Gas inflation

[Gregg]

...maybe not, in New Jersey

I doubt that gas pumps are well regulated in any state. I've got one of those LCD displays in one vehicle that shows, among other things, how much gas you've burned. (Of course, you have to reset it at your previous fill up for it to be "accurate".) The gas pump invariably indicates about 1 gallon more has been put into the tank than the display says was missing.

[krissel]

Since we have to rely on the station operators to pump the gas it is doubly important to pay attention to what the pump reads and which nozzle is going into the tank. But no customers can tell if the meters are really properly calibrated, that is where the state and county officials come in.

A local station was closed down last week for changing prices twice in one day. This wasn't the first time he had been caught cheating so they fined him and are keeping him shut down til July 4.  He's gotten a lot of bad publicity so I hope people avoid him even when he reopens.  Ironically that station was a Shell way back in the 70's and I always got my gas there until they were discriminating against people who bought with credit cards during the gas crisis. They would only take cash. So I refused to ever go there again... and I haven't despite the fact it has changed hands.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/f..._for_north.html

[Gregg]

I've seen stations that give a discount for cash for years, and more are jumping on that bandwagon now. Can't say I've seen any "cash only" stations around here though.

But I just don't think the regulations for pumps are well enforced. I suppose it's a manpower issue, or a womanpower issue. (Milwaukee is the home of Manpower Inc. world headquarters. That has nothing to do with this topic. Just a fact.)

[RNKIII]

Pumps here in MN. are calibrated every 2 years , by the Dept. Commerce.... and have stickers affixed with last year and month they were checked... guess that's about as 'sure' as you can get..

Gregg... I would 'bet' on the pumps, here, rather than the 'unregulated/calibrated' gadget in your car which is there primarily to make your car 'look good'..

Bob K.   rnkiii

[Highmac]

In the UK, the councils' trading standards departments are responsible for checking filling station pumps. They carry out random spot checks using calibrated equipment and the margin of error allowed is +1% and - 0.5%. It's very rare you hear of a filling station owner being taken to court, simply because they have no idea when they will be inspected, and the fine will remove any profit they might make from cheating.
From Aberdeen trading standards website FAQs:

QUOTE

I recently put £10 of petrol in my car but I don't think I got it all, what do I do?
In the first instance take a note of the pump number and call your local Trading Standards Office, they will send an inspector to check the pump. However modern pumps are very accurate and problems are relatively few, in fact meters have changed very little over the past 20 years or so because of their robust design. Typically petrol pumps will be accurate to at least 0.3-0.5 percent

And sometimes those spot checks can help garages stop giving away fuel

[Gregg]

No giveaway here, but some tips. Nothing new, and ya gotta love the recommendation to not run your air conditioner followed by keep your windows up!

I was reading about the Honda Civic that is powered by natural gas. The cost comparison wasn't too definitive, but a Gas Gallon Equivalent (GGE) goes for about $1.60 USD. It burns cleaner, so that's good. But to fill 'er up... well, there aren't many high pressure pumps to do it, so you can install your own, and draw gas from your residential line. The article I read didn't reveal the cost of the pump, but you also have to have a 240V power feed. It takes 4 hours to replace the gas you'd use to drive 50 miles, because residential gas lines are at such low pressure.

There may be potential there, but I need more data.

[Highmac]

Gregg - move to the UK. We have 240 volt mains; and our petrol prices mean you'll save even more!

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

you also have to have a 240V power feed. It takes 4 hours to replace the gas you'd use to drive 50 miles

That sounds like a nice way to lessen one's carbon footprint.

Somehow, compressing natural gas to whatever pressure it is using in the car, especially compression that requires 240V power, gives me more than a little uneasiness. Have you ever seen a bottled gas tank careen around someplace after the neck gets broken off. Two major problems with this setup, IMHO. First, the tank must be extremely safe which means heavy which means dead weight in the vehicle. Second, the pressurized gas can be very dangerous should the tank suffer even a tiny leak. If it doesn't, literally, propel the car in some random direction, it will be an ideal blow torch looking for any spark! But I'm sure we can trust Detroit to take care of all those little nuisances before selling them to us...

[Gregg]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jun 24 2008, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you ever seen a bottled gas tank careen around someplace after the neck gets broken off. Two major problems with this setup, IMHO. First, the tank must be extremely safe which means heavy which means dead weight in the vehicle. Second, the pressurized gas can be very dangerous should the tank suffer even a tiny leak. If it doesn't, literally, propel the car in some random direction, it will be an ideal blow torch looking for any spark!

Jim, I have the same concerns. The article did mention that the tank is, well, a tank - heavily reinforced, and that they had studied temperature extremes extensively. But, as the song says, "It only takes a spark - to get a fire going...

[dolphin]

Interesting article I found at SNOPES!!!


Cheating at Gas Pumps

[Gregg]

Very interesting, Roy. Thanks for sharing that link!

While you're filling up, you can also check out the pumps the pretty lady at the next island is wearing!

[sandbox]

I filled my tank this morning and it cost me $16.00, I'm tellin ya, this can't go on......  

[Gregg]

Scotch or Bourbon? I hope you had a ride.