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PUMPING GAS
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.
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.
DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!
I was thinking about this.
A heavier car will take more gas to pull along correct? So wouldn't having LESS
gas in your take mean it takes less gas to pull?
I personally loved the one I read the tip a few years ago that you should get
Gas on Thursdays since the "pipeline" supplies everyone with Premium on
Tuesdays, and that means you have Premium Gas mixed with your regular gas.
Though based on this article, it'd be jet fuel.
I was thinking about this.
A heavier car will take more gas to pull along correct? So wouldn't having LESS
gas in your take mean it takes less gas to pull?
There's not enough weight difference to make any really significant impact on
mileage, but you are correct -- there is certainly some small benefit to driving
with an average 50% full tank rather than an average 75% full. Some of those
ideas don't make any sense to me. I would think that a properly capped gas tank
would maintain a vapour pressure close to that of the gas in it, so that
evaporation would be extremely minimal and about the same no matter how much or
how little gas was in it. The only plausibe reason you might not want your tank
to stay near empty for very long is to avoid condensation, although I've never
had any issue with water condensation in gasoline. This whole thing seems to
have "urban legend" written all over it.
Most states require that the fuel be
filtered before it's delivered to the nozzle.
Learn how to save money on gasoline by
following some simple, basic tips. Put the money saved on gasoline in your
pocket.
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #1: Drive at Lower Speeds
One of the biggest ways that you can save money on gasoline is to drive less
then 55 MPH. The faster your car drives, the more wind resistance that the car
creates. The more the wind resistance, the more gasoline your car needs to
operate. Whenever possible drive at lower speeds.
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #2: Change Gears
According to Jeffery Orloff , writer for About.com, you can save up to 45% more
gas if you are driving in the correct gear. (http://saveenergy.about.com/od/fuelingyourautomobile/tp/SavGas.htm)
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #3: Close those Windows
Having an open window creates more wind resistance while driving. Decrease the
amount of gas used by closing windows. There will be less drag on the car and
increase in gas mileage.
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #4: Anticipate Hills
Driving up a hill requires more gas then coasting down a hill. Whenever
possible, anticipate upcoming hills. Speed up on the gas pedal at the bottom of
the hill instead of in the middle of the incline. Less gas is used driving hills
in this manner.
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #5: Drive at Steady Speed
It is impossible to anticipate every single move that other drivers are going to
make. Driving at a steady speed will decrease gasoline consumption and save gas
money. Make gradual increases and decreases in speed instead of starting and
stopping suddenly or frequently.
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #6: Take the Smooth Way
According to Jeffery Orloff , writer for About.com, driving on rough and dirt
roads can reduce gas mileage by up to 30%. (http://saveenergy.about.com/od/fuelingyourautomobile/tp/SavGas.htm)
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #7: Maintain Tune-Ups and Oil Changes
Your car will run better and use less gas if you maintain tune-ups and oil
changes.
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #8: Maintain Tires
Keep the tires on your car checked. Tires that are properly inflated will
increase gas mileage.
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #9: Get
Rid of Excess Baggage
Do you have golf clubs, boxes and other items in your car? Look in the trunk of
your car and remove items that are not being used. Additional weight in a car
increases the amount of energy needed to pull and operate the car. Getting rid
of excess baggage from the car will decrease the amount of gasoline used.
How to Save Money on Gasoline Tip #10: Avoid Idling
Idling the car for over one minute increases gas usage. If stopping at a store
put the car in park and turn the engine off. If the car has to be placed in idle
make sure to have it in neutral gear to have less wear on the transmission and
to decrease gasoline consumption.
The consumer searching or a gas grill can
not afford to forget that famous word of warning: "You get what you pay for."
The consumer thus needs to look for a good-quality grill. By the same token, a
consumer does not want to pay for a grill that's designed for a cook who might
barbeque a camel. In other words, the ability to save money on a grill purchase
evaporates when the consumer fails to evaluate his or her precise needs.
For every type of cook, the search for a grill should include a careful
examination of the warranties on the displayed grills. Generally speaking, a
grill with a longer warranty is a better buy. The consumer should realize that
not every part of a grill will have the same warranty.
Grill castings on a good grill have a lifetime warranty. The consumer can save
money by getting a grill with burners that have a warranty of three to ten
years. The consumer might not have use of all parts of the grill for its entire
lifetime. Yet the consumer should not feel that money has been wasted, as long
as the grill's other parts have had a warranty of two to five yeas.
After the consumer has looked carefully at the warranties on the displayed
grills, then he or she should learn what material is in each gas grill. In order
to save the most money, the consumer should consider buying a stainless steel
gas grill. Remember, a grill is exposed to the elements. No money will be saved,
if a cheap grill soon shows signs of rust. Who will want to eat food prepared on
that grill?
Unless it is a large and permanent grill, a gas grill must be attached to a gas
tank. Since the grill user wants to control the flow of gas from the tank, a gas
grill should have a hose regulator. The hose regulator belongs at the point
where the gas feeds into the hose coming from the grill castings. The consumer
should make sure that the hose regulator shows no signs of leakage. Such leakage
would mean a loss of grill fuel, and it could be a fire hazard.
Gas grills come in a wide range of prices.
A portable grill can sell for as little as $30. A luxury grill might run the
buyer as much as $10.400. The consumer must be careful not to pay for features
that will have a limited usefulness. The next paragraph will examine some of the
features that can increase the price of a gas grill.
Some grills have a warming area attached to the grill. Other grills have what is
called a "storage area." It is good to have a space in which to put either the
foods to be prepared or the foods already prepared. Some of the other features
provide the chef with different ways to prepare what goes on the grill.
Some gas grills have separately controllable burners. That feature could be
useful, if a cook foresees times when he or she might prepare several dishes at
one time. Other grills offer multiple cooking layers. That allows a cook to put
one cooked food at a higher level, keeping it warm, while a second food is
prepared.
A grill with lots of features could require extensive assembly. That could
reduce the ability of the grill to be a real "money-saver."
"How to save money" tips and guides often
contain the same old advice. Most of these articles are focused on expenses
generated by day to day activities and ways to minimize those expenses. While
these do indeed help to save money and lower expenses the money saved is usually
a small (though always meaningful) percent of our monthly income.
In this article I will focus on a different part of "How to save money", a much
more effective and meaningful one: The financial part. Simple budgeting, as
mentioned above, does indeed help to lower expenses. But it is not an empowering
tool. Using finance wisely in our lives can have a stronger and more meaningful
effect then ever expected.
The following are 7 tips for better personal finance understanding and
management:
1) Use the power of compounding interest - "The most powerful force in the
universe is compound interest" Einstein is often quoted for saying. Every 100$
saved for 10 years with 10% yearly interest will be worth 2.5 times more. Save
for 20 years and earn 6.7 time the amount.
2) Make long term diversified investments in stocks - the stock market has
proved to provide the highest available return on investment - not without risk
of course. This is where long term and diversification come to play. In long
term I'm referring to periods longer then 10 years. By diversification I'm
referring to investments across various industries, geographies and financial
assets (stock, bond, ETF etc.). Further reading in these subjects is highly
recommended.
3) Save early and often - Tips #1 and #2
above lead to tip #3. Start early and enjoy the full power of compounding and
long term investments. These two forces of finance really kick in in the long
term. For example: Saving 1,000$ annually between the ages of 19-25 (for a total
of 7,000$) with an yearly 8% return will be worth approximately 30,000$ by the
age of 41. If you start saving the same annual amount when you're 26 it will
take you 2.3 times the time, or 16 years to reach the same amount. Saving and
investing early will enable you to invest in stocks for longer terms. It's not
easy saving in an early age but a consistent monthly
deposit can help discipline you to save routinely and postpone satisfactions.
4)Plan and budget - Manage your personal finance and budget. Don't be managed by
the circumstances. Plan multi-yearly, yearly and monthly as much as possible
(Things aren't always under our control). Set ambitious goals. Managing personal
finance is like micro managing a small firm financially wise. There's profit and
loss, a balance, cash flow report and capital investment changes.
5) Take the time to learn basic finance and budgeting - All the technical
gibberish used by banks, insurance and investment companies, salaries and such
are just that, technical. There are wonderful source for financial information
on line. It doesn't take a university degree to understand these concepts. As a
matter of fact, most of the technicalities aren't even taught in the university
or college.
6) Implement all those other "How to save money" tips - Compare prices, postpone
satisfactions, drive a bit slower, buy economic vehicles, think before you act
and more. All common budgeting tips help achieve that periodical savings goal we
set for ourselves.
7) Enjoy the fruits of your labor - Money is a means to an end. Never forget the
end. Saving forever may amount to a small fortune but don't forget to rip the
rewards.
Gas prices are going through the roof. Our
milk now comes from a golden cow. Eggs are priced like they are filled with
precious jewels. It seems like prices keep going up up up faster then the money
is coming in. It has become a goal of many families to save as much money as
possible to cover these rising costs. Clothing is a necessity of life as well,
unless you live in a nudist camp or chose to collect tickets for indecent
exposure. This article will detail ways that you can cut those corners, but
still have the shirt on your back.
1. Shop yard sales. Last year's best fashions can occasionally be found for sale
on your neighbor's lawn, and generally the price tag is less then the tax on the
original item. Most people who hold yard sales have no problem with allowing you
to try clothing on as well.
2. Look at consignment shops and resale locations. These will be a bit more
expensive then a yard sale, but you are sure to find a larger selection and the
clothes are normally not mixed with parachute pants or tie-dyed tees.
3. Shop online. Clothing comes from new retailers and is occasionally on sale
for less then the same item would cost in the physical store. Shipping can add
on to your total, but many online retailers discount shipping costs with a
minimum purchase. Also, perform an online search for coupon codes. You might be
surprised what you can save with a short five minute search.
4. Earn extra cash for clothing by reselling some of your tired pieces. Your
cast offs may just be exactly what some one else is looking for. List items on
ebay or other auction sights. Take loads to the local consignment shop. Hold
your own yard sale.
5. Shop for and buy classics. Most women own a LBD, or little black dress. Why?
Because it is a classic piece of clothing that gets a lot of mileage for the
money spent and is a good item to have in the closet should an event come up
with little warning. Build your wardrobe with classic items that can last for
many years in neutral colors to guarantee more bang for your buck.
6. Shop for items that work well together.
Create multiple outfits from six or so articles of clothing to make your
wardrobe appear bigger and your style to shine forth. Mix and match items to
create entire new to you outfits.
Clothing prices are sure to rise just as most other items are lately. That said,
it doesn't mean that you will be wearing a barrel with suspenders. There are
many options available to find clothing that is priced right, and will save you
from shocking the little old lady who lives down the corner.
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