Premium gas

[tinstartrvlr]

Evening all,

Not looking to start a debate about premium vs regular gas.

While at the gas station today, I noticed the cost of premium gas was about 75cents more than regular. Seems the last time I paid any attention to the price of premium it was something like 20 or 30 cents more than regular.

75 cents seems a little ridiculous to me.

What gives?

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

wa8yxm wrote:
As noted it varies from place to place mostly depending on how smart the people are. As you said you don't want to start a debate about the alleged benefits of "High test" but many folks just insist that their modern, tuned for regular, cars run better on the more expensive stuff.

Others actually measure miles and gallons and know the truth. (I'd guess you are among them). So the stations have to mark down the high-test in an attempt to lure some of 'em into over paying,

That said. Yes there are still some "Tuned for high test" cars out there, and some still being made that need high test.... Out of my price range however.

On the money!

There must be 16.5 million dumb people in the US. :B
(I personally think there is more than that but that's a whole different story.)

[wowens79]

I think part of it in many cases is that if you can afford, and are willing to pay for a car that requires it, you probably aren't going to complain about the price of the fuel.

[wa8yxm]

As noted it varies from place to place mostly depending on how smart the people are. As you said you don't want to start a debate about the alleged benefits of "High test" but many folks just insist that their modern, tuned for regular, cars run better on the more expensive stuff.

Others actually measure miles and gallons and know the truth. (I'd guess you are among them). So the stations have to mark down the high-test in an attempt to lure some of 'em into over paying,

That said. Yes there are still some "Tuned for high test" cars out there, and some still being made that need high test.... Out of my price range however.

[OH48Lt]

Around here the price diff from 87 to 93 is 30 to 80 cents per gallon. Depends on the station, and what they think they can get from your wallet. Pulled into a Shell station locally to fill up the Harley. 87 was 2.279/gallon, 93 was 3.089/gallon. I pulled out and went to another station down the road. 87 was 2.279, 93 was 2.569.

[tinstartrvlr]

Guess it is pretty much of a boost (gouge?) in price everywhere.

My new truck is gas and mfg recommends premium when weather is hot or when towing. Otherwise regular is fine, and it does run fine on regular (haven't towed yet so don't know how that will go). If gas prices climb back up where they were a couple years ago, it will be regular no matter what.

Thanks all for the input.

[04fxsts]

Use regular in everything except my 2004 Harley Davidson which needs premium. The trade off is it gets 40+ mpg so I don't mind. Jim.

[mike-s]

westend wrote:

mike-s wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
they're working to price it out of demand.

Which is a lie, since there are vehicles which require premium. What they're really doing is gouging.

Premium is delivered either in a different transport or in a separate tank of the truck to the station. It is somewhat the delivery that raises the price, not gouging or extra work at the refinery. Although, premium gas at the refinery has the same separate storage issue as in the transportation which also raises the price.

Whoosh. The reasons you give have always been true. Contrary to the original claim, some vehicles/devices require premium, so it's not really possible to "price it out of demand." Taking economic advantage of a captive market is price gouging.

http wrote:
"From 2010 to 2014, a gallon of premium gasoline cost 7% to 10% more than regular, on average. In 2015, however, the price difference leapt to 17%, and in February 2016 it was up to 27%...There is no single reason why there's now a larger premium for premium gas. To some extent, gas stations have been charging more for premium for months simply because they can."

[JALLEN4]

westend wrote:

mike-s wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
they're working to price it out of demand.

Which is a lie, since there are vehicles which require premium. What they're really doing is gouging.

Premium is delivered either in a different transport or in a separate tank of the truck to the station. It is somewhat the delivery that raises the price, not gouging or extra work at the refinery. Although, premium gas at the refinery has the same separate storage issue as in the transportation which also raises the price.

I can understand that theory but by the same token mid-grade and regular for that matter must also be handled separately.

[westend]

mike-s wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
they're working to price it out of demand.

Which is a lie, since there are vehicles which require premium. What they're really doing is gouging.

Premium is delivered either in a different transport or in a separate tank of the truck to the station. It is somewhat the delivery that raises the price, not gouging or extra work at the refinery. Although, premium gas at the refinery has the same separate storage issue as in the transportation which also raises the price.

[Tvov]

lawnspecialties wrote:
Its the same here, too. I have to buy it for my small engine stuff: trimmers, edgers, blowers, etc.

But fortunately, that's only about 5-7 gallons per week. But its generally around 75 cents more at the store I frequent.

I've never used premium for my small engines, and they seem to work fine. I've been landscaping for years. The biggest problem I have is the ethanol mixed fuel destroying fuel lines in equipment stored during the winter. Draining fuel before storing is critical due to how bad fuel is now for small engines.

[Tvov]

I don't understand why "mid grade" exists. Seems like you either use regular, or premium. What is the point of mid grade?

Around me premium is darn close to 75 cents more, depending on moon phase and astrological predictions (otherwise I can't figure out the price fluctuations...).

[lawnspecialties]

Its the same here, too. I have to buy it for my small engine stuff: trimmers, edgers, blowers, etc.

But fortunately, that's only about 5-7 gallons per week. But its generally around 75 cents more at the store I frequent.

[2112]

It's called free enterprise. There is very little profit for the retailer in RUG. The gas pump is there to get you in the store to buy that $1.89 coke or $2 bottle of water.

[ktmrfs]

around here it is about $.20 per gallon. I know, both my cars require premium. It's not a premium recomended, but premium fuel only. Same with both my motorcycles. premium required. So.... we pretty much track premium prices when shopping. Course now diesel is noticeably less than premium around here, often finally less than regular even with the higher fuel tax.

[mike-s]

GordonThree wrote:
they're working to price it out of demand.

Which is a lie, since there are vehicles which require premium. What they're really doing is gouging.