BajaNomad

REQUEST FOR CURRENT REPORTS ON AVAILABILITY OF ULSD DIESEL IN BCS

Mr. Bills - 12-22-2020 at 11:28 AM

REQUEST FOR CURRENT REPORTS ON AVAILABILITY OF ULSD DIESEL AT PEMEX STATIONS IN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR.

On September 16, 2020 the Mexican Ministry of Energy issued an order exempting Pemex from providing ULSD through 2021, citing distribution issues due to Covid-19. This order appears to be nationwide and is different in scope than the previous order exempting Pemex from supplying ULSD everywhere except the major metropolitan areas and the border region with the U.S.

Most ULSD fuel reports conclude that ULSD is available everywhere in BC and BCS, but that is based on old information, usually anecdotal or third hand, and the situation may have changed after 9/16/2020 due to the new, pandemic-related ruling.

What I am seeking is CURRENT, post 9/16/2020 first hand reports on the availability of ULSD in BCS. Reports on non-Pemex stations are welcome, but my interest at this time is primarily the current situation with Pemex.

Thank you.

Fernweh - 12-22-2020 at 12:32 PM

I just got a Mercedes 250 Bluetec Diesel car, and drove it via San Felipe to La Paz. Filled up in SF and Santa Rosalia, all the gas station attendees said, it was the "new" diesel fuel. My car ran fine showing around 38Mpg. The only problems I did encounter, were those large diameter fuel nozzles. In La Paz I did find at the Chevron station on Abasolo, the regular size nozzle at the Diesel pump.

Merry Christmas to all my friends

AKgringo - 12-22-2020 at 12:50 PM

Even if the pump is up and running, is there any way to tell which fuel is on tap?

Mr. Bills - 12-22-2020 at 01:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Even if the pump is up and running, is there any way to tell which fuel is on tap?


Other than a sign on the pump or a statement by the attendant probably not, and even then there is no guarantee the information is accurate.

But those indicia are better than nothing.

We'll have to see how reliable the information is as this thread develops.

[Edited on 12-22-2020 by Mr. Bills]

Mr. Bills - 12-22-2020 at 01:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Fernweh  
I just got a Mercedes 250 Bluetec Diesel car, and drove it via San Felipe to La Paz. Filled up in SF and Santa Rosalia, all the gas station attendees said, it was the "new" diesel fuel. My car ran fine showing around 38Mpg. The only problems I did encounter, were those large diameter fuel nozzles. In La Paz I did find at the Chevron station on Abasolo, the regular size nozzle at the Diesel pump.

Merry Christmas to all my friends


Do you recall the date and the specific station in Santa Rosalia, i.e., Pemex or other brand?

HeyMulegeScott - 12-24-2020 at 11:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Even if the pump is up and running, is there any way to tell which fuel is on tap?


I haven't seen any indication of ULSD. Baja - Buy the ticket, take the ride.

David K - 12-24-2020 at 11:28 AM

The signs and the pump will read Ultra Bajo Azufre vs Bajo Azufre if it is Ultra Low Sulfur (if you trust the signage). We do know that Baja Norte has been Ultra Low for years now... and the fuel depots at Mexicali and El Sauzal have only it... to supply stations down to Villa Jesus María (Pacific side) & Bahía de los Angeles (Gulf side).

HeyMulegeScott - 12-24-2020 at 11:35 AM

I've filled up with diesel this past year in San Felipe, Guerrero Negro, Mulege, and Ciudad Constitución. Never seen any kind of sign.

Mr. Bills - 12-24-2020 at 12:52 PM

I have a recent report of a sticker indicating ULSD on the pump at a Repsol station in BCS. Unfortunately, the reporting individual didn't specify exactly what the sticker read, only that in English it meant ULSD.

I have a second recent report of ULSD in La Ventana, but no specifics as to the particular station yet other than it wasn't Pemex. Also unclear is exactly how the reporting individual determined that it was ULSD.

As noted in the first post, the ULSD diesel situation may have changed after 9/16/2020 so my focus is on reports on ULSD after that date.

Thanks for the responses so far.


RocketJSquirrel - 12-24-2020 at 01:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by HeyMulegeScott  

I haven't seen any indication of ULSD. Baja - Buy the ticket, take the ride.


Numerous stations in and around Ensenada have large signs up indicating they have ULSD. Not street signs - more like the big plasticized canvas things they drape over a wall - or similar.

David K - 12-24-2020 at 03:04 PM

Quote: Originally posted by HeyMulegeScott  
I've filled up with diesel this past year in San Felipe, Guerrero Negro, Mulege, and Ciudad Constitución. Never seen any kind of sign.


It is on the overhead sign that tells you they have diesel: UBA (Ultra Bajo Azufre).

mtgoat666 - 12-24-2020 at 03:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Even if the pump is up and running, is there any way to tell which fuel is on tap?


Do you trust the signage at the pump?

Do you trust what the gas jockey says is being sold?

Since many (most?) stations commit fraud by adjusting the pump calibration to dispense short liters, and many gas jockeys are con men, I would not trust the signs at stations or statements from station employees....



Mr. Bills - 12-24-2020 at 04:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


. . . I would not trust the signs at stations or statements from station employees....



Good news, Goatboy. Your trust is unnecessary. This thread isn't about you.

JZ - 12-24-2020 at 04:10 PM

My Silverado requires ULSD. Haven't had issues in Baja Sur for the last 3 years.



Mr. Bills - 12-24-2020 at 04:42 PM

Hopefully none of us will have issues, but as noted in the first post, the Mexican government issued a ruling on September 16th that may have altered the situation, hence the request for post 9/16/20 reports.

RnR - 12-24-2020 at 05:38 PM

They may changed back to LSD from USLD.

We drove north the second week of December.

We have a 2006 F350 diesel, (pre ULSD), that always got about 14 mpg on LSD. After the switch to ULSD, our mileage consistently dropped to about 12 mpg.

The recent trip north - we averaged 14 mpg once again.

I have no definitive data or information, but, feel free to draw your own conclusions ....

Mr. Bills - 12-25-2020 at 09:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RnR  
They may changed back to LSD from USLD.


^^^ This is the reason for my initial post and request for current information.

I have received several posts and emails with information suggesting that the supply line for non-Pemex stations in BCS has not changed since 9/16/20, however these reports relate specifically to Repsol rather than Chevron, ARCO and BP. Since all of these companies currently ship ULSD into Mexico it is likely that all continue to sell ULSD but so far no confirmation for any company other than Repsol.

The current ULSD situation with Pemex remains clear as mud.

Thanks for the responses so far.

AKgringo - 12-25-2020 at 10:09 AM

One thing to consider about the supply chain, is that gas stations don't like empty tanks, but truck drivers do! Once a driver has set up and is pumping fuel, the temptation to "blend" two similar fuels where there are multiple storage tanks must be tempting!

The farther from the supply depot, the better the chance of getting the wrong fuel, or at least a blend. This is also true with remote stations in Alaska, and probably Canada as well, but I do not know for sure.

Hauling a partial load of fuel back to the supply depot is the last thing anyone in the supply chain wants, and finding another station and setting up again is just a pain in the rear!

msteve1014 - 6-19-2021 at 03:52 PM

I have been looking into this also. I have 1 Repsol, and 4 VP stations I could make use of. I sent emails to both companies 10 days ago asking about ULSD with no response so far. What a surprise.

RFClark - 6-19-2021 at 08:07 PM

We’re in Pescadero now and going to La Paz. I'll ask around tomorrow and report back.

RFClark - 6-21-2021 at 07:54 PM

Sorry for the delay, this brand sells ultra low Sulphur Diesel at all their locations that sell Diesel. Additionally Chevron advertises ultra low Sulphur Diesel. I’d trust ether brand. Both are in La Paz and Cabo.

AE94CC42-538E-468E-B429-B4F724E57B10.jpeg - 189kB

mtgoat666 - 6-21-2021 at 09:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
Sorry for the delay, this brand sells ultra low Sulphur Diesel at all their locations that sell Diesel. Additionally Chevron advertises ultra low Sulphur Diesel. I’d trust ether brand. Both are in La Paz and Cabo.


Why would you trust the branded stations?
Aren’t these stations independents? The owner/operators are probably tempted to buy their fuel from cheapest source,…
Heck, the brands apparently don’t make the operators sell from calibrated pumps, brands apparently care little about honest quantity measurement, so why would the the brands care about truth in labeling?
If you think things have changed from the old Pemex retail business model of crooked pumps and crooked pump jockeys, then show me the proof.
The brand may changed and the pumps may look all shiny and new, but the owner/operators are same old crooks that owned/operated the old Pemex stations.

Mr. Bills - 6-22-2021 at 08:02 AM

^^^ just another xenophopic rant by an ignoramus who hasn't a clue about Repsol or how it distributes diesel fuel.

BTW Goatboy, Repsol is a Spanish corporation headquartered in Madrid and not Mexican at all.

mtgoat666 - 6-22-2021 at 08:22 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Mr. Bills  
^^^ just another xenophopic rant by an ignoramus who hasn't a clue about Repsol or how it distributes diesel fuel.

BTW Goatboy, Repsol is a Spanish corporation headquartered in Madrid and not Mexican at all.


And your point is?

I don’t think repsol or any other brand owns/operates stations. Stations are owned/operated by locals.
Different brands, same old people….

RFClark - 6-22-2021 at 08:41 AM

Goat,

Where ever do you get your tires from? Make them yourself?

msteve1014 - 6-22-2021 at 09:06 AM

RF, thanks for the info. I see the glass as half full. Still hope to hear from VP.

RFClark - 6-22-2021 at 09:14 AM

Steve

We buy our gas from them. It’s better than Pemex, also Chevron is better than Pemex. I don’t diesel because fuel is such a problem!

Mr. Bills - 6-22-2021 at 10:22 AM

There is a Repsol station in Bahia Asuncion.

It would be interesting to see a current (mid 2021) photo of the diesel pump there and any decals showing whether or not it is sold as ultra bajo azufre diesel fuel (ULSD).

AKgringo - 6-22-2021 at 10:51 AM

Are there two stations in Bahia Asuncion now, or did the Pemex station just change brands?

Mr. Bills - 6-22-2021 at 05:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Are there two stations in Bahia Asuncion now, or did the Pemex station just change brands?


https://buentaller.com/item/gasolinera-repsol-bahia-asuncion...

msteve1014 - 8-10-2021 at 10:59 AM

I received a reply from VP today.

They will send 70,000 liters by special order, otherwise it is the same diesel that Pemex sells.

I doubt that Repsol sends a truck all the way Asuncion with no other stops between there and La Paz.

JC43 - 8-10-2021 at 01:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Mr. Bills  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


. . . I would not trust the signs at stations or statements from station employees....



Good news, Goatboy. Your trust is unnecessary. This thread isn't about you.


Mr. B.> ... and this thread is not about your mistaken post either. mtgoat666 is 110% right when saying: Do not trust what the pump boy or any sign is saying. This is Mexico !!

Mr. Bills - 8-10-2021 at 05:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by msteve1014  
I received a reply from VP today.

They will send 70,000 liters by special order, otherwise it is the same diesel that Pemex sells.

I doubt that Repsol sends a truck all the way Asuncion with no other stops between there and La Paz.



Thanks for the confirmation. That is consistent with the information I have that the VP stations in Vizcaino and Santa Rosalia both sell Baja Azufre diesel fuel rather than Ultra Baja Azufre, the same as all Pemex stations in BCS. The information available online suggested that VP is a reseller, now we know for sure.

The jury is still out on Repsol diesel fuel which is reportedly not obtained from Pemex because Spanish-based Repsol has its own refineries and supply chain. Hopefully someone will post a current photo of the diesel pumps and signage at the Repsol station in Bahia Asuncion so we can see if they are representing their diesel as ULSD or not.

monoloco - 8-16-2021 at 03:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Mr. Bills  
I have a recent report of a sticker indicating ULSD on the pump at a Repsol station in BCS. Unfortunately, the reporting individual didn't specify exactly what the sticker read, only that in English it meant ULSD.

I have a second recent report of ULSD in La Ventana, but no specifics as to the particular station yet other than it wasn't Pemex. Also unclear is exactly how the reporting individual determined that it was ULSD.

As noted in the first post, the ULSD diesel situation may have changed after 9/16/2020 so my focus is on reports on ULSD after that date.

Thanks for the responses so far.


The Repsol pumps definitely do have the "ultra bajo azufre" stickers here in Baja Sur.
.

[Edited on 8-16-2021 by monoloco]