Will a smart phone app cut pain at the pump?

With gasoline prices inching toward $4 per gallon, some people are turning to their smartphones to find a deal. 

There are plenty of places to find out cheap gas prices, including apps for smartphones and cruising the Internet. Patrick Dehaan is a petroleum analyst who says if you check on price before you pull up to the pump you can save money.

“Motorists can spot anywhere from 10 to 20 cents a gallon by looking at their smartphones, in Philadelphia I am looking at a Lukoil station that is charging $3.69 and literally less than two blocks away there is a station charging $3.53,” said Dehaan.

He says you have to try different apps and sites before picking a favorite.

“Pick whichever one has the most spotters, the most involvement and the most information,” he said.

Dehaan says it’s a challenge for websites to keep current since gas stations can change prices multiple times a day.