Are you getting what you pay for at the pump?

As gas prices move up at the pumps consumers must be vigilant in ensuring that you are getting value for money. Don’t be fooled by ‘cheap gas’, as the old time saying goes if it is too good to be true something is wrong! Carry out a few simple steps can save you thousands of dollars in saving per year.

Steps

• Buy gas from trusted branded station, preferably those at major road intersection or in built up area and fuel dispensers are visible…
• Check for Weight & Measure Certificates on pumps, if none is present don’t buy at this station. The certificate tells if it is approved for retailing fuel, date of certification and expiration are printed on it.
• Do a little mathematics at the pump, multiply price per litre and the total litre dispensed; you may be surprised by your finding…
• Observe transaction throughout its entirety.
• Purchase fuel in a pre-calibrated approved (metal container not plastic) container if station personnel refuse to accommodate sale don’t argue go buy somewhere else…Plastic container can’t pass static electricity to ground hence it pose an explosion hazard…
• Avoid mostly used pump.
• Avoid “back bush” gas stations. When going on long journey fill up in the city or town center.
• Try and use cash CC scam or skimming of your card is on the increase in Jamaica.

Others? Yes there are but the above mentioned are just some of the key signs to watch out for…

Need to save Money on Gas? Proper tire inflation is the trick to save!

Would you like to save money on gas every Year? Gas stations all across the continent are giving you a free coupon to save money on gas! How do you get this coupon? Easy just drive down to your gas station and stop at the air station! By having your car at the right tire pressure can save you big bucks at the pump, help you stop faster, and also extend the life of your tires!

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 36% of cars and 40% of trucks are driving with tires under-inflated by atleast 20%.

Fuel Efficiency

Here’s a look at average fuel efficiency using gasoline in different types of vehicals, under average driving conditions, for North american models.

Type Highway City

Mid-Size Car 27 21

SUV 16 13

Light Pickup 28 22

V8 – Pickup 15 13

Motorcycles 50 37  

Hybrids + Highway City

Honda Civic 51 49

Honda Insight 68 61

Toyota Prius 55 55

Smart Car 60 60

Operating a vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by 6 psi (40 kPa) can reduce the life of the tire by 10,000 km and increase the vehicle’s fuel consumption by three percent. For improved fuel efficiency and enhanced safety, give your tires the attention they need.

Say you drove 20,000 miles last year with 4 tires all under-inflated by 6 psi. With current fuel prices around $3 a gallon, how much would it cost you?

First we’ll take a look at how much you would spend on fuel with properly inflated tires. An average mid-sized car doing half city driving and half highway driving, averages 24 mpg. 20000m/24mpg = 833.3 Gallons * $3/ gallon = $2500.

Well each tire under-inflated by 6 psi will increase the vehicle’s fuel consumption by 3%. Since we have 4 tires under-infalted thats 12% more, or $2500 * 1.12 = $2800.

By having your tires under-inflated cost you $300 over 20,000 miles of driving! Now that example was with a mid sized car, what about a SUV? You’ll save $500!

Checking your tires air pressure with a tire guage is recommended every month. Tires can loose up to 2 psi a month just from seeping throught the rubber. Tires will lose another 1 psi for every 18 degrees F drop in temperature. SO it’s really important to check your tires pressure during the winter months.

To find out what your tire pressure should be, check the sticker in the drivers side door labeled “Tire Load information”. In the picture on the right, the car requires 29psi for both the front and real tires. The tires themselves are rated for a maximum 35psi. In this case I fill my tires slightly over the 29psi but under the 35 max. 

(Source: http://servicestationquipmaintenace.com)