Posted by James Dawson on 2/21/11 12:58pm
Msg #373540

Gas Prices - this may belong in Leisure but..

Today I paid $3.60/Gal to fill up my tank. There will be no more fee negotiating for me. It's what I want or "see if you can get it approved" period!

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/21/11 1:17pm
Msg #373541

Up to $3.20/gal here yesterday..

and they change the prices every Tuesday and/or Thursday..ugh

Reply by jba/fl on 2/21/11 1:26pm
Msg #373545

I have a full tank from $2.92 since I'm not travelling

much right now. Haven't been out of the neighborhood, so don't know where prices are right now. But, But....it is a holiday week-end and everyone seems to raise prices for just such occassions.

Tues may be a better rate.

ok - just peeked: Orlando running $3.01-$3.14 right now. Now I'll have to check again tomorrow to see if I'm right.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/21/11 1:51pm
Msg #373557

Re: I have a full tank from $2.92 since I'm not travelling

I can only dream of $2.92. It's been months since I paid less than $3.00 locally.

Reply by Mike Goodey on 2/21/11 10:47pm
Msg #373622

Re: I have a full tank from $2.92 since I'm not travelling

You know what I'd like to know? Why? This supposed to be the slow month for gas. The U.S. better get off their butts and DO SOMETHING about this energy problem or we will be paying $5.00 per gallon soon.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/22/11 8:14am
Msg #373638

I heard on the news last night that we can expect to

see gas prices rise over the next 7-10 days and we could see $5/gal...

Wow..

Reply by John Schenk on 2/21/11 1:23pm
Msg #373543

$2.95 is the cheapest here. Gas prices are certainly a factor. Quite a few places here over $3.00 but nothin close to $3.60 yet...WOW!

JJ

Reply by Larry/IL on 2/21/11 1:36pm
Msg #373547

Chicago

Prices are ranging from $3.15 to 3.70 the closer to the city you get. I have been asking for a bump in fees to cover the increases. About 40% have been agreeing.

Reply by James Dawson on 2/21/11 1:52pm
Msg #373558

Re: Chicago

Even less here, it like it out of their control. I can't believe the fee offering is the same no matter what part of the country.

Reply by bagger on 2/21/11 1:36pm
Msg #373548

Interesting site if you want to find the cheapest gas in your area.
http://www.gasbuddy.com

Reply by John Schenk on 2/21/11 1:40pm
Msg #373550

GasBuddy.com

I use that site all the time. They have people that post and keep that one pretty much up to the day. Some of the others list only a few places. I always like to know what Sam's and Murphy's prices are as they're usually among the cheapest, but today they're a few cents higher than 4 other places are.

JJ

Reply by xyz32 on 2/21/11 1:36pm
Msg #373549

Total mess over here in Hawaii ! We are at $4/gallon

Reply by John Schenk on 2/21/11 1:41pm
Msg #373551

YIKES! Hope you have a moped. n/m

Reply by Larry/IL on 2/21/11 1:46pm
Msg #373552

1st generation Insight 55MPG n/m

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/21/11 1:49pm
Msg #373555

Re: 1st generation Insight 55MPG

Got a buddy with one of those. Around town, great. Get on long distance trips, it drops to what a normal small car gets. He went to Reno and only average 32 mpg. Sucks gas up those hills.

Reply by Larry/IL on 2/21/11 1:52pm
Msg #373559

Re: 1st generation Insight 55MPG

Not sure how he drives it, but I get 55 average with a good mix of Highway. bought it off Ebay in Kingman AZ back when gas was $4/gallon. It averaged 59mpg all way back to Illinois. It has made doing closing full time bearable to say the least.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/21/11 2:16pm
Msg #373564

Re: 1st generation Insight 55MPG

Well, he is a petal to the metal kind of guy.

Knowing him, he probably thrashed it, but highway 395 does vary in elevation from 1500 feet all the way to 9000 feet on the way to Reno. My mother-in-law's Prius doesn't do real well on that route either.

Reply by Larry/IL on 2/21/11 2:26pm
Msg #373566

Re: 1st generation Insight 55MPG

I hear you Glenn, when I drive in a hurry it drops back to 47mpg without any hills. Hopefully the 32mpg going up should have been well over 100mpg going down. There is a group of 1st gen Insight owners that meet in Madison every year, hyper-milers. Best manual trans get over 120mpg, best Auto trans gets about 90mpg, they usually have tweeks done to them. Still makes you wonder why car companies are not further along with that technology.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/21/11 4:06pm
Msg #373576

Re: 1st generation Insight 55MPG

Now I am really off topic. But hey, it's a holiday. Back in the 60s, my high school auto shop sponsored a fuel mileage derby. A team would pick a members car, run it on a course laid out by the teacher. We got 38 mpg out of a 1955 ford v8. Of course 25 mph, 50 psi in the tires, coasting with the engine off isn't in the best practices of driving.

I have a formula somewhere on how to figure the maximum mileage a vehicle can get from a gallon of gas. It figures the heat energy in BTUs in a gallon of gas, a speed, weight, a calculation for internal friction and flywheel momentum losses in the engine and drive train and drag co-efficient assigned to each vehicle. Even at a 100% fuel to motion conversion rate, it's not as high as you might thin, My physics/ auto class used it to debunk claims that the oil companies bought and buried a 100 mpg carburetor. I just remember what it was for the 1966 mustang I was driving at the time. Even at a 100% conversion rate for the gasoline, the max mileage for that car, considering the weight at a speed of 60mph was 69 miles per gallon. In the real world , it got about 21 at that speed. Now, I can get 25 out of a similar 1967 mustang I am restoring right now at 60 mph. The only difference between it and the one I had in back then was I have installed electronic ignition and a variable venturi (mechanically adjust fuel mixture for altitude) carburetor. Todays fuel with the alcohol added is not as energy dense as the 60s fuel, so if I were using real gas, I could probably get 27 or 28 out of my current Mustang.

Reply by jba/fl on 2/21/11 3:01pm
Msg #373572

Re: 1st generation Insight 55MPG

My Prius doesn't like the "hills" either, esp. when I have 2-3 kayaks on it. I still get mid to high 30's.

Reply by 101livescan on 2/21/11 3:15pm
Msg #373573

Re: YIKES! Hope you have a moped.

I'm thinking of a Harley Davidson! Now then I would be wearing leather! but no heavy metal or tats!

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/21/11 1:46pm
Msg #373553

James, take a drive up 395.

Bridgeport $4.69 regular.

Lee Vining $4.59 regular

Mammoth $9.99 regular.

Bishop $3.89 regular.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/21/11 1:47pm
Msg #373554

OOps,

$3.99 not $9.99 Yet.

Reply by James Dawson on 2/21/11 1:59pm
Msg #373562

Re: James, take a drive up 395.

Heading north off grapevine, first gas station before buttonwillow $4.59...
I'm familiar with 395 because if isolation travelers , commuters have got to be also.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/21/11 2:17pm
Msg #373565

Aarrrrrgggg.

$4.59 on the 5?

Reply by James Dawson on 2/21/11 2:26pm
Msg #373569

Re: Aarrrrrgggg.

Chevron

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 2/21/11 2:59pm
Msg #373571

Re: James, take a drive up 395.

$4.59 in Buttonwillow? Good grief.

I have a conference in Portland in May... I was going to drive, but I might as well fly at this point. Yuck.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/21/11 7:44pm
Msg #373593

Take 99 for as long as possible....

The gas is less money there.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/21/11 4:16pm
Msg #373579

$3.57 yesterday, $3.63 today. At lease the sun is out. n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/21/11 4:17pm
Msg #373580

er, that would be 'least'. n/m

Reply by MikeC/NY on 2/21/11 10:37pm
Msg #373621

We're paying about $3.50 in my local area, so I can feel your pain....

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 2/21/11 11:44pm
Msg #373623

Basic tips for saving gas!

I owned a 7-11 Convenience Store with Gasoline for 14 years.

1. Pump gas when the temperature is cool, early morning or night (not much of a problem in Feb, but it is in the summer months.) Vapor expands in the heat and not enough gas hits your tank.

2. Don't put the gas handle on automatic fill, because too much vapor gets in the tank instead of gasoline.

3. When going down hill take your foot off the gas and coast.

4. Start slowly, when driving instead, of gunning the gas pedal.

5. Cars do not need the "high performance/ higher priced gasoline grades unless they are truly high performance cars. This is a guy thing, as women hardly ever use these grades.
It's a great way for gas stations to increase their profits. I know it was in mine.

I bet other people have suggestions! Let's hear!

Reply by James Dawson on 2/22/11 9:11am
Msg #373645

Re: Basic tips for saving gas!

Joan, I think it's easier to adjust your fees. As far as a "guy" thing? We drive with both feet so it's harder to get the car going. LOL