Petrol Company Rip Offs

[aiki]

Beware BP doesn't post its high octane prices and unless you check the pump you won't know you are paying another 5-6cents ontop of the 95 octane price. I understand Mobil charges a similar price for its 98 octane. It's OK if they tell us openly but I'm damned if i am going to ride in to a station to read the price on the pump.
I suggest to the bikers out there if you can don't buy from stations that don't post their high octane prices for all to see as they ride by. We are paying a hell of a lot extra without realizing it.
I like the way Shell puts both prices on view and Caltex stations are often good at it too.
If they don't show it don't buy it.

[Gremlin]

I'm guessing that's 95 and 98??

For mobil, and perhaps BP too, it depends on the station, some mobils have 95, some have 98.

For me, the biggest is pre-pay... you don't trust me, I don't trust you.... meh, I need 95+, so I fill when I need, so closest place for me...

[Back Fire]

For me, the biggest is pre-pay... you don't trust me, I don't trust you....

GOD DAMN!! I HATE PRE PAY!!! "how much do you need?".... BLARDY PISSED IF I KNOW!! I HAVE A 17 L TANK!!!....

bloody bitch workin out how much gas ya need... $15... $20... $25? always end with to to less cause you dont wanna risk to much.... damn useless idea... all cool in a cage where you can jam $40 in and know your not gunna fill it but have enough....

[Titanium]

Just give them more money ..... they do give change you know.....

[Gremlin]

Just give them more money ..... they do give change you know.....

fuck that, I use eftpos, and hate change. I never have any coins or notes, and the only time I will ever have, is when I need for Kerrie or something, who doesn't have eftpos. Excess is always used for next fill, difference paid by eftpos.

For Pre-Pay if I really have to use it, in a rush or something, I get around that by walking in, chucking my little wallet with eftpos card inside on the counter, saying so, and walking out again. It means you don't have to pay before. Issues have occurred where they don't refund the excess for a while.

[Ixion]

I loathe prepay like a loathsome thing. It's a pain in a car, but at least in a car you can just get $x. if it's not full it's not such a pain . But it's still a pain cos I like to know ow many kilowazzits I have to go before I need to refill.

But on bikes, what with the stupid senseless pitiful small tanks that the manufacturers fit (that's another rant, don't get me started), it's insufferable.

How do I know exactly how much? And I absolutely DO want it completly full. I've little enough as it is , without leaving 3 or 4 litres out. ESPECIALLY if I'm filling up because this is the last servo for miles. If I'm actually on reserve/light, I can estimate to within 2 or 3 litres. But if I've not reached reserve I've no idea.

The ARGUMENTS I've had about this. If it's round town, I'll just leave if they're obdurate, go somewhere else.

I don't mind leaving my helmet on the counter while I fill up (so I can't just ride off), but I'm not leaving wallet/credit card for them to explore.

[Ixion]

Just give them more money ..... they do give change you know.....

That doesn't work. They want to punch in $x ($20, $30, whatever). And if you say $30 or something that's certain to be enough, and they punch that in, then it doesn't all fit in the tank, they won't refund the extra money. Claim that once it's punched in they can't refund it. Even if you paid in cash, let alone the near impossibility of doing a credit card reversal for the difference.

We hatez prepay we does. hatez hatez hatez.

[Jantar]

I'm with Ixion on this. I have only used pre-pay once, and never again if there is an alternative within riding distance.

If there is no alternative then I have a plan. I will pre-pay $5.00, fill this amount, then go back and pre-pay $1.00, fill this amount, then go back and prepay $1.00 etc etc... Eventually I will fill the tank without overpaying.

[Gremlin]

I don't mind leaving my helmet on the counter while I fill up (so I can't just ride off), but I'm not leaving wallet/credit card for them to explore.

You take your helmet off?? Never do... anyway, besides the point...

I have a riding wallet, license, eftpos and some contact cards, my dad's, Mt Eden, that sorta thing, nothing for them to browse

[Quartida]

Beware BP doesn't post its high octane prices and unless you check the pump you won't know you are paying another 5-6cents ontop of the 85 octane price.

Does it not seem obvious that the higher octane would be more costly?

They always specify what type - be it 91, 95, 96 or 98 - on the signs. If they don't have the higher octane on there, I simply assume that it's about 5 - 6 cents more. It seems to me to be common sense. I don't see them as trying to "rip you off". Most motorists must be aware that higher octane means higher prices.

[Quartida]

I need 95+, so I fill when I need, so closest place for me...

OK, I'm SUCH a girl about these things, so can you explain to me WHY one would need 95+? Is is just because it performs better or, at least, performs as it should? Or is there something darker and more sinister about using the "wrong" octane petrol?

I have never been able to get a straight answer for this question as people laugh at me for not understanding how it works. And so now I still don't know, but I'm going to bite the bullet. I shan't be able to hear your laughter, fortunately.

[ZeroIndex]

What I do, is work out which places in Hamilton have prepay, and which don't.. i only use the ones that don't do prepay.. (like countdown.. until they close)

[Jantar]

OK, I'm SUCH a girl about these things, so can you explain to me WHY one would need 95+? Is is just because it performs better or, at least, performs as it should? Or is there something darker and more sinister about using the "wrong" octane petrol?

I have never been able to get a straight answer for this question as people laugh at me for not understanding how it works. And so now I still don't know, but I'm going to bite the bullet. I shan't be able to hear your laughter, fortunately.

High performance engines often need a higher octane. It all depends on the compression ratio, the engine revs, ignition timing etc. a ZX7R is one of those engines that will perform better on a higher octane, whereas a GF250 will be quite happy on 91.

[Ixion]

OK, I'm SUCH a girl about these things, so can you explain to me WHY one would need 95+? Is is just because it performs better or, at least, performs as it should? Or is there something darker and more sinister about using the "wrong" octane petrol?

I have never been able to get a straight answer for this question as people laugh at me for not understanding how it works. And so now I still don't know, but I'm going to bite the bullet. I shan't be able to hear your laughter, fortunately.

Some engines are more highly tuned than others. That is, some engines are built to give more horsepower, for the same size engine, than others. Highly tuned engines often (not always) need a higher octance fuel. If the fuel octane rating is too low for the tune of the engine, the fuel may "explode" too soon, damaging the engine.

But if the engine is not so highly tuned as to need the extra octaneage, using higher octane fuel won't do anything. Higher octane isn't "more powerful". It just allows you to run a higher tuned engine safely.

It's more complicated than that, but that's the simple version.

[vtec]

OK, I'm SUCH a girl about these things, so can you explain to me WHY one would need 95+? Is is just because it performs better or, at least, performs as it should? Or is there something darker and more sinister about using the "wrong" octane petrol?

I have never been able to get a straight answer for this question as people laugh at me for not understanding how it works. And so now I still don't know, but I'm going to bite the bullet. I shan't be able to hear your laughter, fortunately.

Well, in all honesty, it just depends what your vehicle was designed and tuned for. My suggestion for road use is to use the cheapest octane that your car/bike has specified. I actually run 91 octane in my CBR250 race bike, cause it was designed to run on it, and it actually runs best on it. If I use higher octane, it is more likely to foul the plugs, cause it effectively "gives it more gas".

Also I was thinking about the lack of high octane pricing the other day. They never post the price. Pisses me off, because we all know it's just about marketing deception. Wankers.