New regulations are forcing the price up about 10%.


Gasoline sold in the U.S. will have less benzene, a known human carcinogen, starting in 2011, under a rule announced by EPA on Feb. 9.

The rule also sets new standards for emissions from passenger cars and trucks and for evaporation from portable gas cans.

EPA says the new controls will significantly cut hazardous air pollutants—notably benzene but also 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and naphthalene—that are emitted from vehicles. Cars and trucks are the major source of benzene in air, contributing 70% of the releases of this chemical nationwide in 1999, EPA notes.

The new rule limits the benzene content of gasoline to an annual refinery average of 0.62% by volume by 2011. Stricter limits on emissions of hydrocarbons from new passenger vehicles will be phased in from 2010 to 2015. Standards for portable gas cans will take effect in 2009.

EPA says the rule will cost an average of 0.27 cents per gal of gasoline, reflecting the average $14 million in capital investment needed at each refinery to reduce benzene levels in gasoline. The rule will add less than $1.00 to the cost of a new vehicle and less than $2.00 per gas can. According to the rule, reduced evaporation from gas cans due to the new standards "will result in fuel savings that will more than offset the increased cost" for the can.

Environmental activists, who sued EPA to issue the regulation after the agency missed statutory deadlines, are generally pleased with the rule, though they are troubled by one provision. The rule allows refineries that reduce their gasoline's benzene levels to below the new standard to sell "credits" to refineries that can't meet the limit. Environmental groups fear this will lead to uneven implementation of the rule across the nation, causing residents in some areas to be exposed to more benzene than residents in other areas.

"Having benzene levels go down in Newark, N.J., won't do much for the health of the people in Portland, Ore.," if credits from New Jersey companies get sold to Pacific Northwest refiners, says Emily Figdor of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

2007 Chemical & Engineering News

I'm all for it. :thumbup: I'd love to see the prices jump to $4/gallon ++, and force a majority of the un-needed SUV's off the road. I can't wait to hear all the jobless, latte-sipping, air headed, empty-SUV-driving-soccer-mommies complaining about how they deserve low gas prices. :rolleyes:

I'm all for it. :thumbup: I'd love to see the prices jump to $4/gallon ++, and force a majority of the un-needed SUV's off the road. I can't wait to hear all the jobless, latte-sipping, air headed, empty-SUV-driving-soccer-mommies complaining about how they deserve low gas prices. :rolleyes:

They usually don't care because they usually don't pay for it.

They usually don't care because they usually don't pay for it.

Word! I just love it when I'm commuting down the freeway when a woman in a giant Escalade drifts in and out of her lane in an attempt to check her makeup, talk on the phone, sip her mocha, and who knows what else. I don't honk though she might be startled into thinking she is actually driving also.

-tc

They usually don't care because they usually don't pay for it.

Good point. It all goes on hubby's credit card, where the debit magically disappears forever. I can't believe that all I have to do is swipe this plastic card in the reader, and they'll give me gas for free. I got this pair of $1000 shoes the same way over at Nieman Marcus.... for free!

I just saw $3.35 for premium at a local Chevron station, and it's not even summer yet :(

I just saw $3.35 for premium at a local Chevron station, and it's not even summer yet :(

The Chevron a few blocks from my house has $3.45 for premium and I heard from the news a couple of nights ago that it is still rising because of some refinery maintenance. :mad:

I worry for the day when everyone says "$3/gal is cheap"

We use to think $2.00/gal or so was expensive, but now no one would mind paying that amount. sigh....

Dodged the bullet last summer. A couple of miserable hurricanes and we will see $4.50 a gallon here in Cali this summer. At least it looks like Cali will eventually get the euro hi tech diesels in another year with MB appearing to be first.

paid $2.36 at costco today :)

Where can I get one of those Fusion thingy's like on Back To The Future?! Might as well throw in a Fluxcapacitor. That way if I need gas, I can buy it in the past. :D :D

Hey...wonder if the Toyota Development team were shown the LS460L or 600H back in '89 what would have happened. :p ;)

Hey...wonder if the Toyota Development team were shown the LS460L or 600H back in '89 what would have happened. :p ;)

Even they would damn well know the OEM LS460 wheels are old fashion :D:D

It cost me exactly $70.00 to fill up my tank yesterday.. 20.5xx gallons @ 3.40 a pop.. ouch :cry: I can barely get 300 miles a tank too these days.. Thats like.. 24 cents a mile.. That means just driving to my 5 minute doctors appointment which was with a specialist 45 miles away cost me $21 bucks..

wow, i thought i had a big tank (17gal)
i usually hit 45$ fill ups at about 2.5-2.6 per gallon

this is actually one of the reasons im hesitating swapping in a 1j, i might have too much fun with it

The SC3 tank is only 17 gal? I assumed it was the same 21 that the SC4 was. Oh well. Both are larger than the Trans Am. It only has 15.5 gallons, I think. Of course, it'll still go just as far as the Lexus did on the highway, which is the majority of my driving these days.

Back to the topic. All things considered, I'm not too worried about it. If there is no typo, then it's less than a penny a gallon difference. If there is a typo and it's actually 27 cents a gallon, that's more significant, but nothing like what I expected to hear when I opened this thread.

I'm all for it. :thumbup: I'd love to see the prices jump to $4/gallon ++, and force a majority of the un-needed SUV's off the road. I can't wait to hear all the jobless, latte-sipping, air headed, empty-SUV-driving-soccer-mommies complaining about how they deserve low gas prices. :rolleyes:

While it would be nice to have fewer visibility-obstructing-vehicles on the road, that would also mean that you and I would be paying $4/gallon, need I remind you.

so the price of 87 unleaded here in toyota land is $3.04 ish.

it so pains me, and hurts me that my Miata only does about 20mpg.

so the price of 87 unleaded here in toyota land is $3.04 ish.

it so pains me, and hurts me that my Miata only does about 20mpg.

Your Miata? Didn't know you had one. Which year/gen.?

And maybe yours is turbo to get such low mpg.

My new one gets about 28mpg if cruising!

$3.04 oh my I thought I had it bad at $2.69-$2.79 for 87.

Your Miata? Didn't know you had one. Which year/gen.?

And maybe yours is turbo to get such low mpg.

My new one gets about 28mpg if cruising!


i've got a...2000 model...i've got a 10-11 gallon tank with no indicator to tell me when it's alarmingly empty...and so far the mpg hasn't been great at all.

i've got a...2000 model...i've got a 10-11 gallon tank with no indicator to tell me when it's alarmingly empty...and so far the mpg hasn't been great at all.

Wow, didn't realize cars in the past 10 years came without fuel indicators...

Wow, didn't realize cars in the past 10 years came without fuel indicators...

it has an indicator...just no warning light. -. -

my manual just says "fill up whenever you see it around quarter tank left"

I got 93 oct. gas Monday at 2.65.

Please tell me it didn't go up a dollar in two days!!

It is already $2.95 for super in Long Island NY:eek2: It will be one costly summer at the pump.

today i put in 87 octane for $3.079

$25 got me 8 gallons and some sprinkles.

These oil companies drive me nuts.

I want a bio diesel car damn it! I don't care if it smells like McDonald's french fries going down the road either. lol

I filled up at a bp station today and the three grades were $2.42/$2.52/$2.62. The next station up the street was $2.55 for regular unleaded.

It is already $2.95 for super in Long Island NY:eek2: It will be one costly summer at the pump.


You can make it less costly by not driving as much. Instead of driving halfway across the country for vacation (assuming that's what you do ), just go out to the beach locally at Long Island. ( You'll probably save your car from some paint chips and glass damage on the Interstates as well).

If enough people do this, demand will drop significantly, and so will prices. We saw that last fall and winter....with a massive drop.

I worry for the day when everyone says "$3/gal is cheap"

We use to think $2.00/gal or so was expensive, but now no one would mind paying that amount. sigh....


welcome to gas prices in the rest of the world :p

At this rate, I think we'll see more mini cars that are so commonly driven in Japan.

I dunno the date on this one:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/

Nation City Price in USD Regular/Gallon

Netherlands Amsterdam $6.48
Norway Oslo $6.27
Italy Milan $5.96
Denmark Copenhagen $5.93
Belgium Brussels $5.91
Sweden Stockholm $5.80
United Kingdom London $5.79
Germany Frankfurt $5.57
France Paris $5.54
Portugal Lisbon $5.35
Hungary Budapest $4.94
Luxembourg $4.82
Croatia Zagreb $4.81
Ireland Dublin $4.78
Switzerland Geneva $4.74
Spain Madrid $4.55
Japan Tokyo $4.24
Czech Republic Prague $4.19
Romania Bucharest $4.09
Andorra $4.08
Estonia Tallinn $3.62
Bulgaria Sofia $3.52
Brazil Brasilia $3.12
Cuba Havana $3.03
Taiwan Taipei $2.84
Lebanon Beirut $2.63
South Africa Johannesburg $2.62
Nicaragua Managua $2.61
Panama Panama City $2.19
Russia Moscow $2.10
Puerto Rico San Juan $1.74
Saudi Arabia Riyadh $0.91
Kuwait Kuwait City $0.78
Egypt Cairo $0.65
Nigeria Lagos $0.38
Venezuela Caracas $0.12

Netherlands Amsterdam $6.48
Norway Oslo $6.27
Italy Milan $5.96
Denmark Copenhagen $5.93
Belgium Brussels $5.91
Sweden Stockholm $5.80
United Kingdom London $5.79
Germany Frankfurt $5.57
France Paris $5.54
Portugal Lisbon $5.35
Hungary Budapest $4.94
Luxembourg $4.82
Croatia Zagreb $4.81
Ireland Dublin $4.78
Switzerland Geneva $4.74
Spain Madrid $4.55
Japan Tokyo $4.24
Czech Republic Prague $4.19
Romania Bucharest $4.09
Andorra $4.08
Estonia Tallinn $3.62
Bulgaria Sofia $3.52
Brazil Brasilia $3.12
Cuba Havana $3.03
Taiwan Taipei $2.84
Lebanon Beirut $2.63
South Africa Johannesburg $2.62
Nicaragua Managua $2.61
Panama Panama City $2.19
Russia Moscow $2.10
Puerto Rico San Juan $1.74
Saudi Arabia Riyadh $0.91
Kuwait Kuwait City $0.78
Egypt Cairo $0.65
Nigeria Lagos $0.38
Venezuela Caracas $0.12




The Brazil prices probably reflect ethanol, not gasoline....most of the vehicles in that country run on ethanol. However, that price has to be weighed against ethnol's much lower mileage and efficiency than gasoline....so you have to buy almost twice as much to get the same driving range.

Most of the Middle Eastern countries ( excapt war-torn Iraq) have cheap oil for obvious reasons that need no explanation, and the dirt-cheap price in Venezuela reflects the Chavez Socialist government and its massive subsidies....which of course come out of taxes, so you really aren't saving that much in the long run. You pay in taxes what you save at the pump.

Now the Lagos, Nigeria price of $0.38....that one is a puzzler. :uh: Nigeria, to my knowledge, is not swimming in oil like the Middle East countries (and to a lesser extent Venezuela). I can't figure that one out, unless it is a Chavez-like system where the government steals from everybody to subsize the price and keep it that low.

The Brazil prices probably reflect ethanol, not gasoline....most of the vehicles in that country run on ethanol. However, that price has to be weighed against ethnol's much lower mileage and efficiency than gasoline....so you have to buy almost twice as much to get the same driving range.

Most of the Middle Eastern countries ( excapt war-torn Iraq) have cheap oil for obvious reasons that need no explanation, and the dirt-cheap price in Venezuela reflects the Chavez Socialist government and its massive subsidies....which of course come out of taxes, so you really aren't saving that much in the long run. You pay in taxes what you save at the pump.

Now the Lagos, Nigeria price of $0.38....that one is a puzzler. :uh: Nigeria, to my knowledge, is not swimming in oil like the Middle East countries (and to a lesser extent Venezuela). I can't figure that one out, unless it is a Chavez-like system where the government steals from everybody to subsize the price and keep it that low.

I thought they (Nigeria) did have oil reserves.

I thought they (Nigeria) did have oil reserves.


You might be right. I certainly am no expert on the country. If they DO have reserves, it certainly is not well-publicized like in other, more well-known places.

Just paid 3.21 for 89....yes I know...didn't wanna pay 3.31 for 91 =( full tank...59 bucks...:cry: :cry:

the funny thing is no matter how much gas is here in so cal, people dont stop driving, they just complain more.

Just paid 3.21 for 89....yes I know...didn't wanna pay 3.31 for 91 =( full tank...59 bucks...:cry: :cry:

Actually, the higher gas prices go, the better deal premium becomes, if 10 cents over 89 is still the difference.

when gas was 1.50 a gallon for 89, premium was 1.60. Now, gas is $3.30 for 89, and if premium is 3.40, the % difference is lower now...

I hate it when people keep saying that Americans complain too much about gas prices when it's 2X the price in Europe or Asia.

The reason is, Europe has the density and infrastructure in place, where commerce and public transportation are very well connected. Right or wrong, the US is driving centric. Our way of life, for the most part, depends on driving, as we like suburbs, big yards, Walmarts and Home Depots. In Europe, driving is a luxury, because so much is available in terms of walking, bus, and train. In the US, driving is a necessity. Thus, when our gas doubles, it hurts our standards of life much more...

For example... frankly, if they raised the price of gas in Manhattan to $10 a gallon, it almost wouldn't matter (except to cab drivers), because most people consider driving in Manhattan a luxury, considering the walking and public transportation options available. The people that drive in Manhattan can probably afford $10/gallon gas anyway. However, $10/gallon in Los Angeles would cripple the city because of the way the infrastructure there is set up. Major cities in Europe and Asia are much more like Manhattan than Southern CA.

Now the Lagos, Nigeria price of $0.38....that one is a puzzler. :uh: Nigeria, to my knowledge, is not swimming in oil like the Middle East countries (and to a lesser extent Venezuela). I can't figure that one out, unless it is a Chavez-like system where the government steals from everybody to subsize the price and keep it that low.

Ask Ken Saro-Wiwa (http://www.kensarowiwa.com/), an activist against Royal Dutch (Shell) in Nigeria who was executed under trumped up "murder" charges.

Shell generates ~80% of Nigeria's government revenues. But at what cost? (http://www.essentialaction.org/shell/issues.html)

Just a FYI to all...

Just paid 3.21 for 89....yes I know...didn't wanna pay 3.31 for 91 =( full tank...59 bucks...:cry: :cry:

Want some cheese with that whine? :p

So if you bought 15 gallons, that extra 10c per gallon you saved by putting in 89 amounted to $1.50.

Was that really such a hardship?

Do you put synthetic oil in your car? An almost certain waste of money if you're not racing your car.

What else might you spend $1.50 a week on?

You guys do use the internet to find the lowest prices, right? I just paid $2.38 but I could've paid $.20 - $.30 more if I didn't look around:

http://www.illinoisgasprices.com/index.aspx?s=Y&fuel=A&area=Naperville&area=aurora&tme_limit=24

http://www.gasbuddy.com/

My feelings follow sirkfc...certain areas are served better with public transportation and access to necessities. In the rural and suburb areas, it can be a stretch to obtain food and getting to one's workplace. The whole LA/OC basin area is based on outside commuter traffic to support the population centers where many are employed. That's the way it was planned here, with minimal impact on the fuel needed to deliver the bodies. (So it seems)

Luckily most my driving is recreational but even at that, the funds for fuel will have an annual impact....but minimal like $300. (I spend that on recreational reading. Stop buying the VIP rags and that's it. ;) )

I always get a kick when I drive by a gas station, and see a LINE UP of cars buffering on the main street. These people will probably wait 5 cars (avg 20 mins lets say) to save $5 bucks? What about all that time idling? Potential for accidents?

what drives me nuts are people who whine and ***** about driving, yet when its time to go home during rush hour traffic everyone is driving by themselves. If my job didnt require me to drive all day for work and i had public trasnportation i would take it. Only fools pay more for gas when they dont have to. All the gas prices are out there in big signs.

You guys here have all made some good points. :thumbup:

The important thing to remember is that whining won't get the price down...only conservation and a drop in demand. However, we will have to accept the fact that, even here in America, there is only so much we can do to drop demand. What happens in Asia is beyond our control.....and much of the world's increase in demand is coming from China and India. And, to an extent, I have no problem with that.....it is only fair, IMO, to allow Asians to enjoy driving their own cars. They are only getting, for the first time, something that we Americans have enjoyed for many decades...but the horrendous motor vehicle death rate in China shows that many of these new drivers simply don't know how to drive...they are not used to automobiles.

Hopefully world demand for oil will also start dropping if and when good alternate fuel sources are developed, which many companies are working on.

MMarshal, do you have any figures on the death rate? I'm curious now.