Gas Pumping Tips - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JBG · #1 03-20-2008, 09:35 PM

Are these all relevant to diesel as well? Specifically the evaporation issue...

----------------------

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 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!
----------------------------------------------------------

blackestate · #2 03-20-2008, 10:03 PM

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

Hatterasguy · #3 03-20-2008, 10:36 PM

The best way to burn less fuel is to drive less!

pawoSD · #4 03-21-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

The best way to burn less fuel is to drive less!

Exactly.....I'm just not willing to do that yet.

I'll drive slower....but not less.

79300sdtd · #5 03-21-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackestate

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

i think there is a bit of truth to the temperature vs how much fuel you get. i filled up with fuel one time in my mazda and the fuel pump handle rose to about 80* in no time i thought it was very odd.

jbach36 · #6 03-21-2008, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBG

Are these all relevant to diesel as well? Specifically the evaporation issue...

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 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!
----------------------------------------------------------

Evaporation is not a big deal with diesel, or fumes either I guess (though it does smell, it doesn't really evaporate like gas).

How relevant is this info, and the cold ground info, etc. to diesel fuel?

Jeff

RichC · #7 03-21-2008, 06:42 AM

.

Check your tire pressure while at the fuel station.

Low tire pressure will reduce your cars MPG.

JimFreeh · #8 03-21-2008, 06:55 AM

...vary all that much.

I've got a closed loop water to air geothermal HVAC system in our home and the water temp is a consistent 57 deg year 'round.

If these tanks are in the ground, and granted are not at the depth of my 3 wells, I'd expect a minimal variation in ground temperature through the day. Seasonally, maybe, but the earth is a huge heat sink, and nothing is going to change rapidly.

Piping and dispensing apparatus, being above the ground, will have an effect, but the fluid will rapidly move the temp of the hardware to fluid temp, again due to thermal mass.

Jim

Stevo · #9 03-21-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBG

Are these all relevant to diesel as well? Specifically the evaporation issue...

----------------------

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 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!
----------------------------------------------------------

Pipe lines, Bah humbug, I had a good job towing 24K barrel, fuel barges to places like Sacramento, Stockton, Newark, Napa, Peteluma, till they built pip lines ....

just kidding, good info, thanks.

babymog · #10 03-21-2008, 02:43 PM

It's a joke. The temperature of the fuel tanks below ground doesn't vary during the day. Here in Michigan, an entire winter with below freezing temps for months only drives frost down a couple of feet, do you really think that 5-8feet below the surface the tank temperature / ground temperature varies measurably after a couple of hours of sun?

I agree with checking tire pressure, the cheapest/easiest/simplest way to increase fuel mileage.

vstech · #11 03-21-2008, 03:14 PM

what about that fuel nozzle return part? that makes sense.
it's possible that some liquid gets back into the vent... perhaps a slower fill would net more fuel in the tank and less in the station's pocket? heck, with all the foam that diesel makes, slower could only help!

JimFreeh · #12 03-21-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

what about that fuel nozzle return part? that makes sense.
it's possible that some liquid gets back into the vent... perhaps a slower fill would net more fuel in the tank and less in the station's pocket? heck, with all the foam that diesel makes, slower could only help!

We're talkin' diesel????

I can barely get past the first detent before the foaming shuts things off.....

Jim

tangofox007 · #13 03-21-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBG

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. ----------------------------------------------------------

How about half full and half empty?

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