According to comprehensive news from Worldway: In the United States, places like California, where public transportation is underdeveloped due to geographical reasons, driving is the preferred mode of travel. Therefore, understanding gas station basics in the United States has become an essential tip. Worldway's immigration experts introduce you to some basic knowledge about gas stations in the United States.
Gasoline in the United States is divided into three grades, and each gas station has slightly different names for these three types of fuel. The most common descriptions are:
Regular - Regular gasoline 87, equivalent to 90 in China.
Regular Plus - Premium gasoline 89, equivalent to 93 in China.
Premium/Supreme - Premium gasoline 91, equivalent to 97 in China.
However, since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued standards for the use of gasoline additives in 1995, many gasoline suppliers have reduced the additive levels in their products by nearly 50%. As a result, many domestic tourists feel that the driving experience and fuel consumption of similar vehicles using American gasoline are significantly better compared to those in China. Some gas stations also have diesel pumps, but not every gas station offers this. If needed, you can look for gas stations marked with "Diesel."
Worldway's immigration experts remind you that if you are not very familiar with California, it is best to choose a major chain brand gas station when refueling. Unless there are special circumstances, try to avoid small private gas stations. Taking Los Angeles, California as an example, the largest chain gas stations include Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, 76, Arco, Texaco, and Valero. The prices at each station may vary depending on their location; for example, Shell and Mobil may have slightly higher prices than 76 and Arco, but the fuel quality of these well-known brands is trustworthy.
The unit of measurement for gasoline prices in the United States is gallons, with 1 gallon = 3.785 liters. Gas prices vary from state to state, with average prices fluctuating between $3 and $4. States with higher living costs, such as California and New York, also tend to have higher gas prices. In California, you may have noticed that the highways are called "freeways." As the name suggests, most highways in California are free to use, and you will hardly see any toll booths. However, residents enjoy this benefit at the cost of relatively high gas prices, which indirectly pays for the infrastructure development costs.
In New York, highways are called "highways" and are accompanied by many tolls for bridges and roads. However, in return, the price of gasoline per gallon is lower than in California.
Worldway's immigration experts explain that typical gas station pumps have one nozzle and offer three or four types of fuel. Most are self-service, so you won't see attendants filling your tank as you do in China. The use of gas pumps is not complicated, and the main steps are as follows:
1. Payment: One way to pay is to insert your credit/debit card directly into the machine and enter the required information (PIN or U.S. ZIP code, primarily to prevent unauthorized use of your card). If you are using a Chinese credit card, it may not work, so you will need to use the second method, which is cash payment. You can go to the convenience store attached to the gas station, inform the cashier of the type or number of fuel you need, pay in cash, and then receive any change after refueling.
2. Select the type of gasoline you need. If you are renting a car temporarily, it is recommended to use the cheapest 87 octane.
3. Remove the fuel nozzle and start refueling.
4. After filling up, choose whether you need a receipt on the screen.
In addition to refueling, gas stations in the United States also offer many additional convenient services. For example, well-stocked convenience stores, fully equipped restrooms, car washes, and even free water filling or tire inflation equipment. These services alleviate many concerns during long road trips. In urban areas, gas stations are usually very visible, and on highways between cities, gas station signs are also very clear. Generally, signs will start appearing on the roadside about 5 miles before reaching the gas station.
Worldway Editor
