Flying J Isn't Always The Best Price

[RJOL]

I've been watching the price of diesel and gasoline at our local Flying J, near Tacoma, WA. Usually they have the best price by at least 10 cents a gallon, over the local stations. During this last run up in prices, Flying J has actually been close to 10 cents a gallon more then my local ARCO. This has been going on for weeks. Don't know the reason, but it pays to check around...

 

[JApol]

The Flying J in Ruther Glen, VA has lost my business. I gave the pump attendant my card to turn on the pump. When I flipped the handle it started at $. 03. I told the attendant and he picked up my card and swipped it

When I asked why he swipped it he said you pumped it you pay for it. :-{} ensued. When I got done g/f and tendant :-{} then manager, tendant, me and g/f :-{} I left before the cops came.

 

[steved]

I won't fuel at a Flying J... I got over a gallon of water from the one in Spiceland, IN... when I called them about it, they were like "ohhh, ok", I was like "hey, I bought fuel not water... "



I used to buy 90% of my fuel from them in my travels... now I use anyone else...



steved

 

[CSwitzer]

I have had the worst luck with flying j fuel, Lake Station, IN and Houston, TX. Two other places you can by water and not fuel. And i wondered why they were . 25 cents cheaper than everyone else.



04. 5 Ram3500 SRW/4. 10/FASS 95/AFE Stg2/ATS Arc Intake/Edge Juice w/EZ Stack/4inch Straight/BD X-Monitor/18. 5MPG

 

[steved]

I used to buy fuel there because of the cheap price... but the old addage is correct, you get what you pay for...

steved

 

[DAN V]

pacific pride

I have been getting my fuel at Pacific Pride for at least 3 years now. I like it very much. Even though it is card lock I still save money every time because it is usually 10 to 20 cents per gallon cheaper than the regular gas stations around town. I have never paid over $550 per month for my fuel.

 

[KcoleKennyc]

Been buying fuel at Flying J for 8 years and 375K miles. Never any problems with the fuel and never any water. Just came by a Flying J south of Montgomery, Al. and they were 14 cents cheaper than the competition.

 

[Grizzly]

Around Albuquerque the cheapest are Flying J and Loves. I don't use either one because I get less mileage with them. I know, diesel is diesel and they are the same. Wrong, when I hand calculate I get 2 or 3 MPG less.

 

[yogibear]

Been fueling at Flying J for over 12 yrs. , and 857K mi. , and have never had any fuel problems with them.



Larry

 

[CumminsPower98]

Probably about 99% of my fuel over the past two+ years and 236K miles has been Flying J's nationwide. I use Lake Station, IN all the time and never had a problem there. I did fuel in Fargo, ND once and near the west side of the state I had some kind of a freeze up as it was about zero out that day. I'm still unsure what happened. My fuel pressure kept dropping until I had to stop. I changed the fuel filter on the aux. tank as I had not treated the fuel and that didn't fix it but it would run fine on the OE tank. All I can figure is that I got a little water in Fargo or even before that some place and maybe it froze the aux. tank dip tube closed over time. After sitting for the weekend in Canada and never seeing above freezing temps I switched to the aux. tank and had no more problems. That one time is the only problem I have ever had so I still use them. I get free showers this way too so... I never have more than a few drops of water in the filters so it can't be that bad considering I have used thousands of gallons from all over the US, summer and winter.

I have had the worst luck with flying j fuel, Lake Station, IN and Houston, TX. Two other places you can by water and not fuel. And i wondered why they were . 25 cents cheaper than everyone else.

04. 5 Ram3500 SRW/4. 10/FASS 95/AFE Stg2/ATS Arc Intake/Edge Juice w/EZ Stack/4inch Straight/BD X-Monitor/18. 5MPG

 

[CSwitzer]

during my breakdowns, i talked with lots of truckers that used to use the flying J in lake station,but all said they would drive the extra 500 ft to the Road Ranger or a 1000ft to the T&A,to get fuel. Who would have known. But i know now.



04. 5 Ram3500 SRW/4. 10/FASS 95/AFE Stg2/ATS Arc Intake/Edge Juice w/EZ Stack/4inch Straight/BD X-Monitor/18. 5MPG

 

[RVTRKN]

Too bad this was posted now, I used only Flying J Diesel except in Kansas last week & half (April 5th thru April 13th) and I didn't have any issue's except in Limon Colorado where the web site said they had ULSD, which they didn't, and the place was a dump and smaller than most service stations here in So Cal, they didn't even have overhead covers over their pumps. I used only Flying J because they had ULSD through out the trip except in Kansas were I found ULSD with no problem. The other truck stops were OK, but if I would have known your opinions, I would of made other arrangements due to the new 6. 7 CTD, I would not have chanced it. That being said I will see if my MPG is different using local Diesel, but was satisfied with the MPG on the trip overall.



Look at pics and more info on the thread I started in the C&C Forum, I still need too post more info when I know the numbers.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I gladly use Flying J every chance I get, and carry their discount card - sure, there are bad apples in every barrel, but ALL the FJ's I have used have been neat, clean and good service - nor have I EVER had any issues with their fuel quality. Yeah, if you shop around, you MIGHT fine a cheaper price at some mom/pop or hole in the wall outfit - but probably will spend the price difference in the extra miles and time to locate them.

 

[Jeff Knight]

steved, That interesting we've got fuel there several times on our trips to CO. I've gotten my best fuel mileage from there station. Did you use the pumps for RV's or for the big trucks? I'll have to think about it on our next trip.



RVTRKN, We have stopped in Limon CO also. We were surprised as to how small it was. The rest rooms left a lot to be desired also. My stepson lives in Parachute CO. That would be exit 75 off of I70. Good luck with your new truck.



Jeff

 

[steved]

steved, That interesting we've got fuel there several times on our trips to CO. I've gotten my best fuel mileage from there station. Did you use the pumps for RV's or for the big trucks? I'll have to think about it on our next trip.

I used the RV side... but the diesel pumps are all interconnected... I asked them...



steved

 

[bmoeller]

I've been at the Spiceland "J" quite a few times. Never an issue.

I am curious though, as how soon after they filled their tanks, you filled? Could be you caught them during filling, or shortly after. That would stir up all sorts of crap in the tank. Water included.

The only place where I consistently was plugging fuel filters from, is right off of I-35, in New Virginia, Ia. Kum & Go. Took me a while to figure out which place I was getting the junk, but finally figured it out.

 

[steved]

I've been at the Spiceland "J" quite a few times. Never an issue.



I am curious though, as how soon after they filled their tanks, you filled? Could be you caught them during filling, or shortly after. That would stir up all sorts of crap in the tank. Water included.

Well, I had just came through after some horrendous storms... actually followed them out of New Mexico. But the tanks should be sealed from external water.



I drained almost a quart out of the FASS in their parking lot, then had to stop about every 10 miles to ensure it didn't fill the filter up... same deal each time, almost a quart. I did this for the next 100 miles with the amount slowly tapering off. It was around midnight, so there wasn't any refueling going on. I drained enough water from the separator that it concerned me whether water had passed into the fuel system.



This incident is the entire reason I installed a second fuel tank with a large water knockout. And their split pricing BS is the other reason I would never fuel at a flying J... since when should a truck get a $0. 10 cheaper rate than anyone else with a diesel...



steved

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

This incident is the entire reason I installed a second fuel tank with a large water knockout. And their split pricing BS is the other reason I would never fuel at a flying J... since when should a truck get a $0. 10 cheaper rate than anyone else with a diesel...

IF you're referring to the posted "PUC" lower pricing, that's related to the road taxes that commercial truckers pay differently than us "civilians" - and the price difference is usually more like 20 cents...

 

[steved]

No, you pull into some stations and the truck side is given a preferential discount.

Not only do we pay more for fuel, but we also get charged a fuel surcharge...

steved

 

[Nate]

I normally fill up at Pilot since that's the usually the cheapest in town and they sell a ****load of diesel.