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Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
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  #1  
Old 25 Aug 2008
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Exclamation Fuel and modern vehicles
Hi everyone,i am planning on buying a small 4x4 like Jimny or Terios and traveling through Russia to Mongolia sometime...I have already browsed through the forum and cannot yet understand the following:How can cars like these travel through those countries having catalytic converters but with no unleaded fuel available over there?Do i simply kill the catalytic converter or maybe disconnect it somehow...?Also would those cars run on fuel like 76 octane petrol or generally below 92 octane(i read that sometimes this is the case in Mongolia for example)?Does anyone have experience over this subject?(I posted this thread in the Northern Asia topics but maybe it fits better somewhere else?)
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Old 25 Aug 2008
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Quote:
Do i simply kill the catalytic converter
Yes. You could remove it before the trip.

-------------------
However more imortant! Most of the newer vehicles run a closed loop system .. with a lambda (CO2) sensor .. screws into the exhaust sydemt somewheres. That too will be poisioned by the lead. And the EFI system will go into a 'limp home mode' probably with highter fuel consumption. Suggest you talk to someone who knows the vehicles you are considering with regard to their fuel systems and the consiquences of running them on leaded and low quality fuel. If they have a 'knock sensor' then they'll be fine with the low quality .. you 'just' need to worry about the lead then!

Possibly the 4WD section might be better?
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Old 28 Aug 2008
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Thank you very much Frank i didn't know the English terminology for those terms ''closed loop system'' etc your remark has been of great help.I finally talked to a mechanic and it depends on the brand and model of the vehicle about the modifications and finally i get it why so many people prefer old diesel vehicles to make such trips.Maybe i have to speed things up about getting that motorbike license...Thanks again!
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Old 28 Aug 2008
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Can you not get a small 4x4 in deisel?

One option might be to get a Toyota Hi-Lux. A bit bigger perhaps, but not huge.

Matt
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Old 28 Aug 2008
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Fuel issue
It all depends which countries you will be visiting and how deep you will go in those countries.
we just finished our Around the world trip and we took 2007 model of small Suzuki saloon car with no problems. the only issue we had was Fuel. In Russia, even though it says Octane 93/95 but we still got cheated and the "Check Engine Light" showed up. but we kept driving till USA. no problems.
Take some octane booster with you.

arun
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Old 29 Aug 2008
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Have you considered a lada niva for your trip they are very popular all over russia and area so spares, fuel type etc are not a problem they are also very basic to work on which is handy, As fuel is very cheap in russia then the fuel consumption should not be so big a worry. Jake
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Old 29 Aug 2008
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I drove a Mitsubishi L400 van (1997) from Sweden to western Mongolia and back this summer.

I had no problems at all in Russia. 95/96 oktane available all the way to Mongolia.

In Mongolia you will find 80 oktane in most small settlements. The small towns (10-50 000 peoples) have 92 oktane. 95 is only available in Ulaanbator.
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Old 29 Aug 2008
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But of course Niva was the first thing that came to mind and since i have a little personal experience with it at least off-road i find it to be absolutely charming...and damn this is car is reliable...but since it is not a trip that it will be done solo -there will be at least one more in the vehicle- i wanted to have the extra security of abs and airbags for the worst scenario possible...if my friend keeps being warm about the whole idea of travelling through greece to mongolia and back i will keep considering a small 4x4 either Niva or Hilux(good idea too)(jimny might too) but if not...then on the coming october i take the motorbike license and start ''gaining'' experience for summer 2010!(another biker in the Hubb ).If i have any questions about the car i will post them on the 4x4 overland thread i guess they fit there better than here.Thanks again everyone hope those years fly by quickly for me i can't wait for the road...hope to see you FINALLY on the road.
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Old 1 Sep 2008
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I often think its a shame they don't make the 2CV any more...

Matt
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Old 8 Sep 2008
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Originally Posted by Matt Cartney View Post
I often think its a shame they don't make the 2CV any more...

Matt
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I seen a beautiful "Plums and Custard" a few weeks ago in Oslo.

It looked like new with the fabric roof all rolled back.
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