Filling with Fuel!

[TC38]

Hi there all,

New onto the Dibb so my first post :grin: . What is the score with filling your car with fuel in the states?I have been told you have to pay for the fuel before you fill your car. No problem with this however if you want to fill your car then how do you know how much fuel you want to put in :confused2 ??!!!! Also what is the standard grades of fuel, i.e. are there any differences in unleaded fuels available or is it just stated as 'regular' and 'premium'???

[TinkTatoo]

:wavey: Welcome to the Dibb

You will know roughly how much fuel you want so as an example if you want to fill up you could give them $40 and if it is less than that they give you back the difference. Or you could decide to put $30 in and stop when the pump gets to that amount.

Can't help with the grades of fuel though

[Twink]

Some are pay before you buy others are like ours you pay after you have filled up and some are credit card only, if you give them your money say $30 and your tank will take more the pump automatically switches off at $30, if you don't use that much you get your change, the grades are the same as our most hire cars use regular unleaded, if you have difficulties most garage staff are very helpful, I think we get put down as 'eccentric quaint brits' who don't know how to work 'a lil ol gas pump':wavey: :wavey:

[BONZO]

..also, don't forget that when you lift the nozzle, you have to move the holder it came from UP or no petrol will come out.

Just do the reverse when you've done.

[Sooty]

I usually go in and ask them to switch on the pump so DH can fill up and just wait there till hes finished and then pay. In fact we used the same filling station while we were there for 3 weeks last year and got to know them well.

Christine

[Shogun]

Dont forget to move the big lever after you have taken the nozle off the pump. Also if paying after filling you cannot creep up to $20 or $30. The trigger is either on or off.

[wilkins76]

We always send someone in while we fuel up makes like a lot easier

[Hal]

A very good question.

The point made by Bonzo and Shogun about having to move the lever is very important - that had me completely baffled on my first trip, someone had to help me.

Regarding petrol types I find it easiest to go off the octane rating. Unleaded here is 95 so just fill with 95 over there HOWEVER when I was in Florida in Nov I remember that the 95 octane was labelled Super or Premier or something - and the standard was 93 or so, which I think is the equiv of 2-star over here. I filled with 95 to be safe, incase the 93 was only for motorbikes but does anyone know - I don't want to use super if I don't need to or if its too rich for the car. (Not a petrol head so sorry if I appeare dumb.)

[mariee]

We have always used the cheapest unleaded petrol and it doesn't seem to have any adverse effect on the cars performance.


Mariee

[erictub]

Worth remembering that we use RON (Research Octane) to measure fuel octane in the UK which is a different measurement compared to PON used in the states which is the average of RON and MON (Motor Octane) tests to confuse it further.

Basically a 91 octane US fuel is roughly equivalent to a 95 UK fuel. So if you use standard unleaded over here - thats 95 in the UK or 91 in the US.

93 PON fuel is about the same as Super Unleaded over here and 95 being similar to Shell Optimax.

The exact conversion varies a bit due to a number of factors but most cars will happily digest whatever grade gas you put in it in the US - but you might get better performance from a higher grade fuel.

Hope that clears it up a bit ?

Rick

[ollie]

Just wanted to say welcome to the Dibb.:wave:

[Hal]

Worth remembering that we use RON (Research Octane) to measure fuel octane in the UK which is a different measurement compared to PON used in the states which is the average of RON and MON (Motor Octane) tests to confuse it further.

Basically a 91 octane US fuel is roughly equivalent to a 95 UK fuel. So if you use standard unleaded over here - thats 95 in the UK or 91 in the US.

93 PON fuel is about the same as Super Unleaded over here and 95 being similar to Shell Optimax.

The exact conversion varies a bit due to a number of factors but most cars will happily digest whatever grade gas you put in it in the US - but you might get better performance from a higher grade fuel.

Hope that clears it up a bit ?

Rick

So 91 US = 95 UK (normal unleaded), and 95 US = 97 UK (Shell Optimax etc.). Great, thanks for the explanation.

Oh and welcome to the Dibb TC38 :wavey:

[RuddClan]

Some gas stations require prepay others don't. I didn't know about this so in 2004 while waiting at the pump for the nozzle to start a voice came out of the speaker in the pump "YOU HAVE TO PREPAY". - I s**t myself.
:D:):D

Nevermind eh!