2008 was one of my last really long towing trip from Indiana to Grand Canyon (2009 was only about 3000 miles to Acadia NP in Maine and fuel prices were more reasonable)...~4500 miles...on that trip I had all kinds of issues with credit cards...first my credit card company "shut off" my card for possible fraud...I found that out in Texas pan handle...one call it was turned back on...I now call each time we leave to let them know it is me travling thru so many states and not someone who stole my card.

Next with fuel at $4/gallon...ALL fill ups were easily over the gas stations self imposed "shut offs" at the pumps...so I found $75 and $100 shutoffs...in the end it was easier to simply go INSIDE and GIVE them my card, pump and then go back and pay...almost all the stations asked "how much"?...and I always told them $160...they only charged you what you used and they had my card but they still wanted to know "how much"...

The HIGHEST fuel I found that trip was outside of Amarillo TX in a little middle of the way station...I was pumping and there was a guy next to me pumping diesel...I said "what gives don't you guys pump it out of the ground here?"...to which he replied...no this station is crazy...only pump what you need until you get to the Flying J just east of Amarillo and the fuel will be $0.40 per gallon cheaper...and it was...

 

Because the card needs to be pre-authorized for an amount. It then "holds" that amount and when you're finished pumping, it releases the hold and the actual amount is put through. Sometimes though, it can take hours for the hold to be released.

Stewart

 

This is very true. However, whatever "alternatives" that do emerge to market will definitely have an oil company name on it!

Oil companies have always slowed/eliminated others from bringing new tech to market. 100MPG on gas has been around for a long time. Remember the super carburetor?

I just wish I had easy (and willing) access to waste oil from Mc Donalds or other fast food places - turns out you have to be approved and permitted to p/u old waste oil. Then I'd make my own bio.

...in the end its all about control...

 

Control is right. Control the fuel and food supplies and the populace has no choice but to follow.