Probably nothing. I guess it’s possible if you kept switching back and forth between pumping a gallon of premium and a gallon of regular on different pumps to try to steal a few dollars of higher grade, they can use it to give you a ticket, but I’m pretty sure they won’t really care if you were just topping off a tank of gas with 3 gallons before a road trip.
I honestly don’t know what one does if one runs out of gas down the road from a gas station and doesn’t want to call AAA or similar. I assume that gas stations must keep a jerrycan or similar around that they’ll let someone take with a deposit.
I definitely wouldn’t want to be lugging more gallons by hand than would be necessary to get my car to the gas station.
You’d be amazed how many people learn the hard way that they first need to head to a separate store to buy a gas container, then head to the gas station. Most places could care less about keeping a container on premises because it is both a rare situation these days, and storage is at a premium in most stores. If you saw the back room or manager’s office, you would see the floor-to-ceiling stacks of inventory (usually drinks or tobacco products).
So, I don’t know what the deal is with E15 – what’s unusual there is the ethanol content – but insofar as high-octane blends go, and if that’s the factor here…I mean, while I realize that there’s a certain contingent of people who buy them because they think that they’re just better for their car, and for all I know that may dominate the actual market, in theory you’re supposed to only use high-octane fuels in cars with engines that require it.
Generally higher octane works fine in most cars but high performance engines not configured to handle either type may knock with lower octane fuel (due to premature ignition with the higher compression ratio), and will generally put out (slightly) less power regardless due to timing adjustments the engine will make to accommodate the change.
Putting premium in a regular car that isn’t designed with higher compression ratios in mind is really just a waste of money.
As it’s a federal regulation, it would need to be the feds pursuing it. It’s highly unlikely they’d come after the individual. They would be more likely to pursue the gas station.
Around here stations have a purpose-built plastic bag that seals after filling up and fits in the car’s fuel intake. It holds a few gallons, but I’m not sure how many.
Thanks for the explanation! I wonder what they would do if they caught someone dispensing only 3 gallons.
Federal law states the punishment is a bare bottom spanking.
😳
FTFY
I’m sorry officer. Looks like I only bought 3 gallons. I guess you’ll have to…punish…me.
Probably nothing. I guess it’s possible if you kept switching back and forth between pumping a gallon of premium and a gallon of regular on different pumps to try to steal a few dollars of higher grade, they can use it to give you a ticket, but I’m pretty sure they won’t really care if you were just topping off a tank of gas with 3 gallons before a road trip.
I honestly don’t know what one does if one runs out of gas down the road from a gas station and doesn’t want to call AAA or similar. I assume that gas stations must keep a jerrycan or similar around that they’ll let someone take with a deposit.
I definitely wouldn’t want to be lugging more gallons by hand than would be necessary to get my car to the gas station.
You’d be amazed how many people learn the hard way that they first need to head to a separate store to buy a gas container, then head to the gas station. Most places could care less about keeping a container on premises because it is both a rare situation these days, and storage is at a premium in most stores. If you saw the back room or manager’s office, you would see the floor-to-ceiling stacks of inventory (usually drinks or tobacco products).
Most gas stations will sell small gas cans for exactly this reason
Most expensive gas can on the planet ofc.
Presumably, you buy a grade other than the E15 that doesn’t have the “minimum 4 gallons” restriction.
So, I don’t know what the deal is with E15 – what’s unusual there is the ethanol content – but insofar as high-octane blends go, and if that’s the factor here…I mean, while I realize that there’s a certain contingent of people who buy them because they think that they’re just better for their car, and for all I know that may dominate the actual market, in theory you’re supposed to only use high-octane fuels in cars with engines that require it.
I guess they’d probably function without it, but…
Generally higher octane works fine in most cars but high performance engines not configured to handle either type may knock with lower octane fuel (due to premature ignition with the higher compression ratio), and will generally put out (slightly) less power regardless due to timing adjustments the engine will make to accommodate the change.
Putting premium in a regular car that isn’t designed with higher compression ratios in mind is really just a waste of money.
As it’s a federal regulation, it would need to be the feds pursuing it. It’s highly unlikely they’d come after the individual. They would be more likely to pursue the gas station.
I’m guessing it’s more of a “if you don’t get the minimum, they’re not responsible for variation from the rated mix”.
Around here stations have a purpose-built plastic bag that seals after filling up and fits in the car’s fuel intake. It holds a few gallons, but I’m not sure how many.
It couldn’t possibly be illegal as 2/2.5 gallon gas cans are extremely common.
straight to federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison