We all love nice, round numbers. For example, imagine this scenario: The cashier at the supermarket just finished ringing up your groceries. You look at the display. The checkout total reads $45.00 even. You’re happy, because whether you’re conscious of it or not, it’s so much more satisfying to see $45.00 than, say, $44.87—despite the fact that you’re paying 13 cents more. Now this reaction sorta makes sense if you’re paying cash, because it keeps the coins from piling up in your pants pocket. And yet I have to admit that I feel the same way when I pay with a debit card or credit card. In other words, the joy at seeing two zeros after a decimal point is completely irrational.
It’s also bad for your car.
Let’s say you’re at a gas station filling up (er, not BP). The pump clicks that your tank is full at $44.87. If you’re like most people, you’ll “top it off” so that you reach $45.00. What’s the harm? For one thing, the EPA warns that “the extra gas may evaporate into your vehicle’s vapor collection system. That system may become fouled and will not work properly causing your vehicle to run poorly and have high gas emissions.” The EPA also notes that it’s possible the excess fuel you’re trying to force into your tank won’t go there at all, but will instead evaporate and be sucked back into the pump. So this means that by topping off your tank, you’re either paying to make your car run poorly or giving the gas station your spare change.
Yeah, time to stop doing that.
Men's Health
It’s also bad for your car.
Let’s say you’re at a gas station filling up (er, not BP). The pump clicks that your tank is full at $44.87. If you’re like most people, you’ll “top it off” so that you reach $45.00. What’s the harm? For one thing, the EPA warns that “the extra gas may evaporate into your vehicle’s vapor collection system. That system may become fouled and will not work properly causing your vehicle to run poorly and have high gas emissions.” The EPA also notes that it’s possible the excess fuel you’re trying to force into your tank won’t go there at all, but will instead evaporate and be sucked back into the pump. So this means that by topping off your tank, you’re either paying to make your car run poorly or giving the gas station your spare change.
Yeah, time to stop doing that.
Men's Health