Are you glad you have a PRIUS=The way Gasoline prices are going UP & UP

Seems many could use this reading.
Interesting article on energy independence and the global oil market | PriusChat

The short of it is that there is no energy independence as it currently stands, even when the US did have more exports than imports. The producers are always going to sell to who pays the most. Independence only happens with a nationalized industry.

Let's not forget frackers were also driving the price down by pushing to increase production. Even when the price per barrel was near or below their production costs, before considering most Gulf Coast refineries only purchased it when it was discounted by the producers.

I still don't understand their thinking.

Well, they finally wised up, and are focused on paying the investors. Frackers are now taking it easy, and not rushing to increase production.

 

On the 8th March, I drove to our local Shell Refuelling Garage to refill my almost depleted Prius II Tspirit (UK) from empty.

I normally fill up at the local ESSO Station with 95 RON E10 Petrol, but HAVE noticed a slight lack in engine performance and it’s noisier too - especially when the temps are close to freezing in the morning. I do wonder what that excess Ethanol is doing to my engine. My MPG also tanked at 56.4mpg for my last E10 tankful - despite careful driving.
Depressingly, the E10 fuel was also disappearing rather very quickly indeed!

So for the first time in my life I opted to go fill up with Shell’s 99 RON E5 Petrol instead, also popularly known as V-Power (or Super Unleaded).
To be clear, I was NOT expecting Ferrari performance from my Prius - I wanted to see what MPG I’d get going back to E5 Petrol.

My fill up on 8th March cost me £69.67 for about 42 litres - this was supposed to be the most expensive Premium Fuel you could buy in the area - normally purchased by drivers of equally expensive premium marques.

Since then, the price has shot up further almost daily.
It’s now over £7.00 a gallon (imperial of course) in the UK - and that’s for standard 95 RON Petrol.

Diesel prices hit £1.99 a litre at some Refuelling Stations yesterday - it was in the news.

So far, I’m pleased with my 99 RON V-Power fill up. I was also more interested in the detergents in the fuel cleaning my injectors and lubricating what they lubricate.
I didn’t want to risk buying some third party cleaner and pouring it into my tank).

The engine runs smoother from stone cold, shuts down much quicker in the cold (I’m sure it’s warming up much quicker too), it’s quieter when cruising on CC or otherwise, indeed it feels exactly as it did before I started using E10 - I don’t think E10, plus those other additives they put in Petrol for colder freezing weather are a good combination.

Am I happy I have a Prius right now? You bet!
I just crossed the 137,000 mile mark and I think there’s a lot of life left in “The Spaceship” just yet.
I’m horrified at what other people must be paying for Fuel per tank.

Perhaps the most interesting observation in the UK this week, is a lot of commuters are mostly driving within the speed limits for once, trying to conserve fuel!


Source: iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB ? Pro

 

Most of the US population uses E10 for some time. All the gas around me was E10, back when I had the 2005 Prius new. It isn't going to hurt the engine. It is entirely possible Toyota could use E5 only rubbers in the fuel system for some markets, but I bet it would cost more to stock different types of the same part than just using materials that are safe for E10 for everything.

Engines are designed to run on the edge of knock for performance and efficiency. Ignition timing is advanced until knock detection starts, and then gets dialed back. This adjustment is happening constantly. With an octane higher than what the engine needs, the ignition timing can be advanced all the way possible, and there could be no hint of knocking. Not being on that knock threshold could let the engine run smoother overall. Of course, you are paying more on fuel without getting the full benefit of its properties.

I'm pretty sure the other benefits are placebo

Winter blend petrol doesn't have additives. It isn't a single molecule like water, but a mix of different hydrocarbons. For winter, they just mix in more compounds with lower boiling point; mostly butane. The blend can evaporate with the colder air better than the summer blend. For older cars, it helps with starting. We also need a way of getting rid of the stores of the less valuable lighter stuff that builds up over the summer.

 

Gone back to high mileage , 70,000 mile tread life , narrow tread width passenger tires and filling their air pressure to their maximum rated of 51 psi.

I will really miss my wide sticky racing tires low profile plus low tread life. But absolutely Superior outstanding road handling and super short stopping distances compared to conventional passenger tires a much safer tire.

But it’s it easy 9 miles to the gallon plus gas mileage improvement with the thin high mileage high psi narrow tires.
But you will hear a lot of road noise and you will feel a lot more road vibration.

sacrifice for gas mileage.

 

Here’s a good article
The Toyota Prius Doesn’t Deserve The Ire It Gets From Enthusiasts


The Toyota Prius Doesn’t Deserve The Ire It Gets From Enthusiasts

 

see here:

fun-article-about-the-prius-and-ire-of-enthusiasts.231791

 

Sorry...couldn't let the ridiculousness in the post I replied to stand....

Any yes, I was going to suggest moving this to P&R even *before* my reply...

 

Just spent $31 filling up the Prius...most EVER....felt really bad for the Dodge Ram truck owner in the stall next to me who put in $100. And a pound of bacon is closing in on $7....what is happening?????

 

Depends on who you ask......

 

The pandemic, followed by war in Ukraine which has made countries start closing trading with Russia. There's even a hint that trading may close with China. Also world war 3 looming over us all. All of this affects prices as previous sources for such commodities are cut and have to be filled elsewhere leading to lower supply which increases the price unless people stop buying them to also lower demand. Of course, who is going to stop buying gasoline? for an example.

And then there was that protest of Berkshire hogs in downtown Springfield last weekend.

 

Son works for a Kwik Trip gas station...and 'large vehicle' owners have been complaining even when gas was relatively cheap. He's attending college right now...and he's damned glad he doesn't work there at the moment. Apparently some people have been downright hostile to the workers there.

Do people not think of these things when they purchase a vehicle? Obviously not. Seems quite a few folks get in over their head on a truck payment ( and 8 year loans no less in some cases )...and even further over their head when they have to pay for the fuel. I just don't get people sometimes...

 

If humans understood long term risk assessment then credit cards, smoking, and COVID would have turned out a little differently.

 

Materialism. Consumerism.

People are told they "need" this and that. They are told they have to keep up with the Jones'. And they go to their limits (sometimes beyond) to get what they think they need and want. And all for what? A vehicle they can't wait to junk in the trash once they finish paying for it!

There are a lot of vehicles I would love to drive or better yet own. But I don't need them and I have a budget to keep. The cars I currently have are already more than what I could get away with. Sure, a family of 4 in a sedan or a hatchback can be a bit of a squeeze, but we fit and that's the most important part. Plus we're almost done with our 5 year loan. Why get another loan just because? I want to just keep the cars I have for as long as possible. Maybe put half of what I was paying towards extending their lives and the other half to savings for a future vehicle.

I think next time we're going to go with a 3 year loan. Total car costs must fit within a certain margin of our budget too. The car must fit our circumstances, not us fit the car's.

 

My 2004 Prius was at 288k miles when 12 years old. It was still running fine but would have needed several thousand dollars of scheduled maintenance at 300k and the rebuilt battery had 100k miles on it at that time. The needed repairs would have cost much more than the repaired car would be worth and the newly released Ben4 Prius was a much improved car so I spent the ~$30k and was happy with the decision. Forever is a long time.

JeffD

 

i'm old enough to realize these things are cyclical. been there, done that. unfortunately, i'm old enough that i may not see the next cycle.

 

In theory, if you try to keep the car forever it can be cheaper in the long run. Even $2,000 for an engine block + $2,000 for an OEM catalytic converter + $2,000 for a brake actuator + $2,000 for a battery still is $22,000 cheaper than a new Prius. But if you put $8,000 into your 300k Prius and it gets ran over by a cement truck tomorrow I can guarantee you won't get your money back from insurance, and now you have to cough up the money for another car yourself. But if you drive off the lot in your $30,000 Prius and it gets hit by a truck, then insurance should just about square you away.

 

The problem with that theory is that it assumes that a car can be kept for a long time with proper maintenance and repair. Unfortunately, in our region, with heavy salt on roads, cars used regularly in winter last only ~10 years regardless of the initial cost of the vehicle or miles on it.

The cost of car ownership is not just fuel. Including everything from tax, insurance, registration fees, maintenance, repair, and of course, the capital expense of purchasing a car (plus financing cost if not paid cash). So far, in the last ~40 years or so and a couple dozens of cars (new and used) I purchased, the last 2020 PP I have purchased has been the cheapest car to own and operate. If I decide to sell my current 2021 PP Ltd right now, it would be even cheaper than my 2020 PP LE was. In fact, they were the only cars that paid me to drive around. I have found changing a car every two to three years can be very economical and absolutely easier to maintain.

 

Everyone's situation is different. I pay about $150 per month for the past 4 years for car payment and up to $200 per month in fuel budgeted but hardly reach that. Insurance is $150 per month because insurance is dead expensive where I live regardless of the insurer and that I have a clean driving record. I try to do most all my own mechanical work and have $200 set aside per month to save up for maintenance (including tires). So the total is about $700 per month on average for two cars. My neighbor pays over $800 per month just for one car payment...