Any Unleaded Fuel in Mauritania?

[kingkurt]

Hi all

I have decided today that as we are driving as far as Dakhlar in Western Sahara we might as well go across into Mauritania for a week mostly to visit the 'Eye of the Sahara' (as long as we can get visas in Rabat that is)

But, My car takes unleaded and I cannot see any reference to any Unleaded fuel sold anywhere there and I dont think I will be able to bring any across the border in the two 20 ltr cans we have

Any info would be greatly appreciated

cheers

Kurt

[Wheelie]

I seriously doubt it...

[Tomek]

Originally Posted by kingkurt

Hi all

I have decided today that as we are driving as far as Dakhlar in Western Sahara we might as well go across into Mauritania for a week mostly to visit the 'Eye of the Sahara' (as long as we can get visas in Rabat that is)

But, My car takes unleaded and I cannot see any reference to any Unleaded fuel sold anywhere there and I dont think I will be able to bring any across the border in the two 20 ltr cans we have

Any info would be greatly appreciated

cheers

Kurt

The rules at the W.S./no men land/ Mauritania border are quite flexible.
Last year we had a couple of full cans of diesel on the roof.
There are to ways of dealing with officers:
1. If you have time, just smile a lot and pretend that you don't know a single word in French. They will eventually have to let you through.
2. If you don't have time, you can solve the problem by giving "a gift".

Unfortunately 99 percent of wesern travellers choose the second way therefore every single officer will probably like to say "hallo" and then after having a small friendly chitchat he will eventually get to the point.

If you like adventure, choose the second way

AFAIK unleaded is not the most popular type of fuel in Mauritania. On some fuel stations (especially in backcountry) you will find only diesel. On others, petrol (I suppose: leaded) is sold from cans.

If you decide to bring unleaded from W.S. to "The Eye of the Sahara" (and back?)you would need lots of it.

Alternatively you can dismount your catalytic converter or buy Mercedes 190D

[Tomek]

I was wrong.

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

According to these 2011 UN maps of fuel in Africa:
North Africa
sub-Saharan
all of Africa except [south] Algeria has been unleaded for many years. I was surprised to hear this, but the whole cat removal thing (as suggested in AMH) could be unnecessary. More common might be low octane fuel - normale - in remote places but which some efi bikes can handle better than old ones.

For Mali, see sub-Saharan forum.

No Mori visas at the WS/Mori border. Get it in Rabat.

Ch

[kingkurt]

Originally Posted by Tomek

I was wrong.

Yeah, I saw these but am still not totally convinced.

I think I will wait until im in WS and talk to people there then I will decide whether or not to take my own across the border

As for the border crossing and bribes, I have never paid bribes on borders before and I have been over Russian, Kazakhstan and Mongolian borders so Im sure this one should be ok, just put on my blank face

cheers

[Wheelie]

Your car can probably handle leaded, it is your catalytical converter that doesn't. Your car will probably run fine, but you might not pass emission tests when you get back.

[Whiskey]

kingkurt
NO unleaded gasoline in Mauritania. In other hand, leaded has just round 70 octane's! You can expect much higher fuel consumption. Leaded fuel is also difficult to find. I found it last year only on yellow marked gasoline stations. In midpoint between Nouahdibou and Nouakchott sometimes you can get it. But from Nouakchott till Atar just diesel in Akjout.