So do you record any information when filling up?

[irishScott]

My parents have this weird habit of copying down the mileage, gallons bought, price/gallon and date in a little book whenever they gas up. My sister and I are also required to do this (as we're technically driving their cars), and they're quite anal about it. Granted on such a small issue I don't mind complying, but when I asked them why we do it they gave me a vague response about visa bills with no real detail. Given that I almost always pay in cash or with my debit card, that makes no sense when applied to me and my sister.

Anyone else able to shed some light on this? Just curious if there's an actual reason or if it's yet another of my parents' OCD habits.

 

[xanis]

I recorded that info for a few fill-ups so that I could get an idea of my gas mileage (turned out to be ~25mpg mixed city/highway).

EDIT: OP Below.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Xanis
I recorded that info for a few fill-ups so that I could get an idea of my gas mileage (turned out to be ~25mpg mixed city/highway).

EDIT: OP Below.

Thought about that, but 3/4 of our cars have mpg displays that have been consistently proven accurate.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: Xanis
I recorded that info for a few fill-ups so that I could get an idea of my gas mileage (turned out to be ~25mpg mixed city/highway).

EDIT: OP Below.

Thought about that, but 3/4 of our cars have a mpg display that's been consistently proven accurate.

Well, when you drive a bare bones car like I do, you don't get fancy stuff like like a MPG display... or power windows.... or power locks.... or a transmission with more than 3 speeds...

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: Xanis
I recorded that info for a few fill-ups so that I could get an idea of my gas mileage (turned out to be ~25mpg mixed city/highway).

EDIT: OP Below.

Thought about that, but 3/4 of our cars have a mpg display that's been consistently proven accurate.

Well, when you drive a bare bones car like I do, you don't get fancy stuff like like a MPG display... or power windows.... or power locks.... or a transmission with more than 3 speeds...

I know, and in that context it could be useful. I'm just saying it doesn't seem to make any sense for us...

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: Xanis
I recorded that info for a few fill-ups so that I could get an idea of my gas mileage (turned out to be ~25mpg mixed city/highway).

EDIT: OP Below.

Thought about that, but 3/4 of our cars have a mpg display that's been consistently proven accurate.

Well, when you drive a bare bones car like I do, you don't get fancy stuff like like a MPG display... or power windows.... or power locks.... or a transmission with more than 3 speeds...

I know, and in that context it could be useful. I'm just saying it doesn't seem to make any sense for us...

Understandable.

 

[CRXican]

no, that might be depressing

I drive for fun

 

[BoomerD]

I always did when I was driving a work vehicle...or if my vehicle could be claimed as a work expense.

Nowadays, I only do this when I'm travelling to keep track of mileage per tank and for cost comparison.

My step-dad kept track of every gallon that went into his 59 Electra...then in the brand-spanking new 69 Electra 225. Didn't matter when or where he bought the gas, his notebook came out and date, time, # of gallons and price per gallon were entered...then mileage was calculated and that was entered as well. He bitched like mad when gas hit $.30/gallon...Cost over $5.00 to fill up the car!

 

[Lonyo]

I reset my trip counter when I fill up, and I fill up when the empty light starts coming on, so I always have an idea of how I've been going.
It means that if I know how I've been driving that I can be sure nothing's going horribly wrong with my car (like mileage dropping) and also I can know whether my driving habits have changed much.

Also helped me avoid some fuel from a particular chain which seems to give poor mpg. My dad has filled up their and noticed it sucks as well.

 

[Clair de Lune]

I always see how much gallons I fill to up see how damn close I am to stalling.

It's usually 15.2-15.7 gallons. Several times I went to 16.1, 16.2 gallons. My manual says my tank is 16 gallons, wtf.

 

[TheVrolok]

Yep.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: irishScott
My parents have this weird habit of copying down the mileage, gallons bought, price/gallon and date in a little book whenever they gas up. My sister and I are also required to do this (as we're technically driving their cars), and they're quite anal about it. Granted on such a small issue I don't mind complying, but when I asked them why we do it they gave me a vague response about visa bills with no real detail. Given that I almost always pay in cash or with my debit card, that makes no sense when applied to me and my sister.

Anyone else able to shed some light on this? Just curious if there's an actual reason or if it's yet another of my parents' OCD habits.

I just write the miles and ODO reading on the receipt, since it has the price and gallons already on it.

I do it not only to know my MPG(although the FCD in my Insight very accurate and is usually within 1-2MPG), but for maintenance purposes; I also write if I've changed my oil, plugs, filters, etc on the next fill up receipt.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Clair de Lune
I always see how much gallons I fill to up see how damn close I am to stalling.

It's usually 15.2-15.7 gallons. Several times I went to 16.1, 16.2 gallons. My manual says my tank is 16 gallons, wtf.

The fuel system usually holds 1/4 - 1/2 gallon, not to mention if you top off and fill it up the filler neck.

You were very close to running out of gas in those instances; running on fumes as it were.

(Yes, I'm aware that's technically not possible)

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: Clair de Lune
I always see how much gallons I fill to up see how damn close I am to stalling.

It's usually 15.2-15.7 gallons. Several times I went to 16.1, 16.2 gallons. My manual says my tank is 16 gallons, wtf.

Make sure the gas place isn't scamming people like many have been caught doing but shutting off the flow while keeping the price going up.

But at that close to the tank if you were practically out then that's a different matter.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

I don't but my FIL does religiously. Miles driven, amount in, every penny of work done to the vehicle, has little books he gets somewhere for that purpose.

One time a few years ago he lost one (for good) and it was the end of the world for about a week.

 

[lxskllr]

I used to. I don't have enough money to fill up anymore :^(

 

[OCGuy]

Im supposed to because I write it all off...but....

 

[Blackjack200]

My dad does this. I tried it for a few months when I first got a car. It was cool to see what mileage you were getting and track the gas prices and stuff, but at the end of the day, I just found it kind of pointless.

 

[lxskllr]

If you keep track of gas mileage you can tell when somethings not right with your car. If the mileage starts dropping, you need to get it looked at.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Newbian

Originally posted by: Clair de Lune
I always see how much gallons I fill to up see how damn close I am to stalling.

It's usually 15.2-15.7 gallons. Several times I went to 16.1, 16.2 gallons. My manual says my tank is 16 gallons, wtf.

Make sure the gas place isn't scamming people like many have been caught doing but shutting off the flow while keeping the price going up.

But at that close to the tank if you were practically out then that's a different matter.

My girlfriend and I filled up at Sam's Club once, and I know there was something wrong with their pump. According to the pump, she put 14.7 gallons into her tank before she manually stopped it. We went in and bitched, but all they could do was give us a 5$ gift card.

It was the weirdest thing. We have a dozen receipts of her filling up at the same time(when the light comes on, or shortly thereafter), and it's always 11-12 gallons(2001 Civic, 13.2 gallon tank). I agreed with him that I'd never seen a pump wrong, but this one obviously was. Always wanted to follow up and see if he ever got more complaints... Something was very wrong.

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Newbian

Originally posted by: Clair de Lune
I always see how much gallons I fill to up see how damn close I am to stalling.

It's usually 15.2-15.7 gallons. Several times I went to 16.1, 16.2 gallons. My manual says my tank is 16 gallons, wtf.

Make sure the gas place isn't scamming people like many have been caught doing but shutting off the flow while keeping the price going up.

But at that close to the tank if you were practically out then that's a different matter.

My girlfriend and I filled up at Sam's Club once, and I know there was something wrong with their pump. According to the pump, she put 14.7 gallons into her tank before she manually stopped it. We went in and bitched, but all they could do was give us a 5$ gift card.

It was the weirdest thing. We have a dozen receipts of her filling up at the same time(when the light comes on, or shortly thereafter), and it's always 11-12 gallons(2001 Civic, 13.2 gallon tank). I agreed with him that I'd never seen a pump wrong, but this one obviously was. Always wanted to follow up and see if he ever got more complaints... Something was very wrong.

Did you contact the State Department of Weights and Measures?

 

[Rubycon]

Just sing it!

:Q

 

[Colt45]

I'll usually do a rough mental calc of the mileage.. I don't write down the odo unless i'm splitting gas on a trip or something.

 

[TridenT]

Are you going to be doing anything else while the gas goes into the tank? I think not. (And if you're one of those pricks who leaves their car at the gas pump while they take fucking forever inside the store then you should kill yourself. I hate you)

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I use an App on my iPhone for it. GasBag. It's pretty awesome.