LPG Filling station

Moss

Moss

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I’m travelling to Caen next month and wanted to know if there is an LPG filling station near the port or should I fill my underslung tank before I go
 
If you use Search4sites it has lpg locations listed, and there is one in Caen but no feedback so can’t guarantee it. Can also use myLPG app to find.

You’ll find in many large hyper markets as well.
 
Check out Lpgeu app. There's quite a few around Caen.

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Just be aware there are summer and winter grades of LPG with differing ratios of butane and propane.

The grades with more butane may have issues if you try to use them in winter when temperatures drop below freezing.
 
I always fill before going them I know I have 100% propane on board. I try not to come back with too much if I'm going to use the van in the winter in the UK.

I think France can be up to 45% butane and Spain is up to 65%, percentage varies on time of year and how far south.
 
Thanks for all your advice. I think I’ll fill up before I go then I know I’ll be fine.
 
Lenny HB said:
I always fill before going them I know I have 100% propane on board. I try not to come back with too much if I'm going to use the van in the winter in the UK.

I think France can be up to 45% butane and Spain is up to 65%, percentage varies on time of year and how far south.
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Thankfully butane and propane are completely mix-able. We frequently used to either blend on board C3/C4 for discharge at ports that were unable to take the fully refrigerated C3 at -43 deg C. The vapour pressure, density and boiling point of the mix is a very simple straight ratio between the two
 
Slightly related to the thread, I found on my last trip to France that both fuel stations I filled up at had a notice stating that the gas was only for propelling the vehicle and not for filling of domestic tanks. I don't know how this is going to affect us in the future?

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DuxDeluxe said:
Thankfully butane and propane are completely mix-able. We frequently used to either blend on board C3/C4 for discharge at ports that were unable to take the fully refrigerated C3 at -43 deg C. The vapour pressure, density and boiling point of the mix is a very simple straight ratio between the two
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That's good to know, I had wondered if they separated out in the tank.
 
Branston said:
Slightly related to the thread, I found on my last trip to France that both fuel stations I filled up at had a notice stating that the gas was only for propelling the vehicle and not for filling of domestic tanks. I don't know how this is going to affect us in the future?
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There seems to be many more gas driven cars in France than here.
Perhaps they don't want you hogging the pump for a measly €20 when the car behind wants €80
 
Branston said:
Slightly related to the thread, I found on my last trip to France that both fuel stations I filled up at had a notice stating that the gas was only for propelling the vehicle and not for filling of domestic tanks. I don't know how this is going to affect us in the future?
Click to expand...
Total station by any chance, they banned filling hab tanks a few years ago.
 
DuxDeluxe said:
Thankfully butane and propane are completely mix-able. We frequently used to either blend on board C3/C4 for discharge at ports that were unable to take the fully refrigerated C3 at -43 deg C. The vapour pressure, density and boiling point of the mix is a very simple straight ratio between the two
Click to expand...
But the high butane content causes gassing of problems in low temperatures also Truma Combi's often fall over on high butane content as butane can not supply the high flow rate required.

Not a problem for LPG fueled engines as they use a liquid take off.
 
Lenny HB said:
But the high butane content causes gassing of problems in low temperatures also Truma Combi's often fall over on high butane content as butane can not supply the high flow rate required.

Not a problem for LPG fueled engines as they use a liquid take off.
Click to expand...
That is correct for pure n-butane which boils at approx -2 deg c.( IsoButane boils at -10 deg c) - however a mix of butane and propane will boil at the temperature proportional to the ratio, due to the intermolecular bonds being also the same on each.

I quote this from an Australian page
  • In any liquid the molecules are free to move around, but there is nonetheless some bonding between them. The bonds between non-polar molecules are called van der Waals bonds; they are stronger than the bonds between highly polar ions such as dissolved salt and water. By way of comparison, in a gas would we say there is almost no bonding between the molecules, and in a solid there is almost rigid bonding. (Purists may question the terms used here: I am trying to keep it simple.)
  • When common salt is dissolved in water, the almost rigid chemical bonds between the sodium and chlorine atoms are broken and the atoms become ions. The ions float around in the water, and can form electro-static bonds with water molecules and so on. This is definitely a 'solution'.
  • The strength of the bonds between butane molecules is very similar to the strength of the bonds between propane molecules. This strength is a function of the shape of the molecules, among other things.
  • Butane and propane molecules are substantially 'non-polar', unlike water molecules. (Some slight polarity exists.)
  • A liquid 'boils' when the velocity (or energy) of a molecule is enough to break all the surrounding bonds and let that molecule escape or fly away.
  • Temperature is actually a measure of the energy possessed by a molecule in a liquid: 'hotter' means more energy and more vibration. However, the molecules do not all have exactly the same energy: there is a distribution. Some molecules will have a bit more energy, and be the first to escape.
  • In addition, the heavier the molecule (the bigger the number of carbon atoms for instance) the slower it will be traveling for a certain energy, following the basic Newtonian Law of Motion E = 1/2 m v2. Thus the heavier the molecule, the hotter it has to be before single molecules have enough velocity to escape. Boiling point essentially goes up with molecule size.
  • Below the boiling point a small fraction of the molecules still possess enough energy to break all the bonds to other molecules and escape. These molecules form a vapour above the liquid, and this vapour will have a 'vapour presure'.
  • When there are several different chemicals in a liquid each one will have its own 'partial vapour pressure' in the vapour above. The sum of all these partial vapour pressures is the total vapour pressure.
  • When there is only x% of a chemical in a liquid mixture, the partial vapour pressure for that chemical will be x% of the vapour pressure of the pure chemical. This is Raoult's Law. But note it only applies strictly to 'ideal solutions', where the intermolecular bond energy is all about the same.

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As I understand it, you can usually fill up with lpg in France so long as it is not obvious you are filling cylinders. If your filler is on the outside of the MH then they can't be sure (and can't be bothered) to check you are not lpg propelled. Not sure how this will be affected if you have to pay first unless you register the card and get the total cost deducted at the end of the fill. It would be difficult to give the lpg back it they then found out it was for habitation purposes!!!
Have just filled our underslung tank for the first time prior to our September visit to France but I do have the connector.
Sue
 
If any one is interested from the mylpg app

Propane/butane mixture in countries around Europe​


The table below contains a list of countries and most common propane/butane mixtures. This data should be seen only as to give you a perspective. Mixtures can vary from station to station and from company to company.


CountriesLPG GradesReported Propane/Butane mixture
AustriaAfrom 100%/0% to 80%/20%
BelgiumA60%/40% all year
Czech RepublicA-C60%/40% in winter,
40%/60% in summer
DenmarkA70%/30% from 1/09 to 31/05
FinlandA95%/5% from 1/09 to 31/05
FranceA-Cgrade A from 1/11 to 31/03,
grade C in summer
GermanyA-Egrade B from 01/12 to 31/03,
grade E in summer
GreeceD20%/80% all year
HungaryC40%/60% all year
IrelandA100%/0% all year
ItalyA-C,
D-E		from 90%/10% to 20%/80% from 1/11 to 31/03,
grade D or E in summer
Norway/100%/0% all year
PolandA-Dgrade A from 1/11 to 31/03,
grade D in summer
PortugalA92%/8%
SloveniaC35%/65%
Sweden/100%/0% all year
SpainC35%/65% from 1/11 to 31/03
TurkeyB50%/50% from 1/11 to 31/03,
30%/70% in summer
United KingdomA100%/0% all year

Source aegpl.com, the European LPG Association



Autogas grades​


The LPG grades are defined by the temperature at which they reach the minimum pressure of 150 kPa.


LPG gradesTemperaturePossible Propane/Butane mixtures
grade A
-10°C​
from 100%/0% to 60%/40%
grade B
-5°C​
from 60%/40% to 40%/60%
grade C
0°C​
from 40%/60% to 30%/70%
grade D
+10°C​
from 30%/70% to 10%/90%
grade E
+20°C​
from 10%/90% to 0%/100%
 
filled twice on recent trip, Vendome at an Intermarche Super who seem to have plenty of stations with autogas and on the Mosel at a small service station outside the stelpatz in Traben Trarbach and no questions on whether its a tank or cylinders.

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tonyidle said:
Most UK supermarkets are taking £100 if using pay at the pump. Balance (if any) returned.
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Filled in Arras and that was pay before you fill , no specific amount but was asked how much i would be putting in and it took a deposit off the card then refunded on fill up.
 

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