DrTom - 12-17-2007 at 08:41 AM
hows the diesel availablity going down to cabo from tecate? I will be carrying 20 gal in cans in addition to the tank, but any ideas? Also, is there
an rv park someone would recommend on the US side near tecate for a cross at 8am?
thanks
tom
Hook - 12-17-2007 at 10:03 AM
I never deal with the GN stations any more. too many reports of ripoffs on the fuel delivered and it is most prone to running out.
Get it in Villa Jesus Maria, maybe 20-40 miles north of GN.
Most diesel trucks (maybe you have an RV, though) can make it from ER to at least Vizcaino and probably to SI, but SI can have shortages, too. So, I
usually top off at Vizcaino, where shortages seem much rarer.
rts551 - 12-17-2007 at 10:07 AM
Vizcaino is a major truck stop and almost aways has diesel. Sometimes I stop in Jesus Maria to get 40 ltrs just in case. Haven't had to carry diesel
in the back of my truck for a number of years... Knock on wood!
Bajafun777 - 12-19-2007 at 12:08 AM
Dr. Tom, if you get the chance get a "flowmaster toolbox and diesel tank"which can give you and extra 30 gallons and it takes you soooo much further.
I just love mine and one fill up would get you all the way to Cabo as you should be able to have have a total of about 60 gallons. When I went
mainland to Maztalan it sure was nice have this extra tank. Take care and Merry X-Mas.
losfrailes - 12-19-2007 at 08:28 AM
You should have no problem with diesel all the way down.
As Pompano says, look for the PEMEX that has the black sign usually below the green ones (however that number is not price, its station number).
Good stations in Ensenada, El Rosario, Jesus Maria, New station near foundry in Santa Rosalia, Mulege (south of town about 3 miles), then 200 miles to
Insurgentes, then on to La Paz.
DrTom - 12-19-2007 at 08:48 AM
you guys rock
Smoke - 12-19-2007 at 05:54 PM
Dr Tom, you know about the ulsd problem with new diesels right.
DrTom - 12-19-2007 at 06:07 PM
called my service rep, he says we dont have it here at home yet either....said shouldnt be a problem, recommended i use howes additive....which i use
for the boat anyway.....
thanks for the heads up....
Hook - 12-19-2007 at 08:26 PM
DrTom, where are you that you dont have ULSD yet? I thought it was mandatory in all 50 states by Jan. 1 of 07.
Iflyfish - 12-20-2007 at 03:33 PM
Could not find ULSD in Southern Texas, odd, but true. Only place we have not found it. Been to OR, WA, CA. NM, AZ, Miss. LS, FL, B.C. and Baja, all
had ULSD.
Iflyfish
DrTom - 12-20-2007 at 04:22 PM
British Columbia
CShirk - 12-20-2007 at 05:29 PM
How about Gonzaga Bay? the last time I was there, there wasn't diesel, but the new AAA map says there is. Is there just a station, or is there a
station that's actually supplied wth diesel?
rts551 - 12-20-2007 at 05:36 PM
Sign says available. But the attendant says haven't had any in a while. Sent me across the road to the store where I was able to get 40 ltrs
[Edited on 12-21-2007 by rts551]
Iflyfish - 12-22-2007 at 07:54 AM
Tom, this is unfortunately a long post.
B.C. is British Columbia indeed.
I have reviewed info on ULSD and will post it below as I posted on the View/Navion website.
Summary: ULSD available to at least Guerro Negro and surrounding area, not yet clear about Baja Sur. I hope others who are down there will report on
sitings of ULSD below Guerro Negro.
I have quoted our good friend BajaCactus below in sequence of his postings on the issue.
Re: ULSD
This is a rather long post. I am sorry for that. This is not a simple
issue and different terms are being used by different people.
I would encourage anyong traveling to Baja to join the Baja Nomads
forum listed below. This can be a contentious forum at times but it
is peopled by xpats and frequent travelers to Baja. There is a lot of
very good and current information available on that site.
There has been a significant increase in crimes against tourists in
the Baja and if entering Baja I would recommend the Tecate border
crossing. I would also suggest that you drive only durning the day.
It is good to travel with a dog and to keep your valuables well
hidden. There has been a rash of armed robberies of surfers and off
road racers who have expensive equipment in plain sight on their
vehicles.
Last winter we traveled throughout Baja in our 06 View H. I believed
that we were purchasing ULSD through out the peninsula. I was told
that all fuel in Baja is shipped via barge so that the fuel is all
the same in both Baja Norte and Baja Sur. It appears now from
BajaCactus posts that ULSD is only available, for certain, in Baja
Norte to Guerro Negro and perhaps as far south as Visciano. If this
is so then one could safely travel to Asuncion using fuel from Guerro
Negro if I read Antonio's posts correctly.
Antonio, aka BajaCactus owns the El Rosario Pemex. in Baja, he is a
reliable source of information about things Baja. He writes on the
yahoo website called Baja Nomads where I also post under the name
Iflyfish. I have posted BajaCactus' posts over time on this issue.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/today.php
This is copied directly from the Baja Nomad Site:
BajaCactus
Nomad
Posts: 428
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
posted on 6-28-2007 at 06:37 AM
Diesel Bajo Azufre...
My friends,
For several months now, Pemex Refinacion (that is the part of Pemex
that produces fuel) has been producing Low Sulfur Diesel, known in
Mexico as "Pemex Diesel Bajo Azufre".
This type of Diesel has been distributed all around Mexico for more
than 8 months now, slowly replacing the old one (When received, it
gets mixed with the old one, so it takes a while to reach it's
optimal low sulfur quality).
Pemex also sent mobile laboratories throughout Baja to check on the
new Diesel quality at the beginning of this year... they arrived at
BajaCactus in february 2007... they checked our Diesel and told us it
was already 98% Low Sulfur, back then, and according to them, at our
Gas Station, it should not have taken more than a couple of weeks to
achieve it's optimal levels.
At this point it is supposed to be all around Mexico.
On a related note, also Premium fuel has also been upgraded to a
Ultra Low Sulfur version, known as "Premium UBA" (Ultra Bajo Azufre).
Regarding the quantity of sulfur in each fuel, I do not know... but
if you guys really need/want to know, I would be happy to try and
find out for you.
In the near future, you may begin to see the change in the Gas
Stations signs of the new fuel... it just takes a while since those
are expensive and the owner of the Gas Station has to pay for them
out of their profits.
Hope this info helps my friends.
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."
[Edited on 6-28-2007 by BajaCactus]
He further posted:
posted on 6-28-2007 at 07:15 AM
Sulfur Content...
Ok Guys, here you go... the memo (resumed and translated, if you want
to read the full note, in spanish, go to:
http://www.apartados.hacienda.gob.mx/novedades/espanol/docs/...
_095_2006.pdf):
On January 30th, 2006, the Secretary for the Environment and Natural
Resources (Semarnat), published in the Federal Official Diary,
the "Specifications for fossil fuels for the protection of the
environment", in which are stated the new requirements Pemex will
have to comply with, in order to produce and commercialized the fuels
and diesel that are sell throughout our country.
The new Premium Ultra Low Sulfur, should have an average of 30
millions per part of sulfur (30 ppm), while the new Pemex Diesel
Ultra Low Sulfur will have a maximum of 15 ppm.
These new norms and specifications, are the result of a revision
process that started in May of 2002, and in which the private, public
and academic sectors participated.
It must be noted that Pemex began to delivered the Premium fuel with
the required specifications on October 2006. The quality required
should be gradually met, due to the actual existence of fuel in the
Gas Station's tanks, with a high content of Sulfur.
Regarding Diesel Ultra Low Sulfur (Diesel UBA), it's introduction
began on October 2006, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. In January 2007
in will be extensive throughout the Northern part of Mexico and then
to the rest of the country.
We should be reminded that in Mexico we only have two kinds of
Diesel... Regular diesel and Marine diesel... that is it... while in
the States the are several ones, each with different quality and
quantities of sulfur.
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."
[Edited on 6-28-2007 by BajaCactus]
He further posts:
posted on 6-28-2007 at 07:25 AM
Sulfur Content in the States...
This an excerpt of the Wikipedia Website on Sulfur Content in the
States (if you want to read the full note go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-low_sulfur_diesel)
United States
Ultra-low sulfur diesel was proposed by EPA as a new standard for the
sulfur content in on-road diesel fuel sold in the United States since
October 15, 2006, except for California and rural Alaska. California
required it since September 1, 2006, and rural Alaska will transition
all diesel to ULSD in 2010. This new regulation applies to all diesel
fuel, diesel fuel additives and distillate fuels blended with diesel
for on-road use, such as kerosene, however, it does not yet apply to
train locomotives, marine, or off road uses. By December 1, 2010, all
highway diesel will be ULSD. Non-road diesel will transition to 500
ppm sulfur in 2007, and to ULSD in 2010. Locomotive and marine diesel
will also transition to 500 ppm sulfur in 2007, and to ULSD in 2012.
There are exemptions for small refiners of nonroad, locomotive and
marine diesel that allow for 500 ppm disel to remain in the system
until 2014. After December 1, 2014 all highway, nonroad, locomotive
and marine diesel produced and imported will be ULSD.
The EPA mandated the use of ULSD fuel in model year 2007 and newer
highway diesel fuel engines equipped with advanced emission control
systems that require the new fuel. These advanced emission control
technologies will be required for marine diesel engines in 2014 and
for locomotives in 2015.
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."
He further posts:
posted on 7-30-2007 at 10:11 PM
Low Sulfur Diesel...
There has been a lot of talk and many opinions about the low sulfur
diesel... the problem relies in that some of the people that talk
about it do not have all the facts nor the proper information,
therefore create a lot of confusion.
The low sulfur diesel issue is an international effort to protect the
environment, it is not unique to the States or Mexico, in fact,
Europe and Asia have been working on this for a few years now... we
are just catching up.
The idea is to get to a point where all on-road diesel around the
globe has 15ppm of sulfur or less... regardless of how you call it,
Low Sulfur, Ultra Low Sulfur, Less Sulfur, Almost no Sulfur or
whatever.
In some places, they are making their way to the 15ppm sulfur content
in steps... therefore they have diesel, low sulfur diesel (with
500ppm) and eventually Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel.
Either way, the idea is to get to the 15ppm sulfur content on diesel.
In the States you have several types of diesel, depending on the use,
and the sulfur content on them varies... in Mexico we only have two
types: Regular diesel and Marine diesel.
The one you put in your car is the same used for off-road,
construction and any other equipment that runs on diesel... no
difference.
In Mexico, low sulfur diesel (or ultra low sulfur diesel), which has
content of 15ppm (or less) of sulfur, has been slowly introduced
nationwide since last year (October 2006).
In Baja California Norte, all gas stations began receiving it (and
therefore selling it) since January 2007. In Baja California Sur it
has not been introduced yet... they are schedule to have it in the
later part of this year.
Pemex will not order nor authorize any signs about low sulfur diesel
until they make sure every Gas Station in Mexico has this type of
diesel... this is the reason for the mobile lab units being sent to
every gas station in Mexico. Maybe they when they finally order the
change of signs the name will be change to Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel...who knows.
Now... this information comes not only from "Pemex Memos" or
Government Press releases... we at BajaCactus have received Pemex's
lab technicians making low sulfur tests to our shipments of diesel...
Also, I took the liberty of personally calling the Commercial
Director at the Ensenada Pemex Distribution Center to find out what
information they had. Everything points to the same: low sulfur
diesel has been slowly being introduced throughout Mexico for almost
a year now.
Now... whether anyone choose to believe it or not... well, that is
another story... the facts will remain the same.
Enjoy Baja my friends...
Antonio M.
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."
[Edited on 7-31-2007 by BajaCactus]
He further posts:
posted on 8-4-2007 at 08:10 PM
Pemex oficial e-mail
My friends,
I have began the process for getting the Pemex Report for ULSD... the
ping-pong game started, it just a matter of seeing through... jejeje.
In the meantime, let me mention you something, so you are not caught
off guard... there has been an "Official Pemex" e-mail circulating
online, where supposedly there is ULSD only in some cities of Mexico.
------------------ Here's the OFFICIAL answer ---------------------
From: Villa Montaño Guillermo < gvilla@...>
Date: Aug 1, 2007 10:24 AM
Subject: RE: ULS Diesel
We only have ULSD fuel in this areas: Rosarito, Mexicali, Nogales y
Ensenada, this information was confirmed by our west sales
representation.
Regards
Guillermo Villa Montaño
Gerente de Ventas al Mayoreo
Subdirección Comercial
Pemex Refinación
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
Well, this e-mail refers not to the cities itself, but to the Pemex
Distribution Depots on those cities (you can see he wrote "areas",
not "cities")... the official is not mentioning this because if you
understand how Pemex moves the fuel in Mexico, it is assumed you will
immediately understand this.
The "West Sales Representation" mentioned in this e-mail, is our
direct Pemex Supplier down here at BajaCactus.
For example, when he mentions Ensenada, he is referring to the Pemex
Depot in El Sauzal (north of Ensenada)... this Distribution Center is
responsible for all the Gas Stations from Ensenada all the way to
Jesus Maria (north of Guerrero Negro).
Also, I believe that at this time, there are other cities besides the
ones mentioned there.
Safe travels everyone...
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."
[Edited on 8-4-2007 by BajaCactus]
Iflyfish
--- In View-Navion@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <eutah10@...> wrote:
>
> Looks like there is ultra low sulfur diesel as far south as almost
> Guerro Negro.
>
> -------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
> From: "mail.discoverbaja.com" <ask@...>
> To: <sandyvarley@...>
> Subject: Fw: problem with new pickups and mexican diesel
> Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:09:36 +0000
> Hi Sandy, I finally found the answer received from Baja Cactus
> about the Low Sulfur Diesel.
> Hope it helps.
>
> Maythé Cataldo
> DBTC
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: BajaCactus
> To: 'mail.discoverbaja.com'
> Cc: CookBaja@...
> Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 11:50 AM
> Subject: RE: problem with new pickups and mexican diesel
>
> Maythe,
>
> I am answering your e-mail in English so your member will be
able
> to understand it, since I am sending her a copy of it.
>
> Her information is a bit out of date and misinterpreted… mainly
> because the way fuel is managed in Mexico while compared with the
States.
>
> First… Low Sulfur Diesel, which is has a 500ppm (parts per
> million) sulfur content has been sold in Mexico for a while now,
like
> in the States for on-highway diesel use (In the States you have
> several kinds of diesel).
>
> Now… the Diesel she is referring to is Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel
> (ULSD), with 15ppm content of Sulfur, which was introduced in the
> States since September (2006)… in Mexico distribution began the
> following month (October 2006). ULSD is a huge international effort
to
> low worldwide pollution, in Europe and Asia they have been at it
for a
> while… Mexico and the States are just catching up.
>
> In Mexico, as in the States, the change to ULSD has been a
slowly
> process… ULSD is in several regions of Mexico by now, being Baja
Norte
> one of them (In the States, they have until 2010 to comply…
California
> pushed up things a bit and has shorter deadlines). The "Pemex
> Official" I think she is referring to is an e-mail which has been
> circulating online (I am attaching a copy of it at the end of this
> e-mail)… however, everyone of those cities is a major Distribution
> Center for Pemex… the e-mail does not refer to the cities itself but
> to the region they supply diesel to (In that e-mail… the "West Sales
> Representation" is our direct supplier).
>
> For example, in the case of Ensenada, they are talking about the
> Pemex Depot in El Sauzal (north of Ensenada)… from there, every Gas
> Station all the way to Jesus Maria (26km north of Guerrero Negro) is
> supplied… therefore every one of those Gas Stations have ULSD now…
> distribution on this area began last January.
>
> To finish, the lack of information and wrong assumption of some
> people, mainly because the major difference things move down here in
> Mexico when compare to the States, lead to a lot of confusion… as
you
> very correctly pointed out.
>
> I hope this info helps you my friend.
>
> Antonio M.
>
> BajaCactus
>
> "Where the Baja is so much more than a dream…"
> ---------------------------------------------------"Official
Pemex
> e-mail"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------
>
> From: Villa Montaño Guillermo < gvilla@...>
>
> Date: Aug 1, 2007 10:24 AM
>
> Subject: RE: ULS Diesel
> We only have ULSD fuel in this areas: Rosarito, Mexicali,
Nogales
> y Ensenada, this information was confirmed by our west sales
> representation.
>
> Regards
>
> Guillermo Villa Montaño
>
> Gerente de Ventas al Mayoreo
>
> Subdirección Comercial
>
> Pemex Refinación
>
> De: Hauser Ali [mailto:ahauser@...]
>
> Enviado el: Martes, 31 de Julio de 2007 04:30 p.m.
>
> Para: Villa Montaño Guillermo
>
> CC: Orozco García Moisés Ithuriel; Solorzano y Falcon Luis
Javier;
> Card##as Rocio
>
> Asunto: RE: ULS Diesel
>
> Importancia: Alta
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mail.discoverbaja.com [mailto:ask@...]
> Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 4:15 PM
> To: info@...
> Subject: Fw: problem with new pickups and mexican diesel
>
> Antonio, otra vez yo de vuelta..
>
> Te escribo porque nos llegó éste e-mail y la verdad que estamos
> confundidos. No sabemos si existe OTRO diesel bajo en azufre tal
cómo
> menciona ésta persona ó tal vez esté confundida. Tuvieras
información
> sobre esto??? Según esta señora un oficial de PEMEX le dió estos
datos...
>
> Ah! y de paso los precios de gasolina para éste mes 
>
> Muchas gracias!!
>
> Maythé Cataldo
>
> DBTC
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: CookBaja@...
>
> To: ask@...
>
> Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 11:20 AM
>
> Subject: problem with new pickups and mexican diesel
>
> 3. Howdy Friends.To those of you who are interested and have
> purchased
> 2007-2008 diesel pickups. These new highway diesel engines
will only
> burn the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel(15ppm sulfur
content).They will
> not burn the Low sulfur Diesel fuels being sold in the Baja and
> Mainland MX., at this time. The only cities in Mexico that
have this
> new Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel, is, Roarito, Mexically,
Nogalles and
> Ensada. Do not drive your new diesel into the interior of
Mexico
> expecting to find this fuel. It is beyond me why the American
and
> Mexican tourism industries havent notified the public. If you
> burn the
> Low Sulfur Diesel fuel in these new diesel engines you will
have an
> extensive repair bill. It will shut your engine down This
information
> has just been confirmed by a Pemex official.
>
> This came on the Baja Pony Express.
>
> Ann