TIPS ON PUMPING GAS

[Mike_ratliff]

This was sent to me by a friend, and although the prices are a little out of date, I thought it was interesting...
Any thoughts?

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*, hereby
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 t
minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, ever
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 f the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help
you get the most value for your money.

DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!

WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON

Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might
even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should
return the favor.

An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS.

Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the
coffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don't import
their oil from the Saudis.

Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the
tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family,
and my friends.

I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are
the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern
oil.

These companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell........................... 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco......... 144,332,000 barrels

Exxon /Mobil............... 130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway... 117,740,000 barrels

Amoco...........................62,231,000 barrels

Citgo gas is from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans. If you
do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION! (oil is
now $90 - $100 a barrel

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco..................0 barrels

Conoco..................0 barrels

Sinclair.................0 barrels

B P/Phillips............0 barrels

Hess.......................0 barrels

ARC0....................0 barrels

If you go to Sunoco.com , you will get a list of the
station locations near you.

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each
is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are
importing.

[gentleman]

Hi Mike,

In a Dutch TV-program this subject was covered a while back. They were aware of the density-change of the gasoline, but they solved it in some way. So whether you buy your gas in the morning, evening or afternoon, it doesn't matter.

[Russel Baldridge]

Thanks Mike, good to know.

[Wildtim]

Hi Mike,

In a Dutch TV-program this subject was covered a while back. They were aware of the density-change of the gasoline, but they solved it in some way. So whether you buy your gas in the morning, evening or afternoon, it doesn't matter.

The way they "solved" it around here is to put a sign on the pump telling you that due to temperature differences each gallon pumped may differ in its energy capacity.

Problem "solved" gas station owners butt is now covered.

We of course just have to deal.

[jnich67]

Thanks for the info Mike. Food for thought at least.

I've been avoiding citgo for a while, but its good to see who brings oil in from where. Luckily, I have a Sunoco nearby and use them most of the time.

Jordan

[jnich67]

Oh, what's the deal with LukOil(sp?). I've been seeing a lot more their stations around here lately.

Jordan

[gentleman]

Hmmm, well maybe it's a whole different ballgame there. Maybe the temperatures at night and during the day differ a lot less, than overthere in the US?

[nun2sharp]

Mike do the same rules apply for diesel when it comes to ground temerature?

[Buzz]

It is worthwhile to read the counterpoints.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/gastips.asp

and

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/saudigas.asp

[hoglahoo]

"Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the
tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family,
and my friends." - unidentified person

Right, that makes so much sense. Is it less frustrating that those middle-eastern oil purchasing companies employ thousands of U.S. citizens? Maybe those companies are just fattening them up so they can kill them later? Such frustration seems to me to be no more than an easy, simplistic excuse to pass the blame for one's own frustrations.