1. Only buy gas 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, and when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so when 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.
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 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 of the 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.
3. One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL. 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, every truck that is loaded is temperature-compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.
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 on the bottom.
Posts: 5308 | Location: The Motor City | Registered: 06-03-02
Even the statements that are true are not really indicators that you can save any significant amount of money over the course of a year. I also question the article quoted in Snopes regarding gasoline being hot/warm. But don't take my word for it; check it out yourself. The next time you get gas, feel the end of the nozzle while you pump the gas. Does it get warmer? It should if the gas is hot or even warm. If anything, it will get colder. That's because the gas is stored below the frost line. The temperature of underground tanks that deep is pretty constant, around 60°. In St. Louis, several breweries were built over limestone caves in order to store their product in a cold environment. (Tourists goings into caves, like Merimac Caverns, are advised to bring light jackets even in the summer, because the air temperature in a cave is between 55° and 60°.*)
In another thread, Frankvan figured that one could save a few dollars a year by paying attention to e-mails like that.
There was one thing the e-mail advised that was a good idea, although not for the reason stated. In winter, it is always a good idea to keep at least a half tank of gas in your car. Doing so helps to reduce the chances of your fuel line having water vapor freeze in it, which can be a real pain. (The reason given in the e-mail was to reduce the amount or gasoline vapors lost, but the gas vapors are dependent upon the surface area of the gas exposed, not the depth.)
*What is the temperature inside the cave? The temperature of the cave is a constant 58 degrees.
What should I wear? Since the cave is at a constant 58 degrees a light jacket is recommended along with comfortable, non-slip walking shoes. Our Gift Shop has a large selection of warm, comfortable, and affordable sweat shirts and jackets for purchase. - http://www.americascave.com/faqs.php
Posts: 17568 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
I read the same article on a different site. I'm not sure if its true or not, but what does it hurt to follow those tips. It wont do you any harm if they don't work, but its worth a try. Since I read it I don't pump my gas on the fastest speed lol just in case
Posts: 45 | Location: California | Registered: 12-19-06
This is all mild paranoia.If any of this stuff worked we'd be doing it all in countries where the fuel is not $4 a gallon but $8 or more ,and has been there or thereabouts for years. (That's how it is in Europe). As Snopes points out the differences are either non-existent or very debatable or extremely tiny. The last paragraph of the Snopes link reflects European experience.
What we do do is check the tyre pressures frequently, adjusting them to suit the kind of journey we are taking.We drive steadily (yes, I know Americans think we all drive like Formula I or rally drivers but Americans here are deceived by way our drivers seem very fast in traffic.They think a London cab driver is quick And the cars are built to be small and nippy).And we don't drive hefty "SUVs" which have poor aerodynamics, large engines, wholly unnecessary weight, four wheel drive transmissions (so unnecessary machinery to carry and use) and are unnecesarily large for the job they do.We also like modern diesels, for their greater fuel efficiency.
And the cars are built to be small and nippy).And we don't drive hefty "SUVs" which have poor aerodynamics, large engines, wholly unnecessary weight, four wheel drive transmissions (so unnecessary machinery to carry and use) and are unnecesarily large for the job they do.We also like modern diesels, for their greater fuel efficiency.
