hitting a new threshold for gasoline purchase

 

To date, I have never paid $4/gal yet. And will do so this week.

The price rapidly escalated as I filled up last Thu. when regular was $3.459. The next day it was $3.729, by yesterday $3.92.

Why much of this is artificial.

When regular was $3.729, premium was $3.829. 10 cent delta.

When regular was in the low 2's, premium was routinely 30-60 cents more per gal.

It would appear that at some threshold, premium goes back to being elastic. Less so with the advent of so many turbocharged engines today.

One thing that shows our resiliency, is that there is no price that would compel us to carpool lol

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5 gallon pail

zx1100e1 wrote:

They just had a segment about this on the news. Siphoning fuel is old school they said. Newer cars have a mechanism in place to prevent fuel flow should the car end up flipped over.

Anyways, they said thieves are stealing fuel by puncturing the fuel tank. Locking gas cap won't do much good in this case.

If you own a truck like mine, designed by marketeers instead of engineers, you can get a 5 gallon pail underneath.

What happens to gal 6+?

What happens to gal 6+? It's sad what this world is coming to.

I work from home so am more affected by higher costs on everything else than fuel - fill up 1-2x a month. Try to shop with coupons and gift cards (bought with 5% rebate).

fuel shortages

zx1100e1 wrote:

What happens to gal 6+? It's sad what this world is coming to.

I work from home so am more affected by higher costs on everything else than fuel - fill up 1-2x a month. Try to shop with coupons and gift cards (bought with 5% rebate).

It’s tough now, and it’s been tough before. I remember the ‘73 and ‘79(?) fuel shortages. Imagine that now: if your license plate was even you could only buy gas on even days… People would scream “what about my freedom?”.

Soon $4/gal. will sound like

Soon $4/gal. will sound like a good deal (some are already paying much more). Higher prices are on the horizon for all and may lead to a recession due to less discretionary spending. sad

And taking the converter while the gas is siphoning.

zx1100e1 wrote:

They just had a segment about this on the news. Siphoning fuel is old school they said. Newer cars have a mechanism in place to prevent fuel flow should the car end up flipped over.

Anyways, they said thieves are stealing fuel by puncturing the fuel tank. Locking gas cap won't do much good in this case.

--
Nuvi 2460LMT.

5.00 Gallon

and there is nothing we can do about it.

Lucky you

I wish gas was $5 a gallon here. Currently the cheapest is $5.25, and that's cash price and for the lowest grade at the cheapest station in town. Some stations are still at $5.99.

At least

johnm405 wrote:

Locking gas caps only slows down your more honest crooks.

8 years ago. A $80k Cadillac doesn't have a locking fuel door. I have always found that odd, when the least expensive import would.

My uncle told me it's not possible to siphon fuel due to the path that the neck to the tank would take. But he said of course that doesn't prevent pouring water into someone's tank to vandalize the vehicle.

Also funny is the myth of sugar in the tank!

$3.99

When out Thursday the station down the street was still $3.99 but the one a little closer was $4.07.

Glad we aren't traveling to Huston anymore. Our short trips to Walmart Pickup and others like that are very nice with our 2014 6 cl Honda Accord. Going to Houston and back were getting 32 mpg.

--
Mary, Nuvi 2450, Garmin Viago, Honda Navigation, Nuvi 750 (gave to son)

How high will they go?

It's simply amazing that the US can go from being able to supply its own energy to now having to import what is needed. That's what happens when the powers to be shutdown pipelines and limit oil production. The US has plenty of oil and the best refineries in the world. There is no reason why the citizens of the US should be paying such a high price for gas except for the plotted move by the powers to be.

Still holding firm here at ...

... $5.29 a gallon for the low grade cash price at the cheapest station. Some places still getting over $6 for their low grade.

now it seems

gasoline has leveled off.

Again I work in NJ and live in PA.

Pricing in NJ at Costco....$3.45, then $3.72, then $4.03.

The delta between the above and where I live reached 50+ cents.

Yesterday, it was back to the normal $0.26 delta (long long ago it was 20 cents exactly, then it was 30).

Since NJ had 3 increases and no more, it implies to me PA is easily manipulated. It's gone up way more, then come down to a normal rate.

More proof there is little correlation between the price of a barrel and retail pricing?

Motor oil was $20-$22 for a 5 qt bottle of synthetic in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, zero change whatsoever.

Retail motor oil, and retail gasoline purchases, are markets.

I almost see it as being like doctors. Imagine they make as little as $40 to see you--there isn't a single doctor who actually went to school whose time is worth that little lol

Who makes the money, our employer or the insurance co.?

Same with gasoline sales, who makes the money, the retailer? Of course not, they have to sell overpriced and spoiled milk to survive, they make little on the gasoline!

fossil fuel

electric cars and solar panels haven't helped that much, and cutting back on fossil fuel production to fast didn't help , we rely on foreign sources now and its biting us in the ass. lets hope the water behind the dams doesn't get much lower even nuclear power requires water ! solar power in the home doesnt do any good if they dont install batteries to store power, if the power goes out their screwed and most people dont get the batteries installed because its too expensive ! we will still need fossil fuel for the next 10-20 years at least until we improve electric cars and solar power becomes more reliable !

Can one freely pump their

Can one freely pump their own gas in NJ these days?

that would be

zx1100e1 wrote:

Can one freely pump their own gas in NJ these days?

negative...

It's the law

johnnatash4 wrote:
zx1100e1 wrote:

Can one freely pump their own gas in NJ these days?

negative...

Yep, New Jersey is the last state where you can't pump your own gas into your vehicle. They claim it's a "Safety concern". I say it's "Create a Job" legislation.

--
Metricman DriveSmart 76 Williamsburg, VA

maybe soon

zx1100e1 wrote:

Can one freely pump their own gas in NJ these days?

Will N.J. allow pump-your-own gas stations? With new bill, the great debate is back!

Updated: Mar. 10, 2022, 10:08 a.m. | Published: Mar. 01, 2022, 12:22 p.m.

https://www.nj.com/politics/2022/03/will-nj-allow-self-serve...

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

Thanks for the link and

Thanks for the link and info.

Hope it passes. Wonder how the costco's do it with 20 pump stations (if such exist in NJ)?

Oregon too

metricman wrote:
johnnatash4 wrote:
zx1100e1 wrote:

Can one freely pump their own gas in NJ these days?

negative...

Yep, New Jersey is the last state where you can't pump your own gas into your vehicle. They claim it's a "Safety concern". I say it's "Create a Job" legislation.

Until 2015 Oregon was a no pump your own state too, they then allowed folks in rural parts of the state to do so.

"The state allowed people to temporarily fill their own tanks during the summer 2021 heat wave. And in rural parts of the state, Oregonians have been allowed to pump their own gas since 2015."

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/02/08/state-lawmakers-consi....

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

at the

Costco in NJ, I've seen people pump gas themselves and drive away. I've even seen people tell the attendant they're all set, after pumping themselves, and the attendant thanked them.

What's the penalty for pumping yourself? I think we'd probably all agree, full service makes for long lines and a slow process, and even skimming of credit cards.

Now, with the pumps that form a seal over the tank, and stop if said seal is broken? It means many times the pump stops as soon as the attendant walks away.

No offense to the person who wants the gas attendant job, but is there any legitimate reason for full service? And that if diesel, ok for self service? Seems like an antiquated law.

Hitting A New Threshold For Gasoline Purchases

It's a great thing that fuel prices are starting to go back down.

Chevron Supreme in CA $6.39

Chevron Supreme in CA $6.39 gal

--
NickJr Nuvi 3597LMT

gas prices

When I was a kid we'd joke about doubling the value of a Skoda or Lada by filling the gas tank.......joke isn't so funny now smile

Might Change

johnnatash4 wrote:

Costco in NJ, I've seen people pump gas themselves and drive away. I've even seen people tell the attendant they're all set, after pumping themselves, and the attendant thanked them.

What's the penalty for pumping yourself? I think we'd probably all agree, full service makes for long lines and a slow process, and even skimming of credit cards.

Now, with the pumps that form a seal over the tank, and stop if said seal is broken? It means many times the pump stops as soon as the attendant walks away.

No offense to the person who wants the gas attendant job, but is there any legitimate reason for full service? And that if diesel, ok for self service? Seems like an antiquated law.

If passed, a current bill in the NJ Legislature will repeal the "pump your own" ban.

Apparently, no one wants the job anymore and it's creating long lines at the pump.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/05/new-jersey-drivers-...

Any bets on ATH of gas

Any bets on ATH of gas price? Mine's $7.00

It's hard to get a 5 gallon

It's hard to get a 5 gallon gas can under most cars and a lot more work and time (2 things most criminals hate).

Gas Apps

FYI - there are several gas apps that offer discounts and lowest price detection.

--
RKF (Brookeville, MD) Garmin Nuvi 660, 360 & Street Pilot

I'm with you 100% Melaqueman

Melaqueman wrote:

Don't even talk about electric cars.
Since electric cars use thousands of less parts tens of thousands people working making parts and on the assembly line will be out if work. Also an electric motor has only about 7 parts. Since there are no tune-ups, oil changes or other regular maintenance is tequired hundreds of thousands of service industry workers will be out of work.

Remember 1974 and the 55Mph speed limit?
That is when your car has the best fuel mileage.

Additionally with a combustion engine your range is probably 500-600 miles. NO way with an electric car where you have to stop and recharge at around 200-250 miles. Thats even less in winter conditions where you need to run a heater, windshield defroster etc. Each time you roll a window down and up uses about 3 miles of driving distance.

--
Nuvi 2595LMT

Not in my neck of the woods.

RoSho_24 wrote:

It's a great thing that fuel prices are starting to go back down.

--
Nuvi 2460LMT.

A Recent Arrest

sunsetrunner wrote:

It's hard to get a 5 gallon gas can under most cars and a lot more work and time (2 things most criminals hate).

A pair of gas thieves were recently arrested in our town. They drove a modified minivan with a hatch in the floor. They would go to a mall and park next to a potential victim, usually a full sized car or SUV.

They would then deploy a shallow pan on wheels through the open hatch and slide it underneath the target vehicle. The pan had a device that would puncture the gas tank and a pump that transferred the leaking gas into a tank in the back of the van.

With this setup, they could steal 20 gallons of gas in about 5 minutes without even getting out of the van! If someone approached, they could just drive off and abandon the drain pan.

You'd think someone with the brains to design & build a rig like this could make serious money in an honest profession.

Gas prices

I don't use premium for my care even though it is recommended b/c of the cost. I heat my home with gas and it doubled over the last 2 months. Meanwhile my salary has not gone up.

I was reminded earlier today

I was reminded earlier today of the NJ tangent discussed earlier.

I'm waiting in line at costco to get fuel this morning. Woman in front of me has no business pumping her own gas. She went back and forth 4 times between the pump (with nozzle) and car before she figured out how to get it to dispense.

Not sure if she wasn't selecting the grade/payment method properly, or operating the nozzle itself correctly. Most costcos out here are fitted with emission controlled nozzles. Specifically, one has to depress it firmly onto the filler to release the trigger lockout. Not doing so results in no flow when you actuate the trigger.

Next, the woman on the opposite side of my pump also had difficulty with payment. She was trying to use a MC where costco only accepts visa or debit cards. While waiting for both cars to fuel up, I showed her the costco cash card I use. No fumbling for membership card or payment method. Just a single card does the job. She also mentioned once she tried to same the sams credit card.

So, perhaps for the more ignorant types, full service is truly needed.

including Antarctica?

zx1100e1 wrote:

...

So, perhaps for the more ignorant types, full service is truly needed.

As a cynic I rather like your argument, but how do you explain what happens in the other 49 states, and the whole rest of the world, probably including Antarctica?

Learning Curve

zx1100e1 wrote:

I was reminded earlier today of the NJ tangent discussed earlier.

I'm waiting in line at costco to get fuel this morning. Woman in front of me has no business pumping her own gas. She went back and forth 4 times between the pump (with nozzle) and car before she figured out how to get it to dispense.

Not sure if she wasn't selecting the grade/payment method properly, or operating the nozzle itself correctly. Most costcos out here are fitted with emission controlled nozzles. Specifically, one has to depress it firmly onto the filler to release the trigger lockout. Not doing so results in no flow when you actuate the trigger.

Next, the woman on the opposite side of my pump also had difficulty with payment. She was trying to use a MC where costco only accepts visa or debit cards. While waiting for both cars to fuel up, I showed her the costco cash card I use. No fumbling for membership card or payment method. Just a single card does the job. She also mentioned once she tried to same the sams credit card.

So, perhaps for the more ignorant types, full service is truly needed.

We had the same issues when my state legalized pump your own gas 25 years ago. There's a learning curve involved but it doesn't take long to get the hang of it.

@minke You mean like IL

@minke

You mean like IL where one can freely pump their own gas? Offer full service at a flat fee per fill up... IE $5+ pumped amount. So long as the attendant fills up at least 3 cars an hr, he's earned his $15/min min wage.

@bdhsfz6

I'm not in NJ. Been pumping gas here since I started driving in the last century.

Motorcycles are challenging vehicles to fuel. In fact, the costco nozzle would be more a hindrance because one needs to see what they're pumping. I wonder if one can hold the bellows back with fingers to keep the nozzle operational.

.

zx1100e1 wrote:

~snip~

Motorcycles are challenging vehicles to fuel. In fact, the costco nozzle would be more a hindrance because one needs to see what they're pumping. I wonder if one can hold the bellows back with fingers to keep the nozzle operational.

It can be done, the hard part is getting the flow slow enough so you can lean in and see so as to not overfill while holding the thing in so it'll pump at all. Auto shut off doesn't work with a motorcycle tank, you'd never be more than 1/4 to 1/2 full.

Oh, I never let anyone else fill my bike, not even in NJ.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

my

bsp131 wrote:

I don't use premium for my care even though it is recommended b/c of the cost. I heat my home with gas and it doubled over the last 2 months. Meanwhile my salary has not gone up.

My 1998 Nissan says premium on the fuel door. I used 87 from 1998 to 2016, when it came off the road. The only time I made an exception was when the knock sensor was bad.

That cars were designed for 91 octane is not a myth--however, they have knock sensors to accommodate for when < 91 is used.

A real live example? When the 2015 VW GTI came out, the fuel door said, "premium required." Sometimes instead of using the dirty word premium, the fuel door has a number--my 2007 actually says 89 required. This means regular cannot be used (I don't do it but I still think the knock sensor would come into play). Again, if my car back then were a loaner car, how many customers would actually fill it with 93?

The 2016 VW GTI which had no changes whatsoever, "Premium recommended." They realized potential lost sales when buyers hear premium is needed.

2/3 of our cars were designed for premium, unfortunately. The GM was not, 87. imho go by the owner's manual and I hate to say it, since most cars are leased, I'd be willing to bet the only people who use premium in leased cars is because they want the output from the engine that is stated on spec sheets.

It'd be interesting to know how many people fill rental and loaner cars with premium? Many tiny cars with turbo engines were designed around premium.

They say 3.4% was the average increase this year. Although my co. did not do the 7% that was "mentioned," they did beat the average.

Gas seems to have leveled at a very high price, but at least it hasn't continued over the last 2 weeks..

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