Tips for refueling your car most efficiently.

With gasoline prices currently at record highs, many drivers are feeling the pinch every time they take their cars to the gas station. Although gas stations sell at the listed price and follow standardized measurement procedures, experienced drivers believe that choosing the right location and method of purchasing fuel is crucial to avoid being taken advantage of.

When refueling, you need some experience to get the best deal. (Illustrative image)

Here are some tips to help you buy gasoline at the best price.belchFirst and foremost, avoid being ripped off by gas stations:

Choose a reputable gas station.

When you need to refuel, choose familiar, reputable, and well-established gas stations. These locations usually have guaranteed fuel quality, standardized (or minimally inaccurate) measurement systems, a clear refueling process, and clearly displayed prices on LED or LCD screens on the pumps for easy viewing.

When you have to refuel on unfamiliar routes, experienced drivers advise choosing gas stations with a high volume of trucks and taxis. Taxi and truck drivers travel these routes frequently, so they have more experience in selecting suitable gas stations.

It's best to fill up your gas tank early in the morning.

Gasoline is in liquid form, so it expands significantly depending on the outside temperature. Experienced drivers suggest that refueling at lower temperatures, such as at night or early morning, is more advantageous than refueling during hot times like midday or afternoon.

It's also not advisable to refuel while the tanker is pumping gasoline into the gas station's storage tanks. This is when the pressure inside the tanks increases, causing the gasoline to expand and evaporate. As a result, you'll inadvertently end up paying extra for gasoline vapor.

You should fill your tank according to the capacity of the fuel, and avoid filling it completely.

Gasoline prices are often odd, so many people buy gasoline in round amounts like 500,000 or 1,000,000 VND for convenience. However, this method facilitates fraudulent practices by gas station employees, as the "theft" programs on gas pumps are often programmed based on the amount of money spent.

To avoid being overcharged when refueling, users should buy fuel in bulk, such as 10 liters, 20 liters, etc., depending on the size of their vehicle's fuel tank. This ensures the pumps dispense the correct amount of fuel in liters, as these volumes are regularly inspected and are almost perfectly accurate.

Furthermore, professional drivers advise against shouting "fill up" when buying gasoline because, for safety reasons, fuel pumps always have a mechanism to draw fuel back through the pump nozzle to prevent spillage. However, the fuel has already passed the meter, and the buyer still has to pay for the fuel that was drawn back.

Experienced drivers advise calculating the amount of gasoline needed to buy the correct capacity, avoiding overfilling the tank, as this can lead to wasted money and put extra weight on the vehicle, resulting in higher fuel consumption.

It's important to choose a suitable position to both observe the readings on the pump and keep an eye on the attendant while buying gasoline. (Photo: Petrolimex)

Do not purchase gasoline when two people are operating the system; please reset to "0".

At some gas stations, to speed up sales, they arrange for two people to operate simultaneously: one holding the pump nozzle and the other manning the meter. However, this method of selling gasoline is very easy to cheat because the person pulling the trigger can easily shut off the fuel supply, and if you're not paying attention, you'll be easily cheated.

Furthermore, some gas stations employ a "shortcut" method of selling fuel, meaning that when a customer goes to pump, the meter doesn't reset to zero. This is also prohibited under fuel business regulations because it can lead to fraud due to the inherent error in calculating the price difference between two pumping sessions. Therefore, it's crucial to immediately raise concerns if a gas station employs such methods to avoid potential risks.

Pay close attention and avoid doing other things while refueling.

When refueling, you should also pay close attention to the staff's actions and the price display on the gas pump instead of being distracted by other things. By observing, you can detect any suspicious behavior from the gas station attendant and determine if the fuel meter is showing the correct amount or if the numbers are jumping.

Some gas stations have a trick: they intentionally extend the fuel pump hose far away or out of sight to make it difficult for customers to see the meter. This allows you to move your car closer and choose a suitable position to observe. When gas station attendants see that you are paying attention, they are less likely to try any fraudulent tactics.

In addition to the tips above, experienced drivers also offer some noteworthy advice such as: Always tighten the fuel cap and park in a shady spot to prevent fuel from evaporating; using the same type of fuel helps the engine run more efficiently. Consumers have every right to boycott gas stations that exhibit fraudulent or deceptive practices and to warn others.