You’ve probably heard the old trick: Pull up to a gas pump right after a fancy luxury car leaves, and you’ll get a little bit of the premium gas they left in the pump’s hose added to the 87-octane swill you’re buying. Suddenly, magically, you’ve got a little extra octane in your tank for free. … Read more
Photo: Brandon Bell (Getty Images) Rivalries between regional gas station chains, like Buc-ee’s in Texas or Sheetz and Wawa on the East Coast, reached a fever pitch in recent years. While regional pride played a factor in the rivalries that developed between brand fans, the drive to draw customers through their doors and make a … Read more
The small town of Cloquet, Minnesota (pop: 11,000) is home to the gorgeous R.W. Lindholm Service Station, the only gas station design by Frank Lloyd Wright. But this was not just a place for pumping gas. This little two-floor car-centric building was to be the social and cultural center of the architect’s vision of a … Read more
Buc-ee’s, Wawa, Sheetz — these are the legendary gas-and-go outfits that have gathered cult-like followings in their regions. They involve gas pumps and decent food–the perfect mix for both road trips and every day running around. Out here in Michigan however, we have no such temple to America’s twin gods of gasoline and food consumption. … Read more
Gas prices are displayed at a Chevron station on September 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaPhoto: Mario Tama (Getty Images) Have you ever looked at gas prices and wondered, “why is there a fraction on my gas price?” It’s a standard practice across the country, but it’s rarely explained. It turns out it stems from … Read more
If you’re like most of us here at Jalopnik, you’ve probably wondered why gas stations offer mid-grade gasoline when almost every automaker recommends either regular or premium fuel. As it turns out, very few cars are designed to use mid-grade gas, so it exists mostly to coax unknowing consumers into spending more on gas, and … Read more
February 29 is a weird day. It comes around once every four years, bringing with it questions about if we should be paid extra for the day, if it’s good or bad luck to get engaged on the sacred day and guesses as to whether fancy watches will keep up with the extra day. In … Read more
Getting bad gas from a gas station can be a nightmare. Best case, your car doesn’t run quite right, maybe you have to siphon it out. Worst case, you could end up with thousands of dollars in damage to your vehicle. This is the situation drivers in Atlanta, Georgia are currently dealing with. Atlanta’s WSB-TV … Read more
