Informal gas pump survey

[jeepman3071]

I fill up. Less stops/time spent at the gas station. I try to do it all in one shot with filling the vehicle and gas cans too haha.

 

[wavinwayne]

I see pumps with $3-$5 pumped all the time. I noped out at around $10 one day when the diesel pump was going SSSSSSLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWW.

 

[Finklejag]

This tread makes in mad. I’m still paying $4.19 for 87 here in Washington.

 

[dadto2]

I top off my truck at the Canada border before crossing, as gas in Canada is $0.70 to $1.25 more per gallon there... and if I need gas on the way home, I typically only buy whatever it takes to get me to back to BJs near home, as it's WAY cheaper there... Any no, I'm not broke. Just frugal.

 

[Torrid]

Tomorrow will be the first time I ever put fuel in the GTI where I didn't fill it up completely. Enough to take it to trade it in. Then again it only has a 13.2 gallon tank and it only takes around 10 gallons when I fill.

 

[wemay]

I really haven't noticed. But i can tell you that i fill up our cars every weekend. Sometimes it's $20 or $30 for the Palisade. The Malibu seldom exceeds $10-$15. They've never been below a quarter tank and rarely below half when doing so.

 

[opus1]

I see both ends. Personally I fill up. The only time I've left a small amount on the pump is when I've gone specifically to get a gallon or two for the mower or snowthrower.

 

[Torrid]

I really haven't noticed. But i can tell you that i fill up our cars every weekend. Sometimes it's $20 or $30 for the Palisade. The Malibu seldom exceeds $10-$15. They've never been below a quarter tank and rarely below half when doing so.

I've definitely done this a number of times. If I had to stop at the gas station for anything else I tend to top off anywhere below 5/8s. I always go to Kwik Trips which is nearly a full grocery store/truck stop and convenient for 3am when I want coffee going to work. Might as well top off when I go.

To be fair I'll still make this stop in my EV, but it's going to feel weird always bypassing the pump.

 

[KrisZ]

All it really means is that people can have strange habits.

 

[mk378]

I usually fill up then drive until it is almost empty. If I think the price is going down or I will be going past a station with a better price in a few days I will only buy a few gallons.

All it really means is that people can have strange habits.

Yes at best it is a measure of consumer confidence not anything about the actual economy.

 

[andrewg]

This tread makes in mad. I’m still paying $4.19 for 87 here in Washington.

Same here.

 

[wemay]

BTW, current pricing hear in Kendall, Fl.
87 - $2.99
89 - $3.29
91 - $3.69
97 - $3.89
88 (ethanol free) - $3.89

 

[wemay]

To be fair I'll still make this stop in my EV, but it's going to feel weird always bypassing the pump.

Ha, i never thought of that. That would feel weird to me too.

 

[PF52]

One of my cars has a wildly inaccurate gas gauge. So I tend to fill up early and often, always small amounts since I don't risk taking it too far before refueling.

 

[Vil_Riker]

You can actually determine how the area is doing economically.

 

[Rmay635703]

Remember that a majority of people in this country can not pay for a $500 car repair without financing it. Those folks are the ones buying 3-5 gallons at a time. My lady friends 25 y.o. grand daughter is a person that falls into that category. Constantly asking Karen for $20 till payday.

One of my old cars has a 6 gallon gas tank, the other a little over 8, it’s a challenge to buy more than 4 or 5 gallons with a small gas tank and yes I wish it had a 14 gallon tank.

Generally, I try to keep tanks full on all the vehicles.
If I see a good price on fuel, I stop and fill up.
Only time that I go for smaller amounts is if I am in a higher priced region when I need it, or if I need it when we are in the midst of a Speedway Spike.

Same, I’m the only one that buys gas in the household and don’t want to deal with someone who never looks at the car abscent mindedly driving out of gas, with no motor oil, on flat tires.

I really haven't noticed. But i can tell you that i fill up our cars every weekend. Sometimes it's $20 or $30 for the Palisade. The Malibu seldom exceeds $10-$15. They've never been below a quarter tank and rarely below half when doing so.

I park 2 cars 1 on each side of the pump and fill both on Sunday if I can.

 

[97prizm]

I always pay attention to what last guy bought, and have been for years. My unscientific conclusion is that in the morning people fill up, because it’s mostly contractors and such, and in the afternoon to evening, it’s small amounts, because it’s younger people, etc. best conclusion I have come to and never much changes.

The demand elasticity of gasoline is very flat, meaning people complain about it all the time, but they still buy the same amount. A better gauge is to look at what people have in the grocery cart at the store because there are trade down options there.

Oh does this open up a can of worms. I've seen many a person with financial assistance buying top tier prime steak and the like while working for a grocery store. I just said "ooo key dokey".

 

[k1xv]

people buy small quantities of fuel for multiple reasons. i know where the cheapest station is in my area. IF I am driving by there, i will stop to buy gas, whether i need 5 gallons or 19 gallons. I can afford either.

And if i am far from my low price station and need gas, i may only buy 5 gallons, so that i can make it to another, cheaper station where i can fill up at a much lower price.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I need the gas. It doesn't make sense to only put a few $$ in at a time.
Same when I fill up the gas cans. I'll buy 15 gallons of ethanol free at a time.

I drive a lot (20k a year) but it's just not worth it time wise for me to drive around looking for the best price by a few cents.

 

[PandaBear]

I watched a short where the guy walked around the gas station and looked at what was on the pumps to try to understand his community’s financial state. My last trip to the station I did the same. Of the 8 pumps at this station, only two appeared to show full tank fill ups. The rest were $5-$20. What do you see at your stations?

I see a lot of people waiting in line at the cheapest stations but nobody at the expensive ones.