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HarryinNM

Jan 26, 2012, 3:02 PM

Post #1 of 13 (1034 views)

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How to buy gas

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A Native Mexican tells us, "don't buy gas by the Peso, buy it by the liter." She claims that you get more gas for your money this way.
She says that if you ask for $400MX, you will get less per Peso than if you order in multiples of 20 liters.
Is this some quirk in Pemex meters, or a myth?

YucaLandia

Jan 26, 2012, 3:37 PM

Post #2 of 13 (1022 views)

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Re: [HarryinNM] How to buy gas

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Since fuel pumps are calibrated by filling a standard sized container - often a 20 liter container - if the pump has been set up to cheat by tweaking the chips' firmware, then it will measure correctly at 20 liter increments to fool any auditors.

This was a common scam in the past with some California US chains, where they would short change the customers for non-5 gallon increments of gasoline, because the standardized test containers used to check pump performance were made in 5 gal increments.

Maybe this scam is what she is referring to ? or reefer-ing to ?
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morgaine7

Jan 26, 2012, 4:06 PM

Post #3 of 13 (1011 views)

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Re: [HarryinNM] How to buy gas

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Then there's "buy gas in the morning before it gets hot and expands".

Somebody on another forum did an actual test of liters vs. pesos, and the quantities came out identical. Still, the arguments went on page after page. I suppose anyone who's determined to scam will figure out a way to do it.

Personally, I buy in even 100-peso amounts because I hate dealing with change. A banknote and a coin for tip is plenty complicated for me.

Kate

fug

Jan 26, 2012, 4:29 PM

Post #4 of 13 (1004 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] How to buy gas

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I only buy gas in the mornings as the sun does expand the propane as much as 10 to 15% in my experience. I also buy by pesos, as do you. Five hundred at a time and 20 peso tip for driver and helper to be shared. fug

morgaine7

Jan 26, 2012, 4:43 PM

Post #5 of 13 (993 views)

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Re: [fug] How to buy gas

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Fug, the OP mentioned Pemex, so I think he's referring to the gasoline kind of gas rather than the propane kind of gas. Gasoline supposedly doesn't expand much if stored in underground tanks. (Disclaimer: I'm neither a physicist nor play one on TV)

Kate

HarryinNM

Jan 26, 2012, 5:26 PM

Post #6 of 13 (979 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] How to buy gas

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That explanation is sooooo appreciated, Kate.

Frankly, I hesitated to post the question thinking I'd get laughed noff the forum.

Thanks, All.

fug

Jan 26, 2012, 5:37 PM

Post #7 of 13 (971 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] How to buy gas

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Oops. How in the hell can I delete that?? Think it is too late Enjoy your laughter at my expense. I am. fug

cbviajero

Jan 26, 2012, 6:24 PM

Post #8 of 13 (960 views)

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Re: [HarryinNM] How to buy gas

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Litros de a litro as they say here,it's hit and miss when your on the road,but in Guadalajara where I live when you see alot of taxis filling up at a station thats an indication that they aren't shorting you on the liters Imo.
Chris

joaquinx

Jan 26, 2012, 6:38 PM

Post #9 of 13 (957 views)

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Re: [cbviajero] How to buy gas

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In Reply To

I believe that goes without saying in any part of Mexico. There is one station here that before 2 pm (when the taxi shift changes) there is a line of taxis out of the station and half-way down the block.

michoacan

Jan 27, 2012, 2:13 PM

Post #10 of 13 (852 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] How to buy gas

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Station on Mex 37 between Patzcuaro and Morelia (The one that had hung HONEST GAS PUMPS banners around the canopy). My gas gauge was a needle's width from empty.

Pulled in and asked for 500 pesos worth of Magna which at the time equaled more liters than the tank held when empty. Eduardo, Maria and Flacca started complaining "No!" The dispenser took all 500 pesos. I paid then turned the key; the gauge went up to 2/3rds of a tank. I called the attendant back and had him put in 20 more liters. it clicked off at 17.

My friends howled with laughter and I learned a valuable lesson.

To those of you that would argue --- please don't change your way to purchase gasolina. If all motorists avoided the peso ordering pitfall, crooked stations would graduate to something different and it would be expensive for me to re-learn how to avoid the new scam.

(This post was edited by michoacan on Jan 27, 2012, 2:16 PM)

Papirex

Jan 27, 2012, 6:31 PM

Post #11 of 13 (803 views)

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Re: [michoacan] How to buy gas

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Be alert. After you are satisfied with the honesty of any stations, try to buy all of your gas at the same place(s). I always ask for lleno Pronounced like (gzenno), fill it with Magna or Premium. After a while you will instinctively know if the price is about right.

I always write the amounts down in a notebook, so I can calculate my fuel economy too. When the attendant sees you writing down the amount of liters delivered, that probably keeps them more honest too.

There is a service station near our house, it is the first station as you enter Cuernavaca on Highway 95 from México City. One day my late wife mentioned that she could always drive further on the gas she bought at Sam's Club. Than the gas she bought on the highway.

I told her to never buy gas on the highway anymore. About that time, there was an article in the paper that only businesses that were approved as gasoline retailers by the Federal Government could legally sell gas. Any other business like Sam's Club. Costco, or Wal-Mart that also sold gasoline had to have a signed contract with a gasoline retailer to operate a gas station on their premises.

I think that Sam's Club must have a very good contract with their gas retailer. We always get excellent service, and apparently an honest measure there. I always try to buy all of my gas at Sam's Club, or Wall-mart now.

I believe that most stations are honest, but you never know. Tampering with the meters on the pumps does happen. The federal Government used to have a website, listing all of the stations that had been found in violation of federal statutes. The main problem with it was that it did not reveal what the violations were, or when they occurred. There was only one station here in Cuernavaca listed. That site disappeared several years ago.

If in doubt, try buying elsewhere. If the same attendant waits on me, I usually TIP them at least $10 Pesos.

Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

chicois8

Jan 27, 2012, 8:03 PM

Post #12 of 13 (780 views)

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Re: [Papirex] How to buy gas

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I visit a lot of gas stations in Mexico, as I arrive around the back of the car to tell the attendant what I want they usually say lleno and they pronounce to my ears like "yea-no" never heard anything like gzenno.

One other thing is I do not tip gas station attendants for doing their job, I do tip 5 pesos if they do the windows.....

mexliving

Jan 27, 2012, 9:19 PM

Post #13 of 13 (767 views)

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Re: [chicois8] How to buy gas

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check your local pemex via profeco web site.....
http://webapps.profeco.gob.mx/verificacion/gasolina/

a green light means no problems...... yellow ????? red ???? big problem