In my other blog, I've written about hypermiling, the practice of applying deliberate driving techniques in order to conserve fuel. There are several other things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption, particulary when you're at the gas pump. In his blog, Nachshon Draiman offers several tips to keep in mind when refueling your vehicle.
The first piece of advice Nachshon Draiman gives is to fill up your car in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cool. This is because gasoline, which is typically stored underground, is more dense when the ground is cold. If you fill up when it is warmer outside, the gasoline will be thinner and you will actually receive less for the same price.
Nachshon Draiman also cautions against pumping your gas too quickly, as this will release more vapors into the air, wasting fuel (which you are paying for!) Keep the trigger on the lowest setting to reduce vapor release.
Also remember to fill up when your tank is half full. Have you ever noticed that the needle on your gas gauge seems to fall more quickly when it's below half a tank? You're not imagining things. The less gasoline in the tank, the more air is present, which speeds up the rate of evaporation. Keeping your tank relatively full will slow down the evaporation.
Keep these tips in mind when you're at the pump and your actions will have a positive effect on your fuel consumption — and your wallet.
