Gas pump strategies? [View All]

[jayctravis]

Anyone able to detail significant change in behavior of filling up the tank, besides wailing and gnashing at the pump?

A friend and I talked last night, and we had come to the same strategy pretty much: We're trying to keep our tank topped off and not get below 2/3rds.

Reasoning:

Less sticker shock at pump - a couple of $17 fill ups is less traumatizing than $40-$50 at once.

"Upper" half of fuel tank in most cars seems bigger - once you hit half the needle often goes down faster, probably the logistics of the sensing equipment in the gauge and tank.

If the pumps near you run out, you're less likely to be stranded or be compelled to wait in a long line or drive across town on fumes.

Can be fickle with gas prices - if you happen to catch a station selling much lower, then fill up. This happened to me today, Had about 3/4 of a tank and got to skip prices for the past couple of days that were 3.49-3.79 and got to top off today at 3.09.

If we do hit a bad period and have to ration gas, you're already using small amounts and a 4-gallon ration will fill you up instead of just get you to the next pump.
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Anyone see any disadvantages to this, other than I'm defying the president's order to "not buy gas if you don't need it"?