Diesel vs. Gasoline in Southern France?
May 2nd, 2005, 06:21 AM
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Diesel vs. Gasoline in Southern France?
Yet another question about my upcoming trip to Provence and Cote d'Azur: Is either gasoline or diesel fuel more widely available in rural areas? When I arrive, I may have a choice regarding which kind of car to take. I recognize that diesel fuel may be less expensive, but I think my main consideration will be whether or not it's hard to find one kind of fuel when I'm far from a city.
May 2nd, 2005, 06:38 AM
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medhead, I've rented five cars in the south over the last several years and I always found both diesel and gasoline available at every service station. I've filled up in some pretty tiny villages, too.
Have a good trip. I'm off to France on Wednesday.
Anselm
Have a good trip. I'm off to France on Wednesday.
Anselm
May 2nd, 2005, 07:42 AM
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Hello Medhead,
I would agree, you won't have any trouble with either diesel or gasoline. I think in rural areas diesel is quite common for the farm tractors. As an aside I never let the car get less then half full, sometimes you would be surprised how hard it is to find an open service station when you need a fill up in the nether regions of France.
I would agree, you won't have any trouble with either diesel or gasoline. I think in rural areas diesel is quite common for the farm tractors. As an aside I never let the car get less then half full, sometimes you would be surprised how hard it is to find an open service station when you need a fill up in the nether regions of France.
May 2nd, 2005, 07:56 AM
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>>As an aside I never let the car get less then half full, sometimes you would be surprised how hard it is to find an open service station when you need a fill up in the nether regions of France.<<
Good point. In some areas, gas stations are closed on Sundays. I have seen several closed for lunch also.
Stu Dudley
Good point. In some areas, gas stations are closed on Sundays. I have seen several closed for lunch also.
Stu Dudley
May 2nd, 2005, 08:04 AM
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We too had a diesel car on our trip to Provence and had no trouble finding fuel. Good point about not waiting until the gauge reads empty, but rather filling up when convenient. I envy your trip. We haven't been to France for several years, and our drive from Paris to Arles (with stops in between) was a wonderful experience for us.
May 2nd, 2005, 09:17 AM
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Just to be sure:
Unleaded gas is called (essence) sans plomb; they come in two grades, essence (95 RON) and super (98). Most cars take the cheaper essence.
Diesel fuel is called gazole and marked as such on the pump. There is only one grade of gazole.
Unleaded gas is called (essence) sans plomb; they come in two grades, essence (95 RON) and super (98). Most cars take the cheaper essence.
Diesel fuel is called gazole and marked as such on the pump. There is only one grade of gazole.
May 3rd, 2005, 03:02 AM
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Hi
If the garage has gas .......... it will have diesel, too. More than 50% of cars on French roads are diesel.
It is just worth saying that as well as outside normal hours, there are more and more automatic only payment gas stations. The problem is that few take notes, and many only take the French cc.
Peter
www.the-languedoc-page.com
If the garage has gas .......... it will have diesel, too. More than 50% of cars on French roads are diesel.
It is just worth saying that as well as outside normal hours, there are more and more automatic only payment gas stations. The problem is that few take notes, and many only take the French cc.
Peter
www.the-languedoc-page.com
May 3rd, 2005, 04:02 AM
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Several of the diesels we rented in France had a little sticker on the fuel tank lid that said "diesel." Unfortunately, I don't think it's a consistent feature, so it's still best to follow Julie's advice and confirm what type of fuel it uses before you leave the rental agent's parking lot.
Anselm
Anselm
May 3rd, 2005, 04:32 AM
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Yes, double check no matter what they tell you at the desk.
About 6 weeks ago, I got a call from my husband in Antwerp late one night. He'd driven a couple of his staff to a client meeting in Dusseldorf. A long day, they all wanted to get back. My husband stopped at a fuel station outside Antwerp. He went in to prepay and to use the facilities. While he was inside a "helpful" staff member proceeded to fill our diesel car with regular gasoline--his car is petrol and he was too clueless to bother checking until the tank was almost full. They had to call for the car to be towed and the tank drained and for someone else to drive them home.
About 6 weeks ago, I got a call from my husband in Antwerp late one night. He'd driven a couple of his staff to a client meeting in Dusseldorf. A long day, they all wanted to get back. My husband stopped at a fuel station outside Antwerp. He went in to prepay and to use the facilities. While he was inside a "helpful" staff member proceeded to fill our diesel car with regular gasoline--his car is petrol and he was too clueless to bother checking until the tank was almost full. They had to call for the car to be towed and the tank drained and for someone else to drive them home.
May 3rd, 2005, 05:28 AM
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Also note that some pumps have larger nozzels that are designed for trucks or whatever and will not fit they tank on a car. The car pump for diesel will be samller nozzel. Make sure you pull to the correct pump and that the nozzel fits before inserting CC.
That said, the advice about half tank is good. Even on weekdays in small towns I found that often the stations would be closed for a "long lunch" and we ended up learning a lot about local French supermarkets (best place to kill time) in a small town while waiting until 1400h when the only station opened after lunch break that must have started at 1200h. But, hey it was interesting.
That said, the advice about half tank is good. Even on weekdays in small towns I found that often the stations would be closed for a "long lunch" and we ended up learning a lot about local French supermarkets (best place to kill time) in a small town while waiting until 1400h when the only station opened after lunch break that must have started at 1200h. But, hey it was interesting.
