Gas Saving Tips

The topic of conversation around the "water cooler" is how expensive is gas going to get. We don't have much control over the price, but here are a few tips to help stretch every penny on the gas you do buy.

1. Don't accelerate quickly
2. Don't brake heavily


3. Don't drive over 55 mph


4. No idling


5. Remove cargo racks


6. Keep tires inflated properly


7. Change your oil (use the thinnest oil)


8. Minimize use of air conditioning

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 plays an important role.  A one 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 stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low mode, 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 for your money.

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.

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.

Last, but not least, the very best way to save money on gas...........don't drive anywhere.

Hope this helps.

Katrina Barish - Marketing Rep