NACS Online

ALEXANDRIA, Va. With gasoline prices continuing to climb with the summer driving season right around the corner, myths about how to save money while purchasing fuel are once again making the rounds via e-mail and other sources. Here are some of the more popular purported money-saving tips for buying gasoline, from Snopes.com.

Myth 1: Fill up your vehicle in the morning when the temperature is still cool.
Answer: The 'hot fuel' debate is behind this myth. Snopes reports that 'the real issue is whether a gallon of warmer, expanded fuel contains as much 'energy' (or octane) as a gallon of cooler fuel.' Because fuel is stored in underground storage tanks after delivery, the consumer has no way of knowing if the fuel is really cooler in the morning or not. Snopes reports that 'in any case, the bottom line is whether it's really worthwhile for consumers ' to take matters into their own hands and attempt to save money by buying gasoline only at a particular time of day.

Myth 2: If a tanker truck is refueling the station when you stop to buy gas, don't fill up because dirt and sludge from the tank is being stirred up.
Answer: Gasoline stations have filters that trap dirt and sludge, and modern vehicles also have fuel filters, so some stirred-up dirt won't adversely affect your car's performance.

Myth 3: Fill up your tank when the fuel in the gas tank reaches the half-way mark because the more gasoline in your tank, the less air, which will help keep gasoline from evaporating rapidly, especially in warm weather.
Answer: 'We haven't found much of a consensus about whether gasoline evaporating from automobile gas tanks is truly 'lost,' whether the amount of (hypothetical) loss is significant or negligible, or how much the evaporation rate would really be lessened by motorists' driving with gas tanks never less than half full,' Snopes reports.

Myth 4: When filling up, pump gasoline at the slow setting to minimize vapors created by pumping fuel.
Answer: Advocates of this money-saver say that pumping gasoline slowly produces fewer vapors, which in turn gives consumers more for their money because less gasoline is lost to vaporization. Critics and state regulators maintain that the amount of fuel lost due to vaporization is so minute 'as to be economically insignificant to the ordinary consumer,' Snopes reports.

Overall, the bottom line is that trying these 'money-saving' tips when pumping fuel will only net drivers more time and effort. It's much easier to improve your vehicle's efficiency'and thus saving money at the pump'through proper maintenance and removing from your car little-used equipment that contributes weight or increases drag. Having safe driving habits also contribute to fuel efficiency. 'All in all, the simple habit of engaging in planning and combining multiple trips into one excursion will likely save the average motorist far more money (and time)' than attempting to follow these myths, Snopes reports.

NACS has developed a fact sheet on other gasoline myths.