BajaNomad

fuel into mexico

fishinsteve - 3-5-2010 at 05:48 AM

How many full 5 gal. cans of gas are you allowed to bring into mex. at the tijuana crossing these days?


thanks,
Steve

Bob and Susan - 3-5-2010 at 06:17 AM

zero

fishinsteve - 3-5-2010 at 07:07 AM

thanks

David K - 3-5-2010 at 08:43 AM

They may even check your water jugs! It was back in 2001 at Tecate, but we got the red light... I had an empty red can (to fill in Mexico) and a full (of water) blue can... The inspector actually removed the cap on the blue can and smelled it to make sure it wsn't gasoline! :P:O

Those who think entering Mexico at Tecate is always a mellow experience, be warned! :light:

torch - 3-5-2010 at 08:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K


Those who think entering Mexico at Tecate is always a mellow experience, be warned! :light:


yep truely random in being searched crossing into mex. but most importantly is the inspectors attitude you deal with.

David K - 3-5-2010 at 08:52 AM

Oh, it was fun... I always have a happy face on when dealing with policia and customs agents... if I am in Baja, then life is good!

shari - 3-5-2010 at 09:05 AM

whew...glad they didnt check my water jug that time I filled it with tequila!!!!

rts551 - 3-5-2010 at 09:12 AM

Why is it a worry if you get searched? Why the warning?
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
They may even check your water jugs! It was back in 2001 at Tecate, but we got the red light... I had an empty red can (to fill in Mexico) and a full (of water) blue can... The inspector actually removed the cap on the blue can and smelled it to make sure it wsn't gasoline! :P:O

Those who think entering Mexico at Tecate is always a mellow experience, be warned! :light:

jodiego - 3-5-2010 at 09:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
zero


Besides being a hazard driving around baja with sloshing containers of a highly flammable liquid, what is the reason for this restriction?

torch - 3-5-2010 at 09:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Why is it a worry if you get searched? Why the warning?

Quote:




I try to bring a few bags of clothes and a few toys or bikes for the local families. I have only been told I can't bring them into mex once. No guns or money just Items to put smiles on families faces.:biggrin::biggrin:

[Edited on 3-5-2010 by torch]

David K - 3-5-2010 at 09:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jodiego
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
zero


Besides being a hazard driving around baja with sloshing containers of a highly flammable liquid, what is the reason for this restriction?


Pemex is a government monopoly (socialized gasoline)... and they don't like competition!:light:

David K - 3-5-2010 at 09:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Why is it a worry if you get searched? Why the warning?


Quote:
Originally posted by David K
They may even check your water jugs! It was back in 2001 at Tecate, but we got the red light... I had an empty red can (to fill in Mexico) and a full (of water) blue can... The inspector actually removed the cap on the blue can and smelled it to make sure it wsn't gasoline! :P:O

Those who think entering Mexico at Tecate is always a mellow experience, be warned! :light:


The "be warned' is for those who have read here what a breeze it is crossing at Tecate. I am just saying they can inspct you, that's all.

4baja's group going to Camp Gecko one trip was stopped at Tijuana and was forced back north because of all the extra gasoline they were bringing south. Was a nightmare for them to get rid of all their gas in San Ysidro!

fishinsteve - 3-5-2010 at 10:06 AM

It wasn't a problem in the past to carry one or two five gal. cans but I thought they started cracking down.
Thanks for the replies

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 3-5-2010 at 12:12 PM

Hola,

why would you take gasoline or diesel INTO mexico since both are cheaper in mexico unless you have concerns about the low sulfer diesel ? i fill up in tecate before heading towards ensenada after my drive from los angeles.

i usually carry two empty five gallon cans and fill them in san quintin.

el rosario is usually reliable but why take the chance ? it's such a long haul to the next gas stop in jesus maria.

just a thought.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

fishinsteve - 3-5-2010 at 12:23 PM

It used to be I liked having good fuel on board in case I ran into bad fuel. Thats not the case any longer cuz the fuel has been good the last bunch of years. Now my new baja rig is a jeep with about a two hundred mile range and I don't like to stop til I get to El Rosario. But it looks like I'll be stopping at San Quintin.

WHY ? WHY ?

MrBillM - 3-5-2010 at 01:03 PM

Over MANY years, I had taken "enough" gasoline South to make sure I could make the trip North when I wanted to.

As supply and quality improved, along with the occasional border hassle, I quit doing so.

It wasn't too long ago that I was reminded that being prepared was a wise choice when there was a short-lived shortage and panic reaction in San Felipe and elsewhere making gasoline purchase difficult, at best.

I still no longer carry loaded containers South, BUT I do take along empties which I fill at the first opportunity AND I maintain a gasoline reserve in Baja which guarantees I won't be affected by another "Crazy" period.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 3-5-2010 at 01:06 PM

Hola fishinsteve,

if you only have a 200 mile range and if you drive over the 50 mph limit, in my opinion, you had better carry at least five gallons just in case. i believe the next gas stop after el rosario is jesus maria and that's about 220 miles or so.

i don't have any problems going south but i did have to top off my tank from a gas can going north after filling up jesus maria and pulling a small trailer and traveling at 70 mph on two different trips. it really sucks the gas mileage over 50 mph, at least, for me. now, i do 50 mph.

why do you fill up on the u.s. side before crossing the border and not topping off after crossing the border ( unless your departure location is close to the border ), especially with the lesser fuel costs in mexico ? just a thought.

i guess i'm from the old school and am not as adventurous as you are. i was always told to never run below half a tank as there is always the possibility that the next pemex may not have gas ? AND i am one person that does not like buying gas from barrels alongside mex1 as you never know what they're selling.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 3-5-2010 at 01:16 PM

Hola MrBILLM,

yes, it's always wise to keep an extra supply as you never know when the need will arise. in los barriles, my friends and i always have extra gas just in case there is a fuel shortage especially if there is a " BIG WIND " on the way.

even after small rains, we do lose power and also need the extra fuel for our generators and quads. i have seen runs at the pemex where people will wait until the last minute to buy gas and are caught up in massive lines at the pemex.

i am sure you are aware, put stabil in your extra gas cans if they're to be stored for any length of time.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Bajahowodd - 3-5-2010 at 01:17 PM

It IS Mexico. So weird things can happen. Aside from delivery problems such as when the bridges washed out with the recent storms, I still recall just a matter of 3-4 years ago when there was no gasoline available in San Quintin. Not sure why.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 3-5-2010 at 01:37 PM

YUP ! better safe than stranded !

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

BooJumMan - 3-5-2010 at 04:34 PM

Wow. I have always brought gas containers (full up to 20 gallons) in Baja and have never had anyone say a word. I often get the red light, and if I get the green light, they still wave me over, but never had said anything about the gas.

I also have remembered several times when El Rosario was out of gas, and since the Catavina station closed, there isn't any until Jesus Maria. I bring gas from the US because I like running 91 octane in my tank as well....and I always use it because I drive offroad a lot when im in Baja!

David K - 3-5-2010 at 06:27 PM

El Rosario out of gas? Not since 2004 or earlier... once it was reported that they only had Premium for a short time... Antonio is pretty good managing that station.

BillP - 3-5-2010 at 08:34 PM

From the mid '70s to the mid '90s we always carried 4 jerry cans plus two six gallon outboard tanks filled with premium for the outboard in addition to keeping one of the saddle tanks full of premium for the outboard. Never got checked. Back then, real low octane Nova was plentiful, high octane Extra was iffy. We had an MSD timing master on the dash and could dial back the timing to run the Nova in the truck.

Edit: I wouldn't attempt that today.

[Edited on 3-6-2010 by BillP]

BooJumMan - 3-6-2010 at 09:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
El Rosario out of gas? Not since 2004 or earlier... once it was reported that they only had Premium for a short time... Antonio is pretty good managing that station.


Yes I mean in the 80's-90's era. I remember a few times. One in particular during the winter storms of '91. Plus my father has told me of times before. I know its different now, but I always feel safer with extra gas. My 4runner likes to drink gas as a hobby! :yes:

David K - 3-6-2010 at 09:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BooJumMan
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
El Rosario out of gas? Not since 2004 or earlier... once it was reported that they only had Premium for a short time... Antonio is pretty good managing that station.


Yes I mean in the 80's-90's era. I remember a few times. One in particular during the winter storms of '91. Plus my father has told me of times before. I know its different now, but I always feel safer with extra gas. My 4runner likes to drink gas as a hobby! :yes:


Okay, thanks for that... dates are important when relating conditions on Nomad!

Yes, 20-30 years ago there were gas problems... Heck there was even stuff they called 'NOVA' (regular leaded gas) that was about 79 octane and we either had to add octane booster or retard the timing to keep our cars from pinging (pre-ignition). Not all stations had 'EXTRA' (unleaded 87 octane gas)... both replaced by MAGNA SIN and PREMIUM.