Gas Pumping Tips!

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Jeff delMar

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Read this on another forum that I constantly visit and thought it was quite interesting so I figure I'd share it with you guys:







TIPS ON PUMPING GAS (Good information)



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 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.



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.

 
Great info, I believe someone else posted similar statements not long ago.



I usually pump early in the mornings, but that's because I'm trying to get in and out. I also pump slow by habit mainly so I can go in to get coffee:p
 


Am I supposed to
One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY.
fill up when my tank is half full? or fill up when it is half empty?



so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon.

So I guess they are tricks ......;)
 
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....



Hmmm... The ground temps at the level of the tanks in my area don't vary that much from day to night. The piping above ground might heat up or cool down though, but how much will that matter once you start pumping? Whatever the temp of the gas is in the ground is what it will be going into your tank in my area...



All hoses at the pump have a vapor return.
Not in my area... No vapor returns here! Just goes out to the air, so pump as fast as you can to reduce evaporation time.



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.



Yes, but don't we have a sealed system on our tanks? Check fuel cap light? How is this gas in our tanks going to evaporate?



I agree with maybe not stopping when the tanker is there, as it will stir up stuff in the tank, but isn't it filtered well after that?(maybe some stations don't...)



Maybe another urban legand? Snopes says this:
 
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Polish gas stations close for two hours during refueling. I found this out last week. Really sucks when your tank is bone dry. There was a huge cue of semis just waiting for the place to reopen.
 
There is another urban legend related to fueling vehicles. This one regarding cell phones starting fires is false. Funny thing is all fuel pumps at military BX/PXs have a warning sticker forbidding the use of cells during refueling.
 
If you fill your tank in the morning when it is cold. What happens when your tank gets full?



Does it get overfilled?



This tips are bogus.. They are made for the lemmings to follow.



Get gas when the tank is empty when you need gas.





Tom
 
I disagree with the half-tank refill. The lighter your vehicle, the better gas mileage you'll get. You get better mileage during that time period between 1/2 and 1/4 full than you get when the tank is above 1/2 full. Overall, you'll average better mileage if you wait till 1/4 full or less to refill.
 
If you gas up at half a tank, it helps to keep any small debri you may have at the bottom of the tank from getting in your fueld filter, lines, fuel pump etc.. I try to never let it get down passed a quarter of a tank at least.



 
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If you gas up at half a tank, it helps to keep any small debri you may have at the bottom of the tank from getting in your fueld filter, lines, fuel pump etc..



FWIW, the fuel pump is mounted at the bottom of the tank. If there is any debris in the bottom of the tank, it doesn't matter if it is full or empty, your pump will suck it up.





Tom
 
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