Optimum curve to get best AA smart fuel discount?

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Batman

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#159746 11-Dec-2014 11:06

Let's say full tank on my car is just over $120. What is the most economical way to save up big on AA smart fuel:

1) pump 2 $40 at BP (you are allowed to use the pump twice before needing to pay at counter) and save up the discount
2) pump 3 $40 at BP on empty tank (will need to visit counter twice, might cause hold up) and save it all for the next empty tank
3) pump 2 $40 at BP, and repeat next time, to save 4 discounts and then go in next time on empty

Frankly I haven't bothered because I'm afraid of being frowned upon ... so ... do people do that?

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#1195498 11-Dec-2014 11:27

At $2/litre, 60L tank...

one pump, 60L, 4c discount: $117.60
Total: $117.60

first pump, 20L, no discount: $40
second pump 40L, 8c discount: $78.60
Total: $116.80

first pump, 20L, no discount: $40
second pump, 20L, no discount: $40
third pump 20L, 12c discount: $37.60
Total: $117.60

So you save a dollar by splitting into two transactions. The problem with fuel discounts is 4c/L just isn't very much. You're better shopping at a supermarket which gives you a better per litre discount and using their endorsed petrol station.

saeran

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#1195501 11-Dec-2014 11:35

When I went down to the BP (Lower Hutt) this week, it was $2.08 for 98 (no discount). At Pak N Save Fuel (also no discount) it was $2.01.

I've consistently noticed this big price difference between them, so I've stopped using AA Smartfuel.

MikeB4

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#1195504 11-Dec-2014 11:36

The discount is minimal, I kinda think you could save more by driving habits, keeping tyres correctly inflated, not using the car a storage and being miserly with the Air con etc etc

rendezvous

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#1195509 11-Dec-2014 11:41

Just remember it's to a maximum of 50L per discount too, so if you fill up more than 50L in one go, the additional fuel isn't discounted. I was using the AA smart fuel for a while with BP 98 octane, but it's just not worth it. When the 91 price came down, often the 98 price did not change. Down the road at Gull the 98 is significantly cheaper. It's a little less efficient in my car compared with BP, but the extra burn still works out cheaper than using BP.

Bung

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#1195521 11-Dec-2014 12:23

AA & BP seem to be doing regular 8c "Thirsty Thursdays" so if you do use them that's the day to do it.

rendezvous

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#1195524 11-Dec-2014 12:26

BP is 6cpl standard now, and 8cpl today.

CYaBro

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#1195525 11-Dec-2014 12:27

BP are doing 6c AA discounts now, same as Caltex, and for today they are doing 8c.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

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dickytim

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#1195530 11-Dec-2014 12:34

joker97: Let's say full tank on my car is just over $120. What is the most economical way to save up big on AA smart fuel:

1) pump 2 $40 at BP (you are allowed to use the pump twice before needing to pay at counter) and save up the discount
2) pump 3 $40 at BP on empty tank (will need to visit counter twice, might cause hold up) and save it all for the next empty tank
3) pump 2 $40 at BP, and repeat next time, to save 4 discounts and then go in next time on empty

Frankly I haven't bothered because I'm afraid of being frowned upon ... so ... do people do that?

2 points here.

1, Go to Gull its cheaper.

2, My time is worth more than the <$1.00 you'd save mucking around.

I tend to fill my car to the brim each visit, usually this is over 70 litres but going to a petrol station more than once a week annoys me.

That said filling up $40 at a time until your maximum discount value is reached or the discount is about the expire. That only works IF you don't have to go out of your way to fuel up.

Sidestep

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#1195531 11-Dec-2014 12:38

AA are emailing out "exclusive" Smartfuel offers until 25 Jan at BP:

10c/l off if you buy $100 total, 9c/l - $70, 8c/l - $60, 7c/l - $50.

Don't know what the criteria is to get the email, my wife and I both got one.

*max 50l per purchase.

heylinb4nz

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#1195532 11-Dec-2014 12:40

I usually take advantage of Repco 40 cents off deals, cars are always gonna need oil, filters, cleaning stuff etc. I run both cars to empty then take both into the station (opposite same pump), usually on a thirsty Thursday.

48 cents per litre on a 50L tank and a 30L tank = 80L * .48 = $38.40 savings

Batman

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#1195538 11-Dec-2014 12:55

ok ... will save my time for something else then thanks for the maths wizzes.

I need 98 fuel so BP is what I need. didn't know pak n sav did 98 fuel?

putting Gull's tweaked fuel will make my car explode (I think?)

dickytim

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#1195540 11-Dec-2014 13:06

joker97: ok ... will save my time for something else then thanks for the maths wizzes.

I need 98 fuel so BP is what I need. didn't know pak n sav did 98 fuel?

putting Gull's tweaked fuel will make my car explode (I think?)

Actually the Gull is the second best (and not by much) 98, most cars can easily run on 10% ethanol blend, even my 2001 Commodore.

I actually found it seems to run slightly better on the Gull (there is a Porsche Carrera S driver that would agree with that too) and since BP don't discount their 98 Gull is significantly cheaper at $2.04 a litre or as low as $2.00 at some places.

Theoretically because of the ethanol content you burn more per km, but unless it is over 10% more then you are still winning.

Next tune I am likely to change the tune to optimise the Gull 98 and get the most bang!

heylinb4nz

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#1195546 11-Dec-2014 13:11

dickytim:
joker97: ok ... will save my time for something else then thanks for the maths wizzes.

I need 98 fuel so BP is what I need. didn't know pak n sav did 98 fuel?

putting Gull's tweaked fuel will make my car explode (I think?)

Actually the Gull is the second best (and not by much) 98, most cars can easily run on 10% ethanol blend, even my 2001 Commodore.

I actually found it seems to run slightly better on the Gull (there is a Porsche Carrera S driver that would agree with that too) and since BP don't discount their 98 Gull is significantly cheaper at $2.04 a litre or as low as $2.00 at some places.

Theoretically because of the ethanol content you burn more per km, but unless it is over 10% more then you are still winning.

Next tune I am likely to change the tune to optimise the Gull 98 and get the most bang!

When we had our Subaru tuned the options were

Be great to run a Link G4 and have the dual fuel maps and option to run both.

geoffwnz

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#1195559 11-Dec-2014 13:37

The trick to maximising the relatively insignificant discounts is to accumulate on the minimum spend of $40 and use the discounts on a maximum 50 litre fill.
I don't go to the full extent of filling only $40 but I do accumulate on the smaller tank daily driver corolla (45 litre tank running 91) and spend the accumulated discounts on the larger tank race car (60 litre tank but I rarely run it empty) that runs 98.
Given I fill the daily driver more than the race car, I will generally have more than one discount available.
Remembering of course that you're only getting $1-$2 discount per tank with the 4c/l savings. Not huge on a per tank basis but you might save maybe $50-$100 per year if you are lucky.

MotorDrive Rallying

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#1195560 11-Dec-2014 13:38

hmm where I live only "certain" BPs do 98 fuel ... at least we have 98! so the north island guys get it lucky eh

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