Don't be forced into buying gas at the next available station because you forgot to check how much gas was left in the tank. You can save 5 to 10 cents per litre by patronizing the station of your choice, not the nearest one in an emergency.
To maximize profits, oil companies use a practice called "zone pricing." After doing extensive research about an area or neighborhood, they charge the dealers or gas station owners different wholesale prices based on a secret formula. Stations located in more affluent neighborhoods have to charge their customers higher prices than stations in low-income neighborhoods because their costs are higher.
Even in low-income areas where there are only a few service stations, the prices are likely higher because consumers won't get to shop around.
Because of zone pricing, you could be paying more for gas than a friend who lives in a similar neighborhood just a few kilometres from you.
Although many consumers are upset or even outright angry at oil companies for price “gouging,” you need to keep this important fact in mind:
In our capitalist economy, pricing goods and services at the highest the market will bear is a common practice.
When you want to sell your house, wouldn’t you ask for the highest price you think a buyer would be willing to pay?
Let's say that recent sales for properties in your neighborhood indicate you could easily get $300,000 for your house. Are you going to accept $280,000 because a potential buyer says he or she found a comparable house for that price in a different neighborhood?
Unless the purchaser is a friend or a relative, or you must sell your property immediately, you probably would say to that person something like this:
"I’m sorry. I can’t sell you my house for $280,000. Just check out these recent sales in my neighborhood. While I understand someone else is selling a comparable house in another area for $280,000, because my neighborhood is more desirable, I want at least $300,000 or we have no deal."
Since most of us are OK with real estate price gouging (or zoning), we shouldn't stress ourselves out by being angry with the oil companies for charging different prices.
Now, please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying this because I favor the oil giants. I'm not. In fact, I wish they would accept a lower profit margin and pass some of the savings onto the consumers – like you and me.
But sadly, because the main goal of the oil companies (just like that of any for-profit corporation) is to make as much money as possible, they will not reduce prices just to be nice to us.
The good news for you is this: Even though we can't do anything about the prices set by the oil companies, by following the suggestions from this chapter, you can get more for your hard-earned dollars at the pump.
Here Are 11 Tips To Save You Money At The Pump:
Tip #1:
Compare Gas Prices
If you've been tracking your gas mileage, you'll know when you need to fill up. Before heading to a gas station, check with the following websites to find out which stations in your neighborhood, or along your route to work, offer the lowest price:
Through a network of thousands of volunteers, each site has a live forum for consumers to post local low and high gas prices they've found.
Believe it or not, the prices could vary as much as 5 to 10% within just a few blocks. So before heading to a station, if there’s Internet access, check the prices of the ones nearby.
Even though I suggest you keep your eyes open for low gas prices, avoid driving out of your way to a station just to save a few cents. It's not worth it.
Unless you've read or heard that gas prices will increase over the next few days, you may consider filling up your tank only 1/4 of the way and wait for the prices to drop before buying a full tank.
Use your judgment and decide whether the extra trips to the gas station will outweigh the savings.
Tip #2:
Buy Gas At The Best Times
Purchase your gas early in the morning or late in the evening and you’ll receive more for your money. Gas is densest during these times, because it expands as temperature increases. Since gas pumps measure volumes of gas and not its densities, you’ll receive a little bit less for your money by purchasing it during the day. Also, depending on where you live, such as in the Vancouver area, the prices may be several cents per litre lower at night.
Some stations have a "super Sunday" or "super Tuesday" special. If it's available in your area, fill up in the morning or evening on the day of the sale.
Tip #3:
Purchase From Busy Stations
If there are several stations in your neighborhood offering the same prices, buy from the ones that are the busiest because their gasoline usually will be the freshest.
If you pull into a station and notice a delivery truck is or has just finished filling the underground gas tanks, do not purchase fuel immediately. When a truck has just put gas into a station's tank, the fresh fuel stirs up the muck from the bottom of the tank. If you fill up before the impurities have settled back down to the bottom, your fuel filter can get clogged, causing your engine to run poorly. Instead, return a few hours later or fill up at another station nearby.
Tip #4:
Buy Big-Box Gasoline
You can save 3.5 to 7 cents a litre by purchasing gas from Wal-Mart, Safeway, or Superstore. Other gas stations, such as Chevron, Esso, Shell, and Mohawk, may offer a discount of 3.5 cents.
Tip #5:
Pump Gas Yourself
You could save 5 to 10 cents a litre by pumping gas yourself if the station charges extra for full service.
Tip #6:
Watch Your Gas Gauge
Monitor how much fuel you have regularly. This way you can avoid unscheduled or emergency fill ups, which can force you to buy gas at a station that charges more than one located even just a block away.
In Chapter Three, I shared with you that the heavier your vehicle is, the more gas it consumes. Because of this, you may think it's better to put smaller amounts of fuel in your tank instead of filling it up.
When it comes to gas, it's better to have at least a quarter tank at all times. This will decrease evaporation and dirt in the fuel line. You'll also save time by making fewer trips to the gas station.
Tip #7:
Avoid Buying Gas At A Station Located On
A Busy Highway Or Near A Major Airport
Don't purchase gas at a station on a busy highway or close to a large airport. These stations may charge as much as 10 cents per litre more for the same gas offered by a station located in a neighborhood just a few blocks away.
Before driving out of town, check for gas prices on the websites mentioned earlier. So you know whether it's more economical to buy fuel in your town or at your destination.
Tip #8:
Use The Right Grade Of Gas
Although only 5% of new vehicles sold in Canada require premium gas, it accounts for 20% of total fuel sales nationwide.
Most of today's vehicles are designed to operate on regular fuel. Unless your owner's manual states you need premium, using anything other than regular is simply a waste of your hard-earned money.
Some people feed their vehicles higher-octane gas even though their owner's manuals indicate they can use regular, because they think it will give them better performance.
According to the United States Federal Trade Commission or FTC, using an octane grade higher than the one recommended in your vehicle's operations manual offers absolutely no benefit. It won't make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage, or run cleaner.
Consumer Digest Magazine states, "The octane number of gasoline (87, 89, or 93) is a measurement of how well the gasoline can prevent engine knock. Without getting too technical, it is simply a comparison of a gasoline with pure octane, a chemical that is considered perfect for preventing knock." (In case you don't already know, a knock is a rattling or pinging sound that results from premature ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture in one or more cylinders.)
In other words, if octane were used in its purest form, the gas would have 100 octane. So an 87 octane gas would be 87% as effective in preventing knock as pure octane. Likewise, an 89 octane would be 89% as effective, and a 93 octane would be 93% as effective as pure octane.
Unless your vehicle knocks or pings when using regular gas, or if your owner's manual recommends higher octane fuel, stick with regular. (If your vehicle knocks severely when using the recommended grade, get it checked out by a mechanic.)
Millions of drivers in Canada unnecessarily buy a premium grade of gas each year. If you've been doing the same thing, you could save hundreds of dollars annually by purchasing the recommended grade of gas.
If your vehicle doesn't seem to be running properly or if the engine pings or knocks, try a different brand of gas that has the same octane. Additives in another brand of fuel might work better with your car, van, or truck.
If you're feeding your vehicle with mid-grade or premium and your owner's manual doesn't suggest so, you can find out whether it can run just as well on a lower octane by following these simple steps:
The next time your tank is nearly empty, put in 20 litres of a lower octane than you normally use. For example, if you're currently using 91, put in 89.
If you notice little or no difference when driving, then when your tank is nearly empty again, purchase 20 litres of 87 octane (which is regular).
Repeat the above unless you can tell a difference in your vehicle's performance. If your engine begins knocking or pinging, put in a higher octane gas.
Because the difference between regular and premium gas can be as much as 20 cents per litre, you could save hundreds of dollars each year by using the less expensive regular gas.
By the way, since 2004, I’ve been using an amazing fuel enhancer that boosts the octane of regular gas, allowing it
to function like premium. In addition to saving me up to 19% on gasoline, this fuel enhancer also increases my car’s
performance and extends the life of the engine. What’s more, because this unique product also reduces harmful emissions that our vehicles put into the atmosphere, it helps to decrease air pollution.Check it out.
Tip #9:
Do Not Overfill Your Tank
Stop putting more gas into your tank after the pump has shut off automatically. Overfilling your tank could cause as much as two litres to leak out since the fuel sloshes around while driving, especially on a hill. In hot weather, gas expansion can also cause an overflow.
Some people repeatedly pump the gas hose after the initial shut off because they want to round the price up to an even amount, such as $30 instead of leaving it at $29.17. As soon as you hear the fuel nozzle click the first time, stop regardless of what the amount is.
"Topping off" your tank not only wastes gas, but it also can damage your vehicle's emission control system.
Many gas attendants at full service stations tend to top off the tank in order to round the price up to an even amount. When you're using full service, watch the attendant closely, and if this person tries to put in more gas after the nozzle has shut off, ask him or her to stop.
Tip #10:
Make Sure Your Gas Cap Fits Properly
If your gas cap is loose, even just a tiny bit, gas will leak, especially when you drive on a hill or during hot weather. After each fill up, tighten your gas cap and make sure it's on securely. Buy a new one if your present cap doesn't fit snugly.
Tip #11:
If you have a credit card that offers a rebate on gas purchases, and the station doesn't charge extra for processing credit cards, then use it. You could save between 2% and 6%.
Check out the credit cards that offer rebates for gas purchases.
In this chapter, I’ve shared with you 11 additional money-saving tips. Please start using some of them right away. The sooner you do, the more money you’ll have available for food, clothes, entertainments, vacations, or other items.
If you enjoy reading my book and feel your friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, classmates, teammates, and other folks you know, would be able to benefit from it as well,
please inform them. You can do so by scrolling to the top of this page and clicking on the "Tell A Friend" button located at the right side.
By doing so, you will help:
Your friends save money.
Reduce air pollution, making our planet a more pleasant place for all of us to live.
As I’ve shared with you, driving less and improving the gas mileage of our vehicles will decrease the amount of harmful emissions that our automobiles put into the atmosphere.
To learn in detail why fuel economy is important for all of us, visit the U.S. EPA’s website.
You can help more people find out about my book by telling your local newspapers, magazines, and TV stations about it. And, if you have customers, clients, members, patients, subscribers, readers, or viewers, let them know about it as well. They will appreciate you.
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This is the Canadian Version of How To Save Big Bucks On Your Gasoline And Other Auto Expenses. If you live in the United States, see the U.S. version.
