Is it Just Me? Part I: Good Gas/Bad Gas (longish)

I don't buy Mobil (at least locally) because they are always more expensive than every station around. Current local stations - Gulf $1.879, Exxon $1.899, Shell 1.929, Mobil $1.959. They would have to prove to me that I will recover at least the difference in better mileage. That said, I seem to be pretty consistant with whatever I put in my '95 Odyssey. Maybe when my Prius comes in the big jump in avg mpg will make differences in gas formulations more apparent.

 

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I fuel almost exclusively at a Conoco station that is along my commute route. I am able to keep my mileage up to the low to mid 50's according to the computer. I haven't noticed any significant changes in the cars mileage on road trips either, where I'm filling up at whomever is selling gas when I need it. I would hazard a guess to say that your variances are more along the lines of environmental, as well as changes in driving styles.

 

In my area we have a choice that includes one set of Sinclair Oil franchises that provide a 10% ethanol mix. This is a better gas from an emmissions standpoint but contain less energy per gallon, so should constitute a mileage hit. That said overall averaging 50+ mpg since we got the car in March.

 

in Western WA as is most likely in your area, unleaded regular is identical in every way at ALL dealers for ALL makes and brands.

there is a single pipeline that feeds most areas so all fuels including gas, diesel, fuel oil, etc travel the pipe.

it arrives at the distribution station where each brand receives it allocated amount. now does each company receive the same gas it put into the pipeline?? of course not...

the way it works is Mobil puts 10,000 gallons into the pipeline in Texas or wherever. then the distribution station in your area takes out 10,000 gallons and puts it in Mobils holding tank.

if its gas then it is all unleaded regular. now different areas have different requirements for gas so additives are added at this point to create different formulas. as each brand has different ways of creating premium, the premium brands are different... but not by much.

but there is less than 10% of the country that is served by more than one refinery. although i dont know what those areas are, my best guess is that if you live more than a few hundred miles from the gulf or lousiana and other major refining areas, you can be pretty much guaranteed that its just one. there are no refineries in your area. in fact, there are hardly any in the interior or northern states. we have one near portland, but that is because of alaska oil. i believe that refinery is the farthest north.

realize that the consolidation of the oil companies in the late 80's is the biggest single reason for the increase in gas prices... the increase in oil had little to do with it.

in the mid 70's there were over 300 refineries in the US and 50 oil companies... today there are less than a dozen oil companies left and only 15 (i think, this is 2001 numbers) refineries left. the increase in gas is the result of refineries being booked solid creating a shortage that results in higher prices. after all, it doesnt take much to realize that up until recently, the cost of crude is only 25 % higher than 1990 but the cost of gasoline is 70% higher.

fact is, when all the oil companies merged with each other, they eliminated their competition so the drive to provide a better product at a cheaper price vanished as the consumers choice was reduced to only a few in most places. that is why all the gas is the same.

for an eye opening article read

"Fueling Profits: Industry Consolidation, Excess Profits & Federal Neglect Domestic Causes of Recent Gasoline and Natural Gas Price Shocks" by Dr. Mark N. Cooper

it is a rather lengthy pdf that can be found by googling the above title