How many hours do you have to work...

[Zen]

...to fill your gas tank?
http://gas2.org/2008/06/27/how-many-hours-do-you-have-to-work-to-fill-your-gas-tank/

[Thorn]

I like the idea of putting gas prices into terms people can understand (although, I have problems with rated vs. actual mpg, but, I digress...).

Where I work, many of us telecommute a few days/week to save on driving. One of my coworkers was having trouble connecting her computer to the network at the office. So did I. She could have continued to work disconnected. As did I.

But, instead she drove into the office to see what the trouble was (yes, we have sysadmins that handle that and, no, she's not in management--oh, and the phone system is driven by the network so it was down). But, she gets into the office and learns that the thunderstorms caused a power outage and the office lost power. So, she drives back home.

She didn't think anything of it. When I mentioned that probably cost her $10 to investigate (it was a 50 mile round trip and she drives a larger sedan), only then did she think that maybe it wasn't worth it.

I think that if people could start putting the numbers into ways that make sense to them, perhaps we'd see more people finding other ways to get around--or at least batching car trips.

[jesvetmed]

Interesting website, Zen!

1.75 hr for me. Not bad... about 12% of my typical day. Also, I only work 12 to 15 days a month (long hours when I do go), so I get away with more that way -- fewer trips into work = less trips to fill up in overall.

I still get 33 miles to the gallon in my old Camry (1996, with 218,000 miles on it). She's still going strong, and I'll drive her till she can't drive no more. :p Then I will look into the latest in gas savers (likely another camry, but hybrid... i LOVE this car!).

If they would just find a way for me to work on the pets online -- I could just stay home!!!! I like that!
Jes

[kelownagirl]

We only have one vehicle and we ride our bikes more often. It's unpractical to commute full time here but I wish we could.

[maillotpois]

At first it said zero hours - but I realized I had my annual salary listed as an hourly wage. If only!!! :D

I have to work about an hour. I am trying to work at home more these days. That will help for sure.

[Zen]

I have to work about an hour.

I need a better job :o
A much, much, better job :( :(

[cyclinnewbie]

I have to work 2.29 hours. Either I need a new car (Honda Odessy) or I'm paying WAY too much for gas...

I only fill up every two weeks, though, since I got a job closer to home. Only have a 20 minute commute compared to a 1 hour to 1.5 hour commute. THANK GOD!!!

[Flur]

1 hour, but we have a smaller tank. We don't drive to work (both of us take the bus), we only have 1 car and most weeks we just top it off. We only really drive on the weekends, and we get decent gas mileage.

[maillotpois]

I really thought the car comparison was helpful.

I'm liking that Honda Fit more and more. And a rear rack doesn't affect MPG as much as roof rack.... :cool:

[sundial]

I need a better job :o
A much, much, better job :( :(

You need to move to Arkansas. Tuck and I can vouch for better cost of living. :)

[KnottedYet]

I'm looking at about 3 hrs to fill my Subi. I'm buying about 1 1/2 tanks a month.

So, about 4 1/2 hrs a month to feed my car engine.

A case of Clif Bloks costs me a bit less than 1 hr. When I'm biking a lot I go through about 2 cases of Bloks a month.

So, about 2 hrs a month to feed my bike engine.

Hmmmm... bike wins! :D

(does this mean I can buy some more bikes? Like, oh, say a recumbent tandem and an Xtra-cycle and a mixte and a pedicab and...)

[smurfalicious]

Oh wow, I am so eternally grateful for my bus pass and my bike. I was just talking to my friend last night over tacos at Illegal Pete's and I realized taking the bus is the only reason I have any money right now. 6.6 hours to fill my hungry hungry pickup. That's damn near the first day of every week effectively volunteering for big oil. No thanks!

[snapdragen]

1.8 hours to fill my Forester. I've been driving like a grandma lately, to see how far I can stretch a tank of gas.

[maillotpois]

I've been doing some grandma driving as well.

Does overfilling your tires really improve mileage? Any down side? I just had to get new rear tires. Wondering if I should put some extra air in all of them...

[Trek420]

1.8 hours to fill my Forester. I've been driving like a grandma lately, to see how far I can stretch a tank of gas.

1.82 to fill my Olds Alero. But I'd rather work for a Brooks :D:D I've been driving less, riding more, obeying the speed limit.

I already drive like a grandma :rolleyes:

[KnottedYet]

I already drive like a grandma :rolleyes:

No comment.

[dex]

About 40 minutes for me to fill the Miata. Between the bikes, my feet, and my bus pass, I go 3-4 weeks between fillups. Not bad.

[divingbiker]

53 minutes. I drive fewer than 400 miles/month, so gas is not a major expense for me.

[berkeley]

I really thought the car comparison was helpful.

I'm liking that Honda Fit more and more. And a rear rack doesn't affect MPG as much as roof rack.... :cool:

We just bought a new Fit. I love it. :cool:

[KnottedYet]

There was one keeping pace with my bus for a while yesterday. They really are very cute cars! And (from the bus window, at least) look mighty roomy inside.

[7rider]

1.2 hours.
But I don't drive it much. It comes out on the weekend (or, this past couple of weeks, it spent sitting at the airport). Unfortunately, those weekend trips can sometimes be long....like to the airport or to my family's place or hauling bikes/kayaks/hay around the state.

[solobiker]

About 2hours, and I have to fill up every week. My commute is 40 miles round trip on very busy and high speed roads...65-75. I keep my speed down to about 60. I can get away with the decreased speed because I go in pretty early (5am) so there is not much traffic out.

[Geonz]

What gas tank :) Reckon if I rent...

[smurfalicious]

Does overfilling your tires really improve mileage? Any down side? I just had to get new rear tires. Wondering if I should put some extra air in all of them...

No no nooooo! Most of my friend's back in Oregon were "Schwabies" who worked at Les Schwab Tires, big huge west coast tire retailer. Anyway, keep them at the recommended PSI and make sure you maintain it. Over inflating is asking for trouble, and it will cause the tires to wear all messed up. I dunno what passenger tires run, but my truck is $200 a tire. No small change to maybe save on gas.

[DrBee]

1.26 hours for my old CR-V. I'm trading it in for a new FIT this fall! Good to see lots of good things about FITs!