Do you need a few fueling tips that will help you save money and make the most of the gasoline you pump into your vehicles. These tips will not only save you money at the pump, but also will lead to more intentional thinking about gasoline stewardship (a theological issue?). Ultimately, we all need to move as far away from oil as we can, but until that glorious day, we should at least try to use our money and gasoline wisely. The following tips for the pump are a good start.
My wife and I have been using these tips for nearly two weeks. They do work. I’m not sure of the source for these tips. They came to us via e-mail from friends. The tips do work! We drive a Honda Accord, if that makes a difference in results comparisons. I’d love to hear how these tips work for you! So, let me know in the comments if you actually do try them and what your results prove. The following is the actual content from the e-mail tip we received from friends:
Four Fueling Tips to Get the Most Out of the Pump
Most likely a lot of you already know all this I’ve been in petroleum pipeline business for about 31 years, currently working for the Kinder-Morgan Pipeline here in San Jose, CA. We deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period from the pipe line; one day it’s diesel, the next day it’s jet fuel and gasoline. We have 34 storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons. Here are some tricks to help you get your money’s worth.
1. Fill up your car or truck in the morning when the temperature is still cool. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground; and the colder the ground, the denser the gasoline. When it gets warmer gasoline expands, so if you’re filling up in the afternoon or in the evening, what should be a gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and temperature of the fuel (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products) are significant. Every truckload that we load is temperature-compensated so that the indicated gallonage is actually the amount pumped. A one-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for businesses, but service stations don’t have temperature compensation at their pumps.
2. If a tanker truck is filling the station’s tank at the time you want to buy gas, do not fill up; most likely dirt and sludge in the tank is being stirred up when gas is being delivered, and you might be transferring that dirt from the bottom of their tank into your car’s tank.
3. Fill up when your gas tank is half-full (or half-empty), because the more gas you have in your tank the less air there is and gasoline evaporates rapidly, especially when it’s warm. (Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating ‘roof’ membrane to act as a barrier between the gas and the atmosphere, thereby minimizing evaporation.)
4. If you look at the trigger you’ll see that it has three delivery settings: slow, medium and high. When you’re filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to the high setting. You should be pumping at the slow setting, thereby minimizing vapors created while you are pumping. Hoses at the pump are corrugated; the corrugations act as a return path for vapor recovery from gas that already has been metered. If you are pumping at the high setting, the agitated gasoline contains more vapor, which is being sucked back into the underground tank so you’re getting less gas for your money.
Although it all sounds great, so far there is no evidence that any of it is actually true. Even Snopes.com says it is undetermined. Although I hope it’s true, it probably isn’t.
Loyal to quality products? Well, Chevrolet has come a long way in quality. US manufacturers DO make a quality product. For instance, not only a Chevy Impala but I’d rather have the new Ford Fusion over either an Accord or Camry. Why buy a foreign car when you can get ever bit the equal or more in a domestic such as the Impala or Fusion? I stopped supporting Japan several years ago when I stepped out in faith an bought “American” and I haven’t regretted it since. Since 1997 I have owned 4 Chevrolets and all of them have been very good to me. Just wait to you see the all new rear wheel drive Impala’s in about 2 model yrs. It IS NOT good, long-term, sound Capitalism to build up Japan while denigrating our domestic auto industry?
I’m loyal to quality products. If US car manufacturers can’t make a quality product then they don’t get my money. It’s called Capitalism.
@Ben: My experiences with domestics is very similar to yours.
@murph4: You own three Impalas! Three?
I have owned Totota’s,one Honda, 2 VW’s and 2 Mazda’s. The three Chevy Impala’s I now own (2000, 2003 and 2007 models)are ever bit the match for the imports I’ve owned. Properly maintained the Impala will stay with the Japanese cars. Besides why not try to be more loyal to your country and its auto industry instead spending your dollars to make Japan stronger.
@murph4: I’ll never buy another American vehicle. Judging by my experiences they’re very inferior products compared to foreign cars. And I’m not just talking about Hondas but almost any other vehicle not made in America is better. It’s a completely subjective opinion and isn’t based on any concrete evidence though
. Just my own meandering opinion.
I’ve bought American. Sorry, I’ll never own a Chevy Impala … ever.
I drive a 2007 Chevy Impala. This is my third one and they are superior to the Accords. Try buying American & you will find that it isn’t that bad. Support your domestic industry instead of building up Japan.
@Wess: No problem, bro!
@Ben: Nope. I didn’t know any of this until the e-mail came to my wife and me. It really works guys.
@Josh: Yeah, that’s a problem! You have to do what you have to do. You’ll lose money though. I love my Honda. I’ll probably never by anything other than a Honda in the future. We may try a Pilot next.
Problem…I’m reading this in the afternoon with an almost empty tank of gas!
Observation…what is it with young pastors all driving Accords?! (I do too!!!)
That was absolutely fascinating. Do you work or have you worked in this business before to know these things?
I didn’t know any of these things, thanks Shawn.