BajaNomad - The Actual Cost of Gas in BCS

The Actual Cost of Gas in BCS

CaboRon - 3-5-2009 at 05:06 PM

This was posted in the BWO .... there was no byline ....

Actual Cost Of Gas At Your Local Pemex - I decided to check to see how accurate the gas pump meters were at various Pemex stations around the area. These stations are all franchises and independently run. What got my interest is the 2 Polanco sattions (one in La Paz and one at La Ventanas) which advertise "Litros Completos" as something special. To check I have used a plastic gas can that weighs 2 1/2 lbs and I buy exactly 20 liters. According to Wikapedia the gas should weigh right around 33 lbs, so 35 1/2 lbs should be about full measure. I tried 5 different stations in La Paz and all were within 1/2 lb of each other all were essentially providing honest measure. At the station just north or Dorians on the west side which provided the most of any, the owner came out to see what I was doing. He sent on of his staff who arrived with a carefully calibrated 1 liter test tube and the implication is every Pemex owns one of these to verify that they are delivering full measure (or not). The station at the north end of Los Barilles was also accurate. The small station at San Antonio was 6% under. The Ejido station just north of TS is 5% under. The Pescadero north pump is 10% under. Averaging 2 pumps at the TS in town station works out to 16% under. If the in town station sells 10,000 liters per day (200 of 50 liter fills) that amountos to US$820.00 per day or $300,000.00 per year. Based on the same volume the Ejido station would realize US$90,000.00 per year. I ask that no one approach the stations as I wish for no trouble with demando's. This information is provided solely for your entertainment and in no way is meant to influence your purchasing practices.

BajaGringo - 3-5-2009 at 05:33 PM

Good report Ron. FYI - The weight measure is not always as accurate as the volume method and I will explain why. Gasoline is a mixture of several aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene, xylene, toluene, ethyl benzene and styrene. A fuel mixture may qualify to be sold as gasoline and actually have some different ratios (to a degree) of the before mentioned components. As each is a different chemical compound, they each have a different specific gravity or density. That may account for some weight difference. As far as I know gasoline pumps are calibrated on volume, not weight so you would probably be better off checking it with a 2 Liter graduated cylinder.

I am just full of all kinds of generally useless information...

Bajahowodd - 3-5-2009 at 05:35 PM

It has been going on since forever. Last summer, heading South, I stayed at the Snail Hotel in Guerrero Negro. As I was checking out, I asked to reaffirm the distance to Vizcaino, as I was running low. The clerk told me that I should go on to Vizcaino because the folks at the Pemex in town were crooks.

Bajahowodd - 3-5-2009 at 05:36 PM

And that, BG is what makes you so useful.

BajaGringo - 3-5-2009 at 05:53 PM

Tell that to my wife...

:lol:

shari - 3-5-2009 at 06:14 PM

when I lived in GN...there was one particular pump in the teeny weeny gas station on the way to the bank...where all the "in the know" locals got gas cause it was a real liter...the only pump in town that didnt jip or is it gyp??? ya.

David K - 3-5-2009 at 06:52 PM

For all newbies, Baja Cactus Pemex in El Rosario pumps true litres. Antonio's honesty and service to travelers is second to none.

If an employee mischarges you and doesn't give you correct chage, get his name off the tag or note the time, date and description. Now, this is a self serve station... but there are attendents who can help... as long as they are honest!

BajaWarrior - 3-5-2009 at 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
For all newbies, Baja Cactus Pemex in El Rosario pumps true litres. Antonio's honesty and service to travelers is second to none.

If an employee mischarges you and doesn't give you correct chage, get his name off the tag or note the time, date and description. Now, this is a self serve station... but there are attendents who can help... as long as they are honest!

Carefull David, you know you can never get a room there anymore because of your high recomendations, next, the gas lines will be too long to fill up at!! :spingrin:

Bwana_John - 3-6-2009 at 07:25 AM

Quote:

The weight measure is not always as accurate as the volume method

Dosent the volume of gasoline change with tempeture?

Many hydrocarbons have thier volume "normalized" to 70 degrees when dispensing.

I would presume mass would be better than volume as a way of quantifying "amount".

David K - 3-6-2009 at 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaWarrior

Quote:

Carefull David, you know you can never get a room there anymore because of your high recomendations, next, the gas lines will be too long to fill up at!! :spingrin:

You know Chuck, you have got a point! :light:

Don Alley - 3-6-2009 at 08:17 AM

In Loreto, you can get in line for gas at the Padre Kino Pemex, which gives full liters, or get instant service at either of the other in-town stations, which are both owned by a statewide chain.

The new one on the highway? Don't know.

KurtG - 3-6-2009 at 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
It has been going on since forever. Last summer, heading South, I stayed at the Snail Hotel in Guerrero Negro. As I was checking out, I asked to reaffirm the distance to Vizcaino, as I was running low. The clerk told me that I should go on to Vizcaino because the folks at the Pemex in town were crooks.

We bought gas in GN at the downtown station Sunday and the pump said 61 liters while the computer in the Explorer said we had used 46. At Baja Cactus in El Rosario the computer said 63.3 liters used and the pump shut off at 62 and after topping off was 63.8, obviously very accurate. The GN pump was worst I have encountered in years.

David K - 3-6-2009 at 10:04 AM

Thanks Kurt... that's amazing... your car computer is that accurate and/ or Baja Cactus was off only 0.5 litre (about 2 cups) on a 17 gallon fill up... and that was topped off... :biggrin:

Bajahowodd - 3-6-2009 at 11:48 AM

And, of course, with the wide variation in what are usually unfavorable exchange rates, don't even think of paying for Pemex with dollars.

David K - 3-6-2009 at 12:00 PM

The honest (most) Pemex stations post their exchange rate for all to see... then you decide!

If the bank rate is 14.50:1 and the Pemex is posting 12.50:1, then you will be paying an extra 'service charge' for the Pemex owner to do the banking for you.