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Tips on Buying Gas That Can Save You Money

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS

I received the information below in an e-mail. These tips were provided by a person who has been in the petroleum industry for 31 years. It is good, common sense information so I thought I would share it.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck 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 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. In slow mode 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 worth 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 in to 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.

DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!

Mary Richards Reece & Nichols Realtors maryrichards@reeceandnichols.com www.kcmoves.com 816-853-9698

Posted by Mary Richards on 04/01/2008 10:16 PM

Comments (51)

tips on buying gas, save you money, saving money, fill up your gas tank, gasoline

Post is included in group: Agent Mom
Post is included in group: Seniors Issues
Post is included in group: Rainer's Women's Council of Realtors

51 Comments on Tips on Buying Gas That Can Save You Money

APR

2008

The first one is really funny to me.

I filled up yesterday in the late afternoon and froze my nuggies off.

Virginia: I don't know about you, but I'm tired of freezing my nuggies off! I'm ready for the warm weather. I think the first recommendation is similar to what happens to our hands when we are in cold weather. Have you ever noticed that your rings slip around your fingers when your hands get cold and that your hands can swell when it is hot outside?

I've heard news about this in our area as well. It sounds like a great way to save on gas, if only I get there early enough in the morning to take advantage of it.

APR

2008

Mary thanks for the information. It makes perfect sense, I just never thought about it.

Mary - Thanks for the great info! I didn't know about any of them I don't think.

Mary thank you so much for sharing this information and while they do make sense I've never really thought to consider any of these tips. I will however share this message with the office and my friends and family! I'm now going to start pumping my fuel in the A.M. and on slow spped and hopefully notice the savings! Have a great day!

Mary - Great post. I knew about the gasoline truck, but not filling up in early morning when the ground was colder. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing that information.

Great post, Mary! A friend of mine emailed this to me last week, and I just bought gas the other morning (while it was still cold outside). $3.59/gallon! I remember the good ole days when you could get gas for less than a buck a gallon!

APR

2008

These are great tips that all of us need right now!

Dana, Lindsey: I didn't think about it too much until gas started costing so much. I am paying an average of $70 when I top off my tank. Ouch!

Tina, Sharon: I am trying to make a point to fill-up in the mornings now. I am also paying more attention to my speed. Cruise control helps a lot. I remember when gas used to be .89 per gallon. That has been several years ago though.

APR

2008

A couple of year's ago I would've passed on this blog. Thank you for the timely and informative advice. I'll be sure to keep my tank half full!

APR

2008

Elizabeth, Ravinder, Brittanie, & Velda: Thanks! I figure we can use all of the help we can get right now. Making several small changes can really make a difference to our bottom line.

Thanks for these great tips! Every little bit helps ~ especially these days!

APR

2008

Nancy: Thanks! I know what you mean. Now, when I fill-up, I think about these tips and try to follow them.

APR

2008

Wow -- I had nooooo idea! Thank you for sharing this info; I am going to pass on to some friends.

APR

2008

Fill up your tank for $7

For seniors and others who may only drive their car a few times per week on short trips, you can fill your gas tank for $7. How you ask? This is easy on the pocket book, and one that I prefer. The next time you fill your tank and you make a short trip, your tank is about perhaps 2 gallons short. On your next outing pull into the gas station and put in about $7 worth, no more. So your tank is not completely full perhaps. Well on your next trip get $7 more, no more. Try it, you'll like it. Isn't it a little bit better than spending $50 or more filling up?

Remember back when we had to get in line to get gasoline, because of a shortage? The administration can't bring that up, because there is no shortage. Otherwise we would be standing in lines again.

Somehow if people can get back into driving just to buy ice cream at their favorite store, or just window shop at the local mall, and you know how that goes, then and only then money will be spent, and the economy will pickup.

This is from a Phillip Hollsworth, who offered this good idea. When pulling in to a service station, just make sure,... "For the rest of this year, DON’T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL." When looking to purchase gasoline, there should be no hassle about driving around looking for another gas station, just look across the street, for another oil company.

"If they do not sell any gas, then they will be inclined to reduce their prices. Once they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit."

I know some have said, your buying gas more often. I'm talking about short trips several times a week. Mostly seniors. Is this too much of a waste of time for persons who go out on short trips several times a week?

Gas stations busy? The last time I stood in line was 1973, the gasoline shortage. I have never had to stand in line waiting for a pump since. Pull right up!

We lose While the oil companies are raking in billions of dollars. They obviously don't care about the economy, or America's workers, who are losing their jobs by the thousands each week. As long as they make their profits. That's the bottom line. Some say, not purchasing from EXXON/MOBIL will not work. We have to do something. So they will find other ways to sell their gas to the independents, competitors. What difference does it make? EXXON/MOBIL will do just fine for me. Or do we just do nothing? Apparently so. Because no matter how many suggestions you come up with, somebody will always say it will not work.

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APR

2008

Tori Lynn: My kids are even talking about these tips and reminding me about them. A week ago, I pulled into a gas station to fill-up. There was a fuel truck there making a fuel delivery so I left. I didn't want extra gunk in my tank.

Haiki: That is a different take on this. I have heard some of the theories on boycotting certain companies. I know there are some companies that buy more fuel from local (?) suppliers. There is a website you can check to see where the companies are getting their fuel. Thanks for your comments!

MAY

2008

Great advice! thanks!

MAY

2008

Liisa: Thanks for stopping by. At least with Active Rain, we can visit without getting in the car and using more gas. LOL. :-)

MAY

2008

Humm, unless you live in the far north or the desert area the hint about pumping gas in the morning during the non winter months doesnt work. If the tanks were on top of the ground it might, but in my area (the mid atlantic) the ground temp does not vary enough to make a difference.

Thought I had seen a counter to this ahem, email tips, took me a bit but found it...

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/automobiles/a/pumping_gas.htm

Good idea but basically useless, sorry to burst the bubble, then again it actually may be a bit true in the midwest areas like LV that might have different temp swings in the ground.

Sorry 8-(

Thank you...I spent 63 bucks today to fill up my truck. I am flabergasted!!! (did I spell that right?)

Have a great weekend!

Yvette Smith

Williamsburg's Preferred Realtor®

MAY

2008

Well, I remember when gas used to be a quarter a gallon. Another tip is don't fill up on the weekends when the price of gas goes up. Fill up mid-week. Of course, I get gas about twice a month, but I don't drive very far.

Yvette & Elizabeth: I know what you mean about pain at the pump! Elizabeth, I seem to be filling up about twice a week (ouch!) but I am giving more thought to trying to get things done in fewer trips. I wish I could get by with filling-up twice a month. LOL!

Diane: Thanks for commenting. In the midwest, we can see a 30 to 40 degree difference from morning to afternoon though the ground temperature doesn't change that quickly. I did hear a car expert talking on a local radio show and he said that it is best to fill up before your gas tank gets below half as there are lubricants in the fuel. By doing this, he said you can prolong the life of your fuel pump. The last point about not filling up when the tanker is stirring up the tank sounds like common sense to me. Thank you for being vigilant. It didn't occur to me to check this out on snopes.

MAY

2008

you can also use coasting as a way to save that precious gas. Coasting to red lights try not to stop. You can coast down hills, just put it in neutral and save gas. You can also turn off your car if you are idling more than two minuties. I use these and many more to make my gas last. I am a Notary Loan Signing Agent and I am always in my car.

Yup yup Mary, thats why I added that lil bit in it about not working in all areas, hehe, I'm a east coaster but not a far norther ;-)

My broker sends out a lot of stuff his wife tells him to & they never check it on snopes or other places to see if its a "urban myth". I'm a "geek" so it grinds a bit when I see stuff sent out that isnt fully true or not true at all, heheh. And yes, I'm "AR" about stuff but that doesnt stand for Active Rain, more, ahem, retentive. Hehe.

There are tips to help save gas, at any one moment you can find experts debating if they are true or work, I liken it to people having noses, just about everyone has one, ya know?

Still good ideas to keep in mind 8-)

Margaret: Coasting is a great idea! I need to do that more often. Cruise control saves gas and money in those speeding tickets that I avoid. Teehee!

Diane: LOL! I had to laugh when I saw your "AR" trait. I have that trait as well. You can bet I will check snopes more often. Thanks for making me smile. I do that often as I read what our lively AR members write.

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DEC

I would have never thought of these but thanks for taking the time

DEC

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