Avoiding motorway fuel prices

Oh merciful 'eavans -- you don't CUT the Times -- you TEAR it -- that opens the edges so the stuff begins disolving soooo much quicker 

I have a sat nav with POIs for supermarket petrol stations along my route. A lot are closer to motorways than you would think. And the saving can be a lot if filling a 70 litre fuel tank from close to empty.

Use a normal filling station every 5 refills or so for the better fuel additives.

As for the cassette, use Dometic capsules, and ordinary toilet paper...No problems.

The cheapest I could find the capsules was 68p each. Compared to the Lidl bio pods I have been using at 12.5p each that seems expensive. Are there any advantages over the bio pods? I started using them after reading the thread on CT and they work really well.

There's no way I would leave the motorway to get fuel unless it was on the junction itself or within metres rather than miles. I like to keep going and coming off the motorway would be a mental effort for me! lol.

I try to plan to avoid motorway prices but been stuck with it on a couple of occasions on return journeys. I then put in just enough to get me home.

There are some very unkind remarks about the loo roll thing; but what baffles me is the notion that cheaper supermarket paper will not degrade. For sure it does.    

Also some of those sensitive souls who are squeamish about the subject would suffer in those places already mentioned where you cannot flush loo roll. Sicily is another example to add to those mentioned.

For me the advantage of bio wash pods is the fact that they remove and prevent calcium build up

thanks for all those kind and informative replies folks, actually on the way home we discovered so many filling stations in Penrith, so close to the M6 that we probably could have done without the can. Also the most amazing farm shop called Cranstones which is very close to the junction and very well worth a visit. I will try the bio pods next time.

Agree re Cranstones. We have bought some amazing venison from them and their Cumberland sausage rings are very good. Was there room for your caravan? I was thinking we might struggle with the MH, as the times we have visited with just the car it has been very busy.

Hi, leaving aside the toilet issues-will look at the info re pods-if making a journey and may need to get fuel I have found a very good way to locate filling stations is to use viamichelin.

You can either input your start and end points to get a route and then click on the fuel pump logo or just go to the map screen and do the same.

Have used it for all our foreign trips and when used with streetview, to avoid those places where an outfit may struggle to get access, makes planning stops a lot easier.

Re Cranston’s. You will struggle with a caravan in the car park, but there is an overflow bit that may be OK (though I can’t really remember). We go regularly to buy their own smoked back bacon in bulk (then divide into smaller bags for the freezer). Coincidentally we had some for breakfast this morning at Englethwaite Hall.

When travelling down Spain on their motorways, a few years ago, I got my sat nav to indicate fuel stations en route. Those shown did include Pfs's in nearby towns and villages.

Cannot the same be done for the UK?

 I personally do not bother when on home soil as I rarely empty a tank with my travels, including when towing.