LPG Problem Northern Spain

[shawn&emma]

We’ve traveled the last 16 years most winters through Spain/Portugal etc and have never been refused the filling of gas.

We are currently west of Santander and over last two days have been refused at a garage near Bilbao, another near Laredo and one just of A8 around Santander.
All saying no filling of campers, tried to show them the external filler and the underslung but no was the answer.

Next one I tried was at Pomaluengo, out of order…..

Next had gas but this time when I connected the gun and pressed the button the pump ran but only put 56cents worth in before stopping. Found an attendant that pointed me to a sign saying the pressure from Repsol may be lower than pressure in my system so wouldn’t allow to fill….
Okay I thought let’s move on, another garage put the gun on and same problem, so now I’m thinking is there a problem with the fill point on the van?

So after my ramblings am I likely to have a stuck inlet valve on the filler and if so how do I clear it?
Or is the gas pressure from the pumps lower than mine in the underslung?

If I can’t solve over next day or so I’m going to have to get a bottle from somewhere and run new pipe to the existing pipework.
Don’t really want to have to resort to that though.

Anyone else experiencing problems in northern Spain?

Thanks, Shawn.

 

[MichaelT]

We've just left Spain and had no problems either being allowed to fill up or actually filling up. Used Repsol twice and another make i can't remember.

If refused tell them it's dual fuel

 

[Verteuil Man]

We are near Catral, Costa Blanca and have filled up twice at Repsol stations in Crevillent. No issues filling up or signage saying no filling campers.

 

[lorger]

Check your pipe work and connections in case they’ve came loose, had the same issue last year in Durham area. When the first one failed I assumed it was the pump until the second failed, on inspection the 90degree elbow behind the filler had came slightly loose. Obviously doesn’t affect the system when using only filling.

 

[Brains]

Maybe try a yacht marina.
They usually have LPG and may be more helpful than a filling station.

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[Pausim]

That label and the explanation given by the attendant suggest that if you have previously filled up with propane their pump pressure is too low to fill your tank/bottle. If they only pump butane it has a much lower pressure and their pump may not be powerful enough to overcome the propane pressure already in your tank.

 

[Barriesimpson]

We are currently west of Santander and over last two days have been refused at a garage near Bilbao, another near Laredo and one just of A8 around Santander.
All saying no filling of campers, tried to show them the external filler and the underslung but no was the answer.

The reason for this is that the LPG sold in petrol stations is for vehicles that use it for the combustion of the engine, ie motor gas. Domestic gas (which is what we use, albeit it's the same gas) pays more tax than motor gas does in Spain. So basically they are not charging you enough tax, and rather than have 2 separate invoice systems, it's easier to tell you to go away. What you need to do is tell them that the gas is for the motor (hybrid) and they will allow you to fill, because even if they know damn well your van is not hybrid, they asked you and covered their ass. They really do want to sell it to you.