Posted on 08/07/2005 5:10:04 PM PDT by traumer
Drivers Tired of Paying More for Premium Gasoline Switch to Regular
For some people, it's hitting the big five-oh that really hurts -- that is, dropping $50 on a tank of gas. For others, it's just that relentless upward creep in prices that gets their attention.
Whatever the trigger, drivers pulling up to the pump in vehicles that ostensibly require high-grade gas are wondering if they really need the more expensive fuel or whether it's okay just to fill it up with regular. As gas prices soar, car owners increasingly are going for the cheaper stuff -- no matter how fancy their wheels. And station owners and oil companies are seeing the impact: Sales of premium and mid-grade gasoline are tumbling.
It's an age-old response, industry experts say, for drivers to switch from pricey, higher-octane formulations of gas to cheaper alternatives whenever gasoline prices rise substantially. Now, with prices stuck stubbornly high, oil experts wonder whether high-grade gas will go the way of the Studebaker.
"I foresee no serious decline in prices anytime soon, so the question is, will consumers' buying habits change permanently if the higher prices stay as they are," said Daniel F. Gilligan, president of the Petroleum Marketers Association, which represents independent filling stations. "Will it be more difficult to attract consumers back to the higher-octane fuels? I don't know."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I drive a 2002 Mazda 626. 89 octane prevents the knocking I experienced using 87.
Ah, for the old days of 101 octane. Back then you needed more octane you just dumped more tetra elthyl lead into it. Bingo, no more knocking.
Shucks, didn't hurt anyone but the ghetto kids playing near the highways, breathing all the "leaded air" into their lungs. Trouble with that was, it lowered their IQs and they grew up to be DIMocrats. /semi-sarcasm
It's almost impossible to find 93 octane in Oklahoma City; so I use 91.
>>>"Trouble with that was, it lowered their IQs and they grew up to be DIMocrats. /semi-sarcasm'<<<
And their Children are now Gangsta Rappers
Gouging during a rising market would bring an investigation I think, don't you?
>>>"Trouble with that was, it lowered their IQs and they grew up to be DIMocrats. /semi-sarcasm'<<<
>>>>>And their Children are now Gangsta Rappers<<<<
With even lower IQs and language skills
They're using it to make Ethanol.
If the oil companies continue to break records on profits, the people of this country will eventually get wise and say "WTF?" I thought there was a shortage of some kind here? Maybe. just maybe congress will start looking out forthe little guy.
"Mandate $1.50, then wait in line on odd days to fill up"
Maybe $1.80
Say it ain't so.
It's been my impression that taxes are higher on diesel. Just checked European prices..diesel is cheaper there, not by much but cheaper except the UK where they tax it more.
A full-size SUV weighs 5500 pounds. An Excursion weighs 7600.
The worst thing about the price jump for diesel is not for the automotive consumer, it is added cost for cartage companies who depend on diesel to run their trucks and trains. This cost will be passed on to all consumers when delivered products reach the retail level. Inflation is just around the corner in my opinion, and Greenspan is a fool if he doesn't stop and reverse the rise of the prime rate now. The economy is barely growing as it is, and a round of inflation will pop the bubble in a big way, and as goes the American economy,so goes the world. Once the deflation starts, we will be looking at a severe recession bordering on a depression. And the last time we had a depression, it took a world war to start the economic engines up again. Unfortunately, Like Albert Einstein said, "I do not know with what weapons World War 3 will be fought, but World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones." I hope things can be brought back under control, but things don't look good.
Because the GOVERNMENT has mandated that Diesel fuel cannot contain sulphur, which means it is more expensive to manufacture.
Does anybody know?
Yeah,
you do
and so does everyone else..........
I'd at least like to get a nice dinner first..........
As I posted, the detergents in gasoline is totally different than the octane rating. Octane rating is what helps prevent knocking, AKA ping, or detonation. It's VERY important to use the octane rating that keeps your engine from knocking, as you can cause terrible damage to your pistons. Sometimes, people with older cars will need to use higher octane gas to avoid knocking, due to carbon buildup in the combustion chambers, causing higher pressures.
What I was talking about was the dropping of the levels of detergents would cause varnish and other deposits to accumulate on the walls of the cylinders, to be scraped into the oil pan, causing sludge. Eventually, this sludge would block the oil pickup, causing the engine to stop pumping oil, causing the destruction of the engine.
Mark
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