Triumphrat

TOMKRILL · 08-01-2007

Back in my younger days I had 3 service stations when I got out of the Army. I sold out, got married and went back and finished school. In '74 we had the OPEC oil embargo. I still knew a lot of dealers and a few months into the "gas shortage" they were saying "Tom, smell this gas! It's old and getting older!" At that time, if you remember, gas had a odor that got worse with time. Today, with all the crap they add to gasoline it doesn't stink but it is getting really bad. Ask any motorcycle repair shop or auto repair shop- the problems with carbs, fuel systems, fuel injection is going off the wall. I add Seafoam when I fill up- I think it works good. There are other additives I have heard, but be careful there is no gasoline shortage, there is an abundance of greed among the good old oil companies.

Pauley · 08-01-2007

Roger that Tommy

I was talking to an old timer. I mean a real old timer (His favorite car he ever owned was a 1936 Whippit.)

He said his oldman and him would go to the service station back when he was a kid and the service stations used to have "clearance" sales on gasoline. They would charge one dollar ($1.00) for eleven (11) gallons. They had these clearance sales because the gas was getting old.

Now, I can just imagine the responses to the above that will follow. But, I think the levels of assininity among the big oil executives has reached an all time high. I say the same in regards to the amounts of BS and HS that they try to feed us.

Gas stations were mainly called service stations in the day. In this day in aqe, the only thing that gets serviced are big oil's pockets.

Silverado57 · 08-01-2007

Just my 2 cents, but in 2007 I can't imagine gas sitting around very long at the gas station waiting to get pumped.
I think we're burning it almost as fast as they're refining it.

tba-golfer · 08-01-2007

Silverado is spot on. Turnover of gasoline inventory has never been higher. How many refineries have opened up in your locale in the last twenty five years? Nada.
In 40 years of driving I've never noticed a variance in gasoline quality.
Today, by and large, gasoline is a (relatively) low margin product, sold to get you into the Convenience Store itself where you then purchase high margin items like soda, cigs., and Hostess Twinkies.

HiVel · 08-01-2007

I Am Not Sure If Gas Gets Worse Or Better With Age-i Do Know Twinkies Get Better The Older They Are. I Like Them After They Have Been On The Dash Of My Car For At Least 3 Weeks. You Want To Catch Them Just Before The Plastic Bag Blows From Swelling Of The Preservatives Gases They Use. Mmmmmm Good!

Gasoline Is Ok, But Nitromethane Is Better!

tba-golfer · 08-01-2007

Spot on HiVel!

But I would have imagined you to be more of a Moon Pie afficionado...

Ever had one of these bad boys?

http://www.candydirect.com/bars/Nut-Goodie.html

Loxpump · 08-01-2007

Well I'm not a big government person, but I'm beginning to think that gasoline is more like electricity and natural gas than anything else. There is hardly a few cents difference in price between gas stations within the same state. What happened to the "gas wars" of days gone by? I was young and only filling up a gas can for my dirt bike but it was 25 cents a gallon! And my dad would send me in the store with a buck to buy him 2 packs of smokes for him and the clerk just handed the 10 year old kid the cigarettes and change! Oops off subject. I know there is no shortage of oil but refining capacity is another story. One problem I have is there is no longer true competition in the oil industry. It's controlled by a few, I call them "TOC's" Thieving Oil Companies. Just my opinion. And I hear Twinkies are great deep fried!

Jimi_X · 08-01-2007

Yep! If there is no shortage,..create it! Hmmmmmm, let's see, we won't increase our refining facilities, which creates a shortage, we increase prices.....and then we increase prices again to cover the cost of increasing refining facilities.

Heads they win tails we loose.

I believe in capitalism, and all, but this is just pure greed. Satisfy the shareholder at all costs and execs,..remember those bonuses!

tba-golfer · 08-01-2007

Lox

I share your sentiments and experiences...

Here's the drill: most folks rail at their point of purchase, the gas station.

The owner/more often franchisee has ZERO control over the price which is charged at the pump. So, folks, don't kill the messenger, as the saying goes.

Upstream is the wholesaler, who distributes the gasoline from the refinery to the local stations. The wholesale prices are dictated by the "spot" market, (the current delivery price, interantionally, adjusted for local conditions.)

Spot prices are affected by, among other things, refinery capacity and requirements (its not all gasoline- have you checked the total disconnect with diesel prices/) futures prices, weather, seasonal factors, raw crude future prices, and especially POLITICS. Let's belay the mid east for a bit...
the danger zone right now is in South America- with Venezuela, Columbia, Bolivia... Even if the crude is not tangent, the nationalization of industries is mucho significant.

So.... don't rail against your local gas jockey. Buy a Twinkie or two...that may well keep gasoline prices down in the long run.

decobike · 08-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by tba-golfer

and Hostess Twinkies.

I hope that wasn't a twinkie bash.