Due to strikes
 

and delivery problems.... I had to travel 815 Kms without finding any petrol.....
I finally bought some doing 'porte-a-porte' on the 'marche noir'
Best investment No1 - long range tanks
Best investment No2 - small funnel with a wire filter.
Best investment no3 - octane booster when your bike come accross duff fuel/querstionable - inevitably!

Pumps can either be dry/failed delivery, no one there, no electricity , handle for manual pump gone missign etc. many reasons to be the 'opportunistic shopper' and get fuel whenever you can see you can get some.
Sorry but I don't understand where Javier gets some his distance info from??the Nouadhibou/NCK stretch is 246 miles (I can email the track as evidence) long with no fuel and those elusive 'bidons jaune' cannot be relied on.

Sorry Javier but I do have to disagree with you on this one.
Dodgy fuel is a risk, and as long as you are aware/prepared to deal with the consequences…fine. I personally looked for the dodgy fuel on that route in 4 boutiques to check it out. I found it in one out of 4 and it had some sand content as well as diesel residue. I had no problem adding 2 litres to my pretty full tank of gas. That way, both the fuel and the risk would be diluted.
For some riders, who might not have changed their fuel filter recently or carry a spare one, or comfortable enough to change it if a problem were to occur; they may get stuck on the side of the road for a short bit. If I am on that road and I see another traveler stuck on the side, I will stop and help. I personally don’t want to stop and help, because it may mean I will ride at night, BUT I do and have on several occasions stopped to see if I can help....
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Not everyone has the same level of experience traveling overland or mechanically, but since they did make the choice to take their trip and choose their fuel options; they will have to accept the consequences.
As far as locals go, in West Africa specifically I’m sure you’re familiar with “inchallah”…so if something were to mechanically go wrong with their vehicle, its God’s will…so in that context, I agree with you!

OK .. a little diesel residue won't do any harm to an engine . Probbably It ll be even good for it .

Sand .. well , I am assuming you filter the fuel before filling up . Any clothe put in the funnel .. will filter out all the grit/sand

But why do you think that petrol from petrol stations (the one with pumps , I mean ) is cleaner ?

It is way worse . They swap tanks chaoticly , they will NEVER clean / flush a tank , Tanks are rotting , rusting , full of dead animals..

at least in a shop./ street seller you see the petrol .If you see something too dodgy , don't buy it . But chances are that the petrol sold in any propper mauritanian petrol station is waaaaaaaaaay worse.

anyway .. I always carry a spare filter , but so far.. never got clogged.

cheers
Javier