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"As Prices at Stations Surge, Consumers Deploy Technology To Help Muzzle the Guzzle. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121020930375775415.html?mod=autos_feature_articles)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Gas_Pumps.jpgAna Campoy - WSJ - May 8, 2008

Before Akshay Dodeja stopped to fill up the gas tank of his Acura Integra, the 22-year-old Portland, Ore., computer-engineering student checked his cellphone. There, he found the cheapest gas from a list of 10 stations in the area. So in the end, he paid $3.63 a gallon -- compared with the $3.80 that the most expensive station was charging.

Getting the best deal on gasoline used to be a matter of comparing prices posted at stations on opposite street corners. But with fuel taking a bigger bite out of budgets, some drivers are obsessed with finding the best possible price in a wider geographic area. And fueling that obsession is technology.

Web sites that compare gas prices at different stations have been around for years, but the offerings are becoming more sophisticated. In addition to gas prices delivered to cellphones, some Web sites now offer fuel consumption calculators, scout out sources of alternative fuels and even explore mass-transit options.

For some, technology helps them get more mileage out of their money. Gasoline prices are up 16% so far this year, to $3.61 last week, or about 18% higher than this time last year. Analysts are suggesting the price could hit $4 before the summer driving season is over.

It was in a Facebook discussion group that Mr. Dodeja first learned about a free gas-price search program made by Mobio Networks Inc., a Cupertino, Calif., company that creates mobile-phone applications. He downloaded the application onto his phone, punched in his postal code and got prices at nearby gas stations compiled by GasPriceWatch.com. It even provides a map to make finding the station easier…http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121020930375775415.html?mod=autos_feature_articles

I use GasBuddy to find the local _______gasprices.com site. It depends on user input, so I'm uploading almost daily.

I've always recommended filling at the same station and pump (preferably in the morning). Bouncing from station to station can trigger your fuel trim tables to reprogram. I know (empirically) that changing stations on the MMH results in a 5-10% hit in FE on the first tank and progressively less each tank after for about 3 tanks. I almost never see more than a 3% delta in price from station to station.

Maybe the MMH is just breaking in or something, but its amazingly noticeable. Special thanks to Mark @ HHHC for pointing out the innards of how Ford does the Trim Table programming.

To run a test of your own, try 5 tanks at any station (same station & pump). You should see an improvement. Might want to wait for one or two tanks after the summer gas change just to keep it from effecting the test.

The change is more apparent when looking at the FCD tank totals here: http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/car/6251.html

11011011

Yep, I use GasBuddy too, and I update all Prices on stations I pass to and from work each day. Any little bit I can do to help, is worth it.

I use the site all the time I have plans to travel anywhere, but I don't bother with at all when it comes to filling up locally. It's almost like collusion, as far as prices throughout the town in which I live...very rare to see one station in the area with a different price from all of the others.

Following Dan's comment, I'd suggest this: Find a station that consistently has some of the lowest prices, and then start using that one exclusively. Best of both worlds.

I've see a 15-20 cent difference across town here.

Following Dan's comment, I'd suggest this: Find a station that consistently has some of the lowest prices, and then start using that one exclusively. Best of both worlds.

I've see a 15-20 cent difference across town here.Exactly what I do. On my way home for a few months (before I got my prius) I ranked each station I passed. I couldn't stomach burning extra gas to drive "to" the gas station instead of stopping as I drive "by" it. Well the Walmart (with WM card) was consistently one of the 3 cheapest (of the 10 I pass), and more often than not, the cheapest of the bunch.

I started the same pump trick just to avoid fill level variance in my tanks. After Mark clued me in, I took over fueling duties of my Wifes MMH. I was fairly astonished at just how much of a difference it makes. It takes 2-3 tanks to see it, but it's defiantly there. I've petitioned MetroMPG to get it on his 100+ Hypermiler Tip List.

11011011

At better than 50 mpg, I don't need to find the cheapest gasoline. I will avoid the very highest stations, usually situated along the Interstate.

Harry

gasbuddy.com


what I do is use gasbuddy to scope out the least expensive gas along my normal route - since I only fill up every 10 -14 days - it is fairly easy to plan ahead, I usually save 5 - 10 cents a gallon.

I also use it to find stations selling high detergent gasoline (shell, etc) at low prices

I also have searched and said 'oh I'll be over in that neighborhood on saturday, I'll wait to fill up there'

I use Illinois Gas Prices. (http://illinoisgasprices.com/)

I use Illinois Gas Prices. (http://illinoisgasprices.com/)

Yeah that's GasBuddy, just a different domain name.