Found it. Since the gas goes through the same hose as the other blends, if you’re buying gas you need to get at least 4 gallons so the previous gas flushes out what was left in the hose from the previous sale, and fills enough of the container that the blend is primarily what you selected.
If you buy E15 and fill your tanks, then the next guy buys E10 and only gets 1 gallon, they might end up with a higher ethanol mix than intended, and if they use that on a small motor, like a chainsaw, it could ruin the seals.
Diesel are often entire separate sections of the gas station.
Most of the pumps in the US have the same hose for 87/89/92 octane pumps that are E10 (10% Ethanol) and if there is a higher ethanol like E15 or E85, they’re usually a separate hose.
I’ve seen pumps that have individual hoses for each octane grade in the US, but they’re definitely uncommon, at least where I am, and I believe more prevalent on older pumps. But diesel always has its own hose.
Probably nothing. I guess it’s possible if you kept switching back and forth between pumping a gallon of premium and a gallon of regular on different pumps to try to steal a few dollars of higher grade, they can use it to give you a ticket, but I’m pretty sure they won’t really care if you were just topping off a tank of gas with 3 gallons before a road trip.
I honestly don’t know what one does if one runs out of gas down the road from a gas station and doesn’t want to call AAA or similar. I assume that gas stations must keep a jerrycan or similar around that they’ll let someone take with a deposit.
I definitely wouldn’t want to be lugging more gallons by hand than would be necessary to get my car to the gas station.
You’d be amazed how many people learn the hard way that they first need to head to a separate store to buy a gas container, then head to the gas station. Most places could care less about keeping a container on premises because it is both a rare situation these days, and storage is at a premium in most stores. If you saw the back room or manager’s office, you would see the floor-to-ceiling stacks of inventory (usually drinks or tobacco products).
So, I don’t know what the deal is with E15 – what’s unusual there is the ethanol content – but insofar as high-octane blends go, and if that’s the factor here…I mean, while I realize that there’s a certain contingent of people who buy them because they think that they’re just better for their car, and for all I know that may dominate the actual market, in theory you’re supposed to only use high-octane fuels in cars with engines that require it.
Generally higher octane works fine in most cars but high performance engines not configured to handle either type may knock with lower octane fuel (due to premature ignition with the higher compression ratio), and will generally put out (slightly) less power regardless due to timing adjustments the engine will make to accommodate the change.
Putting premium in a regular car that isn’t designed with higher compression ratios in mind is really just a waste of money.
As it’s a federal regulation, it would need to be the feds pursuing it. It’s highly unlikely they’d come after the individual. They would be more likely to pursue the gas station.
Around here stations have a purpose-built plastic bag that seals after filling up and fits in the car’s fuel intake. It holds a few gallons, but I’m not sure how many.
I didn’t know this before and it adds credence to my feeling that it’s better to let my tank get below 1/4 full before filling it up, rather than continually topping it up.
Lower octane that puts in higher octane aren’t burning the fuel because higher octane needs a hotter spark to burn it all so you’re essentially wasting money or slowly killing your catalytic converter by putting in a higher octane than what your car is meant to use.
On the flip side, lower octane in a car that requires higher means the gas ignites quicker which will cause knocking and can damage the engine.
There’s probably more to it than this, but that is what I was always taught.
I fill up when I hit 1/4 tank as well. Don’t wait for it to go below though, as it can be bad for the engine with deposits and other stuff in the tank.
I would hope your car has a fuel filter installed that would never let deposits get to the injectors. (Or carb on the off chance you drive one of the last ones on the road.)
You should be filling up closer to a third. The fuel pump is cooled by the fuel and letting the fuel run too low can cause more wear and tear on the pump, causing it to fail.
Well, I just typed “1 gallon in liters” into google and took the first number, because I couldn’t be bothered to deal with your system of measurement more than necessary. My point stands regardless of the exact volume of one gallon.
OF COURSE THERE IS MORE THAN ONE DEFINITION OF GALLON
Portable US gas tanks are typically 1, 2, or 5 gallon.
I usually just grab a 5 gallon (about 20L) can to fill up my lawn mower, throw some fuel stabilizer in there, and then I don’t have to go back to the gas station for a long time.
Found it. Since the gas goes through the same hose as the other blends, if you’re buying gas you need to get at least 4 gallons so the previous gas flushes out what was left in the hose from the previous sale, and fills enough of the container that the blend is primarily what you selected.
If you buy E15 and fill your tanks, then the next guy buys E10 and only gets 1 gallon, they might end up with a higher ethanol mix than intended, and if they use that on a small motor, like a chainsaw, it could ruin the seals.
I’m not from the US so my biggest surprise here is that you don’t get separate hoses for each grade.
Imagine getting Diesel in Germany. “Sorry, that was actually 15 liters of regular gas. ¯_(ツ)_/¯”
Edit: Ok, it’s not as bad as I imagined, since this picture seems to be about E15/E10, not diesel/regular.
diesel absolutely DOES get a separate hose, every time
Diesel are often entire separate sections of the gas station.
Most of the pumps in the US have the same hose for 87/89/92 octane pumps that are E10 (10% Ethanol) and if there is a higher ethanol like E15 or E85, they’re usually a separate hose.
I’ve seen pumps that have individual hoses for each octane grade in the US, but they’re definitely uncommon, at least where I am, and I believe more prevalent on older pumps. But diesel always has its own hose.
Thanks for the explanation! I wonder what they would do if they caught someone dispensing only 3 gallons.
Federal law states the punishment is a bare bottom spanking.
😳
FTFY
I’m sorry officer. Looks like I only bought 3 gallons. I guess you’ll have to…punish…me.
Probably nothing. I guess it’s possible if you kept switching back and forth between pumping a gallon of premium and a gallon of regular on different pumps to try to steal a few dollars of higher grade, they can use it to give you a ticket, but I’m pretty sure they won’t really care if you were just topping off a tank of gas with 3 gallons before a road trip.
I honestly don’t know what one does if one runs out of gas down the road from a gas station and doesn’t want to call AAA or similar. I assume that gas stations must keep a jerrycan or similar around that they’ll let someone take with a deposit.
I definitely wouldn’t want to be lugging more gallons by hand than would be necessary to get my car to the gas station.
You’d be amazed how many people learn the hard way that they first need to head to a separate store to buy a gas container, then head to the gas station. Most places could care less about keeping a container on premises because it is both a rare situation these days, and storage is at a premium in most stores. If you saw the back room or manager’s office, you would see the floor-to-ceiling stacks of inventory (usually drinks or tobacco products).
Most gas stations will sell small gas cans for exactly this reason
Most expensive gas can on the planet ofc.
Presumably, you buy a grade other than the E15 that doesn’t have the “minimum 4 gallons” restriction.
So, I don’t know what the deal is with E15 – what’s unusual there is the ethanol content – but insofar as high-octane blends go, and if that’s the factor here…I mean, while I realize that there’s a certain contingent of people who buy them because they think that they’re just better for their car, and for all I know that may dominate the actual market, in theory you’re supposed to only use high-octane fuels in cars with engines that require it.
I guess they’d probably function without it, but…
Generally higher octane works fine in most cars but high performance engines not configured to handle either type may knock with lower octane fuel (due to premature ignition with the higher compression ratio), and will generally put out (slightly) less power regardless due to timing adjustments the engine will make to accommodate the change.
Putting premium in a regular car that isn’t designed with higher compression ratios in mind is really just a waste of money.
As it’s a federal regulation, it would need to be the feds pursuing it. It’s highly unlikely they’d come after the individual. They would be more likely to pursue the gas station.
I’m guessing it’s more of a “if you don’t get the minimum, they’re not responsible for variation from the rated mix”.
Around here stations have a purpose-built plastic bag that seals after filling up and fits in the car’s fuel intake. It holds a few gallons, but I’m not sure how many.
It couldn’t possibly be illegal as 2/2.5 gallon gas cans are extremely common.
straight to federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison
I didn’t know this before and it adds credence to my feeling that it’s better to let my tank get below 1/4 full before filling it up, rather than continually topping it up.
The vast majority of cars run fine on 87 octane. If that’s what you’re using, then it really doesn’t matter if there is some 89 or 92 in the hose.
True, but my car needs 92 octane
Depends how much, but you’re right.
Lower octane that puts in higher octane aren’t burning the fuel because higher octane needs a hotter spark to burn it all so you’re essentially wasting money or slowly killing your catalytic converter by putting in a higher octane than what your car is meant to use.
On the flip side, lower octane in a car that requires higher means the gas ignites quicker which will cause knocking and can damage the engine.
There’s probably more to it than this, but that is what I was always taught.
I fill up when I hit 1/4 tank as well. Don’t wait for it to go below though, as it can be bad for the engine with deposits and other stuff in the tank.
I would hope your car has a fuel filter installed that would never let deposits get to the injectors. (Or carb on the off chance you drive one of the last ones on the road.)
So with modern fuel filters, there’s no “watch out for the crud at the bottom of the tank” phenomenon to worry about [anymore]?
You should be filling up closer to a third. The fuel pump is cooled by the fuel and letting the fuel run too low can cause more wear and tear on the pump, causing it to fail.
How fucking big are American canisters? In Germany the regular size is 5l, [Edit:
just shy ofa bit more than] one gallon.5L can’t be shy of a gallon. 4L is more than a gallon.
checks
Yeah, a gallon is 3.7854118 L.
Oh…wait. You’re in Europe. I bet that you’re thinking of imperial gallons.
checks
That’s about 4.5 L. Still not the case even with imperial gallons.
When people are talking about gallons in the US, they won’t be using imperial gallons. They’re using the US gallon.
Well, I just typed “1 gallon in liters” into google and took the first number, because I couldn’t be bothered to deal with your system of measurement more than necessary. My point stands regardless of the exact volume of one gallon.
OF COURSE THERE IS MORE THAN ONE DEFINITION OF GALLON
Portable US gas tanks are typically 1, 2, or 5 gallon.
I usually just grab a 5 gallon (about 20L) can to fill up my lawn mower, throw some fuel stabilizer in there, and then I don’t have to go back to the gas station for a long time.
I do the same for my mower and mini bike. I can last a month on a 5g canister, well 5.5 gallons to the fill line according to the ⛽.