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3 Ways to Lower Gas Prices


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Something interesting that was forwarded to me yesterday. Maybe someone here knows if this is "hogwash":

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS

I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are paying up to $3.75 to $4.10 per gallon. 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.< /B>

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. 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 worth 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. 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.

Shawn

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I monitor flammable solvent tank levels at work and can tell you that yes all flammable liquids expand/contract quite a bit with temperature. However roadside gas stations have their tanks wel below ground level and the temperature doesn't fluctuate wrt air temperature down there. Not nearly as much as it does with above ground tanks.

You've probably see expansion effects if you have a mercury outboard with a vented tank and fill it too full. On a hot day when you open the vent, gas will squirt out the vent. Moral: leave a little air space in your tank so only vapor escapes on those hot days.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

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Guest ReelDiel

as stated above the tanks are below ground enough that temprature has no real effect on the amount of fuel you recieve.

As i have posted in the past this is one of the problems with buying indian gas as there storage tanks are above ground and temp does play a role.

Diesel fuel is subject to temprature related expansion just like any liquid. Thats why most farmers or business only get there Diesel/Fuel oil tanks filled to 85% capacity in order to compensate for any expansion that may occur.

Here are my 3:

1. Trade in the SUV for a motorcycle

2. Get a good pair of Nikes

3. Vote out these tree huggers who will not allow the explroation of how much oil we have off our coasts in fear of killing Aunt Mileys Ancient Dandilion

stirthepot.gif

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Guest ReelDiel
Everybody sign Newt's petition "drill here, drill now, pay less". The only way we get these no good elected "officials" to do anything is for ALL of us to raise our voices and the time is NOW

^^^+1

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