Gas Prices - Part 2

[Dirt's72]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

This is an interesting recently written article related to the the cost of supplying fuel HERE

"My late father was a gasoline distributor. What ultimately drove my father out of business was mandates imposed by the EPA dealing with underground gasoline storage tanks."

"If our government says they are doing something to save lives; they are getting ready to kill some people."

There is no doubt about that.

Originally Posted by Stocker

Being a PUD, they are able to purchase locally generated electricity at a lower rate and pass the savings along to their customers. In low water years, local dams can't produce enough power, so the difference must be bought from other sources, at prevailing rates. Those higher costs are then passed to customers in the form of a drought relief surcharge.

Back to gas prices. I lost an old (but perfectly usable) commercial-grade chain saw by letting it sit too long with ethanol-tainted gas in it. Expensive lesson learned, I now buy ethanol-free gas (race fuel, they say) for all my small engines. Last stuff I bought was $8+ at the bulk plant in the city. I'm running low so I stopped by today for a couple more gallons. Place was closed up tighter than a drum. I called the number, yep, they no longer have a retail outlet there, but they say I can buy ethanol-free gas at the nearby saw shop. OK, I go there and find 5 gallon cans for $95 + tax, total nearly $102. That's over $20 per gallon! Thanks but no thanks. Maybe Google can tell me how to separate ethanol from gasoline. Meantime, I'll turn off the fuel supply & run 'em until they stop.... which is what I should have been doing anyway.

The owner of the gas station here where I buy no ethanol gas here told me that all the gas starts out no ethanol and that the ethanol is added in. Regular ethanol gas $3.59 and no ethanol gas 93 octane $4.95 a gallon. Yesterday I went to buy some and he was out of the no ethanol which is a first in the last 10 years I've been buying it there.

[AussieinNC]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Being a PUD, they are able to purchase locally generated electricity at a lower rate and pass the savings along to their customers. In low water years, local dams can't produce enough power, so the difference must be bought from other sources, at prevailing rates. Those higher costs are then passed to customers in the form of a drought relief surcharge.

Back to gas prices. I lost an old (but perfectly usable) commercial-grade chain saw by letting it sit too long with ethanol-tainted gas in it. Expensive lesson learned, I now buy ethanol-free gas (race fuel, they say) for all my small engines. Last stuff I bought was $8+ at the bulk plant in the city. I'm running low so I stopped by today for a couple more gallons. Place was closed up tighter than a drum. I called the number, yep, they no longer have a retail outlet there, but they say I can buy ethanol-free gas at the nearby saw shop. OK, I go there and find 5 gallon cans for $95 + tax, total nearly $102. That's over $20 per gallon! Thanks but no thanks. Maybe Google can tell me how to separate ethanol from gasoline. Meantime, I'll turn off the fuel supply & run 'em until they stop.... which is what I should have been doing anyway.

To separate ethanol from standard mix gas you can use of all things...water....
Test this...add some water, about 1/2" into a small bottle and fill the remainder of the bottle with standard mix gas. Cap the bottle and shake is for a minute or two, leave it sit and the ethanol will separate to the bottom of the bottle....

I routinely check so called Non Ethanol fuels using this method...it works everytime.

Note....removing the ethanol will lower the octane rating of the gas...may cause engine knock and damage.

Small engines are especially susceptible to ethanol degradation of fuel system parts, especially if the ethanol mix fuel is left in the bowl of the carb or tank. Ethanol attracts water from the atmosphere, it collects in the fuel tank and the destruction begins.

Local non ethanol gas at the local gas station is around $4.70 a gallon.

[Accelo]

$3.59 in a small town on the Oregon Coast. Toledo.
I do consulting there.
$4.20 where I live half way between Portland and Seattle.

The difference is the same as new vehicles. Additional dealer mark up.
I attribute it to the business consolidation that is crushing competition.

Studies have proven;
1. Market concentration has risen.

2. Average markups have increased.

3. Average profits have increased.

4. The labor share of output has gone down.

We used to have anti-trust laws. They are still there but not enforced.
Cheers.

[DeadheadNM]

This is an interesting recently written article related to the the cost of supplying fuel HERE

"My late father was a gasoline distributor. What ultimately drove my father out of business was mandates imposed by the EPA dealing with underground gasoline storage tanks."

[CG]

Ours is hovering around 4.20 something. Seeing some of you fellas have been under three is crazy for us. I cant remember how long (possibly years) since Ive seen it under three bucks. Still not California bad though.

[MySons68C20]

I hear ya CG....Diesel in Wenatchee is around $5.00 again....gas is similar to what you are paying on the west side.

The good thing is our electric rates are Energy Charge (0-39kW demand) 2.95¢ per kWh.

[57taskforce]

3.29>3.79 over the last 2 weeks.

[GSP7]

Gasoline $3.59 in Goober Idaho

[68bowtie]

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

Attachment 2267597

For Sure

[shifty]

I will say this, if I didn't already say it. My mind is slowly eroding as I get ancient and my condition gets worse, so I always hope I'm not telling the same story over and over again!

I've been getting by with rewards programs lately. I signed up for Shell fuel rewards. I linked that to my Speed Perks account at Advance Auto Parts. I then linked it with my AmEx. And my Kroger Rewards points from buying groceries actually works with Shell's fuel rewards too.

For fraud prevention and budgeting purposes, I pay for 90% of things with my AmEx to pay off in a lump sum each month, and I randomly seem to buy things at places that earn me fuel points. Like many of us on here, I buy and install a great deal of my own auto parts because I don't need to pay others, and Advance Auto always has 15%-25% off coupons where I can buy what I need online, apply the coupon, and pickup at the store which also saves $$ and also earns fuel points. And you show me a single household of any forum member on here who doesn't shop for groceries and I'll buy the beer.

For my last 3 fill-ups now, only having bought basic stuff like air filters, oil changes, usual weekly groceries, and paying for stuff using my AmEx, I've gotten 30¢-50¢ per gallon, up to 20 gallons. I had to fill up both cars again this month. That's gotten me under $3/gal every time.

I realize this may not work for everyone. But 15-25% off my auto parts, and about 15% off my gas at fill-up, all from doing my usual spending is awesome. It's not like coupon-clipping where you need to invest a lot of time. I haven't changed anything in my life, I just signed up for a couple programs, with mostly BS personal info so I don't get random junk mail, and ... maybe it'll work for someone else.

EDIT: Yes, someone is probably tracking all my purchases and travel and building a profile on me. But so is your cell phone provider, and half the apps on your smart phone if you got one. So is Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. So is your internet provider. We have no protection

[FleetsidePaul]

Back on topic. Speaking of overpriced gas, I spent $14 at Taco Bell yesterday.

[3757chevy]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

Back on topic. Speaking of overpriced gas, I spent $14 at Taco Bell yesterday.

[Boog]

Ah, I see you splurged for the Grande pack!

[Getter-Done]

Yeah
I got a the pequeño price the last tank when I filled up.

I am waiting it out for my Lawnmower and next tank of Fuel.

Maybe it will not be the (Granda) price

[Ironhorse]

Got another dime boost this morning, $3.49 for corn squeezins. My high school days of 18 and 19 cent a gallon leaded gas seems like a far away dream world in this world of today.

[Rickysnickers]

$3.91 for regular this morning.

[Getter-Done]

$3.03 around here right now.

[3757chevy]

I remember my sister and I took my brothers 56 Pontiac to go cruise main . We put 75cents worth in and got 3 gallons or more. I might have been 11 or 12 at the time. She was 5 years older than me at the time and he was a year older than her. Today regular was $3.39.

[Ironhorse]

Haven't post to this for awhile. Been holding steady at $3.29 for 87 octane corn squeezins' now for almost 3 weeks.

[Stocker]

Ours went up 10 cents, miraculously just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Currently holding steady at $5.30 (cash only) for self-serve 87.

On a brighter note, I found an outlet for non-ethanol. Only one hour away and after taxes & fees, just over $9 per gallon. I was so happy, I bought 2 gallons!

[Boog]

Mercy! $9, I just can't imagine ever paying that much Mike. I sure hope not.
Locally, our 87 is all over the place in the last 2 weeks. From $2.92 to 3.19 and back down to $2.89.

[yuccales]

Got gas yesterday. Still $4.69 per gallon. Not holding my breath for a decrease anytime soon.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Boog

Mercy! $9, I just can't imagine ever paying that much Mike. I sure hope not.

I hear ya, Boog. It is more than a bit shocking. But after losing a perfectly good older commercial-grade chainsaw to ethanol, I'll pay up for the good stuff to use in my small engines.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by Stocker

I hear ya, Boog. It is more than a bit shocking. But after losing a perfectly good older commercial-grade chainsaw to ethanol, I'll pay up for the good stuff to use in my small engines.

Yeah
I Use only Corn Free gas in my Tractors and Lawnmowers also.
I am lucky that there is a station a few miles up the road.

I do remember to pump the 1st few gallons in my truck.
That way I get the Pure stuff (Hopefully)
Because it is a (shared) pump that you choose one or the other.