New Hampshire Underground

New Hampshire Underground => Porcupine Trading Post => Cheap Bastard Sub Forum => Topic started by: PowerPenguin on November 17, 2008, 06:00 PM NHFT

Title: Cold Gas is Cool (literally and figuratively)
Post by: PowerPenguin on November 17, 2008, 06:00 PM NHFT
According to the maintenance guide for my Subaru, you can get a bit more bang for your buck by filling up your tank in the evening or early morning when it's cold and the fossil fuels are the most dense. This would theoretically give you a bit extra juice in your tank for the same price. Not knowing anything else, I assume you won't be getting more than a percent or two extra, but maybe someone who's a chemistry expert can provide more details.
Title: Re: Cold Gas is Cool (literally and figuratively)
Post by: doobie on November 17, 2008, 06:10 PM NHFT
I once stopped at a gas station when I was empty, and it was COLD (-10 according to my thermometer).  The pump wouldn't work.  I went inside and they said when it gets cold you usually just have to wait..so I waited about a minute or two and it finally started pumping.  It was the slowest fuelling I ever had...

I think myth busters proved your statement wrong though.
Title: Re: Cold Gas is Cool (literally and figuratively)
Post by: freeborn on November 17, 2008, 06:35 PM NHFT
Gas coming out of an undergrand tank is always at the same temperature as the underground environment which is about 55 degrees. It doesn't matter if you pump your gas when the air temperature is 100 degrees or 20 below zero.
Title: Re: Cold Gas is Cool (literally and figuratively)
Post by: KBCraig on November 18, 2008, 10:56 AM NHFT
Quote from: doobie on November 17, 2008, 06:10 PM NHFT
I once stopped at a gas station when I was empty, and it was COLD (-10 according to my thermometer).  The pump wouldn't work.  I went inside and they said when it gets cold you usually just have to wait..so I waited about a minute or two and it finally started pumping.  It was the slowest fuelling I ever had...

I've had that during a sudden cold snap. The local news said the flow rate slows when the leak detectors trip, and apparently they're sensitive to cold.
Title: Re: Cold Gas is Cool (literally and figuratively)
Post by: PowerPenguin on November 19, 2008, 07:15 PM NHFT
Quote from: KBCraig on November 18, 2008, 10:56 AM NHFT
Quote from: doobie on November 17, 2008, 06:10 PM NHFT
I once stopped at a gas station when I was empty, and it was COLD (-10 according to my thermometer).  The pump wouldn't work.  I went inside and they said when it gets cold you usually just have to wait..so I waited about a minute or two and it finally started pumping.  It was the slowest fuelling I ever had...

I've had that during a sudden cold snap. The local news said the flow rate slows when the leak detectors trip, and apparently they're sensitive to cold.


Damn are you saying Fuji Motors, or at least the local dealership that published the flier is ignorant or lying!?? (Stranger things have happened)
Title: Re: Cold Gas is Cool (literally and figuratively)
Post by: Roycerson on November 19, 2008, 07:19 PM NHFT
I think so.  Don't know much about flow rates and leak detectors but most tanks are underground.  Might change a few degrees depending on the season but not a significant difference by time of day.