Tank 272 - 24 March 2K11

I refueled last Thursday but didn't calculate the mileage until just today. I know, and I'm sorry.

So I had gone 442.7 miles and added 11.890 gallons at this Valero station near Massaponax, VA. My gas tank is 13.2 gallons large, so I had less than 1.5 gallons left. Some people say this is bad, because the gas in the tank helps cool the fuel pump, and also helps prevent air bubbles from getting sucked into the fuel lines. But since I have never had to replace a fuel pump, and also have never noticed air bubbles making themselves known in my motoring, I choose to disbelieve these points as made up fake-oids designed to frighten us.

Fuel economy for the tank - 37.23 mpg.

Strangely, even though people are FREAKING OUT! at the SUPER-HIGH GAS PRICES!, I paid the same price per gallon as I did eight days ago - $3.459 per gallon.

Last year at this time I had spent $270.66 on gasoline, and this year it's $358.80, or about $8.80 more per tank of gasoline. Seeing on how I have been refueling about every nine days, this is an increase of much less than ten dollars a week.

But the way people are FREAKING OUT! At the SUPER-HIGH GAS PRICES!, you'd think it was made out of distilled gold and platinum vapors or something.

Tank 271 - 16 March 2K11

So I refueled yesterday afternoon on my way home, stopping by the legendary Wawa on Route 3 - the one by exit 130B, not the one by exit 130A. Managed to go 435.7 miles and filled up with 11.334 gallons. This made for a mileage number of 38.44 miles per gallon, best since last October.

I stopped at this Wawa the day before to take advantage of the FREE AIR for my tires. The rear tires were low-like 20 psi- and I pumped them back up to 40.

Yes, a bike pump "could work," but my cheap car's tire valve stems are wicked short and I can't attach the tire pump to them! However, I have used the bike pump on the minivan, with its luxurious long valve stems...

I have spent $317.67 on 9 tanks of gas this year. Last year, I had spent $237.04 on 8 tanks of gas. It was fewer tanks because of all the days off I got from "blizzard mania '10." People are starting to freak out about gas prices. I am happy for this because these whining crybabies are finally starting to drive more steadily and this lets me get home faster.

I hope these whining gas-hog crybabies also realize that they can get home faster when they drive slower and more steady as well. Probably they won't because they're selfish and too busy talking on their cell phones and texting while they drive home.

And although Google forbids me from asking you to ple@se cl1ck on my spons0red ads, those of you who make a point to do so I offer my heartfelt thanks.

INFOGRAPHIC

Tank 270 - 8 March 2K11

I refueled early this morning at "the world's slowest gas pumps" of the Valero near my home. I added 11.493 gallons of gas after driving 434.9 miles, making for a fuel economy of 37.83 miles per gallon.

Gas was 23 cents more per gallon today than 8 days ago when I last refueled. This made my "cost per mile" go up from 8.4 cents a mile to 9.0 cents a mile.

THE HORROR! IT'S GONNA BE THE POORHOUSE FOR ME NOW FOR SURE!

People are freaking out about gas prices going up. I am happy for it because last time gas got "high like this," I noticed more people left their large SUVs at home and drove smaller commuter cars. Not only that, it appeared they drove more reasonably.

And you know what? When more people drive more reasonably (like closer to the speed limit and not weaving and darting across lanes and slamming on the brakes), we all get home faster.

I know this, because I have four years of data tracking my travel time home, as well as gas price information during this stretch of time. I graphed it and one could interpret the chart as showing a relationsahip between high gas prices and faster trip times to go home (for me).

Please enjoy this picture of Calvin's dad that I attached to this emailed update.