OT - Why are gas prices fluctuating so much?

buzd504

YYZegger said:

I wish I was paying $1.89 / Gallon, here in Canada we pay on average right now $1.00 / Litre , 3.785 Litres = 1 Gallon.  That is about $7.15 per Gallon!!!  Go figure!

I don't think your math is right.  $1.00 canadian per liter converts to 2.84 USD/gallon.

slovelad

henapple said:

The price keeps fluctuating because they're always changing those numbers on the signs. 

Those jerks

fishlessman

nolaegghead said:

fishlessman said:

nolaegghead said:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a3180/summer-blend-vs-winter-blend-gasoline-whats-the-difference-13747431/

that vapor stuff would explain the tough rumbling startups im getting right now on warm days, truck sounds like its going to explode for the first couple minutes, i hate this gas, bad startups, bad gas mileage, towing is almost impossible

Sounds like you're getting predetonation - if you don't have an ECU with anti-knock sensors you can retard your timing or bump up to a higher octane.  That's really bad for your engine.

it only happens when its around 70 degrees out and i have the winter gas in there. we just went thru some days where it was high 20's in the morning with close to 70 by noon, truck starts up fine in the cold.  another week i i wont have this issue til end of march with warmer days and the summer gas comes out about then so its just a few weeks again. it can also be an issue with the return gas line to the tank, had an oring on the return line to the tank go (return line has to have back pressure) pressure dropped and the truck was undrivable. the vapor increase mentioned in the article will do the same thing with that return line but by overpressurizing it. i think ive replaced everything on that truck but the engine thats mechanical, a new engine would make it new again

nolaegghead

That makes sense.  Butane is probably your main culprit. 

caliking

Prices are lower down here.  1.85 or so last week,  now it's 1.78.

YYZegger

buzd504 said:

YYZegger said:

I wish I was paying $1.89 / Gallon, here in Canada we pay on average right now $1.00 / Litre , 3.785 Litres = 1 Gallon.  That is about $7.15 per Gallon!!!  Go figure!

I don't think your math is right.  $1.00 canadian per liter converts to 2.84 USD/gallon.

I did make an error, you are correct,but your math is also incorrect if you simply base it on  dollar for dollar, 1 gallon of gas in Canada costs me $3.79 Cdn  where as in the USA it costs $2.00 USA per gallon.  This is strictly based on both of us using our own currencies in our own countries.  Not really sure what I was thinking when I wrote my original post, no explanation other than I Need more Coffee!  I believe you are assuming I am exchanging money and buying gas in the USA at your calculation?  

nolaegghead

$1Cnd = 1L
3.78L = 1Gal = $3.78Cnd
Apply exchange rate = $2.84 USD/gal 
Apples to Apples vs $2 USD/gal in US

buzd504

nolaegghead said:

$1Cnd = 1L
3.78L = 1Gal = $3.78Cnd
Apply exchange rate = $2.84 USD/gal 
Apples to Apples vs $2 USD/gal in US

Yep, that's the conversion I was using.

Legume

Interesting article. This was an interesting statement "Gasoline is a commodity, and yet the price-setting system has only a loose relationship to supply and demand."

I think based on the article, I'm going to start burning RO only in the winter and maybe RW in the summer until someone comes up with summer and winter lump blends.  Or wait, should I use RO in the summer because the VOCs will boil off more quickly?  I'm confused.  What's the best lump?

SoCalWJS

So jealous looking at all of these gas prices outside of good old California. As I was filling my wife's car this week (Premium, Costco, $2.99/gal) I was looking at the taxes posted on the side of the fuel pump.

After they did their first round of Cap n Trade, prices fluctuated so much nobody was really sure how much that raised the price of gas (rumored to be about 10 cents/gallon), but...

Fed Tax: 18.9/gal
State tax: 39.5/gal (+ Cap n Trade)
County sales tax: 8%

No wonder our prices are so high (yet they still say they're not making enough money and want to start charging us per mile we drive)....

We're already around a dollar per gallon higher than any of the other Contiguous States. Wonder how bad it will be in the future as our Gov turns us on to "Greener" fuels?

I love my State.......

Sardonicus

Aren't there are some other programs and services that your state and your county could eliminate and thereby allow you to avoid paying those taxes?
That still leaves the federal gas tax, but . . .

Just asking.

HeavyG

SoCalWJS said:

So jealous looking at all of these gas prices outside of good old California. As I was filling my wife's car this week (Premium, Costco, $2.99/gal) I was looking at the taxes posted on the side of the fuel pump.

After they did their first round of Cap n Trade, prices fluctuated so much nobody was really sure how much that raised the price of gas (rumored to be about 10 cents/gallon), but...

Fed Tax: 18.9/gal
State tax: 39.5/gal (+ Cap n Trade)
County sales tax: 8%

No wonder our prices are so high (yet they still say they're not making enough money and want to start charging us per mile we drive)....

We're already around a dollar per gallon higher than any of the other Contiguous States. Wonder how bad it will be in the future as our Gov turns us on to "Greener" fuels?

I love my State.......

California doesn't even have the highest combined gas taxes of the lower 48 states. That honor belongs to Pennsylvania.

nolaegghead

I wouldn't mind paying a little more gas tax if they fixed the **** roads.

Sardonicus

Commie.

SGH

nolaegghead said:

I wouldn't mind paying a little more gas tax if they fixed the **** roads.

The problem is you are always going to pay more. They are just going to continue to do less. They don't really care about the roads, just getting your money. It's sad, but it's so. 

Sardonicus

Therefore, no reason to pay more.

nolaegghead

Oh.  Thanks for clearing that up for me.

buzd504

nolaegghead said:

I wouldn't mind paying a little more gas tax if they fixed the **** roads.

Maybe Lakeview should impose their own gas tax.

TN_Egger

Lowest I've paid over the last 6 months is $1.73.  Highest, $2.05

gdenby

SoCalWJS said:

So jealous looking at all of these gas prices outside of good old California. As I was filling my wife's car this week (Premium, Costco, $2.99/gal) I was looking at the taxes posted on the side of the fuel pump.

After they did their first round of Cap n Trade, prices fluctuated so much nobody was really sure how much that raised the price of gas (rumored to be about 10 cents/gallon), but...

Fed Tax: 18.9/gal
State tax: 39.5/gal (+ Cap n Trade)
County sales tax: 8%

No wonder our prices are so high (yet they still say they're not making enough money and want to start charging us per mile we drive)....

We're already around a dollar per gallon higher than any of the other Contiguous States. Wonder how bad it will be in the future as our Gov turns us on to "Greener" fuels?

I love my State.......

Southern California has a road problem probably unmatched in the country. All the roads are filled beyond capacity, and the property values are so high it costs billions just to get new right of way. I don't recall the road number, but not long ago there was report of a new stretch that cost about a billion per mile to widen and rebuild, and the projection was that it would reach maximum capacity quicker than it took to build.

There was a video game called Sim City that was modeled on historic statistics. The "Sims" loved to drive their cars. So the player, as mayor, would build nice 4 lane highways. The Sims would re-elect the mayor, flood the roasds w. vehicles, and then start complaining about the congestion and the condition of the roads. When the "mayor" raised taxes to fix the roads, and or expand them, well, damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Legume

carrying capacity of roads will triple with driverless cars, but with drones everywhere, we'll have less reason to leave our couches and therefore fewer cars on the road.  we'll be fine, once I get my jetson's jet pack, I'll just fly above the **** roads

Legume

damn, thought shjtty was ok

Legume

nolaegghead said:

I wouldn't mind paying a little more gas tax if they fixed the **** roads.

I wouldn't have any problem with this, but which roads, the ones cities are responsible for?  counties?  states? Is fed responsible for any roads, or just provide hwy funds to states for interstates?

we're just off of a road that is part county and part city.  there are sections near a school that need to be upgraded, but city and county have played hot potato for years with it.

Anyway, agree a raise in these taxes would be fine with me, if they money goes to something related to gas - like roads, bridges, etc.

Hotch

henapple said:

The price keeps fluctuating because they're always changing those numbers on the signs. 

So it is a sign problem, makes sense

nolaegghead

https://youtu.be/PjjNvjURS-s

nolaegghead

Legume said:

nolaegghead said:

I wouldn't mind paying a little more gas tax if they fixed the **** roads.

I wouldn't have any problem with this, but which roads, the ones cities are responsible for?  counties?  states? Is fed responsible for any roads, or just provide hwy funds to states for interstates?

we're just off of a road that is part county and part city.  there are sections near a school that need to be upgraded, but city and county have played hot potato for years with it.

Anyway, agree a raise in these taxes would be fine with me, if they money goes to something related to gas - like roads, bridges, etc.

They need to fkn figure that out.  It's not impossible.  Maybe it is with all the clowns we elected into office attaching bs to the bills and unwilling to change the funding.

Bottom line: more traffic.  You don't get that time back.  Ever.

I've spent $700 this year on tires and windshields damaged by lousy roads.  And I'm about to spend another $780 because my windshield broke last week....at least that rock was from road work.

gdenby

Hotch said:

henapple said:

The price keeps fluctuating because they're always changing those numbers on the signs. 

So it is a sign problem, makes sense

Suddenly, it came to me. Make electric gas signs illegal. Well, not illegal. You just have to read and agree to a terms of use whenever you look at one that has changed, because that's copyrighted proprietary information. Unless the signs are painted by hand, and changed by people on ladders, 'cause they're grandfathered in. Less price fluctuation, more employment. 2 birds, 1 stone.

Legume

More people working is more traffic, greater unemployment reduces commute times.

Spaightlabs

nolaegghead said:

Legume said:

nolaegghead said:

I wouldn't mind paying a little more gas tax if they fixed the **** roads.

I wouldn't have any problem with this, but which roads, the ones cities are responsible for?  counties?  states? Is fed responsible for any roads, or just provide hwy funds to states for interstates?

we're just off of a road that is part county and part city.  there are sections near a school that need to be upgraded, but city and county have played hot potato for years with it.

Anyway, agree a raise in these taxes would be fine with me, if they money goes to something related to gas - like roads, bridges, etc.

They need to fkn figure that out.  It's not impossible.  Maybe it is with all the clowns we elected into office attaching bs to the bills and unwilling to change the funding.

Bottom line: more traffic.  You don't get that time back.  Ever.

I've spent $700 this year on tires and windshields damaged by lousy roads.  And I'm about to spend another $780 because my windshield broke last week....at least that rock was from road work.

Are you opposed to comprehensive coverage on your vehicle for a reason or do do you have it but not want to use it?

slovelad

gdenby said:

Hotch said:

henapple said:

The price keeps fluctuating because they're always changing those numbers on the signs. 

So it is a sign problem, makes sense

Suddenly, it came to me. Make electric gas signs illegal. Well, not illegal. You just have to read and agree to a terms of use whenever you look at one that has changed, because that's copyrighted proprietary information. Unless the signs are painted by hand, and changed by people on ladders, 'cause they're grandfathered in. Less price fluctuation, more employment. 2 birds, 1 stone.

You just put my brain in a blender... And I loved it