Spare fuel in the boot
 

Having changed my car recently to one that has an awful lot of electronic control I run out of fuel as the control stated I had enough for 70 kilometres, but it is obviously not accurate. To prevent this occurring I purchased a plastic 10 litre can for fuel, and filled it with Diesel Oil for my car.

I have now been advised by a friend that in Spain it is not legal to carry spare fuel anywhere within the car.

Is this advise correct?

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Laws and Tips for Driving in Spain - EUroadlegal.co.uk
www.euroadlegal.co.uk/country/spain.html‎
Warning triangle x 2; Headlamp converters; GB plate (see note 1); Spare bulbs ... It is against the law to carry a child of less than three years in a motor vehicle ... It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. ... Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. ... Radar detectors are illegal in Spain whether in use or not.
Spare fuel can - RAC
www.rac.co.uk › ... › Any Questions? › Breakdown and Safety Questions‎

Is it illegal to carry a can of spare fuel in the car? You are permitted to carry fuel in an approved container, but there are strict limits as to HOW ...

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Surely that can´t be right....:confused:

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

it's not - should read

"Children under 12yrs cannot travel in the front seat unless using an appropriate restraint. It is against the law to carry a child of less than three years in a motor vehicle without an EU approved child's seat correctly fitted in the rear of the vehicle"

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

:rofl::rofl:

Here is the correct URL

Also...

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Thanks for the reply, however the link you give is "broken" and does not work. Thought you may want to check that out.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Try this link instead - it looks the same but it works.

http://www.euroadlegal.co.uk/country/spain.html

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Both links work for me

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Thank you and your link worked also for me. Having just joined, I am very happy to have received so many replies and am satisfied I break no law in Spain regarding spare fuel in the boot. Thank you to all who replied.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

as I don't carry any children irrespective of age where do we stand on the fuel in boot original subject.

I had expensive problems with my car over gummed up injectors - claimed to be because of using "supermarket low quality" petrol in the UK, so ensure I never get too low and always fill up from major petrol co's.
but it would be nice to have a couple of "get me home" gallons as I find local filling stations erratic on opening/closing hours.

and if you do carry fuel in the boot - does anyone have any figures for it "going off" ???

tks

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

With a bang?

Or due to age?

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

well hopefull not the former Fred, as it would be sin plomb 95
but fuel can over the years accumulate muck in the tank so why not whilst sitting in a long forgotten canister in the boot.

on a "huck out" of the boot this weekend, where I keep all the "legal" bits such as spare lamps, hi-vis, battery powered pump etc etc in a box, found "spare/emergency" water left over from when I drove down from Uk 18months ago. didn't try it, especially as the plastic bottle had changed shape slightly. and not sure about the bottle of windscreen wash after 18m of Spain's high temps.

so - does it go off??

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Thanks again for all you great members, I forgot to say that I never leave spare fuel for a long time in the can, mostly empty the contents in to the fuel tank and top the can up again with fresh fuel, this at least every two months or so.

My car is diesel and most of the replies cover petrol so again I am convinced that I will not break any law in Spain.

Am now going to withdraw from this thread as I am happy with all the replies.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Yes

But I am not sure of the time frame, however why not chuck it in the tank every 3 - 6 months and refill with fresh.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Dom - if you mean hi-vis jacket, I think I'm right in saying that it has to be kept in the car, not the boot. You have to be able to reach it and put it on without getting out.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Correct and there must be one for each person in the car.

Rosemary

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

yes guys and gals - i do mean Hi-Vis Jacket

and as there are normally only a maximum of 2 in my car then they are kept in the car.
however, being cautious, and that i may one day to have more than the 2 in the car i keep an extra 3 in my boot emergencies box.
as i understand the law, it is necessary to get out of the car with it on (that could be a laugh :rofl:) so it would be possible to get the spares out and pass them in.
when i hired a car a couple of years ago that only had 2 jackets for a 5 seater car.

but then you are supposed to have 2 triangles, but most people only have one, if any. I have 2 and also a magnetic flashing light for night time that plugs into the ciggy lighter.

What i find interesting is that even when police are attending RTA's the people from the car(s) do not actually put hi-vis on, just get out and wander around.

but that's Spain for you
:rofl:
ps (and I don't carry any spare fuel in the boot)

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

I can't tell you about diesel, your original question. However petrol contains volatile compounds that will evaporate (even out of a sealed container) over time - accelerated by the heat of being in the boot when in direct sunlight. That doesn't mean it'll turn into sludge, but it will lose some of it's "ooomph".
As far as quantities are concerned, I seem to recall that in the UK the legal limit is 5 litres. I would expect that there's a limit in Spain, but I don't know what it would be (at a guess, it's the amount you can get into the small containers that are sold in garages / Carrefour, they look to be about 5l).
However it makes sense to carry as little around, outside your tank, as possible. One single litre of petrol contains about the same explosive energy as an artillery shell (33MJ, c.f. 20-30MJ for a tank shell). So while it won't explode and cause as much instantaneous damage, it's not something you'd want to have around if you didn't have to.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Diesel is harder to ignite than petrol.
If your gauge is inaccurate, why don't you just fill up when tank gets to half empty?

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

it isnt the petrol its the fumes
whizzzz
BANG
ooh NASTY !!

apologies to the Navy Lark

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

When driving to spain we always carry fuel in the boot. There is a fuel station just outside the ferry terminal at Portsmouth. We fill the car and then put an extra 40 litres in two containers.

Because the ferry docs at teatime in spain, by the time you are past Madrid and thinking of filling up again its late evening, there are no easy filling stations open, not even on the motorways. So stop and fill car from the containers. We can do the journey in one hop that way, stopping only to fill the tank and maybe take a pee.

We can do all but 70 miles withjust the tank and an empty car, but if the car is loaded down with 'stuff' (usually is on the way down) we come up 110 miles short, so we burn an extra 40 miles of fuel when the car is fully laden--take note, don't carry unnecessary stuff in your cars.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

That is dangerous and against ferry regs. http://www.norfolkline.com/Ferries_t...of_spare_fuel/

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Sounds like a more expensive option too - fuel is quite a bit cheaper in Spain.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Just re the garages in Spain as I am travelling over by motorbike in 2 weeks it has a range of around 200 miles only and will be travelling from the tea time ferry at Santander to south of Madrid first nigh. What times are the main garages open until especially motorway ones as I had thought they would be 24 hour?

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

There is fuel available 24hours in Santander, Burgos and Madrid. Make sure you fill before you leave Madrid. The garages are not so convenient south of the city. Check on line before you go or get a Garmin for fuel stop locations.

Enjoy the ride

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Thanks Misssile

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

who in gods name would use that to france? jump on brittany and go all the way to santander

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

I didn't say use Norfolkline, it was the first link I could find outlining restrictions on carrying fuel.

It is also not permitted to carry fuel on Brittany Ferries without a dangerous goods permit. You can search for that info .......... if you really need convincing? :confused:

Who in gods name would carry 40 litres of fuel in the boot of their boot on a ferry. Seems you do not care about the danger posed to other passengers? :eek:

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

Pleased to help. I have journeyed to Spain on a bike several times on a variety of routes. If you need any more advice?

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

as a litre of petrol weighs approx 0.73grams you are carrying an extra 28kilos
slightly more with diesel which weighs approx approx 0.80grams.
and just think of the volume you are wasting, you could get something more important filling that space.

in fact many years ago remember reading that the most efficient way is to only half fill the tank, just think of all that weight you are giving a free ride to.

hth

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

FYI:
Subject: RE: Dangerous goods on your ferry?
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2013 09:01:17 +0100
From: [email protected]
To: Missile

Good morning

I can confirm that it does state in our FAQs on our website that transportation of petrol cans onboard is strictly forbidden and the transport of diesel in vehicles is only permitted in containers/ jerry cans specifically constructed for the carriage of diesel and to a maximum of 5 litres per vehicle.

Yours Sincerely

Julie

Passenger Services

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

You need to get a job with the health and safety inspectorate Missile. So much concern!

Have you stopped to think that on average there are 100 trucks aboard each with 500litre fuel tanks. More than 3oo cars with an average of 60 litre tanks of fuel. another 40 litres is not going to make much difference in the event of a fire now is it!

Dunno how old you are or your biking experience, but I well remember the days of the Isle of man steam packet company insisting on pumping out all bike petrol tanks for safety. That petrol was put into 50 gallon drums, onboard the ferry and then SOLD back to the bikers on arrival.

Safe is what you make it, not what someody try's to impose.

Re: Spare fuel in the boot
 

You know best