An open letter to Tom and Ray, the car guys:

[Villages PL]

I don't want to bother mailing them a letter so I'm hoping the Villages Car Guys will fill in for Tom and Ray to answer the following urgent question:

Dear Tom and Ray,

It has suddenly come to my attention that 3 nearby Shell stations periodically pump all of their underground tanks dry. They seem to do it every couple of months. The last time I went to one of the stations for gas, about half of the pumps were already shut down - dry.

I think it's safe to assume that the other pumps were in the process of dredging out the dregs from the bottoms of their tanks. Possibly, moisture gets in in the process of being refilled by tanker trucks and whatever else.

In your opinion, what was the risk, if any, of getting gas at that time? There was another Shell station nearby with a higher price per gallon. Would I have been better off to go to the other station and pay a little more?

Thanks, VPL.

[Skip2MySue]

I don't want to bother mailing them a letter so I'm hoping the Villages Car Guys will fill in for Tom and Ray to answer the following urgent question:

Dear Tom and Ray,

It has suddenly come to my attention that 3 nearby Shell stations periodically pump all of their underground tanks dry. They seem to do it every couple of months. The last time I went to one of the stations for gas, about half of the pumps were already shut down - dry.

I think it's safe to assume that the other pumps were in the process of dredging out the dregs from the bottoms of their tanks. Possibly, moisture gets in in the process of being refilled by tanker trucks and whatever else.



In your opinion, what was the risk, if any, of getting gas at that time? There was another Shell station nearby with a higher price per gallon. Would I have been better off to go to the other station and pay a little more?

Thanks, VPL.

Great question and I'll be interested to see what the answer is. I really think you should still send this question in to The Boys, I'm sure lots of people would be interested in their response.
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[Villages PL]

Great question and I'll be interested to see what the answer is. I really think you should still send this question in to The Boys, I'm sure lots of people would be interested in their response.
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Thanks, I never thought I would have a reason to write to them, but now I think I might go ahead and do just that.

[Skip2MySue]

Thanks, I never thought I would have a reason to write to them, but now I think I might go ahead and do just that.

Thanks VP, I'll be looking for their response on Friday's in the Sun.
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[OldManTime]

I bet there business is so bad, because most of it is Golf carts, makes no sense to keep all filled, plus there is water below the gas, which needs to be drained periodically….

[SemiMike]

I don't want to bother mailing them a letter so I'm hoping the Villages Car Guys will fill in for Tom and Ray to answer the following urgent question:

Dear Tom and Ray,

It has suddenly come to my attention that 3 nearby Shell stations periodically pump all of their underground tanks dry. They seem to do it every couple of months. The last time I went to one of the stations for gas, about half of the pumps were already shut down - dry.

I think it's safe to assume that the other pumps were in the process of dredging out the dregs from the bottoms of their tanks. Possibly, moisture gets in in the process of being refilled by tanker trucks and whatever else.

In your opinion, what was the risk, if any, of getting gas at that time? There was another Shell station nearby with a higher price per gallon. Would I have been better off to go to the other station and pay a little more?

Thanks, VPL.

In a related area, I never get gas at a station that has a large tanker present for refill. Stirs up any tank sediment by the filling, and so more likely to pump some of that into your own tank.

[2BNTV]

I don't want to bother mailing them a letter so I'm hoping the Villages Car Guys will fill in for Tom and Ray to answer the following urgent question:

Dear Tom and Ray,

It has suddenly come to my attention that 3 nearby Shell stations periodically pump all of their underground tanks dry. They seem to do it every couple of months. The last time I went to one of the stations for gas, about half of the pumps were already shut down - dry.

I think it's safe to assume that the other pumps were in the process of dredging out the dregs from the bottoms of their tanks. Possibly, moisture gets in in the process of being refilled by tanker trucks and whatever else.

In your opinion, what was the risk, if any, of getting gas at that time? There was another Shell station nearby with a higher price per gallon. Would I have been better off to go to the other station and pay a little more?

Thanks, VPL.

Short answer is yes!!!!!!

I have been advised never to let my gas tank to be less than a quarter full before refilling, to keep the cars fuel system getting any sediment it may have.

I am sure this is true for gas stations tank reserves. Better to pay a few pennies more, than to have problems with your car.

[B767drvr]

I'd be interested in their answer as well, but my gut is sediment is not an issue due to fuel filters both in the fuel storage tanks and your car. Water (from condensation) is always an issue in storage tanks and certainly is during transfer from tanker trucks.

When I refueled aircraft/airliners in college, we drained water from the bottom of the fuel trucks' tanks daily.

[jblum315]

Don't mean to bust your bubble, but don't expect an immediate answer from Car Guys. They will consider your question and maybe deal with it on the radio show, but certainly not immediately and maybe never. Unless maybe you enclose a C-note as they jokingly request!

[kathy and al]

I don't want to bother mailing them a letter so I'm hoping the Villages Car Guys will fill in for Tom and Ray to answer the following urgent question:

Dear Tom and Ray,

It has suddenly come to my attention that 3 nearby Shell stations periodically pump all of their underground tanks dry. They seem to do it every couple of months. The last time I went to one of the stations for gas, about half of the pumps were already shut down - dry.

I think it's safe to assume that the other pumps were in the process of dredging out the dregs from the bottoms of their tanks. Possibly, moisture gets in in the process of being refilled by tanker trucks and whatever else.

In your opinion, what was the risk, if any, of getting gas at that time? There was another Shell station nearby with a higher price per gallon. Would I have been better off to go to the other station and pay a little more?

Thanks, VPL.

First of all it is impossible to "pump all of their underground tanks dry" because the underground tank is designed to stop pumping at a point where at least 500 approx. gallons (and sometimes more depending on the storage tank size) are remaining in the underground tank. They will never reach a "dry" level.
As for moisture and condensation there is a "measuring stick" that measures the amount of product in the tank and moisture paste applied to the end of this measuring stick will reveal any moisture in the product. Most stations do this daily and if excess moisture is prevalent then it can be removed by companies that have the equipment to do so.

[Villages PL]

First of all it is impossible to "pump all of their underground tanks dry" because the underground tank is designed to stop pumping at a point where at least 500 approx. gallons (and sometimes more depending on the storage tank size) are remaining in the underground tank. They will never reach a "dry" level.
As for moisture and condensation there is a "measuring stick" that measures the amount of product in the tank and moisture paste applied to the end of this measuring stick will reveal any moisture in the product. Most stations do this daily and if excess moisture is prevalent then it can be removed by companies that have the equipment to do so.

Thanks for the information. So, in your opinion, it's perfectly safe to be the last one getting gas from a pump as it shuts down? That seems to be what you are suggesting.

[Villages PL]

Don't mean to bust your bubble, but don't expect an immediate answer from Car Guys. They will consider your question and maybe deal with it on the radio show, but certainly not immediately and maybe never. Unless maybe you enclose a C-note as they jokingly request!

Hey, how about this: Maybe I should embellish the story by telling them I'm having an argument with my fiancee. She says it's bad for the engine and I say it's not. And she's gotten so mad she wants to break off the engagement because, as she says, "I'm a stubborn knucklehead."

Would I be overplaying my hand? :)

[Shimpy]

Short answer is yes!!!!!!

I have been advised never to let my gas tank to be less than a quarter full before refilling, to keep the cars fuel system getting any sediment it may have.
.


The reason they usually recommend that you not let you're tank get below quarter tank is because your fuel pump is submerged in the tank and the fuel lubricates and cools the pump. Going below quarter tank several times can shorten it life and cause an expensive repair.

[missypie]

The reason they usually recommend that you not let you're tank get below quarter tank is because your fuel pump is submerged in the tank and the fuel lubricates and cools the pump. Going below quarter tank several times can shorten it life and cause an expensive repair.

That is good info. Thanks!

[Skip2MySue]

Hey, how about this: Maybe I should embellish the story by telling them I'm having an argument with my fiancee. She says it's bad for the engine and I say it's not. And she's gotten so mad she wants to break off the engagement because, as she says, "I'm a stubborn knucklehead."

Would I be overplaying my hand? :)

:bigbow: PERFECT!!!!!!!
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P.S. Throw in a stick-um with a big "C" on it :laugh:

[Omike]

Now a days the underground tanks at the gas stations have automated monitoring systems. They have alarms on them that go off if the moisture in the tanks get close to the pump pickup. The pickup is mounted about 6 inches off the bottom of the tank so you will never get the sediment or water unless the tanks have been severely neglected. Also each pump has a filter in it that catches anything that may be floating around in there. You notice sometimes you have a pump running very slow? That means the filter needs to be changed. These stations also go out of their way not to run dry because they will loose sales if they do. I drove those big tankers for about 10 years so I know what I'm talking about on this. Generally if there is a problem with the fuel it was delivered that way and the problem came from the terminal. Around here most of it comes from the port of tampa.

[Omike]

Also don't get stuck on any certain brand of gas. It all pretty much comes from the same tanks. Shell, texaco, and marathon all come from the same terminal in tampa and the same tanks. The additive of the brand is shot into the tanker at the same time the fuel is. Also stay away from mid grade. It's cheaper to make your own. 65% reg and 35% 93 octane super gives you 89 octane. The tanker drivers generally mix it themselves when loading. There is no mid grade at the terminals only reg and super.

[Shimpy]

Also don't get stuck on any certain brand of gas. It all pretty much comes from the same tanks. Shell, texaco, and marathon all come from the same terminal in tampa and the same tanks. The additive of the brand is shot into the tanker at the same time the fuel is. .

However......Top Tier Gasoline (http://www.toptiergas.com/index.html) (top tier explained)
and
Top Tier Gasoline (http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html) (top tier approved stations that meet the requirements)

[Omike]

Still the same stuff just with the brands additives.

[RErmer]

Thanks for the info, omike. Things I never knew (or thought about, to be totally honest).