Automobile Retailers

Can you blame drivers for choosing and 87 Octane fuel instead of the 92 Octane or something even high? It’s tough enough to pay the $4 a gallon (and even more in some places), but it’s even more difficult to pay another 20 cents or more per gallon on top of that.

For some car owners, using regular unleaded simply isn’t an option. Some cars require it in order to prevent damage to the engine. But some of them are using the cheaper grades anyway.

This is creating some chaos for gas station owners. With people using mostly regular unleaded, it’s difficult to predict how much mid-grade or premium gas to order. In some cases, they are even running out of the regular grade and they have to shut down some pumps until more fuel arrives.

One driver in Queens, New York drove to three different gas stations in his area before finding one with regular fuel. His car requires premium, but he says the savings are worth it even though he hears a “pinging” in his engine every once in awhile. “When premium hit $4.10 a gallon, I realized there was a sliding scale between performance and economizing,” he said. Many Americans are reflecting those sentiments as well.

With most new and certified pre-owned vehicles from your local Buick dealer, you can get by with using regular gasoline, too. Don’t let the high prices of premium fuel break your budget. Get a car that runs well on regular fuel instead of needing premium grades for ultimate performance.

Do you remember the days when you’d come home from a local Mercedes-Benz dealer with a brand new car and worry about someone stealing it? These days, that’s not as big of a problem. Instead, you have to worry about thieves stealing your fuel!

The worst part about this new phenomenon is that they are getting creative. They can’t do a “pump and run” anymore. This is where they fill up their car at the gas station and drive away without paying. Stations are requiring drivers to pay for their fuel before they start pumping. That’s why they’re finding other ways.

One of the most common ways thieves are stealing your gas is by siphoning it out of your tank and into a container. They usually do this at night or in places where there aren’t too many people around. You can combat this by putting a locking gas cap on your car so they can’t get into your tank.

Gas thieves are also targeting truck stops and places where truckers typically pull over for an extended period of time. Since diesel is even more expensive than normal fuel, trucks are vulnerable targets for gas thieves lately.

If you’re worried about getting your fuel stolen, there are only so many steps you can take to prevent it. Try to park your vehicle in well-lit areas where it won’t be alone. If you have a garage, park your car or truck inside when you’re not driving it. A car alarm may also be a great way to scare off would-be fuel thieves. Just use some common sense and you can make your car less of a target for hoodlums like this.