product on the market. About $12 to treat 100lt. Haven't tried yet, but bought four bottles. I will report back in winter.

 

[Jonathan_P]

New product on the market. About $12 to treat 100lt. Haven't tried yet, but bought four bottles. I will report back in winter.

I bought this, never used it before, probably should read back through this thread to see if it’s any good.

 

[fenrir]

I bought this, never used it before, probably should read back through this thread to see if it’s any good.

I've used that before in an emergency given how inconsistent supply is in Victoria. Literally got to the servo at Bright just before they closed one weekend in June to find that the alpine diesel was due to arrive tomorrow.
Seemed to do the job, I could drive away after my weekend whilst others were waiting for the RACV.

 

[fenrir]

Just to add on the NSW side of the border I haven't had any issues. Canberra gets winter diesel which is pretty close to what you need, then during the season from Cooma to Jindabyne is all alpine diesel, I normally keep topped up in Cooma to be safe.

 

[dawooduck]

New product on the market. About $12 to treat 100lt. Haven't tried yet, but bought four bottles. I will report back in winter.

$6 a tank ..... Ouch

 

[Ozgirl]

Just to add on the NSW side of the border I haven't had any issues. Canberra gets winter diesel which is pretty close to what you need, then during the season from Cooma to Jindabyne is all alpine diesel, I normally keep topped up in Cooma to be safe.

Yep, we used to fill up in syd, then Cooma on the way down. Typically 3/4 tank.

 

[PG2736]

They all work pretty well. I have been using the Lucas one from SuperCheap auto. I also typically buy my Alpine Diesel from the Caltex in Myrtleford. Have had some issues before with the Alpine Diesel from the Shell in Bright.

 

[stansi]

$6 a tank ..... Ouch

Same as a cup of coffee in Jindy. ........Get over it.

 

[Sweefu]

New product on the market. About $12 to treat 100lt. Haven't tried yet, but bought four bottles. I will report back in winter.

Where did you grab this?

 

[dawooduck]

Same as a cup of coffee in Jindy. ........Get over it.

Except never had a diesel problem and our mornings are frozen. Always park with the windscreen facing NE to catch the first rays of sunshine

Alpine diesel + Flashlube every third tank or so. Fuel filter every 20000k

Admittedly we don't park at Hotham or buy much Jindy coffee

 

[Xplora]

Some places will put the price of fuel up at the bowser to cover the Alpine mix anyway so buying the additive could still be a good option. I have found though, the 24hr credit card place in Wodonga to be cheaper for Alpine mix than normal diesel up the road at the Caltex. Just so people do not have to go through all those pages to find it from last year, here it is again. Tasco (Ampol - used to be Caltex) 107 Bradford St Wodonga. Pump 3.

 

[fenrir]

Some places will put the price of fuel up at the bowser to cover the Alpine mix anyway so buying the additive could still be a good option. I have found though, the 24hr credit card place in Wodonga to be cheaper for Alpine mix than normal diesel up the road at the Caltex. Just so people do not have to go through all those pages to find it from last year, here it is again. Tasco (Ampol - used to be Caltex) 107 Bradford St Wodonga. Pump 3.

That petrol station is amazing, saved my arse a few times when I was meeting Victorian mates halfway to ski falls on the weekends.

 

[Xplora]

The Lucas additive failed this morning. Overdosed also but the machine has been sitting around for a week or more in some pretty frosty conditions. Only minus 3 or 4 though. Next trip to town will be the first for the real stuff but it will take a while to get rid of the other.

 

[N0frilz]

The Lucas additive failed this morning. Overdosed also but the machine has been sitting around for a week or more in some pretty frosty conditions. Only minus 3 or 4 though. Next trip to town will be the first for the real stuff but it will take a while to get rid of the other.

Never had a problem with the Lucas additive.
What mix of diesel did you have that failed?

 

[Xplora]

Never had a problem with the Lucas additive.
What mix of diesel did you have that failed?

1.5 -2 times recommended. When I say it failed, the machine chugged for nearly half an hour and cut out a couple of times. Eventually it ran but not like when we have the proper stuff from the bowser. The Peugeot doesn't need additive or winter mix but every other diesel vehicle or machine we have does.

 

[N0frilz]

1.5 -2 times recommended. When I say it failed, the machine chugged for nearly half an hour and cut out a couple of times. Eventually it ran but not like when we have the proper stuff from the bowser. The Peugeot doesn't need additive or winter mix but every other diesel vehicle or machine we have does.

How long was it mixed in the thank?

I’ve never had diesel freeze in a dual cab ute using the Lucas additive I only dose it at the nominal rate but I give it 30-50km to mix in the tank before getting to the resort.

 

[Xplora]

How long was it mixed in the thank?

I’ve never had diesel freeze in a dual cab ute using the Lucas additive I only dose it at the nominal rate but I give it 30-50km to mix in the tank before getting to the resort.

We have been doing this a long time. It gets mixed then run around. Unlike most people, we don't travel to the Alpine area occasionally. We live it 24/7. Some vehicles handle conditions better than others.

 

[sourmash]

Have done 3-4 trips per year from Sydney to Thredbo in CX-5 diesel since 2013. Always ensured to get "mountain mix" diesel in Cooma (or Jindabyne as backup). Never had an issue.

 

[ElGreco]

Hey All,

I‘m heading up to Hotham tomorrow (until Sunday) staying in DP. What would be my safest bet in regards to a hassle free trip? Driving a Ford Ranger. Currently have 1/4 of a tank.

Big thanks in advance.

 

[N0frilz]

Hey All,

I‘m heading up to Hotham tomorrow (until Sunday) staying in DP. What would be my safest bet in regards to a hassle free trip? Driving a Ford Ranger. Currently have 1/4 of a tank.

Big thanks in advance.

Buy alpine diesel and treat what is in your tank with the additive.
Or fill up with regular diesel and treat it with the additive.

 

[ElGreco]

Buy alpine diesel and treat what is in your tank with the additive.
Or fill up with regular diesel and treat it with the additive.

Thank you very much I’m so buzzed out actually being able to get to the snow, I can’t think straight

 

[Xplora]

Hey All,

I‘m heading up to Hotham tomorrow (until Sunday) staying in DP. What would be my safest bet in regards to a hassle free trip? Driving a Ford Ranger. Currently have 1/4 of a tank.

Big thanks in advance.

Run your tank as low as you can and put only as much as you need to get to DP and back to a regular diesel. Maybe half a tank. Up to you. Not recommended to run it for long periods but a tank would not hurt anything other than your wallet for the higher price.

 

[ElGreco]

Run your tank as low as you can and put only as much as you need to get to DP and back to a regular diesel. Maybe half a tank. Up to you. Not recommended to run it for long periods but a tank would not hurt anything other than your wallet for the higher price.

Cheers Xplora. Great point on the half a tank.

 

[Ultra2.0]

Team Bears still place blanket over top of engine....newspaper,old jumpers etcetc
Just not near battery terminals*****

done this a few times, works a treat, until that one morning, you forget the blanket is over the engine.. needles to say, we didn't make it to the hill that day.

 

[Ubiquitous Steve]

done this a few times, works a treat, until that one morning, you forget the blanket is over the engine.. needles to say, we didn't make it to the hill that day.

Yes....they will dislodge the belts...nasty...