Mythbusters: Gas

[phillipyang]

Myth or True?

Gas Pumping into tank

Overhearing someone's conversation at the gas station. They said filling up during a gas station refill (in gas) will lead to higher amounts of particles in the tank to be in circulation and be pumped into the vehicle.

Any truth?

In my Opinion: Not true

[abmobil]

Ive heard that frm quite a few people. They say alot of crap settles at the botoms of the gas tanks.

[fklentz]

Yea, sure. And those magnets you stick on the fuel line really do polarize the hydrocarbon molecules to give you a 50% boost in fuel economy and power boost!

[PHOEBISIS]

I would guess it is true,but not important.The gas in the storage tank certainly will get stirred up,and there certainly will be some particulates in the bottom of the storage tank.Will it matter?Nah.There are probably at least 2 filters those particles would have to make it thru to cause any problems.
1)A filter on the outflow of the storage tank(or maybe on each pump)
2)The inline filter we must have(every other vehicle I have had,has had an inline filter).
Any particles that make it thru will be so small it won't matter.Thanks,Charlie

[Pugsly]

Originally Posted by phillipyang

Myth or True?

Gas Pumping into tank

Overhearing someone's conversation at the gas station. They said filling up during a gas station refill (in gas) will lead to higher amounts of particles in the tank to be in circulation and be pumped into the vehicle.

Any truth?

In my Opinion: Not true

100% TRUE (though it takes many times of doing this to clog the filters in thetruck)

i had a 79 elcomino stall on me on the tollway because of a cloged filter, and it stasllled 5 miles after filling up at a gas station that was receiving a shippment.

i doubt that was the single culprit but it contributed too it, it'll likely take 5-10 or more times filling up at a station that has a new shipment before you run into problems, but you will start accumulating and clogging the filter up.

I always avoid gas stations now getting a new shipmment in. Just paranoid now

[Hatchman]

I would say it is true. Gas filters get clogged up, gas tanks get dirty, this dirt must have come from the gas you put in there. Therefore, the gas at the tanks must have some dirt in them, which usually settles to the bottom.

I just cleaned out my two gas cans that I take to the the track with me. Both of them had some "crap" settle in the bottom of them. I never leave them open, so no way dirt/dust could have blown into them. I never dump the last of the gas from the cans into the motorcycles, always leave about a half a gallon or so, then just refill it in a few weeks with 4 more gallons of fresh gas ontop of the 2-3 week old half gallon of gas. After a few years of this, there was lots of crap collected in the bottom of the cans, could only have come from the gas stations' tanks. So if there is crap in the bottom of their tanks, and they are getting filled, and swirling around the dirt, then it's more likely to get in YOUR tank.

In other words, there's plenty of gas stations out there, I'll go to one that the tanks are getting filled. No use risking it.

[caltitan]

I've seen many underground storage tanks in my line of work and they do have some dirt and particles that have settled on the bottom of the tank. I've never heard any tank installation/removal contractor discuss whether a fuel drop (tank refill) actually causes enough turbulence to suspend those particles enough where they suddenly are pumped out and into the product lines heading toward an active dispenser. But knowing what I know about how these tanks work I think it could be possible. However, it would depend on the type and age of the fuel delivery system and quality of gasoline that the station uses. California has some of the toughest tank construction and operation regulations so it is very difficult for sediment or debris to enter the tanks now then in past years.

[phillipyang]

Originally Posted by caltitan

I've seen many underground storage tanks in my line of work and they do have some dirt and particles that have settled on the bottom of the tank. I've never heard any tank installation/removal contractor discuss whether a fuel drop (tank refill) actually causes enough turbulence to suspend those particles enough where they suddenly are pumped out and into the product lines heading toward an active dispenser. But knowing what I know about how these tanks work I think it could be possible. However, it would depend on the type and age of the fuel delivery system and quality of gasoline that the station uses. California has some of the toughest tank construction and operation regulations so it is very difficult for sediment or debris to enter the tanks now then in past years.

Nicely said! I salute you

[OnebadSE]

Sediment shouldn't be an issue if the pumps are properly filtered(which they have to be by law). I also heard the same "myth" but I always though it would stir up any WATER in the tank from improper tank care. All the filters in the world won't stop water. I still bypass a station if I see the tanker there.

[caltitan]

Yes, if the sediment gets stirred up and sucked into the pumps then the filters should trap most of it (a clogged dispenser filter would slow it's pumping rate down). And yes, I would worry about water too (and the microbes that live in the water and degrade the quality of the fuel), but if there is water in the storage tank, it can make it's way to your vehicle without need of any turbulence caused by a fuel drop. Water settles at the bottom of the storage tank (lighter than gasoline) and the pump is located near the bottom so that when the tank is low it can still pump fuel out of it. Generally, if you ever question the quality of fuel you may be getting at a station, do not return there for fuel.

[1Titan]

I always avoid gas stations now getting a new shipmment in. Just paranoid now aranoid:
Yup! The truck just left 5 minutes before you pulled in.

[igotatitan]

In Utah, each gas pump must have its own filter and be inspected and signed off monthly. I would think any sediment getting stirred up by a gas delivery would be caught at the pump filter.

[radiokid]

Thats how the gas station operators get the crap out of their tanks.

[keiffers]

That's why you should avoid stations such as WalMart/Sams (Murphy's I think), Racetrac, and grocery store pumps. They're gonna be obvious cause they buy substandard gasoline compared to the big name gas stations, thus more dirt or sediment. My SA told me that I should avoid all of those above and only use the big name stations (Exxon, Shell, Chevron). Gas is finally going down in price around here (saw $1.79 yesterday on the way home) so maybe now I can afford to put premium in once in awhile.

[ReadytoStrike]

My two cents as a former Major Oil Company engineer of 7 years:

Bulk petroleum is stored in Tank Farm terminals either through pipeline delivery or ship. Both delivery methods transfer alot of impurities into the Tank Farm tanks, which settle out most of the debris due to the static nature of these large tanks.

When the delivery truck fills up, the fuel is filtered and patented additive ingrediants (octane boosters and detergents) are added as the truck fills. Before the additives, the Walmart gas is in with the Exxon gas (most companies co-terminal now which uses the same Tank Farm Tanks but their own delivery trucks). Obviously this is not the same everywhere and some oil companies clean and use waste petroleum (usually contaminated with another fuel and then refined) which is definitely junk.

With all the stages of filtration, If the gas station has fairly new tanks, the chance of getting sediment during fuel delivery is almost nil, especially when you consider that the tanker "bottom" fills the tank to cut down on turbulence, and this area on the bottom would be almost sediment free after a few fills. I would definitely be more worried about water which happens all of the time.

If you get sediment, thats a clear sign that the stations fuel storage system is in really bad shape and you should never consider returning there. Probably really old tanks, or have had their tanks sprayed with a fiberglass lining which does deteriorate.

Stick with new stations and you wont have any problems. Sorry for the long ramble but this stuff never comes up at parties.