Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Success Stories
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 03-12-2015, 11:52 PM   #1 (permalink)
Growin a stash
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 802
Thanks: 412
Thanked 304 Times in 228 Posts
Saving mucho dinero at the pump

So I've always saved a lot at the pump. It helps to live in a state that's far away from CA and NY. In fact, I've paid as little as 4c/mile before... which is down in EV territory.

But a recent, cleverly devious scheme might get my fuel costs even lower (as gas prices tick back up...) A grocery chain around here offers fuel discounts based on how much crap you buy in a month, up to $1/gal on up to 35 gallons.

Now, I can only fill 15 gallons at a time in my Cruze. But I bought 20 gallons worth of gas cans on eBay for $75. When they arrive, I'll take advantage of the full 35 gallons. Plus I'll only stop for gas about once/month. Finally, because I buy more groceries in the extended timeframe, my "fuel points" should double.

And these cans are made in the USA, too!


A quick calculation (gas at $2.20/gallon before discount, saving 60c per gallon, 40 mpg) shows that I should be able to maintain my 4c/mile fuel cost. Tack on an additional 5% savings from a rewards card and I'm sitting at 3.8c/mile.

__________________


2024 Chevy Bolt

Previous:
2015 Nissan Leaf S, 164 mpge
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ME_Andy For This Useful Post:
Joggernot (03-13-2015), pgfpro (03-28-2015)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 03-13-2015, 12:41 AM   #2 (permalink)
Just cruisin’ along
 
jcp123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 1,183

Beater Echo - '00 Toyota Echo
90 day: 42.67 mpg (US)

Hondizzle - '97 Honda Civic DX
Team Honda
90 day: 46.55 mpg (US)

Shaggin Waggin - '14 Chrysler Town + Country
90 day: 22.56 mpg (US)
Thanks: 66
Thanked 200 Times in 170 Posts
Nice! I belatedly thought of something like this when I used an almost identical discount to fill my wife's Rio a while back. Shoulda gotten spare gas for the yard machines and Mustang.

Are you factoring in the cost of the jerry cans? Unless you have a "source", those things ain't cheap.
__________________



'97 Honda Civic DX Coupe 5MT - dead 2/23
'00 Echo - dead 2/17
'14 Chrysler Town + Country - My DD, for now
'67 Mustang Convertible - gone 1/17
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 09:09 AM   #3 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
The Costco approach to fuel purchasing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ME_Andy View Post
Now, I can only fill 15 gallons at a time in my Cruze.
Your Cruze needs a garage entry! Add new vehicle It appearing under your username helps give your posts some context (for the times you don't mention it in the post itself).
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 10:25 AM   #4 (permalink)
...beats walking...
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: .
Posts: 6,190
Thanks: 179
Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,126 Posts
But, you have to remember that gasoline eventually goes "stale" during extended sitting periods, especially with alcohol content in it, hence the need for products such as Sta·bil™, etc.
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 10:43 AM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: west TN
Posts: 92

Stream - '16 Volkswagen Jetta
90 day: 33.7 mpg (US)
Thanks: 8
Thanked 33 Times in 24 Posts
Good idea!

You could take this a bit further and make mucho dinero. It might even solve the gas crisis! All you need is some barrels, and wait until the gas prices go back up, and sell the gas door to door!

On a serious note, a dollar per gallon discount is huge. Around here it's usually more like 10-15 cents...
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 11:00 AM   #6 (permalink)
Rat Racer
 
Fat Charlie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Route 16
Posts: 4,150

Al the Third, year four - '13 Honda Fit Base
Team Honda
90 day: 42.9 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,784
Thanked 1,922 Times in 1,246 Posts
Yeah, the cans cost, but they also save. $12 per trip at 60 cents a gallon. Just watch the fill numbers carefully and your logs will still be accurate. Topping off the tank at home would be wonderfully convenient as well.
__________________

Quote:
Originally Posted by sheepdog44 View Post
Transmission type Efficiency
Manual neutral engine off.100% @MPG <----- Fun Fact.
Manual 1:1 gear ratio .......98%
CVT belt ............................88%
Automatic .........................86%

  Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 04:04 PM   #7 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Devise a means of keeping the cans upright and not sliding around/tipping over in the trunk until you get home to offload. You will thank me. Spilled gas in the car really stinks. I use bungee cords.
__________________


  Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Frank Lee For This Useful Post:
ME_Andy (03-14-2015), snakester (04-03-2015), Xist (05-23-2015)
Old 03-16-2015, 07:44 AM   #8 (permalink)
Rat Racer
 
Fat Charlie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Route 16
Posts: 4,150

Al the Third, year four - '13 Honda Fit Base
Team Honda
90 day: 42.9 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,784
Thanked 1,922 Times in 1,246 Posts
I avoid bungee cords. Run a rope through the cans' handles, tying them all together.
__________________

Quote:
Originally Posted by sheepdog44 View Post
Transmission type Efficiency
Manual neutral engine off.100% @MPG <----- Fun Fact.
Manual 1:1 gear ratio .......98%
CVT belt ............................88%
Automatic .........................86%

  Reply With Quote
Old 03-16-2015, 08:54 AM   #9 (permalink)
one of thOOOse people
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: the cloud(s)
Posts: 293

twitchy - '98 honda civic dx + sir + ls
90 day: 30.2 mpg (US)

Norman - '14 Ford E-350 EXT
90 day: 16.18 mpg (US)

Silver - '12 VW Golf Base
90 day: 26.1 mpg (US)

Sparta - '19 Honda CB300R
90 day: 84.07 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 81 Times in 66 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Tele man View Post
But, you have to remember that gasoline eventually goes "stale" during extended sitting periods, especially with alcohol content in it, hence the need for products such as Sta·bil™, etc.
I think he said he fills his tank once a month. If stale gas is a problem after that short of time I have a bigger problem as I'm only filling my tank 4 to 6 times a year as it is. Pedal power!
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-16-2015, 10:31 AM   #10 (permalink)
Spaced out...
 
spacemanspif's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dirty Jersey
Posts: 748

The New Focus - '07 Ford Focus ZX5
90 day: 32.44 mpg (US)
Thanks: 142
Thanked 205 Times in 149 Posts
Great idea thinking of ways to maximize rewards and fuel savings!

If gas goes stale that fast I have 15gallons of stale gas in my Monte Carlo right now that has been sitting all winter. I just drive it easy for the first tank and have never had a problem. If I had a high HP engine that needed every bit of that 87octane I might be worried...but a stock Silverado engine should handle it no problem.

__________________
-Mike

2007 Ford Focus ZX5 - 91k - SGII, pending upper and lower grill bocks - auto trans
1987 Monte Carlo SS - 5.3/4L80E swap - 13.67 @ 106
2007 Ford Focus Estate - 230k - 33mpg - Retired 4/2018
1995 Saturn SL2 - 256K miles - 44mpg - Retired 9/2014

Cost to Operate Spreadsheet for "The New Focus"

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com