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Pumping Gas - How to Get The Most Out of Your Money

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) DRE# 01415544

With Gas price skyrocketing ($4.00+ per gallon in Marin County, CA), I really appreciate getting the follwing tips on how to effectively pump gas and save the precious commodities - money and Gas.  And yes, I have been doing everything wrong until now, and probably still will ...

1) 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 makes a big difference.  The service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps as the distributors do.  So make sure you only pump the gas when the temperature is low.    

2) 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. In slow mode you would 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 system. If you are pumping on the fast rate, more of the liquid that goes into your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are sucked up and fed back into the underground storage tank, so you're getting less gas for your money.

3) 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 there will be occupying the tank's empty space. More air = more evaporation.

Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves to create zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so as to minimize the evaporation of the fuel.

4) 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 to the bottom of the tank.

Hope this will help you save a little when you pump those precious gas!

 

Comments (21)

Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate
By the way... I really like the way you have customized your Active Rain blog page.  It looks really great !
May 06, 2008 05:50 PM
Andy Laughlin
ConnectRealty.com - Bellingham, WA

You should take a look at my blog "The Future Of Real Estate" Let me know if you have any questions. Thank You!!

May 06, 2008 05:53 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices
Noticed two things that I did not know before, and they turned to be the same that Karen Anne mentioned. No idea why it happens this way, but it is fascinating anyway
May 06, 2008 05:57 PM
Orobosa Idehen/ Sacramento/ Elk Grove/ Wilton
Idehen Real Estate Investment Group - Keller Williams Realty - Elk Grove, CA
Sylvia, That is great advice Thanks for the information gas prices here in the Bay Area and California are among the highest. 
May 06, 2008 05:57 PM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes
This is all very good information. If a gallon is not really a gallon if it is hot likely we here in Arizona won't be buying gallons all summer.
May 06, 2008 06:18 PM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert

Thanks Karen.  I got these tips and they are actually quite logical.  I also like to fill up fast, especially when it's cold out.  Guess I will have to bundle up in the winter. 

About the background of my blog - the great thing about Active Rain... I looked at what other peopel are doing and just copied them (sorry!).  They are also very generous about sharing ideas here..... Sylvia

 

May 06, 2008 06:26 PM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert
Hi, Andy, Thanks for visiting.  Will go and check out your blog... Sylvia
May 06, 2008 06:27 PM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert

Hi Jon, Thanks for visiting.  It does make sense though, doesn't it.  The person who wrote this works in the industry..  Sylvia

May 06, 2008 06:30 PM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert
Yes, Orobosa, I share your pain... espeically for us Realtors, who have to drive around (short distances, no less) to look at houses... Chronicle had an article out studying gas price, Arco won.....Sylvia 
May 06, 2008 06:32 PM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert
Hi Bob and Carolin:  You are probably right, but that physics does make sense, doesn't it.  Guess Karen from Fort Worth probably feel the same way.  Perhaps you have to go to gas station at midnight?  O.K. Just kidding, even I would not do that.. Sylvia
May 06, 2008 06:35 PM
Jeff Graves
Altos Research - Sunnyvale, CA
More than just beautiful market trend reports
Interesting tips...mahalo.  Jeff from Maui
May 06, 2008 06:52 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA
Sylvia, good points to keep in mind. Thanks for sharing.
May 07, 2008 01:40 AM
Tina Merritt
Nest Realty - Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Real Estate

Sylvia,

I now feel like a "gas pumping expert" - thank you!!!!

Tina in Virginia

May 07, 2008 01:44 AM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert

Hi Jeff:  Thanks for coming, all the way from Maui!!  Curious about the gas price in your area ... Sylvia

May 07, 2008 03:39 PM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert
Hi Michael.  Glad you find them useful.. Sylvia
May 07, 2008 03:40 PM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert
Hello Tina:  Thanks for accepting the Face Book Invitation.  I am anxious to see how much I remember when I go and pump that gas next time.. Sylvia
May 07, 2008 03:41 PM
Frank Marta
Nuhome Mortgage - Houston, TX
Texas Home Loan Specialist NMLS#: 245813

Hey every drop counts and we must make our money must stretch like never before.  Great tips thanks!

 

May 07, 2008 03:45 PM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert

Yes, Frank, glad you enjoyed it.  You are definitely right about the fact that every drop/penny counts, especially now.  Thanks for the reminder.   Sylvia

May 07, 2008 04:05 PM
ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
Always good to hear about this again. Now I'm heading out EARLY so my Trusty Subaru can swizzle some fuel before we head to the hills to show LAND this morning..=)  I get about 35 MPG with my "Mountain Goat" car, BTW...
May 08, 2008 12:15 AM
Sylvia Barry
Coldwell Banker Previews International (#1 Marin_Sonoma_San Francisco_North_Bay) - San Rafael, CA
Marin and Sonoma Real Estate Leading Expert
I know.  JaneeAnne, I have a VAN (yes, pretty sad, but I still drive my son's teams - another two years to go), so my gasoline bill is pretty high there.  My husband has a Subaru, not a hybrid, but he is very happy with the car.  
May 08, 2008 02:34 PM