Fueling at auto stations...protocol?

Scott & Heather · June 09, 2015, 03:52:09 PM

The few truck stops in my area here in Keene, TX were advertising diesel prices about 2.68 a gallon give or take. With a 156 gallon tank empty on our coach, I saw a QT auto gas station advertising $2.38. Of course I squeezed in and fueled up today. Is this bad protocol? Is there a rule about not fueling at regular stations? I took up two pumps in terms of space. And I had to restart the pump with 4 separate $100 transactions cause of the limit...but I guess it seems like it was worth it to save .30 cents a gallon on 150 gallons...am I the only one that sometimes fuels up at auto stations?

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scanzel · June 09, 2015, 04:08:12 PM

I don't see a problem with this as long as the station doesn't complain. My local Citgo has both truck pumps and auto pumps with diesel. I just go in hand over my credit card say i want to fill it and they let me fill it up with no pump limit at the auto diesel/gas pumps.

digesterman · June 09, 2015, 04:09:12 PM

Go either early in morning or late at night if you think it bothers anyone, personally I don't think it would

lou432 · June 09, 2015, 04:14:00 PM

If you can fit in and spend $400 + and save $50+ - I say go for it and feel good about it!
Chances are the other pumps were only spitting out $30 - $60 in gas and you spent more in your time there than one other pumper.

Tikvah · June 09, 2015, 04:25:22 PM

I do it anytime I can fit. Auto fuel stations are frequently more affordable than truck.

What's fun is pulling in and blocking the whole place waiting for a space where some beat up Ford is sitting with screaming kids while mom is inside buying beer and cigarettes. Nobody leaves until I get my space

eagle19952 · June 09, 2015, 04:32:23 PM

I've pulled into a lot of Mom and Pops buying 4-500$ worth of diesel...they were happy to take my $$'s.

If it fits, and i need it I go there.

flynbanjo · June 09, 2015, 04:41:29 PM

The only problem I see is that generally auto diesel pumps are a lot slower than truck diesel pumps. The last time I did it, I just went inside to prepay for the fuel than took the extra time to wash the windows and talk to everyone who wanted to talk about the bus.

travlinman · June 09, 2015, 04:43:28 PM

I cannot remember the last time I went to a truck stop as we search out the best deals on fuel for sure. The small stations are always glad to see us and I usually leave with a free coffee or water. Giving them your card in advance saves the multiple swipe at the pump game! Much better to spend the savings on good beer!

TM

Lin · June 09, 2015, 04:45:50 PM

Even though you are taking up two pumps, you are buying more fuel than any other two pump combo they have. As long as cars can come and go, there should be no problem. I think that the drivers that fill up and leave their cars blocking a pump while they go inside are much worse.

Scott & Heather · June 09, 2015, 05:15:05 PM

Awesome. Thank you. I felt like a nincompoop but it turns out I wasn't. Nice advice on leaving my car with them to prevent the multiple swipes. That was tremendously annoying. You'd think after 4 years of fulltiming, I'd get this by now, but I generally fill up at truck stops, so I'm still learning.

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Jim Eh. · June 09, 2015, 08:03:03 PM

About the only concern I may have is a low fuel turn over rate at some stations. Condensation/contamination or those pesky little dieselmites but with more and more diesel pick ups around that concern is slowly going away.

bobofthenorth · June 10, 2015, 06:16:36 AM

Its a lot easier to find diesel at retail pumps now than it was 10 years ago. Multi-swipes with your card can be a royal PITA and most pumps won't let you do that more than twice. Lots of the time at the smaller stations they don't expect you to come inside before fueling. I guess they can tell you're not a fuel and dash type just by looking so they will turn the pump on and assume you will come in to pay when you are done fueling. That's the way it used to be at every station - some of us still aren't accustomed to the whole mistrust the customer mentality that requires prepaying for fuel.

lostagain · June 10, 2015, 06:51:13 AM

We own a gas station. Prepay at the pump or inside is a necessity now in the industry. A lot more low-life types gas and dash than you think before we went to that system.

JC

bevans6 · June 10, 2015, 06:52:59 AM

I do it all the time. Aside from there not being a truck stop within 60 miles of where I live, most if not all major brand truck stops up here only take business fleet cards, no normal credit cards allowed.

Brian

Scott & Heather · June 10, 2015, 07:02:29 AM

Krank, honestly, my bus sits for months at a time with a half empty tank. Condensation is probably just as bad

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