Continued from Part 1

I find it interesting that it seems cheaper in FL than here in NJ - usually it's cheaper here, since we refine our own fuel (there are 5 refineries in the NJ area - you can see one of them from the top of Tinicum RR Light). Thus, we usually have some of the lowest prices in the nation, even with mandatory full-serve.

Yet almost all our FLA friends have been paying under $3...those lucky ducks...

From $3.49 Labor Day weekend to $2.63 today. I'm so glad we moved into our new house when we did - I haven't hardly gone anywhere with unpacking boxes and taking care of the new baby and Matt rides the Harley to work, a big three mile commute and his last tank lasted him three weeks (and it cost him a whopping $7 to fill up his little 'ole 2 gallon tank last time!).

Hey, we got to get lucky sometime. Last year we had 3 hurricanes in Central Florida. For part of that time gas was hard to get, at any price.

Cheapest I've seen it around the northewest suburbs of Chicago was $2.81 last night. I pass about 12 gas stations on my 13 mile drive from work. Last night on the way home I saw it as high as $2.94 and as low as $2.81. All depends where you are.

Mike

Last night, I actually saw a couple of stations sellling regular for $2.99 a gallon (up from a high of $3.59 a couple of weeks ago).

Gas prices have fell a little more. It's now $2.98 for 87 octane. For some odd reason, Mobil, Shell, Sunoco, and Gulf are all the same price right now. Usually Cumberland Farms (Gulf) is at least 5 cents a gallon cheaper. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the gas prices at the marinas come down before I have to do about a 180 gallon fill-up.

Bob

Our supermarket chains Tesco and Asda (part of the Wall Mart Group) have started the downward trend this morning by reducing their prices to nearly "pre-Katrina" times. And Esso followed... There is hope yet!
But it means we are still paying $7.23 per gallon :rolleyes:

I saw gas as cheap as $2.46 in Arkansas yesterday, back home today as low as $2.59 today, hopefully the gas I bought just before the price skyrocketed (at $2.47) will last me another week until it gets back to $2.47 or less.

Gas is still around $3.22-3.34 in Oyster Bay and along the north shore of Nassau County, LI....but I found an Exxon off the LI Expressway in Suffolk County at the north service road, either at around Vets Highway, Motor Parkway or 111 (can't remember which) - for $2.95 yesterday! Been seeing a lot more for $2.99 in Suffolk County now too - definitely a Gulf station around exit 61 off the North Service Road of the Expressway has been at that price for over a week now. Yey! Maybe I'll actually be able to fill up my tank for under $50 again.

There's a gasoline tank farm at the Port of Providence that we drive by on our way to the boat. It seems all brands fill their tank trucks here. I see Gulf, Shell, Sunoco, J.P. Noonan (they service the lesser known gas brands like A+) filling up there. There's a Shell station about 1/2 mile up the street from the tank farm. That Shell station has the highest prices around. I guess being close to the tank farm doesn't reduce their selling price.

I also know the more affluent communities in Massachusetts often have higher gas prices at their stations. I also notice stations on main commuter routes to Boston often have higher prices.

Isn't all gas basically the same other than octane differences?

:rolleyes: Bob :rolleyes:

Well bob the answer to that question is yes and no. There are many differnet formulations with different additives that the companies try to use to differentiate but for the most part are not that much different.

There is haowever the requirements that many different states apply to the gas sold in thier state that require different formulations that can be sold almost literally right next to each other- CA is the one with the most specific regulations but there are a large number of states including many on the East coast that require special formulations.

Bottom line though I guess they can't be all that different because you don't read about PA cars breaking down in MA because of the gas you put into them.

Dennis

My friend, Smitty, USCG service# 354119, worked in the Merchants for quite a few years. They used to deliver gasoline to tank farms. He told me to buy the cheapest gas you could fine as long as your car ran okay using it. He said it was all the same in relation to different brands. He did also say that each individual brand would add something to theirs to make it a little different from the others.

Cheapo gas in the are is $2.89 for 87 octane. The gas stations about a mile away are still at $2.98 for 87.

Bob

Just filled my tank here in New Jersey. This time gas was down to $2.979. Can you believe that we are happy that the cost of gasoline dropped below $3.00? Unbelievable.

I remember when the cost per gallon dropped to 35 cents during the mid-1950's Gas Wars in Wisconsin.

bobo

That was my whole "Boiling Frogs" analogy, Bob. We're just thrilled that the price of gas is now "just" $2.919 and a year or two ago it was $1.35.

$2.85 this morning! Most are still 309.
Should be a lot lower by now.
It should be able to drop as fast as it rose(tic).
Yeah, right. :rolleyes:
Bob

I have heard that the price might jump again due to Hurricane Rita.

I filled up with regular this morning at $2.65 a gallon on the westside of Indy...

Fuel oil is 2.94 a gallon w/o a demand?

The cheaper stations are down to the low two-eighties in my vicinity. I fear the Hurricane Rita thing will drive the price up again.

:rolleyes: Bob :rolleyes:

Lowest I've seen is $2.91.

But here's the news from CNN:

Rita could mean $5/gallon gas

So if that happens, a month from now, we'll be 'thankful' that gas is 'only $4.25' a gallon.

Left CT on 9/14/05, filled up in Denton, MD at $2.90.
Filled up on 9/15/05 in Greensboro, MD at $2.88.
Filled up on 9/17/05 in Ellendale, DE at $2.95.
Filled up on 9/21/05 in Middletown, DE at $2.74.
Filled up on on 9/21/05 in Kent, CT at $3.00.

Naturally, we had already filled up on our way to Piney Point, St. Mary's County, MD when we passed a station where regular was priced at $2.57.

Today Regular was 2.67 in Madison, WI

Today Regular was 2.75 in Madison, Wisconsin - up 8 cents a gallon from yesterday.

I paid $2.84 a couple days ago which is the first gas I've bought since just before it started to go up after Katrina. Fortunately I don't have to go very far for what I need. If you can believe it I still had over half a tank! Yes I heard that $5 story too. Yikes!

Filled up the Suburban yesterday @ $2.52 a gallon
Filled up my pickup this morning @ $2.51 both here in Northwest Indiana, hopefully to stay ahead of any new hurricane related price spikes.

...Although most gas stations are $2.59 to $2.69 around here.

Gas prices have been on hold around here. $2.84 seems to be the common price at the cheaper stations. It's been that way for over a week.
I topped off the tanks on "It's Only Money" yesterday. The marina gas prices dropped from almost four bucks a gallon down to $3.50. Topping the tanks off was only $485 (such a deal). We probably will haul the boat soon. Having the new puppy at home and other family commitments is limiting the boat useage.

The nights are getting longer and damper. The days are getting shorter and cooler. Fall is here!

Bob

Filled up at $2.55 a gallon this morning.. I didn't need much gas, I just wanted to experience the lower price!!

Still at $2.67 here in New England or at least in my area. Hope it keeps coming down. OIl man showed up today and heating oil is at $255.9 herre in eastern Mass.

Bert

Regular gas is $2.93 and Super is $3.13. Must be it cost more to bring in from the Gulf to Florida then it does to truck up North. Very interesting.

State gas taxes sometimes make a big difference..

Our state gas taxes are 2nd only to Hawaii. Going rate for regular near me is down? to $2.81. I can't even get a break on firewood. My neighbor and I ordered 6 cords, 4 for her and 2 for me as I don't usually use the wood stove as much as she does. They guy came on the 4th and dumped it all at her place. After her grandsons stacked hers I was left with about 3/4th of a cord. Repeated calls to the supplier have brought only promises but no more wood. Seems I'm up the creek unless I want to go through a lawyer which would hardly be cost effective. I'm so sick of fighting to be treated equally.

If you run out of wood, I've heard Glows burn well.

Rgds,
Saint Grinning, Ducking & Running

Well Tim, last week I.O. and I went to an open house at an alpaca farm. Included was a spinning demonstration. In addition to alpaca fur one of the spinners was spinning rabbit fur. I asked her about using cat hair (which I have in abundance). She was purr-fectly serious when she replied that if it was long hair it would probably work fine. Wonder if I have enough fur to make an afghan? Convert the cats into dogs to help keep warm this winter???

Reminds me a few decades ago when I went to a photography workshop in Yosemite. One of the instructors had a watchcap knitted with 'wool' spun from his dog's hair.

Smelled like a wet dog!

Back to a discussion of gas prices and boiling frogs.

After an initial "slump" our gas prices are "on the up" again. Had to pay 97 pence per litre yesterday ... in your money that makes it $7.74 ... better than it has been, but still a disgrace - especially when you think that the government takes about 70% of that in taxes one way or another... Grrr...

Paid $2.58 for regular today in Torrington. A Shell station was selling regular for 5 cents less, but only for cash or using a Shell card. Stan just got home and said $2.57 was what he paid in New Jersey today.

Speaking of alpaca, in the cold of winter I always wear alpaca socks. They are the warmest socks you can buy, and they keep your feet incredibly dry.

Bob

$2.44 for regular this morning on the way in to work!!

Well I guess high gas prices include home heating which leads to discussion on keeping warm using alternative methods. (Just my excuse for letting this thread go to the dogs. )

It is my understanding that we are seeing lower gas prices because President Bush has lowered the gas standards in order to get volume to the pumps. I heard that although we are paying less at the pump we won't be seeing the same mileage in our cars...therefore more fillups therefore we are still paying about the same for gas. And it looks like there is another big hurricane bearing down on the gulf coast...Wilma. We are all in for an expensive winter I am afraid!!

The standards temporarily abated by the President related to air quality standards. Currently there are 40+ blends of gasoline that must be produced for differents areas of the country. Suspending the requirements allows the oil companies to produce fewer blends in less time at less cost, thus increasing supply. There should be no impact on milage, unless it might go up.

Currently TS/hurricane Wilma is projected to cross Florida about next Monday well south of Tampa with no impact on oil facilities. Impact on lighthouses is another question. As we used to say in the weather business, "stay tuned, all forecasts are valid until the weather changes."

Although we are still getting screwed at the pumps, the price of gas has been holding around $2.63 a gallon for 87 octane. That's roughly about 70 cents cheaper than it was awhile back but still way over what we were paying a year or so ago.

I haven't noticed any change in the gas mileage of my three vehicles. I really don't think a change of the blending of the gas changes your mileage but I bet in certainly causes more pollution.

:rolleyes: Bob :rolleyes:

If you want better mileage (or want to avoid poorer mileage) don't use ethanol blended gasoline. Because it burns cooler, a gallon of gas with ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gas without. You'll pay as much (or more) but won't go as far.

Price of gas in Indy when we left for Michigan City last night...$2.31 for regular!

We are paying about 30 - 35 cents higher than you Paul. I wonder why?

Bert

We're paying 25 cents more, Bert, and I'm less than 50 miles north of Paul. Must be hauling it up here in platinum tankers.....

Bert, ...I think we are higher because of gas taxes here in Massachusetts.

The above quote is from an article on the AOL homepage that welcomes me when I sign on. Falling gas prices are big news and good news to consumers. I also think there is less consumption in my neck of the woods after the summer months.

Standby though, heating season is upon us which means even the gas prices to start to climb a little because of it. No, I don't burn gas for heat. I'm an oil-fired forced hot water home. I also have a wood stove that heats around 1700 square feet. Wood stoves can be such a blessing with their added warmth.

Bob

Ethanol? Well if your state or locality mandates it's incorporation into gasoline you're stuck. You're also stuck if you live in a state that has high gasoline taxes. So the only way out would be to move or quit driving. We've compared gas prices before Katrina and the results always brought quite a range. So if most of the same factors are what's causing the ddifferences now....why are we doing this again? Other than to report the sudden increases and not so sudden decreases since the hurricane.

(Much more entertaining are the "furry" posts, imo! )

I'll report that all our local stations are currently at $2.75 so I don't get chastized again for going off topic.........

I topped off the tank at $2.29.9 a gallon this morning on the way in to work..

It is $2.55 here in Oregon, Wisconsin.

$2.499 here in TAXachusetts! Thanks for reminding me of our high taxeses Bob.

Bert

$2.27.9 this morning... I just hope it keeps going.

The lowest I've seen lately is $2.52 for a gallon of 87 octane at a truck stop in Plainville, MA. The stations near me are holding at $2.57. Hopefully, the price will continue to fall.

Bob

Last weekend in Dayton the most I paid was 2.28 and the lowest I noticed was 2.25. made the trip just that much better!!

Since I went to fill up a couple of hours ago, I thought I would throw my two cents into the conversation. I get a 6 cent discount at my neighborhood supermarket, so I paid only $2.53 instead of the posted $2.59 for regular. Took over $33.00 to put a little over 13 gallons into my little Honda. I remember when I could fill up for around $15.00 to $20.00 - the good ole days!

I saw it for $2.54 here yesterday. My wife's in Omaha and last night said it was $2.17 there.

Discussion continued in part 3 .