Safe Diesel fuel

No guarantees on getting clean fuel where ever you go Nick. I fitted an after market filter set-up (CAV) with sediment bowl and carried spare filter elements, this removed the worry of getting a tank full of contaminated diesel in some remote servo although on your proposed trip you shouldn't have any worries.

rr

Use a Mr Funnel. Its the only way to be sure. In some countries it is illegal to pump diesel for some time after a tanker delivery. In Aust they allow you to pump while the tanker is unloading. I would want several hours to pass before I would like to pump from a just filled tank.
Tip 1; If you stop at a servo, do food and toilet FIRST and fill up on they way out so that if they had a delivery just before you got there at least its had more time to settle.
Tip 2; When you are getting low look for fuel tankers that may have just been to the servo you are about to stop at.

The chances of getting contaminated diesel is just the same in the city, the country, and the outback. Because of the volume they pump truck stops are safer, but if there are no trucks filling when your there maybe there has just been a delivery. I have a Toyota 100 series TD 2006. I cannot use a CAV filter because they restrict the fuel flow which can affect performance and fuel pump lubrication. Be very wary of anything you add to your fuel system in most late model diesels. Denco Diesel make a water separator which is OK and Terrain Tammer make a fuel filter/water separator which also is made for the late model vehicles. There maybe others. If in doubt talk to a qualified diesel mechanic.
Tip 3; If you go into an area that is flooded or has been flooded recently be very wary. Servos in elevated positions are safer than ones in low areas.
Am I paranoid about getting bad diesel - you betcha

Your VW would most likely specify at least 50 cetane diesel for your transporter (they do with our Tig). So you'll find most VW enthusiasts have a preference for BP diesels - the BP Ultimate is 52 cetane while the normal truckstop diesel is 51 cetane.
Australian standard is anything from 46 up - Shell guarantees 49, but as far as I can determine none of the others publish a number.

So my preferred places are BP truckstops. But most likely any truckstop that has a bunch of trucks parked will be OK. Small places who turnover little diesel are to be avoided.

Out of interest, my wife's Tiguan has a motor thats half the size and a diesel fuel filter that is twice the size of our Landcruiser. The Europeans do some things better than the Japanese sometimes.

I have never heard this before until about 2 weeks ago but I will share it just in case it has some merit.

I went to fill up and the tanker was there filling the tanks. The diesel pumps were partitioned off while this was going on. I parked and went to ask tanker driver how long he would be. Whilst talking to him I mentioned my concern about pumping diesel just after he has filled the tanks. He said its not the filling of the tanks that is the problem but using the high flow pumps - they are so powerful they suck up the sediment and rubbish from lower down in the tanks. His point was never use the high flow pumps for a smaller vehicle (regardless of whether the tanks have recently been filled or not). I know all the big trucks use the high flow pumps but maybe they have very good filtration systems.

Just sharing what this driver told me from his experience.

Hey guys, I have a mate that delivered fuel for shell, for 25 odd years, he recons the pick up for the pump in the tanks are floating, and don't suck fuel below a certain height from the tank... Just thought I'd put in my 2 bobs worth, I am also looking at the mr funnel, you here to many stories... Costly stories! You would think they could incorporate a pre fuel tank filtering system, in the manufacturing process on such sensitive new vehicles... One more thing, a friend brought a new vw passat? Told it was German... Wasn't happy when I told her, it was actualy made in Mexico! Food for thought. Cheers odog