Get the Most Gas for Your Money

[Cuda340]

I discovered these tips to get more gas for your dollar. Some of these ideas are pretty common knowledge- others may be new to you.

Only buy or fill up your car in the early morning when the
ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations
have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the
more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying
in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a
gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the
temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other
petroleum products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a
fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3)
stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low speed,
thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping.
All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the
fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those
vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so
you're getting less gas for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF
FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in
your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates
faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal
floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and
the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service
stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature
compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage
tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up- most likely the gasoline
is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up
some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.

[Tails]

Interesting tips. The one about the gas trucks filling the storage tanks is one I'll remember for sure.

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by Tails

Interesting tips. The one about the gas trucks filling the storage tanks is one I'll remember for sure.

Y-ahhh , my brother told me this some time ago. I somewhat sloffed it off.thinking," How much debris could there be;plus I thought each pump has a filter cartridge : or do they ?

[Cuda340]

In today's newspaper, there was a report of the world-wide gas crisis. While $4 per gallon is a shock to Americans, others would think we are paying bargain prices.

In Brazil gas is $5.67 per gallon. France is $9.66 per gallon. And Turkey is $11.29 per gallon. These prices have caused massive strikes and protests from car owners, truckers, and fishermen.

On the other hand, drivers in oil-rich Venezuela are paying only $.12 per gallon!

In response, production of hybrid and flex-fuel models are soaring, and manufacturers are severely cutting back on trucks and SUVs.

After us motorheads get our Challengers, I wonder how many Dodge will sell to the general public that is reeling from escalating gas prices? It is the 1970s all over again! Can you say "ground-hog day?"

[sniper226]

I question the advice on filling up while half empty. While it makes some sense in a storage tank, you have to remember that a gallon of gas probably weighs a little more than 8 pounds. So with my 18 gal tank, I would be lugging around at a minimum at all times, 9 gallons (following that advice) which then equates to about 75 pounds.

I wonder if you really end up saving then on that tip or actually losing out...

[RadarmagneT]

FYI, there are some issues with most of these...
Snopes pretty much does a good job discussing these "theories".

snopes.com: Tips on Pumping Gas

BTW, when you get chain mail... always check snopes.

[425hpChargerSRT8]

i agree, i think its great info, but mostly just theories

[Venthos]

My belief regarding fighting for mileage/pinching pennies on gas like this is that if I cared *that much* to do things like that, I just wouldn't buy a gas guzzler in the first place. I'm getting an SRT8 and I plan to just live it out regardless what happens with gas prices, I made peace with that long ago.

I factored huge gas costs into my budget when determining if I could afford the car. That way I have no surprises.

[425hpChargerSRT8]

i did the same with calculating gas into my budget. I allowed my self $1000.00 per month in gas, and so far i have only used about $6-700 at the most. As long as i dont go much above that i will be good.

[sniper226]

Originally Posted by 425hpChargerSRT8

I allowed my self $1000.00 per month in gas,...

I wish my budget would allow up to $1k in gas a month.