Does Gas Really Pump At Different Speeds? And Are You Paying More Based On Which You Pick?

In episode #3,791 of Things You Never Knew, gas pumps have different speed settings, and you might be using the wrong one.

One guy on TikTok swears that picking the right one will save you money in the long run.

In a viral video with nearly a million views, content creator @bori2funny shared one thing he always does at the gas station to get the most bang for his buck.

“I’m finna teach all y’all a life hack right now,” @bori2funny said.

In the video, he explained that when you put your nozzle to pump gas automatically (with those little metal notches that keep the pump in place), you shouldn’t put it on the highest or fastest setting.

He claimed that when it goes too fast, the gas can get foamy. (This is especially true with diesel, Redditors say.)

“You put it on the slowest one, you get nothing but liquid,” @bori2funny said.

“Telling you, try it out. I’m putting y’all on right now,” he concludes.

What we’re stuck on is the speed claim.

Yes, it does. Who woulda guessed it?

While most people think the little notches on the gas pump handles are just for letting the gas pour automatically, they’re more intentionally designed than you ever thought.

Though it’s not a universal design, many nozzles at the gas station have three different notches indicating the speed—slow, medium, and fast—at which the gas will flow out.

Wavy confirmed that it does.

It explained that pumping at higher speeds releases more vapors, so you might pay for more gas than you actually get, so it’s better to pump slower.

Absolutely. When it comes to saving money on gas, every detail counts. Here are a few tricks at the pump and maintenance tips to help every drop of fuel and every dollar stretch further at the gas station, according to Wavy.

• Time and temperature matter – Gas expands and contracts about 1% for every 15 degrees of temperature change. So it’s better to fill up when the gas is cool and contracted versus when it’s warm and expanded. This means filling up earlier in the day when tanks are cooler and avoiding getting gas on the day it’s delivered from the refinery, since it’s hotter than when it’s had time to sit in a tank for a while.
• Topping off doesn’t work – You might inadvertently be spending more to get less gas. When you try to keep pouring after the nozzle has stopped, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting more gas. Many nozzles are fitted to take up extra gas and cycle it back to the pump, so you may end up paying more without actually getting more gas. “Once the pump stops, put the nozzle back on the tank to ensure you only pay for what you receive,” Cardenas states.
• Tighten your gas cap – When gas expands, like when it’s hot, a portion turns into gas and vapors that escape into the air. A loose-fitting cap will allow more of those vapors to escape.
  Keep up your maintenance – Fill up your tires since low tire pressure decreases your gas mileage. Make sure your engine is performing properly and change your air filter, since a dirty filter causes more fuel burn (though newer cars adjust for this).

Commenters react

“I didn’t know there were speeds….,” the top comment with more than 50,000 likes read.

“Boy I thought you was finna tell us how to get gas for free,” a second person said, disappointed.

“Omg i feel gaslighted,” another joked.

“You’re not getting less gas at a higher setting — just getting it faster. If you want to be ultra-precise or reduce splashback, using a slower setting can help, but the difference is minimal,” a commenter argued.

Motor1 reached out to @bori2funny for comment via TikTok direct message and comment.