Comments on: A Gas Station Trick That Puts Money In Your Pocket http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:06:36 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kris http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/comment-page-1/#comment-748229 Kris Sat, 08 Aug 2009 06:32:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/#comment-748229 "Most gas stations have a free air pump"? I think California mandates it, but otherwise, you must not live where I live. I'm not aware of even one station near me that has free air. Typically, it's $0.75 for about 2 minutes of low-pressure air. If you need to full-up a whole tire (such as a spare), then you've better have at least a few dollars of quarters in your pocket. All states ahould follow California's lead. How many people are driving around unsafely (or un-green) because they don't want to deal with a coin-operated air pump (which, by the way, may "eat" quarters, as I have had happen multiple times). “Most gas stations have a free air pump”? I think California mandates it, but otherwise, you must not live where I live. I’m not aware of even one station near me that has free air. Typically, it’s $0.75 for about 2 minutes of low-pressure air. If you need to full-up a whole tire (such as a spare), then you’ve better have at least a few dollars of quarters in your pocket. All states ahould follow California’s lead. How many people are driving around unsafely (or un-green) because they don’t want to deal with a coin-operated air pump (which, by the way, may “eat” quarters, as I have had happen multiple times).

]]> By: steve http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/comment-page-1/#comment-264050 steve Sat, 03 May 2008 22:30:23 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/#comment-264050 Hi, it's me again--the bike pump guy! This article reminds me of a study I read about(Boston Globe, maybe April 2 2008?) that some organization (a reputable one!) did a survey and found that an astonishing 95% or so of car tires were underinflated, accounting for a net 3% loss in fuel efficiency nationwide. So if you haven't been checking your tire pressure, time to get out the pump! Even bigger fuel savings come from being disciplined and driving between 50 and 65 mph. If that seems like crawling, try setting it as a specific goal--it takes practice and awareness, and once you succeed it feels kind of good! Hi, it’s me again–the bike pump guy!

This article reminds me of a study I read about(Boston Globe, maybe April 2 2008?) that some organization (a reputable one!) did a survey and found that an astonishing 95% or so of car tires were underinflated, accounting for a net 3% loss in fuel efficiency nationwide. So if you haven’t been checking your tire pressure, time to get out the pump!

Even bigger fuel savings come from being disciplined and driving between 50 and 65 mph. If that seems like crawling, try setting it as a specific goal–it takes practice and awareness, and once you succeed it feels kind of good!

]]> By: steve http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/comment-page-1/#comment-264040 steve Sat, 03 May 2008 22:25:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/#comment-264040 If you have a bicycle pump, you can top off the air at home. I've even inflated half-deflated tires this way (i'll admit, it's a fair amount of exercise to do that, but it prevents damaging your rims or tires and prevents having to make a special trip that could eat up a half hour or so). Yes, people, it is true that your bicycle pump can inflate your tires!! I have a 92 Accord, and it takes me about 10 strokes of my bicycle hand pump to increase the PSI in my tires by 1 psi. This may sound like a lot, but really, it goes fast, and is satisfying and quite convenient: I can do it right at my house, while the tires are completely cold, and the pump has a very accurate gauge. (If it didn't I could always use a separate gauge). Also, free air is a rare commodity where I live. I happen to keep the pump in my trunk for convenience, but if you really want to save gas, save the weight and leave it at home. Happy Pumping! If you have a bicycle pump, you can top off the air at home. I’ve even inflated half-deflated tires this way (i’ll admit, it’s a fair amount of exercise to do that, but it prevents damaging your rims or tires and prevents having to make a special trip that could eat up a half hour or so).

Yes, people, it is true that your bicycle pump can inflate your tires!! I have a 92 Accord, and it takes me about 10 strokes of my bicycle hand pump to increase the PSI in my tires by 1 psi. This may sound like a lot, but really, it goes fast, and is satisfying and quite convenient: I can do it right at my house, while the tires are completely cold, and the pump has a very accurate gauge. (If it didn’t I could always use a separate gauge). Also, free air is a rare commodity where I live.

I happen to keep the pump in my trunk for convenience, but if you really want to save gas, save the weight and leave it at home.

Happy Pumping!

]]> By: Best Registry Cleaner http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/comment-page-1/#comment-258904 Best Registry Cleaner Thu, 01 May 2008 04:58:49 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/#comment-258904 Wow! Excellent Idea! Wow! Excellent Idea!

]]> By: C Taylor http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/comment-page-1/#comment-31296 C Taylor Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:18:37 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/05/a-gas-station-trick-that-puts-money-in-your-pocket/#comment-31296 Good idea, but better to invest in a quality air pressure gauge. According to the Car Talk Guys, the pen size and the gas station gauges are notoriously inaccurate. If you're going to fuss with your tires, you may as well do it right and make your time worthwhile. Best reason to have properly inflated tires is safety, not dollars. Car Guys sell what they say is a very reliable gauge for about $25. Should last a long, long time. Good idea, but better to invest in a quality air pressure gauge. According to the Car Talk Guys, the pen size and the gas station gauges are notoriously inaccurate. If you’re going to fuss with your tires, you may as well do it right and make your time worthwhile. Best reason to have properly inflated tires is safety, not dollars. Car Guys sell what they say is a very reliable gauge for about $25. Should last a long, long time.

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