Introduction to cheap petrol and proper refuelling
Having accommodation and a vehicle in one is almost ideal when travelling, especially if you want to see a lot. But it’s important to know how to fill up your vehicle properly. Where can you get the cheapest fuel? Does the campervan use diesel, petrol or do you have to fill up with LPG? What is AdBlue? Is there a gas tank in the campervan? How can I refuel properly abroad? All these questions are frequently asked by campervan enthusiasts who are new to the subject and want to refuel properly. No matter whether you are going abroad or staying at home, refuelling can sometimes be quite expensive. To fill up cheaply, simply use an app on your smartphone. Given the amount of fuel, 4 or 5 cents per litre is already a saving of several euros. A small campervan uses 23 litres of petrol, a larger one up to 30. If you rent a diesel, that’s only 15 litres and you’ll get further than with a petrol campervan. However, there is also natural gas or LPG for the campervan’s gas tank. In Germany, the no-name petrol stations are almost always the cheapest. In other countries, such as Denmark, all petrol stations cost the same. Where exactly you are going, you must find out on the spot what the refuelling conditions are. In Denmark, many petrol stations are cash-free and have no salesperson or shop. You simply insert your debit or credit card into a machine attached to the petrol pump and off you go.
Different fuels and the right way to refuel
Filling up with diesel properly
Diesel is a mixture of hydrocarbons and can only be used for diesel engines. It is therefore important, even when abroad, to find out exactly what words stand for diesel and petrol, in order to refuel your vehicle correctly.
Refuelling petrol correctly
Petrol is made from over 100 hydrocarbons and from crude oil. The boiling range is between petroleum and paraffin, as well as gaseous hydrocarbons. A petrol engine needs more fuel to travel the same distance as a diesel engine. However, it is more environmentally friendly.
Filling up with LPG:
In addition to pure diesel and petrol engines, there are also campervans that fill up with LPG. This is a gas that has to be filled into the gas tank of the campervan. But the engines start with diesel or petrol and then switch over. In cars, this can be retrofitted to save money on refuelling – and it’s the same with campervans. A fuel pump is needed in the tank to drive the gas in liquid form into the engine. When filling up with LPG, you save up to 50 percent of the bill with petrol, but there must be a gas tank in the campervan.
What is AdBlue and environmentally friendly driving?
AdBlue has been on the market for a few years and is said to be environmentally friendly, especially with SCR systems. It is a urea that reduces nitrogen emissions and is injected before the catalytic converter. A reaction turns the toxic substances into water vapour and a harmless nitrogen. Environmentalists will be pleased, because the campervan emits fewer pollutants as a result. However, diesel vehicles that run on AdBlue should also be regularly topped up with the substance, because otherwise they may run at a reduced speed and of course not have the environmentally friendly effect, or they may break down straight away.
Where to buy AdBlue and refill AdBlue?
Many petrol stations have been offering AdBlue for a few years now, because trucks also run on this fuel, which is intended to protect the environment. It is easy to find a petrol station that sells AdBlue, just look them up on the internet. It is important to find out about the campervan before you pick it up, because then you will see where the AdBlue tank is. There is always a separate tank for refilling AdBlue, either behind the normal fuel cap or somewhere in the boot. Please don’t ignore the call for help for AdBlue. When refilling AdBlue, it is important that the tank is not completely filled. Especially on journeys through Scandinavia it can freeze, then the tank bursts when the substance spreads. For such occasions, there are 5-litre canisters that you can easily buy at the petrol station, but also at the discount store or DIY store. Refilling AdBlue is important for the environment and the vehicle.
Fill up cheaply and drive economically
To save money, it is important that you drive in a fuel-efficient manner. Don’t accelerate too much, let the car roll on hills and secure the load. If you transport bicycles on the roof, for example, you will pay more for fuel, because the consumption is much higher due to the headwind and the volume than if the campervan is driven without roof luggage. It is also important to drive with foresight and not constantly switch between accelerator and brake. Refuelling abroad can sometimes be cheaper than in Germany, in many countries the price is the same and sometimes it is more expensive.
Filling up abroad – finding the right fuel and refuelling cheaply
Refuelling abroad is usually not easy, not only because you don’t understand the language, but also because the fuels may have different names. To avoid confusion, you should find out in advance what countries call diesel, petrol or LPG. Google should help you find the right petrol station. Petrol, for example, is called the same in many languages, but it is also called gazolina in some countries. If you don’t understand the language at all, look for the 95 or 98 on the petrol pump, that’s the octane number and it tells you whether it’s petrol or diesel. That’s the only way to fill up properly. In Germany, the diesel pumps are always black, while the petrol pumps are blue or white. In Portugal, you have to be especially vigilant. Gasolina and Gasoleo – petrol and diesel, a reading error can have fatal consequences.