The Cellar - Gas prices

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http://www.turndownhotfuel.com/myths.html

This is a trucking industry site, but I understand the problem better now.

The fuel heats up during the summer while it sits in above-ground tanks and especially while in the tanker trucks;

The fuel remains at the higher temperature for a longer period of time *because* it's in the insulated tanks at the stations;

The fuel *doesn't* change temperature from day to night;

When the truck offloads the gas into the tanks, selling it to the local operator, they compensate for temperature in the price; this same compensation doesn't happen at the pump, except in Canada and Hawaii where it's mandated;

It's not that much of a difference to really care too much about, but Kucinich is playing it like a fiddle in case gas prices make people dance.

http://cellar.org/2007/hotfuel.jpg

It's funny that Hawaii has temperature compensation, considering how little the temperature varies there. The reference temperature in Hawaii is 80°F, but it's 60° in most other states.

I'd bet money there is a much bigger problem with uncalibrated pumps. Most places require once a year each pump be calibrated, but like so many other things the government does, Weights & Measures is understaffed and underfunded.

I asked one of these guys, I ran into checking the pumps at a station where I was filling up. "How many pumps do you find giving too much gas?". He got a hearty laugh out of that question.

I don't think the gas changes any temp at all in the majority of areas since even when it 100 degrees out, as it almost was today, a huge tank buried some 20 feet in the ground would maintain it at a rather cool temp. The gas is pumped directly from the underground tank into your car where it then heats up. But when it is sold to you it sounds like it would be at a pretty constant temp in the ground. No?

From the link...

Quote:

MYTH: In-ground tanks at gas stations keep fuel at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

FACT: The insulated, fiberglass tanks tend to keep fuel at the temperature it was delivered… for a long time. Also, larger retailers turn over fuel supplies very rapidly, greatly reducing the time the fuel spends in the tanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce (Post 362529)

From the link...

Thanks. I missed it.

To most people, a buck or two on their monthly fuel bill won't make much difference. It's hard for an individual to grasp the huge numbers this adds up to for the oil dealers.

Where it shows up the most is for truckers, using large quantities of fuel. Thats where this movement started, but enlisting the general public they'll get further.

Quote:

Background on the “Turn Down Hot Fuel” campaign
OOIDA Discovers a Heated Problem

In 2002, OOIDA staff began investigating the differences in mileages in diesel fuel from varying retailers, based on reports that truckers were getting different mileages from different fill-ups.
It was in this investigation they discovered that temperature was making a difference in costs.
It was learned that some fuels are sold as high as 90 degrees F.
An all-time high was sold to one driver at 118 degrees F.
OOIDA began taking its findings to the National Conference on Weights and Measures and lawmakers.
In 2006, some states began paying attention and set forth bills to address the problem.

$2.79 / gal this week.