BAC Forum
General Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Edward Buker on July 29, 2015, 04:12:16 PM
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Anyone know of an RV convenient fuel stop along I5 between Tacoma and the Oregon border. Thinking I would get less biodiesel in the blend.
Thanks Ed
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Our favorite is Gee Cee's in Toledo at exit 57. They do charge a couple pennies more if you use a credit card, but it will still be competitive. We liked it because it was so close to the freeway, wide open and easy to get in and out of. Recently a Pacific Pride self serve was put in between Gee Cees's and the freeway. That's where I set my personal fueling record of 12 minutes starting from the off ramp to the on ramp!
On the south side of Olympia, in Tumwater is a Pilot/Flying J. We never used it. In the heart of the Tacoma tide flats (Fife) is a Love's. Avoid it. It is a traffic nightmare.
Some like the Safeway in Woodland because it seems to be a little cheaper. I tried it once and thought getting in and out was a PITA.
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I forgot to add that there is an Indian owned fuel stop next to the casino in Fife with diesel lanes. It is far easier to get in and out than the Love's a few blocks away. It tends to have the cheapest fuel in the region, if price is important.
(And just in case I've offended anyone, in Fife the Puyallup Tribe seems to prefer "Indian" over "Native American".)
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Bill fergot to menshun his fueling record was for 2 gallons ;D .
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Bill fergot to menshun his fueling record was for 2 gallons ;D .
That all our new motorcabin needs to go 100 miles!
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Bill I also use the casino for a EZ fuel, I do wish they had the larger hoses on the RV/Truck pumps. When we add 50-100 gallons its a little slow. I know that you will not be adding more the 20gallons but gee for us "Big Guys"
it really helps.
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Gee Cee's is easier on and off for SB. Flying J is over the freeway and left turns. Haven't used the others.
Mike
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Thanks for all the help here! I like the smaller nozzles, same issue as others with slow filling due to the fuel inlet not being designed to enter at the top of the tank.
So it is down to Gee Cee's or the Casino. Which is closer to I5 and easier in and out or are they both about the same? The other question, does anyone know if either of these fuel stops sell straight petroleum diesel or is it a Bio blend? If a Blend has it typically been B5, B10, B20? These are my tie breakers...
Thanks Ed
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I guess you could call Gee Cee's and ask them about their blends, Ed. 360-864-4300
-Joel
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Joel, Bill, and others,
Joel, I gave them a call....Gee Cee's being Texaco rarely gets a bioblended delivery and if they do it is at a B5 level blended into what is already in the feed tank. This looks like an "easy street" fuel stop, plenty of space, small nozzle diesel at the car lanes......Thanks again.
FYI I have found most Chevron and Exon stations in my travels are also using minimal Bio blend diesel if any. Not sure about states that might have some mandates. I still try and keep the Bio Blend level low when I can....
Later Ed
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Just curious...last year on our big trip to Washington and Oregon, we found that using the car/pickup truck lanes for diesel always resulted in a higher price. Is that still the same?
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In Oregon, the larger truck stops, like SpaceAge, Pilot, Flying J,... will post three diesel prices. The lowest price is for PUC plated trucks. The PUC price is about 30c cheaper than the non-PUC cash price to the public. The non-PUC credit price is about 5c higher than the cash price.
If you use the GasBuddy App or similar software on your cell phone, then many times the quoted price is the PUC price, not the non-PUC price. So, if you consult a cell phone App and see a diesel price that is relative too cheap, then you are likely seeing a PUC price. Also, some filling stations sell B20 and that locally is about 20c cheaper than the other stations' non-PUC cash price. But, B20 has less energy than a B0, so you are getting what you pay for.
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Stan,
I have not noticed that. What I have found is the lanes that cars and pick ups use, out front, typically have the same price cash or credit card for some of the major players like Exon and Chevron while at the Truck Lanes at the same stations have a credit card use increase cost per gallon. May be a volume of sales thing. Exxon in Missoula along I90, nice truck stop called the Town Pump was this way. There are those stations that play the cash credit price game at all the pumps mostly in the cities.
David that PUC price can be confusing for sure, thought I was getting a deal first time I ran across that :-) In general on this trip I have found Pilot, and Flying Js to be pumping 10-20% Biodiesel in a lot of states. At the same time Chevron, Exxon, and Texaco have been pumping minimal if any bioblends. Gee Cee's that was kindly pointed out to me as a good fuel stop, is a Texaco in southern WA and my next fuel stop after that will be a Chevron at exit 567 in Arbuckle Ca north of Sacramento which is also bio free. A Pilot not far from there is pumping B15. It is taking a little more effort but I am finding it pretty easy to avoid high % Bioblends by sticking with those major players.
Later Ed
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As mentioned in an earlier post, don't use the car lanes in AZ unless you want to risk a $1K fine. Vehicles over 26K lbs are charged an added tax. State started enforcing this since it has budget problems.
Steve
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Thanks for that info, Steve. We haven't done the Snowbird thing yet, but Lee has been wanting to. Good thing to know about the car lane restrictions. Though some we know do it annually, a few relatives that have tried couldn't handle the "desert flu" spores when the sand blows so with our allergies we have some reservations about wintering down there.
In Oregon, that 30 cent factor David mentioned is due to trucks (PUC registered) paying that amount in tax separately. Other vehicles like ours have the tax built in to the price. As an advocate of Pioneer Fuel (Pacific Pride), I'm always ready to recommend that option for ease of access and such, but Gee Cee's sounds like a great place to go too, and they have a good rep for eats as well. Seems like they were in the CFN network if you belong to that. Fortunately for us, when the time comes, there seems plenty of Pacific Pride's in Arizona, so the lane restriction regs won't likely be a concern for us.
-Joel
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A little update on Gee Cee's fuel stop today. The front section with gas and diesel pumps with small nozzles has poor access with a fence and cement barriers for parking, great for cars and small rigs but not our RV. The truck fill area has great access but no small nozzles. Had the cramped hand hold it on thing going. Price is good but you cannot use a credit card at the pump so a couple of long hikes, leave your card, go back and pay after fueling up. I would use it again but not as convenient as one would like. Still probably the best of the bunch in this area...
Later Ed
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.... Had the cramped hand hold it on thing going.
Ed,
Get a scrap of 1/4 plywood. Cut it to the size of a playing card and then cut diagonal from one corner to the other. Now you have two wedges to insert into the fuel handle. Insert one parallel to the hose at the end of the squeeze handle. You can run big nozzle truck pumps at about half the first notch. It will still click off. If you run both sides, the $$$ still spins like a slot machine.
I did not invent this. When Washington state went to self serve gas stations a couple decades ago the gas stations were required to remove the locking device. Some entrepreneur made a plastic wedge that would fit in your wallet with credit cards. It, and other things like it, worked so well people would still start the pump and go get their soda, chips or hot dog while the pump was running. Somebody must have figured out that the homemade devices were not as safe as the real ones and put them back.
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Ed,
I tried Bill's idea and couldn't get it to hold the pump on, so I notched the wedge at approximately 1/4 inch increments and now I don't have to hold it. I only have problems at some Pilot stations as now and again they won't shut-off automatically. I have learned to listen to know about when to shut the fuel off on my own.
Roy
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Roy and Bill,
I rarely get stuck with the big nozzle pumps but both of these approaches are good ideas. I have a wood shop so it would be easy to make something that would work. Roy, if you get a chance, post a photo of your device, seems this is over due for me given that Flying Js, which I have used a lot due to the RV lanes, are now pushing B15 to B20 in many locations. I do not like that level of biodiesel sitting in my tank in the off season so I avoid them now.
Roy, is 1/4 inch fine enough or if you could build it over, in some of the most useful step area would you use a couple of 1/8th inch steps to enable higher flow or is this fine at 1/4 inch?
Later Ed
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If this topic had come up a few weeks ago I would have kept my wedges and sent them to you. The new owner of the Monterey is going find them resting in the red fuel cap holders and wonder what they are!
I didn't find Roy's steps necessary. They might be if you insert from the side. I shoved mine in from the back end, under the hose itself. Steps were not needed. I made these along time ago. As I recall, after the first effort, I trimmed off a chunk of the pointy end of the triangle. That left a slope making for an infinite adjustment of the flow rate below the handle's first notch. The metal at the tail end of the lever and the handle frame seemed to be rough enough that it never slipped. It could be that if Roy is using putting his in from the side it relies on the area of the lever that is polished smooth with truckers hands and gloves.
I can sketch a drawing, take a photo and post it if my description is not enough!
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Bill,
Good post and explanation. I was thinking the side of the handle for the wedge and that might very well slip. I get the design now and coming in from the rear sounds like a plan given it worked without slipping and might accommodate a wider wedge ....good idea. Where yours 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch thick stock? When I get home I will make something up and modify as needed.
Later Ed
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1/4 inch. The slot in the back of the handle is not very wide.