DIESEL COSTS
and other fuel problems for overlanders...

Driving to India? Here's some info on fuel costs and why you should get fuel receipts...don't miss the advice on filling up, at the bottom of the page.
Prices are in local currency, per litre, but are constantly changing.  The information on this page for guidance only!

UNITED KINGDOM
Diesel: Sterling .96 (Euros 1.44)

FRANCE
Diesel: Euros No information

GERMANY
Diesel: Euros 1.27

LUXEMBURG
Diesel: Euros 1.01

TURKEY
Diesel Lira No information

IRAN
Diesel: Rials 150 (!!!)

PAKISTAN
Diesel: Rupees from 20 to 39.6

INDIA
Diesel: Rs 30.25

Hope this helps with the planning!!

Tip No: 1.
Fit a HUGE tank before you leave.

Tip No:2.
Fill up near Zaheydan, before the Pakistan border!! (turn right half way along the new by pass road round Zaheydan, the gas station is about 1 kilometer from the junction.) When the filling station staff ask you for your 'diesel voucher', just  tell them tourists don't need one.  Virtually all Iranian trucks get a fuel subsidy, for which they use the vouchers.  The pump boys won't quite know how to deal with you, (tourists/foreigners, are extremely rare) but they'll fill you up for 130 rials a litre.

Tip No:3.
If you haven't got one, fit a 'pre filter' (preferably the glass bowl type filter) and fill up at modern looking filling stations where you can, then you should not have any problems with contaminated fuel. The situation in this respect is not as bad as some would have you believe. We only collected grit and some unidentified black bits in ours! No water to speak of.

Tip No:4.
Pump boys dilute the diesel with cheaper parafin (in India and Pakistan) which is illegal, as no tax has been levied on it. You can probably tell if this has been done by the excessive white smoke. It is possible that you could be prosecuted by the Excise Police, (who have check points outside most major towns in India, and at all state borders) but it is unlikely. Just keep your fuel receipts for the last couple of fills, to let them know where to look for tax evaders. This should get you off the hook.