RVer sorts out confusion at the pump

You meet the most wonderful and interesting people along the RV road. A few weeks ago we found ourselves boondocking at the Prairie Village Museum in Rugby, ND. Parked next to us was Tom and Lesley Hesom from Winkler, Manitoba where according to Tom, "It is so flat there you can watch your dog run away for three days."
They immigrated from South Africa to Canada but have been avid RVers for many years. While living in South Africa they began RVing with a "caravan" (travel trailer) then went to a truck camper on a 4 x 4 for some rugged out-back adventures. They've RV'd in the heart of Africa where there weren't even roads.

Since immigrating to Canada they are enjoying their retired years with their kids and grandkids (who immigrated earlier) and they are also RVing whenever they get the chance. Tom told me this story about his experience with ethanol which could help some of our readers with older RVs. Here is his story in his own words:

"Bearing in mind that we emigrated from South Africa five years ago where there is no ethanol fuel; that to the best of my knowledge there are no ethanol blends in Canada yet: that our motorhome is of 1984 vintage with an old 350 cu in Chevy carburetor V8 engine that had never tasted ethanol before, we were completely ignorant about the confusing choices of fuel at US gas stations. "Regular" at 84 octane, and "Premium" at 91 octane, and sometimes a "mid-grade" at 87 octane, are available throughout Canada and both our RV and our 2004 SUV, and my various classic motorcycles, run quite happily on "Regular"Confusion reigned at our first gas filling in North Dakota where I was faced with the choice of no less than five choices of fuel! Obviously diesel was not an option so I plumbed for the cheapest option marked "E65, not realizing that "E" stood for ethanol, with disastrous results. On long hills and in the heat of the afternoons, it started to cut out and run intermittently; obvious symptoms of fuel starvation. I had changed the fuel filter in the carburetor body very recently and reasoned that it couldn't be that. After three tries at Auto Repair shops who were all too busy or "don't work on RV's", we found one who was prepared to take a look. On hearing the E65 ethanol story they changed the fuel filter again and fitted a new fuel pump. He had had the same problem many times before with older units where the ethanol has a scouring affect on fuel lines and pumps, loosening dirt etc and blocking passages previously unaffected by pure gasoline. He also explained that ethanol tended to vaporise more easily than gas in hot conditions thus causing fuel starvation. His advice was to use only Premium as that does not contain any ethanol. We took his advice and had no more trouble apart from a leaking front gas tank, presumably caused also by the cleansing/loosening affect of ethanol. Fortunately it has two tanks so we used only the good tank thereafter.

Moral of the story is to enquire about conditions properly before embarking on trips to other countries. Our circumstances were probably different from most Canadians who travel to the US frequently, but to us it turned out to be a real problem."

Promoting positive international RV relations - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer saves money for fuel by staying overnight for free at Lowe’s

As is frequently the case with RVers we were heading down the road with no idea where we were going to spend the night. We had reservations at another campground the next day but were not sure where we would wind-up in the interim. When I reached my quitting point we were in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. We pulled into a Lowe’s parking lot and I asked the customer service clerk if they allowed RVers to overnight in their parking lot. She wasn’t sure so she called the manager and he said no problem as long as we parked at the far end off to the side. We moved RV-1 to the far reaches on a nicely mowed grass median next to the Staples parking lot. We could have watched TV using our power inverter but there was nothing worth watching. Instead we enjoyed a couple games of scrabble and a refreshing nights sleep. In the morning after a hot shower I fired up the generator and made a fresh pot of coffee, ate breakfast and hit the road. By saving $25 on a camp space I was able to put another five gallons of diesel in the tank. Thank you Lowe’s for the kind use of your parking lot. You’ll be seeing more of my business in the future. Helping you stretch your fuel dollars - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers could see fuel at $8 a gallon in 2009

Next year RVers will be saying, "Remember when fuel was only $4 a gallon?" RV Now was well ahead of others in telling you diesel prices would shoot above $4 a gallon, but let's hope I'm way off in my current analysis.

My starting point is the question of why are Europeans currently paying fuel prices of $8 per gallon while we are around $4? The answer is not as simple or straightforward as you might think. Yes, they do have high fuel taxes (so do we) and they rely almost exclusively on imported oil. But this does not completely account for the prices they pay compared to us. So, if you're feeling badly about your fuel costs just think about how much your European neighbors across the pond are forking out. Some RVers have developed a fuel defense mechanism like my friend and fellow RVer Harley Mason who makes it a point to refuel his motorhome when the fuel gauge reads one-half empty because he can't stand the pain of paying for a full tank.

SO WHY DO I THINK we'll soon be paying $6 to $8 a gallon? There are four major reasons fuel prices will go through the gas station awning this year. First is the 40 percent devaluation of the U.S. dollar this last year. When your dollar does not buy as much oil on the international market as it did the year before the price at the pump in the U.S.A. will increase. The U.S. economy is in trouble and the dollar will continue to decline until we see a recovery. The bottom line is a declining dollar means an increasing price at the pump.

The second reason for fuel price increases is a trend forecast. Today the price of crude oil is around $130 dollars a barrel. This represents a price up-trend of 96 percent for a 12 month period and a 165 percent up-trend for the past three years. The math is simple, if a gallon of fuel costs $4 dollars today and it goes up 96 percent a year, what will it be next year at this time? The result will be around $8 a gallon.

The third reason is the increasing demand for oil in emerging economies. China, India, and other countries are increasing their appetite for oil at an exponential rate. When more people come to the table for a bigger piece of the pie, the price of pie goes up.

The forth reason is the slowing production of current oil fields and the higher expenses of extraction of oil from declining fields. Basic economics tells us that if it costs more to produce a product, no matter what it is, the price goes up.

Finally, many people smarter than me, actually looking at the raw oil field data, are predicting a price increase of $150 to $200 dollars a barrel this year. What does this mean for RVers? It means you need to double your fuel budget. If you do this now it won't hurt as much when the time comes. If I'm wrong (and hopefully I am) you'll have more money to spend on something else. So you'll be ahead of the game either way.

Looking for more ways to pump fun into RVing - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

RVers Wonder Why Diesel Fuel Prices Are So High

RVers can blame the Chinese, Europe and Congress for higher diesel costs. Diesel engines have been around since their invention in 1892 by a German engineer named Rudolf Diesel. Highway use is 75% while off road use by agriculture, railroad, construction, military and marine craft account for only 25%.

A big part of the reason diesel prices have increased is because in 2006 fuel emission standards kicked in and instead of being 500 parts per million (ppm) sulfur content our legislators are requiring 80 ppm. A barrel of crude oil is now around $110 and out of that barrel we squeeze 7.8 gallons of diesel fuel and 19.4 gallons of gasoline. So why are diesel prices now higher than gasoline prices? “Worldwide demand for diesel fuel and other distillate fuel oils has been increasing steadily, with strong demand in China, Europe and the U.S. putting more pressure on the tight global refining capacity.” You can read more on this issue at the Government Bookshelf.

Another reason for the price difference is the Federal excise tax which is six cents a gallon higher than on gasoline (thank you Congress). In fact a full 20% of each dollar you pay for fuel is pure tax. Not to be outdone California tacks on another 7.25% tax on top of the Federal excise tax already in place and they still can’t seem to fix their roads. Biodiesel, mostly made from soybean oil, mixes 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) and helps lubricate your engine because when they produce the ultra low sulfur fuel it removes much of the lubricity. But don't be confused by biodiesel, because it will not reduce the price, in fact, it actually increases the costs of the refining process. This is not just a problem for RVers, it’s a problem for everyone because it drives up prices for everything (inflation) delivered by diesel powered trucks, trains and cargo ships.

Almost everything you buy has the increased price of diesel factored into the final cost. I think I will be writing my representatives in the Congress and Senate about this. The economy is already in a recession and these additional taxes on fuel don’t help. If the government really wanted to “kick start” the economy it would help by eliminating the fuel tax all together. If you value being able to drive or pull your RV around the country you may want to consider writing a few letters to your Congress person yourself. Helping you stay on the RV road - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

Hat tip to David Cole on the Country Coach Blog for this lead.

Flying J Restricts RV Fuel Discount

Flying J must be feeling the pinch at the pump because they have recently restricted the RV fuel discount. Previously you received a one cent discount at the pump for each gallon of fuel by using the loyalty card. As of the first of March you now must purchase food or merchandise in order to receive the discount and you don't get the discount until the following month. Funny, they were courting RVers this year at the FMCA rallies to get this "Free" loyalty card so we could save money - now it's a different story. It's in rule #6 which you can read at their website here Flying J. This is what it says, "RV Real Value monthly fuel discount level is determined by prior months restaurant and merchandise purchases (refer to RV Real Value discount schedule)." I don't know about the rest of you, but if I see a cheaper price at Pilot or TA or another truck stop - guess what? So much for loyalty! Keeping you informed and keeping money in your wallet - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

Hat tip to Mike Cebula at the Country Coach forum for the lead on this article.

Follow These Fuel Saving Tips All the Way to the Bank

RVers are feeling the pinch at the fuel pump these days and it doesn’t seem likely the pain will vanish anytime soon. So, for the prudent RVers out there I have a few fuel saving tips I’d like to pass on. There really isn’t much you can do in the area of aerodynamics because that decision has mostly been made for you in advance by the manufacturer. Computational Fluid Dynamics and wind tunnel testing prove a deflector shield can give meaningful fuel savings if it is close to the towed trailer (the closer the better). A big fuel saver is proper tire inflation which also improves steering, stopping, traction, and load carrying capability. Tire rolling resistance accounts for one-third of your RV fuel consumption so make sure your tires are properly inflated. Advanced technology such as a good tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and a good GPS will more than pay for themselves in fuel cost savings. Another fuel saving tip is to plan your trip through high traffic areas when traffic is less congested. Stop and go driving seriously eats into your fuel economy. Driver habits are another area where you can achieve fuel savings. Don’t drive with your foot on the brake pedal (enough said). Drum roll please…. Reduce your freeway speed and eliminate all non-essential stops. A general rule of thumb is that every one mile per hour over 50 cuts fuel mileage by 0.1 miles per gallon. Slow down a bit and enjoy the scenery more. Proper vehicle maintenance is also very important to overall fuel economy. Keeping your tires properly aligned, replacing air and fuel filters, servicing your transmission and changing your oil at manufacturer recommended intervals all contribute to your fuel efficiency. To prevent getting dirty fuel try to purchase fuel (especially diesel) from vendors that sell high volumes of fuel such as busy truck stops and high volume gas stations. If you have more ideas that will help us squeeze more mileage out of our dollars please click on the “comments” section below and tell us. Helping you get more bang for your buck - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Professor Salutes Fuel Truck Drivers

RVers see fuel tanker trucks on the road all the time. Most of us don't think much about it until one overturns and dumps a load into a stream or catches on fire. Dramatic events aside, tanker fuel trucks are the lifeblood of over the road truckers and RVers. We depend on them to have fuel when and where we need it. Watch this video and you'll gain a new appreciation for what these fuel carriers do for us:

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Future RVers May Use Salt Water Instead of Gas or Diesel to Power RVs

John Kanzius was not looking for an alternative fuel source, but was working on a cure for cancer. About four years ago he came up with the idea of using a radio frequency generator to kill cancer cells. Radio waves will heat certain metals like gold which can be injected into patients. These gold particles attach to the cancer cells which are then hit with radio waves, the gold heats up and kills the cancer cells without harming the healthy cells. As a byproduct of this research, John discovered that he could use his radio frequency generator to burn salt water. It is now possible to use common salt water to power motors. Who would have imagined. Check out this fascinating video clip:
Keeping you up to speed on new technology – Jim Twamley

Do You Know About RV Truck Stop Etiquette?

RVers often use truck stops for refueling because they are designed for large rigs and it seems that RVs are getting larger every year. Did you know that there is a proper way to use a truck stop refueling station? When you are finished filling up your tank/s and washing your windows, you are supposed to pull forward enough to allow the truck or RV behind you to pull in and begin refueling. Once you pull forward you can go into the truck stop store pick up a soda and pay the cashier for the $200.00 worth of fuel you just pumped. This simple courtesy will go a long way in helping with RV/Trucker relations. Jim

Full Timer Secrets For Using Flying J Truck Stops

When refueling a large RV rig at Flying J truck stops you don’t have to use the RV lane. Why? Because it’s frequently too difficult to navigate large rigs into the RV lanes and it’s faster to just use the truck fueling lanes. I sometimes use the RV lane if it's empty and the truck lanes are full, but I prefer the truck lanes because it's so much easier. Once you’re done refueling pull forward far enough to allow the truck or RV behind you to have access to the fueling station and then go in to pay your bill. I recommend applying for the free Flying J RV Real Value Member card. This is not a credit card, but it gives you a one cent per gallon discount and you will pay the cash price listed on the sign when you use this card in conjunction with your credit card when fueling. RV Club You can also leave it with the desk clerk instead of your credit card. This card also saves you 5 cents per gallon of LP gas and can be used on other products and services as well. (Note: this program is not available in New Jersey or Wisconson) For those of you using the truck side, Flying J will no longer accept Visa cards on the truck refueling side because Visa is trying to tell them how to run their truck refueling operations and Flying J executives don’t appreciate that. You may still use Visa on the auto and RV side of the business. Here is another nice thing about Flying J (and other major refueling centers as well) you can use the internet to look ahead at the states you are passing through and get the latest up-to-date diesel prices for every Flying J in every state. Diesel Prices This could save you a bundle! One final secret, you can talk to the staff at the register with your CB on channel 1 (when it’s working). Jim

Keeping Bad Gas Out Of Your System

According to an article in Tennessean.com, about 8% of the gas retailers in the state of Tennessee sell tainted gas. “Inspectors uncovered 3.9 million gallons of the inferior fuel between July 2005 and June 2006, the most recent year on record.” If you buy bad gas, your engine will suffer as will your fuel economy. Six of the world's top automakers, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi have agreed that the EPA standards for fuel are not good enough and have established their own guidelines for gas. This new standard is called “Top Tier.” Gasoline retailers must meet a certain standard in order to be listed as a Top Tier fuel provider. Here are the retailers you can depend on for high quality gasoline that won’t foul your engine:
QuikTrip, Chevron, Conoco, Phillips, 76, Shell, Entec Stations, MFA Oil Company, Kwik Trip/Kwik Star, The Somerset Refinery, Inc., Chevron-Canada, Aloha Petroleum, Tri-Par Oil Company, Shell-Canada, Texaco, Petro-Canada, Sunoco-Canada. You can visit the Top Tier website here: Top Tier

Hat tip to Jim Gregory over on the Country Coach Yahoo Group for the heads-up on this fuel issue.