needed range for Argentina, Chile ? (fuel)
 

Hi,
I plan to make a trip on small bikes (250cc), arround argentina and and Chile, going down to Tierra del Fuego.
I have seen in this forum a lot of people getting some bigger fuel tanks, but what fuel autonomy should we really need to do this ? 200km, 400km, or even 650km like Grant ?

Thanks,

Séverin

When I rode south on Ruta Tres (east coast, Argentina) in 2001, the biggest gap between petrol stations was 130km - due south from Caleta, just below Comodoro Rivadavia.

*However*, the biggest gap between petrol stations that actually had any petrol, was 250km - due south from Caleta, just below Comodoro Rivadavia and bypassing the completely dry station at Tres Cerros!

(Luckily, a very friendly van gave me + bike a hitch to Puerto San Julian. Gracias, Javier.)

On Ruta 40, the largest gap between fuel stations is 360km btween Tres Lagos and Bajo Caricoles . This will be the longest stretch almost anywhere in Chile and Argentina, unless you have bad luck and the station is out of gas. That said, where there are little towns, there is almost always somebody selling fuel out of a barrel. The problem with the 350km on Ruta 40 is that there are no little towns, no nada.
My advise? Wait until you arrive here, buy Coke in the 2L hard plastic bottles (there are two types, the regular recyclable plastic, and a very hard plastic as well). Use these for your spare fuel.
Enjoy,
Rene
www.renedian.com

Salut Severin

I bought a big fuel tank for my africa twin, I thought I'd need it for russia... but it was the worst investment i've ever taken :-)

I didn't need it in Chile and Argentina as well. My proposal: the bike should reach 300kms, and take about 5 or 10 extra litres with you.

But I can imagine, that there are some remote regions, e.g. in northern chile (desert) where you can't get fuel. But only if you're driving just straight through the middle of nowhere :-)

Marco, aussi de la suisse, schreibe mir doch von deinen Plänen (de, eng, fr)

http://www.schnueriger.net

.....

Who???
Me??
Why?
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/confused.gif

As Rene, Marco and Mike say a range between 300 or 350 km it’s Ok. But as they and me know (we have 40ltrs bigger tanks) it’s easier say that. Anyway is nice when you know than you can make more than 500 kms!!!! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif
Javier…..
www.dakarmotos.com

thanks for the quick replies. I think I will use the Coke solution.

For madmarco, I unfortunately don't speak german well (but I try hard). Only french.

Ok Severín:
I’m not Javier I’m Sandra his wife. All this guys (friends also) has big tank. I made the south, with a Yamaha 250 cc sr special model 83, My range is 200 km.. I didn’t do the 40 road (my bike is not the perfect one for that) and also I couldn’t arrive to Usuhia (but because the wind, Javier was worry that I fly away).
I take any extra fuel also, but I only use that because I was in Viedma and I forgot to put fuel,(I use to forget that the bike need some things).
Don’t worry enquire where is the next gas station, and if you are not sure take some extra fuel
Good luck
Sandra.

There is a long gap in northern Chile. Going south from Antofagasta it's around 300 kms. to Vallenar. No town, just gas station and some shacks. I Secured two 1 gallon cherry tanks on light metal baskets on the back of my HD Sportster. That gave me about 160 kms more range. They proved themselves useful MANY times, mostly for not being sure when to fill up. Sometimes you don't know where the last gas station is. Another good idea: carry a couple of meters of plastic hose. It will allow friendly drivers to siphon some fuel into a container (carry a container). If that hose is transparent it will spare you from savoring gasoline (take mouthwash).
Enjoy it! If you are driving by Peru, drop me a line.
Marcello

Hola,
Rene is completely correct. I rode Ruta 40 from Barloche to Tierra Del Fuego in the winter or 2004-2005 and got gas at Tres Lagos heading south. That was the longest stretch I encountered without gas. I also had trouble with gas in Torre de Paines park in the sense that there was gas at Puerto Natalis but I never found any for sale in the park officially. Maybe someone can comment on that problem or found some. I did find plenty of great off road riding in and around the area and got back to Puerto Natalis on fumes.
Riding the Pan Am highway in N. Chili it was inconvient to drive west into the towns on the coast for fuel but it was necessary several times to refuel. I only carried a quart of water and at times wished for more but it is easy to buy bottled water if you remember. There was plenty of traffic on the road in Chili but it was very light in some sections of Ruta 40 (one car an hour). A crash would have been trouble and I was cold because of the high winds removing my body heat as fast as my electric vest and grips made it. Here again there were limited supplies of water and I was working hard just to stay on the road so I needed fluids and a break from riding. I stopped in gravel pits to get out of the wind and make tea. Argentina has little cookies for sale in every gas station. They are cheap, pack well and with chocolate and were welcome with tea. Bill.

It is possible to buy fuel in Torres del Paine, if you are willing to pay a fortune and they have some spare!
You will find it at the big hotel in the park. Ask nicely in reception and they will get the petrol guy to unlock the pump for you.
I guess they use it for all the park vehicles that transport all those hikers around!

As for our fuel range; 500km on a good day with no wind! That was plenty for everywhere except Ruta 40 and the Salar de Uyuni. We used the coke bottles there. One tip - the bottles are reasonably fuel proof, the lids are not. put a couple of layers of plastic bags over the opening, then close tightly for leak free containers.

Sian..