The Official Gas Price Discussion Thread
#161
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Originally Posted by Infamous425
a few weeks ago i was somewhere in the boonies in cali and it was $4.69 for regular
well figure that its harder for them to get there to deliver the gas so its costing the station more.
you'll usually find the best prices in towns about 20-30 miles aways from major cities or in smaller cities (like me in madison) I'm still under $4/gal for premium and even back home in suburban chicago i have been past stations in lake county (about 25 miles north of the city) and seen it hovering at about $4 a gal and .10 -.15 cents cheaper than the stations on the other side of the road in Cook county
#163
99 TL, 06 E350
If gasoline is going up, how come motor oil isn't going up as fast? It's stayed the same the last time I looked. Isn't motor oil and gas comes from the same stuff?
#164
Originally Posted by TSX Wisc Badger
well figure that its harder for them to get there to deliver the gas so its costing the station more.
you'll usually find the best prices in towns about 20-30 miles aways from major cities or in smaller cities (like me in madison) I'm still under $4/gal for premium and even back home in suburban chicago i have been past stations in lake county (about 25 miles north of the city) and seen it hovering at about $4 a gal and .10 -.15 cents cheaper than the stations on the other side of the road in Cook county
you'll usually find the best prices in towns about 20-30 miles aways from major cities or in smaller cities (like me in madison) I'm still under $4/gal for premium and even back home in suburban chicago i have been past stations in lake county (about 25 miles north of the city) and seen it hovering at about $4 a gal and .10 -.15 cents cheaper than the stations on the other side of the road in Cook county
#165
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Originally Posted by blueracer17
Here in the central Wisconsin area it went up to 3.99 for premium today. I'm glad I have my motorcycle that gets 50 MPG and only needs 87 octane. I have put 200 miles total on the TL in the last 2 weeks (didn't drive it for 7 days straight). I hope the weather holds up and I can ride the motorcycle all summer long and save a bunch of money.
where in central wisc?
were at $3.89 for prem today
Last edited by Wisc Badger; 05-12-2008 at 06:23 PM.
#166
Suzuka Master
Originally Posted by Black Tire
If gasoline is going up, how come motor oil isn't going up as fast? It's stayed the same the last time I looked. Isn't motor oil and gas comes from the same stuff?
#167
Suzuka Master
more info on tulip frenzy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania
people are nuts.
In 1623, a single bulb of a famous tulip variety could cost as much as a thousand Dutch florins (the average yearly income at the time was 150 florins). Tulips were also exchanged for land, valuable livestock and houses. Allegedly, a good trader could earn six thousand florins a month.
people are nuts.
#169
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Originally Posted by TzarChasm
It's the same thing that happened with housing, the .Com bust, and Tulips in southwestern Europe.
paid $4.09 for premium at the local 76. good thing i only fill up once a month now due to moving right down the street from work. only take the car out on weekends.
#171
Safety Car
Originally Posted by TSX Wisc Badger
I was just gettin used to paying $3.29 a gallon for premium... paid $3.67 today
I hate this crap, when I started driving 10 yrs ago, you could get a gallon of unleaded for $.89 cents
I hate this crap, when I started driving 10 yrs ago, you could get a gallon of unleaded for $.89 cents
I remember when I started driving, gas was 65 cents/gallon
#172
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I think its going to go up to something crazy like 6. Then the market wont substain it so it will drop back down to what it is now and everyone is going to love it.
#173
Originally Posted by mrsteve
Fear mongering or fiction. There's a ridiculous amount of oil left on this planet. We haven't even come close to finding all of it and there's plenty still left un-tapped that we know of.
What lower gas prices? Start drilling.
What lower gas prices? Start drilling.
#174
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Though this had some good tips.
Fuel Economy: Save Money on Gas
Consumer Reports' tests show how to get the best gas mileage.
The best way to burn less fuel is to buy a car that gets better gas mileage. But our tests with a Toyota Camry and other vehicles show there are ways to minimize what you spend at the pump with your current car.
Drive at a moderate speed. This is the biggest factor. You may have to be a little patient, but driving at 55 mph instead of 65 or 75 will save you money. When we increased the Camry's highway cruising speed from 55 mph to 65, the car's fuel economy dropped from 40 mpg to 35. Speeding up to 75 mph cost the car another 5 mpg. One reason is that aerodynamic drag increases exponentially the faster you drive; it simply takes more fuel to power the car through the air.
Drive smoothly. Avoid hard acceleration and braking whenever possible. In our tests, frequent bursts of acceleration and braking reduced the Camry's mileage by 2 to 3 mpg. Once up to speed on the highway, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires.
Reduce unnecessary drag. At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. So don't carry things on top of your vehicle when you don't have to. Installing a large Thule Cascade 1700 car-top carrier on our Camry dropped its gas mileage from 35 mpg to 29 at 65 mph. Even driving with empty racks on the car reduces its fuel economy.
Don't use premium fuel if you don't have to. If your car specifies regular fuel, don't buy premium under the mistaken belief that your engine will run better. The only difference you'll see is about 20 cents more per gallon. Most cars are designed to run just fine on regular gasoline. Even many cars for which premium is recommended will run well on regular. We have found that the differences are imperceptible during normal driving. Check your owner's manual to find out if your engine really requires premium or if you can run on other grades.
Minimize driving with a cold engine. Engines run most efficiently when they're warm. In our city-driving tests, making multiple short trips and starting the engine from cold each time reduced fuel economy by almost 4 mpg. Engines also produce more pollution and wear faster when they're cold. When possible, combine several short trips into one so that the engine stays warm.
Keep tires properly inflated. The Camry experienced a 1.3 mpg loss in highway fuel economy when the tires were underinflated by 10 psi. More important, underinflated tires compromise handling and braking, and wear faster. And they run much hotter, which can lead to tire failure. Check the pressure of your vehicle's tires at least once a month with a tire gauge. The owner's manual explains how to do it.
Buy tires with lower rolling resistance. A tire's rolling resistance can add or detract another 1 or 2 mpg. In our tire ratings, look for high-rated tires with low rolling resistance. They generally won't cost more, and replacing a worn tire could save you more than $100 a year in fuel.
Avoid idling for long periods. Think of it this way: When you're idling, your car is getting zero miles per gallon. When we let a Buick Lucerne, with a V8, idle for 10 minutes while warming up, it burned about an eighth of a gallon of gas. A smaller engine would probably burn less, but idling still adds up over time. As a rule, turn off your engine if you expect to sit for more than about 30 seconds. An engine warms up faster as it's driven anyway.
For more information on saving fuel and alternative fuel vehicles, see our Green car guide.
MYTH BUSTERS
Morning fill-ups. A common tip is to buy gasoline in the morning, when the air is cool, rather than in the heat of the day. The theory is that the cooler gasoline will be denser, so you will get more for your money. But the temperature of the gasoline coming out of the fuel nozzle changes very little, if at all, during any 24-hour stretch. Any extra gas you get will be negligible.
Air conditioning vs. opening windows. Some people advise you not to run the air conditioner because it puts more of a load on the engine, which can decrease fuel economy. But others say that opening the windows at highway speeds can affect gas mileage even more by disrupting the vehicle's aerodynamics. Our tests show that neither makes enough of a difference to worry about. Using air conditioning while driving at 65 mph reduced the Camry's gas mileage by about 1 mpg. The effect of opening the windows at 65 mph was not even measurable.
A dirty air filter. Our tests show that driving with a dirty air filter no longer has any impact on fuel economy, as it did with older engines. That's because modern engines use computers to precisely control the air/fuel ratio, depending on the amount of air coming in through the filter. Reducing airflow causes the engine to automatically reduce the amount of fuel being used. Fuel economy didn't change, but the Camry accelerated much more slowly with a dirty filter.
Consumer Reports' tests show how to get the best gas mileage.
The best way to burn less fuel is to buy a car that gets better gas mileage. But our tests with a Toyota Camry and other vehicles show there are ways to minimize what you spend at the pump with your current car.
Drive at a moderate speed. This is the biggest factor. You may have to be a little patient, but driving at 55 mph instead of 65 or 75 will save you money. When we increased the Camry's highway cruising speed from 55 mph to 65, the car's fuel economy dropped from 40 mpg to 35. Speeding up to 75 mph cost the car another 5 mpg. One reason is that aerodynamic drag increases exponentially the faster you drive; it simply takes more fuel to power the car through the air.
Drive smoothly. Avoid hard acceleration and braking whenever possible. In our tests, frequent bursts of acceleration and braking reduced the Camry's mileage by 2 to 3 mpg. Once up to speed on the highway, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires.
Reduce unnecessary drag. At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. So don't carry things on top of your vehicle when you don't have to. Installing a large Thule Cascade 1700 car-top carrier on our Camry dropped its gas mileage from 35 mpg to 29 at 65 mph. Even driving with empty racks on the car reduces its fuel economy.
Don't use premium fuel if you don't have to. If your car specifies regular fuel, don't buy premium under the mistaken belief that your engine will run better. The only difference you'll see is about 20 cents more per gallon. Most cars are designed to run just fine on regular gasoline. Even many cars for which premium is recommended will run well on regular. We have found that the differences are imperceptible during normal driving. Check your owner's manual to find out if your engine really requires premium or if you can run on other grades.
Minimize driving with a cold engine. Engines run most efficiently when they're warm. In our city-driving tests, making multiple short trips and starting the engine from cold each time reduced fuel economy by almost 4 mpg. Engines also produce more pollution and wear faster when they're cold. When possible, combine several short trips into one so that the engine stays warm.
Keep tires properly inflated. The Camry experienced a 1.3 mpg loss in highway fuel economy when the tires were underinflated by 10 psi. More important, underinflated tires compromise handling and braking, and wear faster. And they run much hotter, which can lead to tire failure. Check the pressure of your vehicle's tires at least once a month with a tire gauge. The owner's manual explains how to do it.
Buy tires with lower rolling resistance. A tire's rolling resistance can add or detract another 1 or 2 mpg. In our tire ratings, look for high-rated tires with low rolling resistance. They generally won't cost more, and replacing a worn tire could save you more than $100 a year in fuel.
Avoid idling for long periods. Think of it this way: When you're idling, your car is getting zero miles per gallon. When we let a Buick Lucerne, with a V8, idle for 10 minutes while warming up, it burned about an eighth of a gallon of gas. A smaller engine would probably burn less, but idling still adds up over time. As a rule, turn off your engine if you expect to sit for more than about 30 seconds. An engine warms up faster as it's driven anyway.
For more information on saving fuel and alternative fuel vehicles, see our Green car guide.
MYTH BUSTERS
Morning fill-ups. A common tip is to buy gasoline in the morning, when the air is cool, rather than in the heat of the day. The theory is that the cooler gasoline will be denser, so you will get more for your money. But the temperature of the gasoline coming out of the fuel nozzle changes very little, if at all, during any 24-hour stretch. Any extra gas you get will be negligible.
Air conditioning vs. opening windows. Some people advise you not to run the air conditioner because it puts more of a load on the engine, which can decrease fuel economy. But others say that opening the windows at highway speeds can affect gas mileage even more by disrupting the vehicle's aerodynamics. Our tests show that neither makes enough of a difference to worry about. Using air conditioning while driving at 65 mph reduced the Camry's gas mileage by about 1 mpg. The effect of opening the windows at 65 mph was not even measurable.
A dirty air filter. Our tests show that driving with a dirty air filter no longer has any impact on fuel economy, as it did with older engines. That's because modern engines use computers to precisely control the air/fuel ratio, depending on the amount of air coming in through the filter. Reducing airflow causes the engine to automatically reduce the amount of fuel being used. Fuel economy didn't change, but the Camry accelerated much more slowly with a dirty filter.
#177
Every thing I do to save gas contradicts with my driving style
I always drive 55-65 on the highway (slow lane) when I'm by myself, otherwise people complain. usually very smooth
Always keep tires @ 30-33 psi
turn off my car when parked and waiting for someone
I don't drive smooth at all when I'm bored.... opposite lock all day
just mounted tires that are 30mm wider than old ones
91 only
on a side note I've been driving my car harder with t-tops off and windows down, and with the wider tires, and I'm getting an extra 1-3 mpg. Must be the heat helping the engine warm up faster and burn fuel more efficiently...
I always drive 55-65 on the highway (slow lane) when I'm by myself, otherwise people complain. usually very smooth
Always keep tires @ 30-33 psi
turn off my car when parked and waiting for someone
I don't drive smooth at all when I'm bored.... opposite lock all day
just mounted tires that are 30mm wider than old ones
91 only
on a side note I've been driving my car harder with t-tops off and windows down, and with the wider tires, and I'm getting an extra 1-3 mpg. Must be the heat helping the engine warm up faster and burn fuel more efficiently...
#178
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I'm paying over $4/gallon for every fill-up with the TL now. The Odyssey uses regular gas, but every fill-up is $50+.
I've found that my MPG has gone up 1 MPG per tankful with the last couple of tanks- and don't know if it's because of traffic or driving style (I accelerate more gradually now and try to stay below 70).
Tire pressure has always been constant- @2-4 psi higher than recommended on the TL and Ody.
I've found that my MPG has gone up 1 MPG per tankful with the last couple of tanks- and don't know if it's because of traffic or driving style (I accelerate more gradually now and try to stay below 70).
Tire pressure has always been constant- @2-4 psi higher than recommended on the TL and Ody.
#179
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im gonna try my best to not fill up around here as I'm in chicago for the weekend. I got a full tank at $3.97 when i left madison and I'm gonna fill up again in indiana when i go down there tomorrow... hoping its still under $4.
my driving style is horrible when it comes to MPGs. i drive about 80 on the highways, leave my tires about 1-2psi's lower than recommended for better grip, and accelerate hard all over town...
it's hard not to when this car is so much fun to drive!
my driving style is horrible when it comes to MPGs. i drive about 80 on the highways, leave my tires about 1-2psi's lower than recommended for better grip, and accelerate hard all over town...
it's hard not to when this car is so much fun to drive!
#182
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by blueracer17
Near Stevens Point.
#183
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by TSX Wisc Badger
PS
paid $3.97 today for prem.
still haven't paid $4 bucks yet
paid $3.97 today for prem.
still haven't paid $4 bucks yet
#185
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well my streak has ended... had to fork over $4.15 a gal in NW indiana as I was visiting some family. I was very disappointed
#188
Needs more Lemon Pledge
My car runs on tulip bulbs...
#197
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Originally posted by TSX Wisc Badger
I hate this crap, when I started driving 10 yrs ago, you could get a gallon of unleaded for $.89 cents
I hate this crap, when I started driving 10 yrs ago, you could get a gallon of unleaded for $.89 cents
I remember those days!!!!! I remember driving with my parents in the backseat and them flipping out when gas hit a $1.00 and some change, and I would say in my head shut up who cares how much gas is now, thats not much.
Ahhh the good old days when America was king and I didn't have a care in the world. .
Last edited by GalantT3; 10-10-2008 at 09:56 AM.
#198
WAS HONDATAFIED IN
its $4.45 in downtown Chicago for premium. Grants this station is usually the highest in the city. I have seen premium for $3.99... amazing (im well aware there are probably lower prices throughout Chicago, but on my route, this is the price)
#200
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Oil futures sunk to a one-year low Friday morning as a spiraling financial crisis weighed on global demand expectations.
The benchmark oil contract recently traded lower by $8.64 to $77.95 as the International Energy Administration warned increased financial and economic trauma would cut into global demand for oil.
Oil prices have fallen roughly 47% since reaching a record $147.27 on July 11.
“The oil market is dreary,” said Fadel Gheit, managing director and senior analyst covering the oil and gas sector for Oppenheimer & Co.
The benchmark oil contract recently traded lower by $8.64 to $77.95 as the International Energy Administration warned increased financial and economic trauma would cut into global demand for oil.
Oil prices have fallen roughly 47% since reaching a record $147.27 on July 11.
“The oil market is dreary,” said Fadel Gheit, managing director and senior analyst covering the oil and gas sector for Oppenheimer & Co.