SoFlaJets Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon. Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons. 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 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 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 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
war ensemble Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Thanks man, I'll keep that in mind, especially with the prices today. The only good thing is the two gas stations right next to each other at the end of the street are very competitive so I've seen quite a few price drops because of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFlaJets Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 the wife filled 'er up this morning $3.35 a gallon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tictac Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Thanks jim, all good tips. Considering i have to fill up today, and i am well below the half mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 cool stuff, thanks sfj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny green balls Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 potw. thanks for the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I live in NJ. I am not allowed to pump my own gas. I will bring this letter with me and hand it to the attendant though next time I fill up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I live in NJ. I am not allowed to pump my own gas. I will bring this letter with me and hand it to the attendant though next time I fill up! Isn't it cheaper down there ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Nice post by the way Fla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 When I bought my car two years ago it was rougly $29 dollars to fill up. Filled up yesterday for $45. Unreal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green DNA Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 This thread killed two birds with one stone. Useful consumer information and a weekend job possibility for JetMoses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afosomf Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 This thread killed two birds with one stone. Useful consumer information and a weekend job possibility for JetMoses. you forgot the 3rd bird, SJ turd humor;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Isn't it cheaper down there ? Do some from PA just call NJ down there? Anyhow I believe NJ is cheaper than PA right now. NJ is still under $3.00 per gallon. Hanging on but not for much longer. $2.98. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny green balls Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 you forgot the 3rd bird, SJ turd humor;) i didn't smell a turd joke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Thanks for the tips. I had heard the fill up in the morning one before. I didnt know about the slow speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Do some from PA just call NJ down there? Anyhow I believe NJ is cheaper than PA right now. NJ is still under $3.00 per gallon. Hanging on but not for much longer. $2.98. Yeah, everytime my pops goes down to Hershey that's what he ends up saying. I don't know, he's prolly wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 I looked up the CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) of gasoline and it's .069% per degree Fahrenheit. So if you gas up in the early morning when the gas is say 50 degrees F vs. 80 degrees F in the afternoon - the 30 degree difference will get you about 2% more gasoline. At todays prices - that adds up quick - thanks SoFla for the tips! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryK Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Thanks for the great info. I have a question: I've noticed that the pumps here generally have 3 octane grades: 87,89,92. But in the top corner there are only *2* teeny little gallon-counters (they look like odometers). That's: 3 grades, but 2 counters. Does this mean that mid-grade is really high-grade being sold at both prices, or are low-high being mixed on the fly to create midgrade? Thanks... -j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Do some from PA just call NJ down there? Anyhow I believe NJ is cheaper than PA right now. NJ is still under $3.00 per gallon. Hanging on but not for much longer. $2.98. Out here in Buffalo we've been over $3 for quite a while. I filled up this morning at a Valero Station (I own the stock) , $3.37 and that's the cheapest around. The friggin Mobil a block away is $3.55. Diesel is $4.35 which blows my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpacemanSpiff_NF Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Thanks for the great info. I have a question: I've noticed that the pumps here generally have 3 octane grades: 87,89,92. But in the top corner there are only *2* teeny little gallon-counters (they look like odometers). That's: 3 grades, but 2 counters. Does this mean that mid-grade is really high-grade being sold at both prices, or are low-high being mixed on the fly to create midgrade? Thanks... -j I believe that the midgrade is just a mixture of the two other grades...but I could be wrong. Whenever that gas station at work runs out of one of the grades it usually means you cant get the midgrade either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpacemanSpiff_NF Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 $3.85 here in tahoe. I'm hating my gas guzzling jeep right now. But in 4 days I'm getting my license pulled for 3 months, which means I can't drive, which means I won't have to buy gas....theres a brightside to everything... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green DNA Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 $3.85 here in tahoe. I'm hating my gas guzzling jeep right now. But in 4 days I'm getting my license pulled for 3 months, which means I can't drive, which means I won't have to buy gas....theres a brightside to everything... Obviously a "glass is half full" type of guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpacemanSpiff_NF Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Obviously a "glass is half full" type of guy. Trying to be, a DUI off three beers is rough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny green balls Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Trying to be, a DUI off three beers is rough. what do you weigh? 80 pounds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickkotite Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 I believe that the midgrade is just a mixture of the two other grades...but I could be wrong. Whenever that gas station at work runs out of one of the grades it usually means you cant get the midgrade either. interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickkotite Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Trying to be, a DUI off three beers is rough. i feel for you i really do. 3 beers in 3 minutes or in 2 hours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickkotite Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 what do you weigh? 80 pounds? it doesnt matter that much. if you dabble in alcohol and they put it in your mouth, you read a number. unfair? i think so. in parts of europe, there is a zero tloerance policy. not a single sip allowed. its crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tparich Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Thanks for the great info. I have a question: I've noticed that the pumps here generally have 3 octane grades: 87,89,92. But in the top corner there are only *2* teeny little gallon-counters (they look like odometers). That's: 3 grades, but 2 counters. Does this mean that mid-grade is really high-grade being sold at both prices, or are low-high being mixed on the fly to create midgrade? Thanks... -j I can confirm that they do use a blending method for the mid grades. Used to work for a company that makes the pump controllers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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