Many Gas Stations Running Out Of Premium Gasoline

[Kadie]

A sign greets customers at the Costco in Salt Lake City telling them the outlet is out of premium grade gasoline, Tuesday, May 22, 2007. The store ran out yesterday, but expects a shipment on Friday. Oil prices pulled back Tuesday after jumping above $66 a barrel in the previous session on worries about gasoline supply. Concerns before the high-demand summer driving season in the U.S. persist, despite expectations that a snapshot of U.S. inventories due for release Wednesday could show the third increase in gasoline stocks in as many weeks. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)



May 21, 2007 6:23 pm US/Mountain

Many Gas Stations Running Out Of Premium Gasoline

Katie Baker
Reporting

(KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY Gas prices have hit an all time high across the country and that has motorists here in Utah looking for the lowest prices. We discovered that might be hard to come by.

The Costco in Salt Lake City is out of premium fuel. Not only is the price for premium gas sky-rocketing. Now it’s getting hard to find.

A sign at the Sandy Costco reads “due to severely restricted supply in the Utah market, Costco is unable to offer premium fuel”

Costco says one of their suppliers, a tesoro refinery here in salt lake, wasn’t providing enough premium fuel.

“They were having difficulty getting the blending components necessary to make premium fuel, and I believe that’s still the issue,” says Jeff Cole, Vice President of Costco Gas.

more...
http://kutv.com/local/local_story_141202458.html

[RedCappedBandit]

1. People probably buy premium

when they don't need it, thinking it will increase performance or some such nonsense. :eyes:

[Clark2008]

9. I have to yell at my hubby weekly about this.

He thinks he HAS to have it in his precious Beemer because the owner's manual tells him so.

I know better. I've worked on cars since I was a kid. I told him it was MUCH cheaper to buy regular unleaded and add a fuel cleaner every 10,000-15,000 miles.

Maybe he'll start believing me when he can no longer get premium for regular prices at a station that offers "freaky Fridays." :crazy:

[don954]

12. actually your hubby's car's computer has its timing set

for the longer burn time of higher octane fuel. Using lower grade fuel will cause premature detonation and possibly void your warranty....

[Tesha]

15. The issue *ISN'T* fuel cleanliness; the issue is anti-knock characteristics.

> I told him it was MUCH cheaper to buy regular unleaded
> and add a fuel cleaner every 10,000-15,000 miles.

The issue *ISN'T* fuel cleanliness; the issue is anti-knock
characteristics. The high-compression engine in your husband's
Beemer (or our Audi and Porsche) depends on high-octane fuel
so that it doesn't knock. These cars all have knock sensors,
so they'll back-off on the ignition timing if you try to use
low-octane fuel (in order to prevent knocking), but as the
timing is backed-off, you *WILL* lose both engine power *AND*
fuel economy. And if you use a low-enough octane fuel, the
engine will not be able to compensate and will be damaged.

For us, except in an emergency, we burn premium in the cars
that call for premium. Read your owners manual to be sure.

Tesha

[RebelOne]

16. Years ago, I owned a 4-cyclinder Cadillac Cimarron

and it would not run on regular. It would knock and ping. I had to use premium.

[sharp_stick]

2. Who is dumb enough to buy premium gas these days?

Even most cars that require it have systems that allow the use of regular.

[LeftyMom]

14. My sister's car knocks and generally runs like shit without it

Even midgrade makes it run like crap.

[firefox_fan]

3. Ooops. All refineries down at the same time for maintenance.

Bad luck.

[acmavm]

5. There are refineries that have been abandoned for years and allowed

to deteriorate all around the country. This situation could easily be remedied. But it won't be.

[liberal N proud]

4. Unless you drive a high performance vehicle why would pay for it?

I would think that premium gas would be a luxury and no one would purchase it with these illegal prices.

[leftwingnut]

6. Premium???

I wouldn't buy Premium even if the gas prices were back around $2.00.

Change your oil regularly!! Premium. Please.

[KansDem]

7. "They were having difficulty getting the blending components necessary to make premium fuel"

:eyes:

Why do I smell "bullshit" with this statement?

Also, I find the two(three) vechicles in the photo to be quite telling...:rofl:

[Double T]

8. Premium gasoline is only required in their minds................

Check this out: http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/transportation/consumer_tips/regular_vs_premium.html

[AndyA]

10. Unless the vehicle manufacturer says to use Premium, it is a waste of money.

But if the manufacturer says to use Premium, you can cause severe and expensive engine damage if you don't use it.

At the same token, use of Premium over a long period of time in engines that don't need it can cause damage as well. A rule of thumb is to use the lowest octane you can without excessive pinging when the engine is under a slight load.

[Tempest]

13. The manufacturers say to use premium

Because the oil companies pay them to say that.

All vehicles sold in the U.S. can run regular unleaded with no problem.

[AndyA]

17. Sorry, but that is not true.

There may be a deal between the manufacturers and the oil companies, but if the engine is built and tuned for premium, and you run a lower octane in it and ignore the pinging, you can cause severe damage to the engine.

The money you saved by running a lower octane will be used (plus some) to have a new engine installed.

Use of the wrong fuel can shatter pistons due to preignition, and that's not a pretty thing. You will stop. Immediately. And you won't go anywhere else with that motor.

[Tempest]

19. Give me an example with a link

"but if the engine is built and tuned for premium"

I realize this is true in the rare cases, like for Lamborgini, but not for the average car.

BMWs and other performance cars run just fine on regular unleaded.

[Marrah_G]

11. My gas station was out of regular gas last friday...so they gave me Premium at the regular price

Still the god damn gas prices are going to be the death of me. Everything costs more, not just the gas.

[damntexdem]

18. I'd noticed not just the spike in prices, but the spreading differential among grades.

Refiners manipulating supply in multiple ways.