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Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: paigeoliver on September 12, 2005, 06:32:20 am

Title: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: paigeoliver on September 12, 2005, 06:32:20 am
How come the price of oil affects the price of gasoline so much, but it barely effects the price of OIL at all?

Gas prices might have tripled in the last five years, but the cheapo oil that used to cost me 79 cents a quart is now 99 cents a quart, and the oil at the gas station that used to be $1.49 is now $1.99.
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: HaRuMaN on September 12, 2005, 08:01:14 am
That's a good question...   ???
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: TOK on September 12, 2005, 08:32:30 am
Supply and demand. I don't think most people would think twice about extending their oil change intervals 2,000 miles if motor oil prices went up.
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: abrannan on September 12, 2005, 09:03:55 am
Volume.  5 quarts every 3 months is 5 gallons a year.  Compare to 15-20 gallons/week for gasoline.  A refinery that could only produce a day's worth of gasoline in a day could produce a year's worth of motor oil.

You also have competition from synthetics, so inflation in motor oil would just drive folks over to synthetics.  Gasoline has no effective competition at this point, so the price is much more flexible.
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 09:41:24 am

And since the oil is not a must-buy product, they cannot simply manufacture reasons to increase the price by 100%.
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: missioncontrol on September 12, 2005, 12:52:07 pm
Their trying to claim a gas shortage again in our area......

my guess is the gas stations attempts to raise the prices again since it worked so well last time.......
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: SOAPboy on September 12, 2005, 12:56:37 pm
oddly, gas went DOWN here..

O_o
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 01:02:04 pm

There was an article in my local paper here that showed the price changes. 

The price went UP an average of $.63 during that little crisis. 

The media now claims that the crisis is over and that gas prices have returned to previous levels.

The price has gone DOWN an average of $.08.

That is a net gain of $.55/gallon.

Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: Stingray on September 12, 2005, 01:30:45 pm
Oddly, I think that gas is actually a bit cheaper here now than before Katrina. Not that I'm complaining.

-S
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 01:34:38 pm

Ours is still pretty much at Katrina crisis levels, give or take a dime.
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: Stingray on September 12, 2005, 01:43:44 pm
It was $2.75 at the place I usually buy gas this morning. What are you paying in MA?

-S
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 01:45:46 pm

I don't buy very often, but when I drove past this weekend, it was still somewhere over $3.10 but below $3.20.
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: Stingray on September 12, 2005, 02:01:27 pm
I don't buy gas all that often either, I just happened to notice the price as I drove by. I'm still working on the tank I bought for $3.19 over the labor day weekend.

-S
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 02:05:56 pm

Me too, my car is nearing E now, will have to fill it up tonight or tomorrow morning.

My wife's car is the same, I think.
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: Daniel270 on September 12, 2005, 05:31:03 pm
BYO Refinery anyone?   

Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: daywane on September 12, 2005, 05:33:10 pm
went down to $2:80 today here in KY ???
sad people are glad to see it.
I have a problem in my mind I need to work out.
I got a email the other day, stating lets buy from gas station X instead of station y.
said one station did not buy oil from mid east..
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: rampy on September 12, 2005, 06:20:47 pm
BYO Refinery anyone?   



You got it... HOWTO DIY BioDiesel (http://www.makezine.com/03/biodiesel/)

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2005/06/make_audio_show_4.html

They had a howto in this quarter's make magazine but it looks like a complicated process... 

http://www.schnews.org.uk/diyguide/howtomakebiodiesel.htm

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/45024

Disclaimer: I have never done this, nor am I suggesting that anyone here should try this or that these links are accurate in any way... I'm merely providing them for education/discussion purposes.

I just like to say "Master Blaster rule barter town!"

rampy
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: Stingray on September 13, 2005, 09:15:39 am
Aw, how hard could it possibly be? Why I'll bet I could be refining my own gas within a few hours if I really put my mind to it.

-S
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: Stingray on September 13, 2005, 09:16:07 am
(http://www.learnersonline.com/weekly/lessons04/week4/012604-2.jpg)

-S
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: Tiger-Heli on September 13, 2005, 09:48:24 am
went down to $2:80 today here in KY ???
sad people are glad to see it.
I have a problem in my mind I need to work out.
I got a email the other day, stating lets buy from gas station X instead of station y.
said one station did not buy oil from mid east..  Great I thought... only problem I have, station x ( in my area) ( was a big list of stations not getting oil from mid. east) is BP. 
Problem:  BP gas was 1st gas station to go to $3.00 a gal on 9-11
our state gov. gave them a smack in the chops. They quickly dropped there price.
I have refused to forgive them and not bought gas from them in 4 years
http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp

Do a search on snopes for gasoline, and then buy wherever it's cheapest.

OTOH, were I am - Atlanta, gas about 6 months ago was about $1.85.  Pre-Katrina, it was around $2.45 - $2.59.  Post Katrina it increased to $3.15.  Currently, they removed a .15 tax on it, and it has dropped to $2.75.  I suspect it will soon stabilize at $2.50-ish, and the crisis will be over and everyone will rejoice even though it is 0.65 HIGHER than previously.
Title: Re: Silly question about gas prices.
Post by: ChadTower on September 13, 2005, 09:55:22 am
It was proposed to the MA legislature that they suspend the Gas tax temporarily to provide relief to struggling small business and families.  The very concept of reducing taxes was met with laughter by the people who could make it happen.