TIP #1: Pumping Gas is like foreplay.
When you're filling up do not just slam the nozzle into the tank and squeeze the trigger to a fast mode. It will cost you on a date – and will cost you at the pump. If you do try for a “quickie”, that super fast fill-up will generate a lot of vapor. You paid for it when it was gas, but it will just get sucked right back into the pump via the vapor return.
If you look, you will see that the trigger has three (3)stages: fast, medium, and oh baby – also known as “slow”. If you make love – er – I mean pump it slowly. You will minimize the vapor and keep more of the gas you paid for in your tank.
TIP #2: Stay cool dude.
Only buy gas 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, if you buy gas in the afternoon or evening, that gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline/diesel/jet fuel/whatever plays an important role. Service stations do NOT have temperature compensation at the pumps. So, if you buy gas late in the day... You will get hosed.
TIP #3: Pump more often
One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. (depending really on your mood or point of view)
Why? Gasoline evaporates faster than you imagine. Well – maybe that’s not really accurate. I mean I can imagine some really crazy stuff. How about this – gasoline evaporates – like – really really really fast (better?). Underground 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. Sadly – your car is just not that cool. When your tank gets close to empty, there is a lot more air in the tank and that accelerates the evaporation rate. So the less gas you have – the less gas you have. Wait. No – that’s actually right.
TIP #4: Don’t let your car eat crap
If you stop to get gas, and see one of those mambo gasoline transport trucks refueling the station... Keep on driving. Do not get gas there. Why you ask? Most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is delivered, and you might pick up some of the crap that normally settles on the bottom. So there is no confusion, when I say “crap”, I mean that as a general reference to suspended sediment that can settle at the bottom of the tank. Normally this crap, er, sediment will sink to the bottom. The influx of fuel will stir it up and create the possibility it will end up in your car. Please understand, I am in no way trying to imply that any kind of fecal matter is being stored by gas stations and I am in no way implying a massive conspiracy whereby the entire petroleum industry is somehow in league with ...um.. The Crap industry and using the nations distributed network of gas stations as a means to disseminate poop. I’m not saying that at all. I’m just trying to look out for your car’s well being.
