Where can I buy gasoline?

April 2, 2:01 AMTampa Sports Car ExaminerMichael Berenis

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Many motorists ask, "Where can I buy gasoline?" There are many gas stations to choose from, but motorist and sports car enthusiasts alike are still bothered by the question of where to buy gasoline. Where can I buy gasoline? It's simple in some instances when it's required to progress travel. But when we have a choice of where to purchase gasoline, what do you do? Most people purchase whatever gasoline is cheapest and convenient. Others stick to one brand only.

Check out these different types of fuel or find local gas prices:

• Ethanol free gasoline
• Racing fuel
• E85 Ethanol
  
• Nitrogen Enriched Gasoline
• Find local gas prices here!

There are several choices to make when deciding to purchase fuel. For the performance enthusiast picking a gasoline is sometimes the hardest choice of the day.  A noble minded performance enthusiast takes special care when choosing gasoline. Most of the choices are personal, while others are considered civil and global. Some gas stations are operated by companies that are disliked, while others are known by locals for having "bad gas" and shorting pumped amounts. What ever choice you make, make an informed one by using the internet.

After you find your gas station, follow up with research. Keep a database of how much fuel you pump, and your mileage. If you drive in the same manor on a consistent route, you can use a mileage per tank database to monitor the quality gas. Your car can also have issues that affect your gas mileage. These failures can cause corrupted data for testing a gas stations quality by mpg. It's unfortunate but some gas stations are doing rotten things, and there isn't many ways to catch them. Networking with other gas customers over the internet is a great way to learn about gas stations in your area. Check out the following websites for more information.

Top three websites for finding gasoline:

1. Gasbuddy.com
2. FuelMeUp.com
3. FuelEconomy.gov

Customers have one ace in the hole, weights and measurements. Keep an eye out for weights and measurements stickers. Each county has it's own inspector and there should be a sticker with a date on each pump. The date should be no older than one year. Each year the pump amounts are to be inspected and serviced if necessary. Some back road gas stations fail the weights and measurements check. If you don't see a sticker, don't buy their gas.

Sometimes water can accidentally get into fuel reservoirs by weathering. A tank gets a crack by cold weather and freezing action, which leads to moisture build up. This moisture forms as condensation at first, but then turns into water. You'd be surprised how much condensation a gas station fuel reservoir can produce. It's enough to give a watering down effect to your gasoline. It's always best to buy gas from newly serviced gas stations.

Choosing a fuel grade can be a tricky thing to do. Premium grade is not always better. In larger engines like big v-6 and v-8's, premium grade gasoline does actually give more horse power and better fuel mileage. Other vehicles that have smaller engines it can yield worse gas mileage. Some vehicles require premium grade fuel, while others only ask for regular. Look in your owner manual and use what type it asks for. Just because a higher grade is more expensive, doesn't always mean it's the right choice.

Gas station dangers:

• Look out for troublesome pumps. Several times I've encountered pre-engaged gas pumps ready for you to select grade and spray. Check the pump handle to see if it's actuator is engaged or locked into place. This can cause an unsightly mess and create a very costly paint bill should the gasoline splatter on your vehicle.
• Parking lot madness and confusion is the leading cause of accidents. If someone is getting pushy in line, let them go ahead. Nothing is worth ruining your car over.
• Look for broken glass and other sharp objects that can puncture tires. Many times construction crews and vandalism occurs in gas station parking lots. A favorite lunch spot for most construction crews is the gas station, so be especially careful around noon. Sports cars and modified suspension, tires, etc picks up more stuff than stock. Driving fast or hitting corners in parking lots is also a good way to force debris into puncture.

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