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Rental Rates Page
The information provided in all Mexican
pages are only suggestions and anecdotal stories. The information in the
Mexican pages is a
generic peace of work and is meant only as a general guide, it should
not be taken as absolute fact. The information provided in these pages
can change at any given day.
Propane
Mexico actually has Butane rather
than Propane. It burns the same with no adjustments necessary to your heater, or
stove. Bulk plants are located outside the city limits (sometimes miles away)
always along side a main highway. Bulk trucks (delivery trucks with a pump and
meter) are becoming more common, but usually 25 gallon cylinders are hauled
around on the back of flatbed trucks. Huge tanker trucks haul the butane down
from the USA, where it is purchased to refill the bulk plants.
When sold by the kilogram, two
Kilograms of gas equal one gallon of liquid and vapor.
Don't try to haul a full load of
Butane back to your home if you live in cold country. It won't flow in sub
freezing temperatures. Half a tank mixture of Propane and Butane will work OK
down to zero Fahrenheit.
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Gas
Plant Locator Guide
| Gas
Plant Locator Guide (Ensenáda - Los Cabos) |
| City |
Location |
Hwy
# |
Metered |
Open
Saturday |
Open
Sunday |
| All |
Six-wheel bulk trucks
(on the road) |
All |
Yes |
Y |
Y |
| Ensenáda |
5 miles north of town
east side of hwy |
1 |
Yes |
Y |
Y (½ ) |
| Tecate |
3 miles south on west
side (hwy to Ensenáda) |
3 |
Yes |
Y |
Y (½ ) |
| Col. Guerrero |
3 miles north of town
on west side of hwy |
1 |
Yes |
Y (½ ) |
N |
| Guerrero Negro |
2 miles south of eagle
monument on west side |
1 |
No |
Y (½ ) |
N |
| Santa Rosalia |
5 miles north of town
on the north side of hwy |
1 |
No |
Y (½ ) |
N |
| Cd. Constitución |
4 miles north of town
on west side of hwy |
1 |
Yes |
Y (½ ) |
N |
| La Paz |
5 miles south of town
on east side of hwy |
1 |
Yes |
Y |
Y (½ ) |
| S. José del Cabo |
6 miles west of town on
north side of hwy |
1 |
Yes |
Y (½ ) |
N |
| Cábo San Lucas |
5 miles north of town
on west side of hwy |
19 |
Yes |
Y (½ ) |
N |
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Motor
Fuel
Bulk plants are allowed to charge more for Butane used as motor fuel. The
surcharge is about 20% but it varies widely from place to place. Bulk
trucks will fill up your motor fuel tank, and they usually split the difference
between motor fuel and domestic fuel prices. This is usually done "around
the corner".
Some
Plants Don't Have Meters
Mexico is still not used to odd size gas tanks. At the bulk plant, scales are
used to measure sales in Kilograms. If your tank is portable then weight added
to it, will be charged as gas. Tanks mounted in vehicles present an unknown as
far as quantities are concerned; they can't weigh the tank. Clean off the
specification tag that's glued onto your tank. It'll have the gas capacity
(usually water capacity) which the attendant will refer to for determining the
quantity needed to fill it. Ask for a presupuesto (estimate), of liters
needed to fill your tank (four liters are 105% of 1 gallon). Most employees are
honest but many are not skilled in math. It's best to establish your tank
capacity before the time comes to argue with the attendant.
Overfilling
The Tank
If your tank is inadvertently overfilled (white vapor escapes from your 10%
valve when cracked), you'll need to bleed the tank until clear vapor replaces
the white. Do this at the plant, but over to one side where you won't block
other customers.
No
Fires Permitted
Mexican bulk plants are equipped to dispense motor fuel gas to vehicles that
have "Fast Fill" fittings (the same fitting as used throughout the
United States and Canada). Bleeder valves and vapor escape hoses are
non-existent. When plant personnel loosen the connection after filling raw
liquid escapes copiously. Therefore extinguish all potential sources of ignition
before driving up to the dispenser.
Needless to say, a fire in a gas plant is very
dangerous. Employees are cavalier with dispensing hoses, sometimes allowing them
to shoot gallons of fuel around while depressurizing hoses and lines. Before you
enter the yard SHUT OFF THE GAS VALVES TO YOUR HOT WATER HEATER, TO YOUR
REFRIGERATOR AND THE MAIN TANK VALVES. Don't restart the appliances until
after you have fueled up and until you have exited the bulk plant.
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