How cheap is your local Gasoline?

“I hope that continued high gas prices will speed up/help fund research on alternatives.”

“Amen to that dayhiker.

$3.03 for 93 octane near my house, near MD/PA border.

Since my engine has high compression I benefit from the higher blend. I actually save money by buying the 93 vs. the 87, because I get 50 more miles per tank. I found the same thing when I had a car with turbo back in the 80's.”

“MERRILL, Wis. - A service station that offered discounted gas to senior citizens and people supporting youth sports has been ordered by the state to raise its prices.

Center City BP owner Raj Bhandari has been offering senior citizens a 2 cent per gallon price break and discount cards that let sports boosters pay 3 cents less per gallon..... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_fe_st/odd_cheap_gas”

“Uh huh, trust the petroleum industry to look after our best interests.”
mARKo
10:03:04 AM
5/09/07

May as well. You aren't going to get the Democraps to do anything.”

“$3.19 today!”

“Did you know that some countries that export crude like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela only pay $0.25/gallon?

Do know why they have cheap gasoline?

Because it is greatly subsidized by that country.

Do you know what that causes?

It causes an extreme growth in demand for gasoline because of it's low price.

China is the #1 country in growth for the demand of gasoline.

If coutries like those would quit subsidizing gasoline, the demand for that product would decrease.”

“A friend of mine drives a VW TDI and burns locally produced bio-diesel.

He does not want to give another nickel to the petro industry.

Burning locally produced fuel makes as much sense as eating local food.
There is talk of reducing "food miles" and thereby reducing fuel consumption to deliver the food.

Reducing "fuel miles" makes sense too.

Though we will probably "always" burn gasoline, which is not local, we can reduce consumption significantly.”

“Yes, local consumption is a good goal. My long-term goal is to to exactly that for home and car. We joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm this year - we get our first share in a month. Its grown 10 minutes from me.”

“$2.79”

“Ten minutes by what..................gondola?”

“I'm going to have one big garden this year, plus lots of wild berries, maybe some venison. I already posted about my plans to reduce fuel consumption (installing a wood stove and shopping on my damn bike).”

“"There are several reasons that gasoline is so high. Congress could take the strangle hold off the building of new refineries. They could allow drilling for oil."


What a sad-sack Republican; but he's right for pointing out that the (up until recently) Republican controlled Congress has done nothing to dig us out of the grasp of Capitalist pig-dogs.

Perhaps bacpac would like to see more corporate welfare shoveled over to the oil companies. He prolly owns all kinds of stock in the American misery.

Typical. Blame the Democratic controlled Congress for not cleaning up 14+ years of Republican mess in just under 6 months.

What a tool.
last edited: 5/09/07 11:31:44 PM”

“$3.45...yes, my car requires premium.

I don't think I have mentioned how I have been getting to work lately. I used to work about 16 miles from where I live. I would regularly do that commute on a bicycle. Great workout and a fun ride each day (for the most part). Only problem - I was hungry all the time.

New job now and usually the quickest way for me to get to work is by car via a 37 mile route which usually takes anywhere from 50 to 80 minutes. Yea, sucks.

I have devised a better way though. I have a train station about 8 miles from my house that can drop me off at another station about 5 miles from my work place. The station 5 miles from my work place has bike lockers and I rent one for 5 bucks a month. I keep a bike and some maintenance stuff there.

So, on most work days, I have been driving to the train station 8 miles from my house then taking the train to the station closest to work and riding the bike the remaining 5 miles to work.

It's not as much of a workout as I used to get, but at least I'm not burning up the petrol driving the whole way each day. Eventually I'll get around to biking the 8 miles to the first train station too, but they don't have bike lockers there and my other bike I would use for that (they don't allow bikes on the train during most normal commuting hours) is more expensive than I really want leaving out each day. Also, the "bike-train-bike" method will add quite a bit more time to the commute. I'm committed though, so it will happen.

Just thought I would share for those feeling public trans is only a marginal option for them.”

“I watched the Discovery channel Mythbusters last night and they did a test to see if a vehicle uses more fuel with the AC on and the windows up or windows down and the AC off. The vehicle with the windows down and AC off used 15% less fuel. It appears that the computer models that say you use less fuel with the AC on and windows up were wrong.”

“$3.05, Rochester, MN.

Speaking of things not being quite what you expect (the Toyota vs. the Hummer, etc.), ethanol from corn is also not necesarily that environmentally friendly, when you look at the farming end of it.

The higher price for corn -- and the even worse soybeans -- encourages farmers to put marginal cropland into production. With the wide open dirt between rows, there's lots more runoff. That, of course, creates its own problem in our streams.

I know switchgrass is being looked at for ethanol. That would seem better, but you certainly have to look at the overall process -- **EVERYTHING** involved -- when you're going to alternative fuels.”

“What a sad-sack Republican; but he's right for pointing out that the (up until recently) Republican controlled Congress has done nothing to dig us out of the grasp of Capitalist pig-dogs.

Perhaps bacpac would like to see more corporate welfare shoveled over to the oil companies. He prolly owns all kinds of stock in the American misery.

Typical. Blame the Democratic controlled Congress for not cleaning up 14+ years of Republican mess in just under 6 months.

What a tool.
last edited: 5/09/07 11:31:44 PM”
laqtis
11:30:31 PM
5/09/07

Why not check out the the regulations and costs imposed by Democrats in the 80's? The Federal Government (Democrats) made the cost of building refineries prohibitive. There hasn't been a new refinery build in this country since the late 70's.

Check and see who imposed all the fuel blends and restrictions. It was not Republicans.

And of course I own stock in energy companies.”

“$3.49 in NW Indiana”

“2.75 just across the river in lovely North Augusta, SC.

(sometimes known as, 'Not Augusta'.”

“3.39 in Escanaba, MI. 3.24 in Iron Mountain, MI”

“3.39 in Rhinelander, WI.”

“3.29 in Columbus, OH”

“2.99 in Charlotte, NC”

“2.95 here in Ferndale, MI.

However, that's only due to me filling up the Ranger to the brim with that "cheap" gas a week and a half ago. I'm donating the thing is week, but, I was using it as a family "gas reserve tank".”

“I paid $2.94 for regular at a Shell station yesterday in Northeast PA.”

“$3.77 in Chicagoland today.”

“Filled up for $2.29 today in Middletown PA.

(That was E85. :) )”

“I refuse to look at the PPG. I simply fill it up and drive away as quickly as possible. I will say that it now is costing me about $80. For a whopping total of $120 a week. (Two Trucks)”

“$ 2.89 today”

“I found a whole new breed of anal retentive, techno-freaks. Hypermilers. These guys take mileage to a whole new level by using techniques such as drafting, turning the engine off going down hill, ect. A guy I met on YarisWorld.com gets 52 MPG from his Yaris liftback which gets like 40-41 MPG on the sticker. They track their mileages on line and buy on board computers and do every kind of mod they can to get the best mileage.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/index.php

I've done a few things like changed from 10W30 oil to 0W20, inflated the tires to the max pressures and cut 10 mph off my driving habits. I filled up the other day and started the -10 mph driving and right now I have 300 miles on the tank and it just ticked below half full. I was able to squeeze out a 40 MPG average before these changes so I can't wait to finish the tank and see what my average is.”

“It is fun watching people draft on the highway. Just this past weekend, a guy was right on a 18 wheeler when the driver hit his brakes. He knew he was back there, so he wanted to #&%!$ with him a little. I don't think the draftee was paying close attention because he slammed on his brakes and got rear-ended.”

“Yeah stuff like drafting and turning the engine off downhill is a bit excessive. I pile on the miles (700-1,000 a week) and I get paid mileage so I pretty much drive for free but any little bit is money in my pocket. The sticker on my Mighty Mighty Yaris said I'd get 35 city/39 hiway but now that I have 29,000 miles it's like the engine is getting broken in and I'm averaging 39 MPG driving 40% city and 60% hiways. And that's out of a 4 speed auto tranny too.”

“Oil and gas both down on middle east storm downgrade. Wonder if solar storms on ----No , that right, Mars isn't a member of OPEC.”

“Those guys spent more money on upgrades than the gas savings benefit. Sounds like the Jimmy San's of the Yaris world. hehe”

“Drafting is OK as long as you are courtious to the driver your drafting. You dont have to be on his bumper as the wind wash extends 30-40 feet behind the truck.”

“Nigal brings up a good topic. Changing driving habits can bring at least what your car should be around. Poor driving habits make those SUV's pull in around 9 mpg city instead of the 12-14 claimed.

I don't advocate turning your car off on a hill;too much stuff depends on your engine being on while it's in motion. Only vehicles idling for over a minute should see a savings by turning them off. However, on a long down hill, while exiting an off ramp, or on the way to a red light, I put my car in neutral so that the deceleration occurs while the engine idles, rather than at "engine speed".

I've been able to get by on just a quarter of a tank, on what would usually take a full tank.

Good luck!”

“Those guys spent more money on upgrades than the gas savings benefit.

True but some of the mods like a cold air intake, bigger exhaust, lighter pulleys, and whipass rims not only give better mileage but can up your horse power by about 5-10.”

“here's my favorite gas saving "mod"

”

“The biggest thing I've noticed about changes in driving habits are that people are consolidating their trips a lot more. For example, things as simple as even going to store, people will plan out all the stores they need to stop at ahead of time and actually plan an efficient route to get to all of them in a single trip, as opposed to just arbitrarily running out to get something whenever you notice you need it.

In my opinion, this is what $3/gal gasoline will do. Slight tinkering with the gas prices is going to do little of anything significant to further alter people's driving habits, and will probably hurt the "non-essentials" retail industry more than anyone else (perhaps I might buy a few less CD's or DVD's than I normally do because that money is now going to gas, etc.)

A survey I read about in one of the local papers here has apparently determined that gas would have to approach $5/gallon before it would significantly further alter people's driving habits around here.”

“


last edited: 6/08/07 8:53:06 AM”

“I just spied a Geo Metro for sale around the block for 500.00 or best offer.


HHHHmmmmmm........”

“I paid $2.79 for diesel yesterday. I think the gas was $2.89, $2.99, and $3.12”

“I've managed to get my mileage up to 42 MPG on the Yaris with the new oil change and reduced speeds. Even with running the A/C 50% of the time I get 40 MPG for the tank full.”

“http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770611001

They will get it one way or another!!!”

“I have read the A/C thing is a myth. I do know that using synthetic oil helps.

Gas in NW Indiana dipped under 3 bucks this past Sunday. Read that there are huge gas stockpiles which is likely causing the reduction in price.”

“I don't know how the A/C impacts hybrid engines -- it's possibly that it may have more of an affect.

That said, with a conventional combustion engine, its more efficient to roll the windows down if you're driving around town at relatively low speeds.

At higher speeds though, like on the freeway for example, the open windows create enough drag on your car that it actually costs more energy to overcome that extra drag than it does to run the A/C.

So around town, roll down the windows. But on the freeway, put them up and use the A/C. :)”

“The A/C puts a higher load on the engine as horsepower is diverted (and converted) through the alternator to run the A/C compressor. Notice the drop in power as you go up a steep incline when the A/C is running. On a hybrid it may create enough load to cause a the gas engine to run to make up the differnce (speculating here).”

“Well, on my tractor...”

“2.68 in Alabama this evening...on the way into work this morning it was 2.79!”

“Lowest I see in the Sac, Ca. area today is $3.03. Newspaper says it's supposed to go down a bit more.”

“I mentioned this before in case anyone missed it. On the Discovery channel Mythbusters show they did a test running an SUV windows up, A/C on and windows down A/C off at 45 mph on a race track with 5 gallons of gas in both vehicles. The one with A/C off went 15 extra laps after the one with A/C on ran out of gas.”