Decent Quality Petrol in France?
Discussion
Hi All,
It is the time of year when Le Mans is occupying my thoughts in a vain effort to stave off the post-Christmas blues.
Something which has occurred to me in my first year of taking my own car on the pilgrimage, is the availability of high-octane rated petrol on the continent.
My car only runs comfortably on Optimax over here, and obviously a trip of several hundred miles would necessitate some careful planning to avoid running dry or using poor quality fuel unnecessarily.
What are the generally accepted contingency plans?
Does anyone have any information about the availability and location of high octane fuels in France?
It is the time of year when Le Mans is occupying my thoughts in a vain effort to stave off the post-Christmas blues.
Something which has occurred to me in my first year of taking my own car on the pilgrimage, is the availability of high-octane rated petrol on the continent.
My car only runs comfortably on Optimax over here, and obviously a trip of several hundred miles would necessitate some careful planning to avoid running dry or using poor quality fuel unnecessarily.
What are the generally accepted contingency plans?
Does anyone have any information about the availability and location of high octane fuels in France?
Never had any problems finding decent (97+) fuels over the last few years, Shell can be a little more difficult though.
Shell have a station finder that can be used to find Optimax in France, I've not spotted a complete map of the locations though, so you'd have to do some checks for stations along your route.
No doubt there are a set of TomTom POIs for Optimax somewhere out there too.
I've also heard of people using octane boosters for lower quality fuel in the past though, although I think I'd rather risk using 95 fuel as it were than that myself.
Shell have a station finder that can be used to find Optimax in France, I've not spotted a complete map of the locations though, so you'd have to do some checks for stations along your route.
No doubt there are a set of TomTom POIs for Optimax somewhere out there too.
I've also heard of people using octane boosters for lower quality fuel in the past though, although I think I'd rather risk using 95 fuel as it were than that myself.
//j17 said:Looked into it last year, from what I can gather the French Chip&PIN system is different to ours (better), so they are not compatible.
Never mind the octain rating, has anyone found a UK card that French un-manned petrol pumps will take!
But in the interests of European harmony they are being forced to change to what everyone else is start to use.
As long as I never have to sleep outside a petrol station ever again I'll be happy
up-the-dubs said:
Diesel's diesel if you ask me
Well, that's me sorted for 2007 - The year when I decide to take my Massey Ferguson!
Thanks for the Shell Locator link - I think I will aim to plot my course with the Optimax stations in mind, and keep a bottle of octane booster handy as my contingency!
Potential crisis averted - Now, to find another crisis to distract me from the rest of January!
Dave200 said:
Hi All,
My car only runs comfortably on Optimax over here, and obviously a trip of several hundred miles would necessitate some careful planning to avoid running dry or using poor quality fuel unnecessarily.
What are the generally accepted contingency plans?
Does anyone have any information about the availability and location of high octane fuels in France?
On previous trips I found the 98 Octane that's widely available, did ok for my VR6. As for Shell station's here's one should try to visit!
Earlier thread:www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=189598&f=25&h=0
And as Trips said watch out for those late night un-manned petrol stations.
If it wasn't for a helpful mincab driver getting us petrol on his French pin card,could have been stranded overnight !
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