Gassing up. What type are you?

vito

vito

New member
OK, be honest. There is an unspoken etiquette when filling your gas tank. And there are certain things people do at the pumps. How many of you do these things?

1. Are you a gasshole? Do you stop at the first pump, rather than proceeding to the second one (which then forces others to have to back in to the further pump)? :mad:

2. Are you a petty thief? When filling up to, for instance, $30, do you get to $30.00, and then intentionally squeeze an extra 2 or 3 or 5 cents into the tank, knowing full well that the attendant will only likely charge you $30.00?

3. Do you overfill (and therefore spill over)? Tsk, tsk...

4. After paying for your purchase, do you then pick up the squeegee and clean every window on your car, regardless of the fact that there are 3 cars waiting behind you?

5. Do you wait until late evening to fill up? (It's common knowledge that gas stations change the price at certain times of the day, and late evening is generally the cheapest).

6. Do you make it a point to always fill up a day or two before a long weekend? They always jack up the price on long weekends.

So what type are you?

Vito
 
I'm typically a number 5, and have only been a number 3 by accident, when my gass guage was broke...really messy. I actually put the pump on auto, to go in and pay came out to a spill that would have made Iraq jealous.

I have been a number 4 lol but only when my windows are in desperate need of a quick cleaning.

Just wanted to point something out, for those of you in the US....

I have a friend who owns a gas station, and he said, that there is absolutely no difference in the 87 & 89 gas, they both come from the same 87 tank. The only difference is that the gas station gets the profits for 87 and government gets the revenue from the 89 (it's there way of getting their cut). A lot of people put 89 in their tank, thinking they'll get better performance, thus why many gas stations go under, end up under new management, etc

The only real benefit is the more 89 gas people use in their car, the more money the gov. makes from it, and you'll notice that with a trend of people using a lot of 89 gas, a week or 2 later the gas prices will be a bit cheaper.

So, depending on which way you want to go....either go with the cheapest (87), or go with the most expensive (92).
 
ANMMark said:
I have been a number 4 lol but only when my windows are in desperate need of a quick cleaning.
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Mark :smash: :smash:

And regarding the different grades of gas, wow! So people are gassing up with a (supposedly) higher grade of gas, and they are getting the lower grade??? :eek:

I drive an Audi, and the manual specifically states that I need to fuel this vehicle with high grade fuel. I sure hope that high grade fuel I'm paying for is actually high grade fuel!

Vito
 
Well, I'm not sure how it would be in Canada. I can only guess however, that they may take example from the US.
 
vito said:
1. Are you a gasshole? Do you stop at the first pump, rather than proceeding to the second one (which then forces others to have to back in to the further pump)? :mad:
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The service station I go to has asscess from both directions so there really is no "second" pump. It's all perception. If the car is facing in a certain direction and is at the "first" pump it looks like the other car has to back in.

vito said:
2. Are you a petty thief? When filling up to, for instance, $30, do you get to $30.00, and then intentionally squeeze an extra 2 or 3 or 5 cents into the tank, knowing full well that the attendant will only likely charge you $30.00?
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I always pay with my credit card at the pump so whatever I squeeze I pay for.

vito said:
3. Do you overfill (and therefore spill over)? Tsk, tsk...
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No. Gas is too expensive here to spill on the ground.

vito said:
4. After paying for your purchase, do you then pick up the squeegee and clean every window on your car, regardless of the fact that there are 3 cars waiting behind you?
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I can't remember the last time I cleaned any of my windows at the gas station.

vito said:
5. Do you wait until late evening to fill up? (It's common knowledge that gas stations change the price at certain times of the day, and late evening is generally the cheapest).
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In PEI gas price changes are announced a few days in advance. Prices are fixed so there is no variation from one station to the next. Gas prices change at midnight.

vito said:
6. Do you make it a point to always fill up a day or two before a long weekend? They always jack up the price on long weekends.
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Prices don't change here on long weekends. I usually fill up when I absolutely have to. My car goes from full to empty to full.

That said I don't make too many trips to the gas station. My car is 3 years old and it only has 18,000k on it.
 
I don't own a car and... quite obviously... I don't gas up. That is unless you consider a beer to be a substitute for gas, of course. :)

Gas is too expensive here to spill on the ground.
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Yup, that's what almost everyone here (Romania) thinks about gas as well. :)
 
ANMMark said:
I have a friend who owns a gas station, and he said, that there is absolutely no difference in the 87 & 89 gas, they both come from the same 87 tank. The only difference is that the gas station gets the profits for 87 and government gets the revenue from the 89 (it's there way of getting their cut). A lot of people put 89 in their tank, thinking they'll get better performance, thus why many gas stations go under, end up under new management, etc
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I don't know what type of station he runs, but I used a manage a chain of truck stops and that is not the way it works. There are only two gas tanks, a high octane tank and a low octane tank. Midgrade (89) is blended at the dispenser. The thing that is true is that the regular unleaded (87) is the same at most all stations. If you ever go to the wholesale distribution places you'll see tankers from Amoco, BP, Chevron, Mobil, Shell, etc, all loading up at the same racks. The only real difference are the additives (detergents etc.) put into the premium gas. To prevent station operators from "cheating" many of the major brands put a unique dye into their premium. For example Mobil's super has an unique yellow/green tint to it. The reason many stations go under is the lack of profit. Most of the time they are only making 2-5 cents a gallon on regular. Competition is fierce and company owned stores sometimes sell gas at the same price a franchisee can buy it wholesale.
 
Ah, the joys of small-town living.

You need an extra option, Vito: 7) Wait for 18 year old kid to come running out of gas station asking how much you'd like to put in, and then wait for the puppy dog eyes to come out, looking for a tip :D

Simon
 
I don't know what type of station he runs, but I used a manage a chain of truck stops and that is not the way it works.
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I assume you're referring to government funded turnpike truckstops, such as 76, Mobil, and Exxon turnpike stations? It's actually within the best interest of each state to fund those stations, to keep travelers on the turnpike, paying tolls, meanwhile getting the revenues from both the booths and the pumps. It also has not gone unrecognized, at least in our state, that many of those turnpike stations (again in our state) don't have an 89 pump at all.

Privately owned local franchises/service stations are much much different.

The only reason the topic came up between he and I, was while I was sitting in his garage, we were talking while he was doing his books for the day. He was telling me about how he barely had enough to last the rest of the year, at the rate things were going. He showed me the trucks come in and hook up, and fill 2 tanks. In fact, each cover was marked, one with Exxon 92 and the other Exxon 87/89, while he was showing them to me, he explained,what I had explained above.

He also has a state official that comes in, audits his books quarterly, and takes the state's percentage from the 89 pump. They also provide him with forms to file for a fixed rate, which he says would get them to put some kind of filter (not sure what the term he used was) in the 89 pump that increases it's octane level.

I'm not a gas station attendant though, and have no clue what a lot of it means for stations, but I do know what he told me, and showed me, and I know what I read, on the forms he showed me.
 
Hmmm ... interesting.

I am usually another one that uses the option 7 ... Full Serve. Otherwise, if I have to use Self Serve ... none of the 1 - 6 really apply. Mind you, I occasionally will make a point of filling up on a Wednesday before a long weekend if I am getting low ... just in case the price does go up.

The engine in my car is labelled by the manufacturer as a High Performance and the manual states I should put minimum 89 grade fuel in the tank. But I found using 92 (actually up here I thought it wsas 91???) makes the engine run smoother and I get better mileage ... so I always fill up with Premium or Hi Test or whatever you want to call it.

Thats why #1 doesn't apply most of the time. A lot of stations only have the one pump for Premium ... and thats the one I stop at. Doesn't matter if its first in line, last in line or in the middle. I have no choice ;)

I won't get into the discussion on if there really is an 89 blend ... except to say ... a station I worked at for a short time over 30 years ago ... as well as the station I usually get my gas at now ... both have/had the 3 storage tanks. Coincidentally, both stations I mention are Esso.

Peter
 
Mark, thanks for the info I had no idea.

I fill up with 87, and pay at the pump. The gas station I use (and I only use one in town) I usually go in and buy a dew or something inside anyways and when I do I move my car up by the doors. There are three entrances to the gas station, so it doesn't really matter where I fill up at, there's easy access to all pumps.

I don't overfill and I usually fill up as needed. I don't round to the nearest cent or dollar unless I'm a penny or two off.

I don't clean my windows unless they really merit it, usually I either hose the car off or get a car wash if the fluid doesn't get what I need off.

I did fill up before the weekend started but only because gas was crazy low ($1.78/gallon) and the next day it shot up to $1.94/gallon.
 
Hah, Vito, great post as always.

I don't drive daily, but I do love driving and I do consider myself one of the best drivers, at least on the roads of Canada (especially Quebec to be very specific).

For me personally there is nothing more annoying on the road than bad drivers. Its a shame that an automobile nation such as Canada is filled with horrible drives. Anyways, since we are talking about Gas station etiquette, I always care for other drivers' well being and comfort.

vito said:
1. Are you a gasshole? Do you stop at the first pump, rather than proceeding to the second one (which then forces others to have to back in to the further pump)? :mad:
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I see it happen on a regular basis. However, I always go to the last pump if its available.
vito said:
2. Are you a petty thief? When filling up to, for instance, $30, do you get to $30.00, and then intentionally squeeze an extra 2 or 3 or 5 cents into the tank, knowing full well that the attendant will only likely charge you $30.00?
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Our pumps don't work that way. If you select the amount you want, the pump would simply stop pumping when you reach that amount.
vito said:
3. Do you overfill (and therefore spill over)? Tsk, tsk...
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I tried adding more once, but it wouldn't let me for some reason - it would block the gas coming out.
vito said:
4. After paying for your purchase, do you then pick up the squeegee and clean every window on your car, regardless of the fact that there are 3 cars waiting behind you?
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I usually have a passenger take care of that while I'm filling up. :D If he/she likes to be driven around, they ought to contribute to that level of comfort.
vito said:
5. Do you wait until late evening to fill up? (It's common knowledge that gas stations change the price at certain times of the day, and late evening is generally the cheapest).
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Happens occasionally, but hell, who doesn't? Have you seen the gas prices?? :crap:
vito said:
6. Do you make it a point to always fill up a day or two before a long weekend? They always jack up the price on long weekends.
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Nah, I fill up only when there is approximately 10-15% of gas tank capacity remaining.


EDIT: Oh, yeah, I had to add this. In the past week, I saw two drivers SMOKE openly on a gas station. Of course I had to approach them, ask to immediately take the cigarette out and tell them just how dangerous it is to smoke on a gas station. One of them had the courage to argue with me... Anyways, just how ignorant some people are! :angry:
 
Artashes said:
EDIT: Oh, yeah, I had to add this. In the past week, I saw two drivers SMOKE openly on a gas station. Of course I had to approach them, ask to immediately take the cigarette out and tell them just how dangerous it is to smoke on a gas station. One of them had the courage to argue with me... Anyways, just how ignorant some people are! :angry:
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Sheesh ... shows how stupid people can be ... smoking while filling up their gas tank. Human torch time. I would have reported the station attendant to the station owner as well. The attendant should not activate the pump if a customer is smoking. And the stations are set up so the attendant can see everyone at the pumps ... either visually or via cameras ... and there are speakers so the attendant could have told them to put out the cigarette.

Enough stupidity in those scenarios to blame the driver and the attendant.

JMHO
Peter
 
ANMMark said:
I assume you're referring to government funded turnpike truckstops, such as 76, Mobil, and Exxon turnpike stations?
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No, they were privately owned by a Mobil distributor (franchisee)

He showed me the trucks come in and hook up, and fill 2 tanks. In fact, each cover was marked, one with Exxon 92 and the other Exxon 87/89, while he was showing them to me, he explained,what I had explained above.
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That's true, there are only two gasoline tanks (high and low octane) and the dispensers blend the midgrade, or in the case of Sunoco blend the three different "mid" grades in addition to the high and low.

get them to put some kind of filter (not sure what the term he used was) in the 89 pump that increases it's octane level.
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The additive that increases the octane is added at the refinery.

What area lets stations sell 87 as 89? Down in Florida where I used to run those stops a state inspector came by on a regular basis to check the calibration of the dispensers (using 5 gal calibration cans), if they were off (cheating people) the dispensers would get shut down until repaired. While there he would also collect samples of the fuel which went to a state lab to verify the octane of the gasoline and cetane of the diesel. During the winter season they would also check for the proper anti-wax additives in the diesel.
 
EDIT: Oh, yeah, I had to add this. In the past week, I saw two drivers SMOKE openly on a gas station. Of course I had to approach them, ask to immediately take the cigarette out and tell them just how dangerous it is to smoke on a gas station. One of them had the courage to argue with me... Anyways, just how ignorant some people are! :angry:
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I actually saw a woman walk up to the tanker truck delivering fuel with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth (she wanted to ask directions). She was offended when the driver picked up one of the traffic cones and threw it at her to keep her from getting any closer (along with some choice words concerning her "intelligence".
 
ROFL, not quite, just can't believe some people.

Personally I don't find Paris that attractive. Too bony/stupid (can't read her own menu).
 
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