Gas Prices

[Rob]

$2.69 in Oakdale today... Cost me $30 to fill the Saturn Vue.   
At least the Vue is 20-25 MPG and not the 15-18 MPG I was getting in my old car... 

That's got to be one of the best prices in the country.

It cost me $36.50 to fill up a Mazda 3 the other day.

[Chris]

Was $56.00 to fill my Grand Cherokee.

[Jim]

Looks like I will be limiting myself more on travels.  Here were prices this moring:

$3.10 basic
$3.20 high grade
$3.30 ultra

I see $4.00 easily within a month.

[Scott]

$2.69 in Oakdale today... Cost me $30 to fill the Saturn Vue.   
At least the Vue is 20-25 MPG and not the 15-18 MPG I was getting in my old car... 

That's got to be one of the best prices in the country.

It cost me $36.50 to fill up a Mazda 3 the other day.

http://www.twincitiesgasprices.com/

It's not even the best price in the Twin Cities.  Those $2.63 stations is where I filled up on Friday night at $2.66

[Rob]

Here's a question.

I bought this cheapo gas treatment stuff for like $0.89 the other day and put it into my tank... This tank of gas is almost gone, and it looks like I got about 25-30 miles more than I usually do - or about 2 miles per gallon.

So, why don't they just add this crap to gas before we buy it?

Is there a legitimate scientific reason or is it bad for cars or is it just because they'd hate to sell less gas?

[JesseVader08]

If it's an octane booster it should boost your mileage because it causes more efficient burning of your gas.

Why don't they add it?  Good question.

[DualSaberMaster]

I believe a fuels octane rating is it's resistance for pre-ignition (pinging/detonation, marbles in a coffee can sound).  The higher the rating, the higher it's resistance for pre-ignition/engine damage.   It promotes a slower more efficient burn, as stated above.

Also octane booster in a can is a total waste of money.  It is extremely diluted, even moreso when added to a tank of regular gas.   It has very little benefits.


I think the reason it's not added more, is because the majority of cars are designed for the cheaper stuff, and the same old stand by oil answer "It's alot more expensive to produce".  Higher horsepower cars, and cars running increased timing need the premium stuff.

[Rob]

While it's hardly a Ferrari, the 160 HP 2.3 liter engine on the Mazda 3 is the fastest one I've ever owned - maybe it responds better to this type of stuff than my old Civic would.

[Diddly]

$2.80 for Regular around here.

[Nicklab]

Prices in NJ seem to have peaked and gone down slightly.  The lowest price I could find for regular unleaded last week was $2.79 a gallon.  Tonight I saw $2.77.

[ruiner]

Wow, that's a steal for NJ - we're at $2.79 in Iowa.

[Darth_Anton]

Question, kind of related. Are the problems the gas companies crying about any different than the problems that the steel companies were crying about back in the early 60's? Anyone remember? The steel companies were banding together and getting ready to raise rates due to supply issues until Kennedy stepped in and forced them to hold steady. Kennedy knew raising rates would kill the economy while the steel industry claimed they would go out of business. Well, the steel industry just had to take a profit hit, but they're still around.

[Dressel Rebel]

Wow, that's a steal for NJ - we're at $2.79 in Iowa.

Not really.  NJ doesn't have the taxes on gas that NY does, if you subtract the taxes from the NY price, the NJ price is actually a little higher than the $3.01/gallon it is here in my hood in NY.

[ruiner]

Oh, I see.

I just assumed all gas on the east (and west) coast were higher.

When you're from the potato state you often assume too much!

 

[Nicklab]

Question, kind of related. Are the problems the gas companies crying about any different than the problems that the steel companies were crying about back in the early 60's? Anyone remember? The steel companies were banding together and getting ready to raise rates due to supply issues until Kennedy stepped in and forced them to hold steady. Kennedy knew raising rates would kill the economy while the steel industry claimed they would go out of business. Well, the steel industry just had to take a profit hit, but they're still around.

Actually, the US steel industry isn't what it was.  It took a major hit in the 70's, especially in western PA and the midwest.  Now the US is having to compete mightily with Japanese steel.  There was actually quite the trade dispute about it for a while, with the US claiming that the Japanese were trying to flood the US market with Japanese steel.