BajaNomad - importing gasoline

importing gasoline

vespaio - 1-26-2020 at 10:05 AM

Hi,

Is it absolutely certain you cannot bring in extra gasoline into Baja? In 2017 we had 4 5-gallon tanks on the nose of my off-road trailer. These were clearly visible to anyone interested, yet no one was. We crossed the border withouyt incident.

Thx, Ray

4x4abc - 1-26-2020 at 10:10 AM

depends on who feels like making you dump it or return to US

PaulW - 1-26-2020 at 10:22 AM

Absolutely certain. It has been the law since before 2017. No gas can cross southbound unless included in the vehicle tank.
You were just lucky the border person did not see the gas cans
Chances that would happen again is very unlikely.
===== =

Quote: Originally posted by vespaio

Hi,

Is it absolutely certain you cannot bring in extra gasoline into Baja? In 2017 we had 4 5-gallon tanks on the nose of my off-road trailer. These were clearly visible to anyone interested, yet no one was. We crossed the border without incident.

Thx, Ray

bajaguy - 1-26-2020 at 10:26 AM

Quote: Originally posted by vespaio

Take 'em empty, fill 'em here

Marc - 1-26-2020 at 10:32 AM

Sometimes it just depends on red or green light.

Mr. Bills - 1-26-2020 at 10:43 AM

The week before Christmas a group of us with jerry cans on each vehicle crossed southbound at Tecate with no incident and no one paying any attention to whether our jerry cans were full or empty. (They were empty.)

Would I chance that next time? Nope.

vespaio - 1-26-2020 at 03:34 PM

I guess thereal question is: has anyone ever been turned away at the border because he was carrying extra gas?

Ray

David K - 1-26-2020 at 03:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by vespaio

I guess thereal question is: has anyone ever been turned away at the border because he was carrying extra gas?

Ray

YES... people we know. You may find the trip report from "4baja" (Steve). It was a nightmare for their rigs all with extra gas, being turned back north (at Tijuana), waiting in border line, then having to park in front of a U.S. gas station and hope to sell cheap or give away all their extra gas.

Personally, I knew better and when I got pulled into Mexican secondary (at Tecate) and the inspector opened my empty red can to see if it has ANY gas. He then opened my BLUE water can and smelled it!

Sr.vienes - 1-26-2020 at 03:56 PM

About four years ago we were crossing at Mexicali East and my son had a 100 gallon diesel tank behind his cab. They said since it wasn’t factory and was not connected it wasn’t legal, however they let us pay duty and a small fine of some sort. It was not a mordidita situation it was paid in the office with a credit card on the computer. Would have been far cheaper to have brought it in empty.

StuckSucks - 1-26-2020 at 05:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by vespaio

I guess thereal question is: has anyone ever been turned away at the border because he was carrying extra gas?

Ray

A few years ago I was headed down to a race and had two full dump cans in the back of the truck -- they told me I had to turn around, and not enter Mexico. Unfortunately, the truck I was driving was also full of gas.

bajatrailrider - 1-26-2020 at 05:51 PM

In this disorganized country you never know what they do. It is not worth the chance they send you back with your full gas cans.

caj13 - 1-26-2020 at 06:16 PM

is there some reason you just wouldn't bring in empty cans and fill em at the station in Mexico?

David K - 1-26-2020 at 06:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by caj13

is there some reason you just wouldn't bring in empty cans and fill em at the station in Mexico?

I think it is for one of three reasons:

1) People that normally have full gas cans on trips, and didn't know it was illegal.

2) Price of gas is so high in Mexico now, and didn't know it was illegal.

3) Didn't know Mexican gas was better (no ethanol).

mjs - 1-26-2020 at 07:37 PM

I have an extra tank in the bed of my truck. Have been stopped and asked if it was full. It was. After discussion and showing them it was connected to feed the truck and there was no easy way to otherwise empty it, I was allowed to proceed.

Gas cans always cross empty.

Remember When .......... ?

MrBillM - 1-26-2020 at 10:05 PM

1980-something during one of the gas "crises" when U.S. border residents were flooding into Mexico to buy the much cheaper gasoline resulting in massive congestion at the stations and the northbound crossings ? The situation was so bad that the Mexicans set up those exit checkpoints. THAT was a real pain even for those of us who weren't participating in the craziness.

DBaja - 1-27-2020 at 10:50 AM

I got the red light in TJ. They found about 4 -5 gallon cans in the back. Made me wait for an hour and a half for an escort to drive me back across the border, all the while holding onto my passport so I wouldn’t leave. They couldn’t find an escort so they let me off by having me pour all 20 gallons of gas on the ground!! :mad:

My concern was quality diesel which I have since learned isn’t an issue any more.

Pacifico - 1-27-2020 at 11:10 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DBaja

I got the red light in TJ. They found about 4 -5 gallon cans in the back. Made me wait for an hour and a half for an escort to drive me back across the border, all the while holding onto my passport so I wouldn’t leave. They couldn’t find an escort so they let me off by having me pour all 20 gallons of gas on the ground!! :mad:

My concern was quality diesel which I have since learned isn’t an issue any more.

They had you dump 20 gallons on the ground??? That would be quite the hazmat spill....When did this happen supposedly?

David K - 1-27-2020 at 11:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico

Quote: Originally posted by DBaja

My concern was quality diesel which I have since learned isn’t an issue any more.

They had you dump 20 gallons on the ground??? That would be quite the hazmat spill....When did this happen supposedly?

Right? Wow!

If anyone nearby was lighting a cigarette...

Just shows you the insanity of government sometimes. They say they want to improve the environment and help people live better...

So they:

*Add lots of tax to gasoline
*Force visitors to buy a few more gallons of Mexican gasoline than they already will
*Cause environmental damage by making the rules such that the few pesos of lost tax revenue was more important than the damage (or death and danger if exploded)
and
*Risk irritating visitors who may never return to Mexico after that.

Sad!

vespaio - 1-27-2020 at 12:32 PM

Just a curiosity. Too often anecdotal reports of "a friend of my friend's brother-in-law once...." pass as fact when they aren't.

I don't have a problem arriving in Baja with empty tanks. I often travel in areas where there are no gas staations, driving a Jeep that gets pitiful mileage, and have had to use the gas in those tanks just to get back to civilization.

I'll leave them on trailer, but they'll be empty.

Tioloco - 1-27-2020 at 04:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico

Quote: Originally posted by DBaja

My concern was quality diesel which I have since learned isn’t an issue any more.

They had you dump 20 gallons on the ground??? That would be quite the hazmat spill....When did this happen supposedly?

"supposedly"?
Are you inferring he/she is lying? wth?

basautter - 1-27-2020 at 05:00 PM

I have been warned a couple of times about full gas cans at the San Luis crossing. They let me keep the gas, but warned that is was against the rules. I have since stopped, and just buy gas in Baja.

AKgringo - 1-27-2020 at 05:32 PM

My Kia Sportage convertible had a tiny 10 1/2 gallon tank, so I carry a Kolpin four gallon gas can designed to ride on the back of an ATV. It lays nice and flat in my cargo space!

I knew about the restrictions on bringing in full tanks, so I hit the road with an empty gas can. I took a series of different routes headed toward the border, and wound up needing gas at Glamis.

The only fuel there was god awful expensive, but I had no choice! I now travel with a full can which I empty into my tank when I am close to the border, then top off the tank before I cross.

[Edited on 1-28-2020 by AKgringo]

Pacifico - 1-27-2020 at 06:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Tioloco

Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico

Quote: Originally posted by DBaja

My concern was quality diesel which I have since learned isn’t an issue any more.

They had you dump 20 gallons on the ground??? That would be quite the hazmat spill....When did this happen supposedly?

"supposedly"?
Are you inferring he/she is lying? wth?

My money would be on that this didn't happen. However, I have heard of crazy chit happening in Mexico plenty of times. So, who knows? I'm also not dumb enough to believe everything I read on here either.

He stated that he dumped 20 gallons of GAS on the ground which would be hazardous, dangerous, and foolish no matter what country you are in. He then goes on to say he was concerned about quality diesel...so, was it gas or diesel?

Not saying it didn't happen, but likely didn't! A picture or video is worth a thousand words...

Understandable Skepticism ?

MrBillM - 1-27-2020 at 07:37 PM

Given their historical and current near-universal dedication to health issues and curbing pollution with reverence for the planet, it's difficult to believe that any Mexicans (especially public servants) would tolerate (much less initiate) actions which would would do needless environmental harm.

It does seem pretty far-fetched.

BajaTed - 1-27-2020 at 07:45 PM

How about 100+ 0ctane race fuel in sealed cans????
Those trophy trucks aint using Pemex

David K - 1-27-2020 at 08:59 PM

Race gas is hauled down for racers by the supplier. That was how Doug (BajaNomad) fell in love with Baja... His dad invented TRICK Racing Fuel.

DBaja - 1-27-2020 at 10:53 PM

Haha I assure you it happened to me, no reason to fib. 2014 going south through TJ right at sun up. Got pulled into the scanners, asked to look inside the truck, discovered the full cans... you know the rest.

DBaja - 1-27-2020 at 11:27 PM

Well not much of proof nor does it explain anything. At the very least you can see my lousy attempt of being discrete with the full cans of fuel. Yes only 13 gallons visible in the pic Pacifico and no its not an action shot of it all being poured out!

Mr. Bills - 1-28-2020 at 02:19 AM

Would you be more comfortable with the word "allegedly?"

bajatrailrider - 1-28-2020 at 08:24 AM

Race fuel is sold in Ensenada all you want. Way back in time dirt bikes . We would go to the military airport Ensenada buy 100 low lead. Mix it 50/50 as Mex pump fuel was bad . Our bikes had hi compression pistons that where fine on pump fuel states but not mex.

chuckie - 1-28-2020 at 08:33 AM

Back in the day...When gas stations were few and far between, it was almost necessary to carry some spare fuel. Now, not so much...If you are too cheap to buy Mexican gas? Stay in Oxnard...

Glidergeek - 1-28-2020 at 08:43 AM

Will US customs allow a 55 ga drum of gas to cross NB? Like in the back of a pick up?

[Edited on 1-28-2020 by Glidergeek]

Back When .................

MrBillM - 1-28-2020 at 10:16 AM

During that one '80s gas crisis, a good friend with a casa @ Alfonsinas would carry a 50-gal drum RT. Filling it in both directions in Mexicali. He never had a problem with the U.S. agents, but after the Mexican exit stops were established, he found himself stopped and turned back once. Never tried again.

That one time he was stopped, he ended up driving down a deserted road and rolling the drum off the truck.

A surprise gift to some Mexican(s).

THAT was a long time ago, of course, and times change, but I don't see any present U.S. restriction on gasoline listed other than the notation that it must be declared and any taxes paid, but given that there is a deductible ($800.00 now ?), that wouldn't seem to be a factor.

Pacifico - 1-28-2020 at 11:44 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DBaja

Haha I assure you it happened to me, no reason to fib. 2014 going south through TJ right at sun up. Got pulled into the scanners, asked to look inside the truck, discovered the full cans... you know the rest.

Fair enough! I hope you understand my skepticism. Crazy that they didn't just charge you or dump it into one of their own vehicles... 20 gallons of gas on the ground is a huge mess! Maybe they had you dump it in the dirt; a planter?

DBaja - 1-28-2020 at 11:58 AM

Haha I’ll accept allegedly.

The whole experience was hard to believe no doubt. After waiting so long to be escorted back I was just happy to not have been turned around. I definitely learned a lesson that trip, don’t fill them up before or hide them well!! Exactly Pacifico, it was all poured behind a planter in the dirt. Still, no bueno

DBaja - 1-28-2020 at 12:06 PM

Haha I’ll accept allegedly.