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Fuel quality in West Africa Fuel quality in West Africa
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 7 Dec 2012
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Fuel quality in West Africa
What is the fuel quality like elsewhere in West Africa? I'm running diesel if that makes any difference.

Here in Sierra Leone the fuel is FILTHY. Bad enough to plug up my "Mr. Funnel" in less than 20 gallons sometimes! The pump attendants always say their fuel is clean until they see the crap in the filter. The regular guy is always interested now to see just how dirty the latest batch of fuel is.

Is it just as bad in some of the other countries like Senegal, Mauritania or Morocco?
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  #2  
Old 7 Dec 2012
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It varies. I have had "black diesel" in Mauretania.
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Old 7 Dec 2012
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Quote:
=cruiser guy;403184 The pump attendants always say their fuel is clean until they see the crap in the filter.
Make them an offer isfthey say that!
$10 for you if there is no dirt in my funnel BUT free fill up for me if there is !
And they'll leave you alone to use your filter.

Morocco - never had a problem
Mauritania and Mali - it fluctuates wildly
Senegal- don't know

Mr Filter is a great piece of kit especially when there are those around who water their fuel down in bidons ....
IMHO, prevention is way better than cure.
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  #4  
Old 8 Dec 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand View Post
Make them an offer isfthey say that!
$10 for you if there is no dirt in my funnel BUT free fill up for me if there is !
And they'll leave you alone to use your filter.

Morocco - never had a problem
Mauritania and Mali - it fluctuates wildly
Senegal- don't know

Mr Filter is a great piece of kit especially when there are those around who water their fuel down in bidons ....
IMHO, prevention is way better than cure.
It sounds like Mr. Funnel will be busy at least till we hit Morocco! The complaint I get all the time is "It's too strainful!" I'll grant that as the filter gets loaded with dirt the fuel flow slows and diesel tends to bubble and get air entrainment all the time as well. I've taken the pump handle and filled up myself when they start complaining too much.
Like you say, prevention is better than cure.
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  #5  
Old 10 Dec 2012
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i only had issues in ghana (unleaded). but i was living/studying there so many fill ups. my mechanic there recommended using premium but towards the end you couldn't buy it anywhere. had no problems with togo, benin, nigeria and cameroon. but as i said that was only unleaded
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Old 30 Dec 2012
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Have to say, I always filled up in the TOTAL stations in Sierra Leone, bought over 700 litres over a period of days (for a truck), can't say there was any issues......I have a racor filter to spin the water off, then 2 fuel filters before the lift pump.....also a guaze filter at the pick up in the tank to trap any large rubbish........at all filter changes they have been no worse than European fuel in terms of the state the filters are in.

But I only buy diesel in TOTAL or SHELL stations or another 'reputable' place (if there is such a thing with fuel companies!)

Nigeria is the only country in W Africa we had really dirty diesel, like somebody said, almost black, clogged the filters pretty quick.
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Old 8 Jan 2013
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There are different sizes of the Mr Funnel Prefilters. The big one is pretty quick when the fuel is good. In Namibia the fuel starts to be good - runs trough extremly quickly (shell).

Execpt of one time in Marocco i have always used the Mr Funnel prefilter.

Only once in Congo, they sent me away (shell) because of the gasstation was really busy.

If the fuel wasnt good it need more time for filtering. We often had 30min Pitstops for 100l - but better that than crap in the tanks.

I alway hold the prefilter, while the guys filled the filter. And i always give a very good tip (afterwards). This may help you - they loves the travellers with the prefilters now ;-)

There was only once viewable parts inside of the prefilter, as we filled from canisters.

Sometimes the diesel was yellow, sometimes black - but never viewable part - while refilling from a Gasstation. We had to replace the Dieselfilter in Angola once, and the filter between tank and additional tank was also full with dirt.

So i would use the MrFunnel again, when driving in africa.

Maybe it is overkill on Total or Shell fuel stations - but - i enjoy to know, that i don't have to replace the diesel filter severall times on the way.
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