I'm not real sure just how much gasoline expands and contracts from 35
degrees to 110 degrees ( typical temp span here in Phoenix ) but that is on
my to-do list to find out. I've heard this argument before and dismissed
it as a micro-cause of bad mileage as opposed to running the A/C, jack
rabbit starts, and the 'square' effect of speed ( force of plowing wind at
80 mph is twice that of going 40 mph). [Or is it twice every 10 mph... I
forget - I'll look it up.] IF the 'swell' factor of hot gas over cold gas
is say a teaspoon per gallon, that ratio is 168/167 or 0.99405. This
means that 20 mpg turns into 19.88 mpg or a trip of 300 miles (15 gallons)
turns into 298.21 miles. One foolish step on the gas or a little headwind
and your 1.79 miles total can come and go many times over. A similar
supposed savings by not pumping too fast because the extra bubbles you get
reduce your gas mileage leaves me similarly non-flushed. OH, the argument
that the two numbers shown on the pump not matching up correctly seems a lot
less likely than just not getting a full gallon when it says you did. NOW,
let's see you measure out exactly one gallon - plus or minus a teaspoon. :)
AZDAVE
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Tod E. Santee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 4:20 PM
To: "Quadius" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] FW: gas pumps
It's just as easy, if not moreso, to rig a pump so the gallons and price
shown actually *do* match but have it pumping less. So the "10 gallons
divided by 10" method won't necessarily tell much.
Instead, you'd need need a very accurate 1 or 2 gallon container to fill
just rigjht... then see if all the numbers match per gallon pumped.
CNN reported today that pump calibrations at US stations are made assuming
the gas is at 60 degrees F. If as is warmer than 60 F you get less energy
(hydrogen-carbon molecules) from it -- if it's cooler than 60 F you get
more. Depending where you live in the US this could be a huge difference.
So my van should get better mileage in Bangor, ME than it does in Tucson,
AZ.
It reported that pumps in Canada autocalibrate based on temperature so
stations don't lose out (gas gets cooler more often there). Tanks in the
UIS don't adjust for high/low temperature deviations even though it's a
very easy thing to fix.
A truck driver tested fuel from a pump and it was over 78 F. At that rate
(if it's consistent) he would be overpaying about $1250 this year.
Best regards,
--Tod
---- Quadius <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
This is good advice. They had the same thing happen here, but you need
to
contact the agricultural apartment with the pump number and the location
of
the gas station. If you think it's been rigged for fraudulent purposes
and
it's just not a calibration problem, you need to contact the state
attorney
general. That way he or she can launch an investigation into price
gouging.
The old adage, may the customer beware, the is very applicable here.
Quadius
