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Refining 101: Summer Gasoline (and Why Gas Prices Go Up)

theoildrum.com — Just what is summer gasoline? Twice a year, in the fall and in the spring, you hear about the seasonal gasoline transition. However, most people probably don’t understand what this actually means.

Who dugg this? Made popular Mar 16, 2007

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  • dtd00d, on 10/12/2007, -10/+31Inaccurate in today's society.

    We all know it's the terrorists that cause the price flux.
  • slapshot24, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15> since its grown here, its must be cheaper

    Why does something that takes land, fertilizer, and manpower that could be used for food production "must" be cheaper than something to comes out of a hole in the ground? Not sure I understand.
  • gato47, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Simple explanation of seasonal change in gasoline composition. Useful comment on how agricultural interests trump environmental concerns regarding ethanol use.
  • merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7"I suggest we switch to the summer blend all year round."

    Why? It's more expensive, and there's little practical benefit to using it in winter.
  • Aelbric, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Ethanol FTW.

    Even if the price were doubled, I would rather put every dollar I drop into my tank into the pocket of a domestic (corn, sugarbeet, sugarcane, sorghum, switchgrass, etc) farmer than send one more red cent to the middle-east.
  • RyeBrye, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7On a more serious note:
    "If, on the other hand, you were to buy summer gasoline and try to store it until winter, you might find yourself having problems getting the fuel to ignite, due to the lower vapor pressure. This would be like putting a little bit of diesel in your gasoline – not very good for your car. So buy and use gasoline in the correct season."
  • SwornPacifist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4There's a great explanation of the summer vs. winter gas difference on Wikipedia:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline#Volatility

    (And the difference is explained in a much more brief way than the Dugg article)
  • RyeBrye, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10Communist.
  • Regulator980, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5The article's formatting hurt my eyes. On the subject though, I'd like to add that here Los Angeles paying over $3.00 a gallon is becoming quite the norm. We're so dependent on our cars here thanks to our horrible public transportation systems. Thanks General Motors!

    "However, these were not the only reasons for the demise of the Los Angeles rail system and rail systems around the world. A consortium of oil, rubber, General Motors and other companies bought up rail lines worldwide then replaced interurbans and streetcars with buses. By 1961 the last remaining interurban rail line in Los Angeles went out of service and in 1963 the last streetcar line shut down."
  • bcasper1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3well despite the reasons behind the price increases the best way to drive the prices down is to purchase the cheapest gas around, so by forcing higher priced stations to compete with lower competitors will drive the cost down.

    Here is a direct link to the msn auto page. after you insert your town or zip code it lists the prices of all the gas stations in your area, up to date so you can find where the cheapest gas is.

    http://autos.msn.com/everyday/GasStations.aspx?m=1&l=1&zip=10901
    (note: don't mind it loading with my zip code loaded, i didn't bother setting it blank)
  • VnutZ, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3If people were really serious about not giving money to the Middle East, then we should be looking at bio-diesel as the alternative fuel of the future - not ethanol. Bio-diesel outperforms regular gasoline, is easier to make than ethanol and can be made from more things than ethanol. Plus, you don't need a "new engine technology" because it works on a regular diesel engine.

    And secondly, we shouldn't see 4 ton SUV's like that P.O.S. H2 screaming down the highway at 80mph. You can drive an SUV and still get decent mileage if you actually temper your driving habits and get one that is lightweight. What's the point of a heavy SUV anyway? It can't even handle the off-road ...

    http://www.omninerd.com/2006/07/16/articles/57
  • salinemist, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Also a problem is every state, city and township passing laws requiring their own special blend. I am NOT a fan of big government but a federal law specifying perhaps 3 blends with differing RVP's would help lower prices and increase refining capacity.
  • DS513, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@ macgabriel87

    Most gas stations nowadays don't use a pure gasoline mix, but also mix in a little bit of ethanol as an additive. Next time you're at the gas station, look on the pump for a sticker that says "Contains ethanol" or something to that effect.

    See Mobil's website, 5th FAQ down:
    http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/GFM/Products_Services/Fuels/Gasoline_FAQ.asp

    It seems that according to this article, using ethanol as an additive can have some negative side effects. It is NOT bashing on pure ethanol as a viable alternative fuel.

  • dazzle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1stop crying about how much a gallon costs because here in holland, europe im paying 1,42 EUR a liter thats 1 US gallon = 3.7854118 liter
    1 USD = 0.750952 EUR so do the math here 1 gallon costs me more than 7 USD
    so whose gasoline bill is big mine or yours????
  • vertinox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@"Why does something that takes land, fertilizer, and manpower that could be used for food production "must" be cheaper than something to comes out of a hole in the ground? Not sure I understand."

    Because we don't own those holes in the ground? Hence they are more expensive when the owners of said holes choose them to be so?

    Of course it is more expensive to make Ethanol/Hydrogen/Bio-diesel right now, but we are still at the whim of a very unstable region and tomorrow we might be faced with another oil crisis.

    Lastly, the main reason why people want to use corn is because the government overs subsidizes the farmers anyways... Which is why we have so much unhealthy corn syrup in most US food products.

    We might as well focus it on something else... Why not focus it towards being independent with our fuel source?
  • Andysan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@hcharger - We live in a very complex world and we must understand it using a failing education system. No wonder you (and others) post such nonsense.
  • ConservoHippie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@gascapexpansion

    Huh?

    Otherwise, good information. It's really unfortunate that California lost its bid on the ethanol, though. Regarding that, however, wouldn't switching over to an ethanol rather than gasoline based fuel (as some environmentalists advocate) exacerbate this smoggy problem?
  • Dedpoet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Ah yes, the old "your dumb" argument. Someone should put that on a t-shirt... http://www.bustedtees.com/shirt/yourretarded

    Some news for you - gas prices fluctuated by season before 1998 too. Did you read the article or just the title before deciding to weigh in? Exxon makes record profits because they sell millions of barrels of oil PER DAY. It's nearly impossible not to make money at those volumes.

    If you're interested in the subject, some authors to check out: M. King Hubbert, Kenneth Deffeyes, Richard Heinberg, and especially Matt Simmons. I love how everyone thinks they know about oil and gas just because they pump it into their cars.
  • dazzle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1im not trying to lecture you about anything im just pointing out the difference and don't start about oil consuming blabla because the biggest oil consumer in the world is the U.S so maybe its only fair that you guys pay as much as we do (holland has produced oil in the past until 1996 nearly 1000 barrels a day witch is pretty much for a small country like us)

  • jeffiek, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"The EPA ruling's effect is to increase payouts to one special interest, Midwest corn producers. For that California endures higher gasoline prices and dirtier air."

    Why am I not surprised?
  • OggVorbis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Don't confuse a moonbat with facts.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1agreed. the problem re: ethanol is that it's going to drive up the cost of food, especially after petroleum becomes more expensive with a plateauing supply of it available.

    people better start reading articles like this instead of skimming the first two paragraphs and then closing it because it makes them think a little bit.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@macgabriel

    probably the best answer is the debate between venture capitalist Vinod Khosla (big ehtanol advocate/investor) and Robert Rapier at the same site. Here's a link:

    http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2006/7/24/202222/351

    and then there's a whole bunch more here:

    http://www.theoildrum.com/tag/vinod_khosla (scroll down)

  • kristov, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Last few years it was because of hurricanes and terrorists - this year since we can't blame them - we make up a new reason!
  • hcharger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0 Hey Dazzle, don't lecture us on your high gasoline prices, you have always paid dear for energy because you are a consuming country, not an oil producing. The USA and Canada are self sufficent with oil production and have always enjoyed lesser energy prices than most world countries, but here again, the greed factor is at work.
    They (USA) would sooner import oil rather than exploit their own resourses and because the price of oil has increased substantially throughout the years, Alberta oil sands programs are becoming to be known as the world's richest oil deposits. And they haven't even tapped into Northern Saskachewan yet, which is supposed to contain as much or even more than Alberta.
  • modsaX, on 06/15/2009, -0/+0I am really not getting something... Couldn't we just use the cleanest blend all the time. Switch to just regular and premium blends. Wouldn't that allow for more oil for just one blend and just two grades? It seems to me that we are maximizing how we refine oil into gasoline. It also seems to me that we are not taking advantage of domestic oil either. Is politics really that much in the way of common sense?

    It also seems to me that some people have so much invested in an ideology or an opinion that a reasonable discussion is impossible. For example: Hummer Hate. What does it matter to anyone what others choose to drive? If we could look at what is really possible and go that direction we might all be better off.
  • UrbanVoyeur, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1They charge more because they can. We need it, they have. Pure and simple.
  • macfan, on 10/12/2007, -9/+8I see most of you have drunk the kool-aid. Gasoline prices go up for one reason and one reason only: Can you spell G R E E D?
  • jerbaker, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Show me any other year where the seasonal fluctuation is over 90 cents per gallon. Until gasoline refining is nationalized we will always face these kinds of price gougings. It's what happens to unregulated commodities with inelastic demand curves. Econ 101.
  • ts8lemonade, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4How many read the first two paragraphs, scrolled down and thought, "Damn, that's a lot to read," and just close the page?
  • strangerzero, on 10/12/2007, -7/+6I suggest we switch to the summer blend all year round.
  • hcharger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0 Oh really andysan, you are the critics choice with no solutions or reasons, so who prints nonsense. Greed is the main factor in the fluctuation of gas prices. Do you ever pay attention to special long weekends when the price indexes seem to rise for the occasions. How about the market prices, increases take affect almost instantly, whereas market decreases take weeks. Its not a complex world, its *****!
    Sorry xwagner, its the same as gas line anti-freeze, just don't know how to spell it.
  • 29Victor, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4Yes, but it involves facts instead of lists of unanswered questions. It won't be well accepted here.
  • Ductapemaster, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Wow, California rocks in every way but gas prices...I just filled up at $3.15 a gallon. And it was $3.08 last week (Why the heck did I wait?!).
  • mrswirl, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Today, gas in my area went from $2.45/gal to $2.66/gal in 3 hours!!
  • hcharger, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0 While this article clearly states the variations in winter and summer gasoline, I'll clairify it very simpler for you in a way that the oil companies never wish you to hear, but know about anyways.
    First of all, Menthol Hydrate is used in winter gasoline and since many people don't drive pleasureably in winter, the only way to do it is to reduce the price in order to get people on the go.
    In summer because its so warm and people wanna enjoy the rewards of suffering the cold winter, they jack up the price to take advantage of the heavy volume of traffic which is normal for warmer seasons. In other words the greedy pricks can bleed you more in summer because of the summer activities that comes with it. The formula for gasoline as shown in the article may very well be true, but face it people, summer is the greedy season for oil companies and that is the real reason for increases!
  • strangerzero, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3For the environmental benefits...
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I didn't rtfa, but I am pissed off that these scumbag thieves (big oil) can take gas from 2.20 to 2.80 in Three ***** weeks.
    Why don't dairy farmers do the same thing? Is there any way to stop these bastards?
  • mrswirl, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Don't the refineries own calendars? Last time I checked, summer comes at the same time every year. You'd think they'd be able to figure that out by now.

    Summer blend my ass!
  • Misogyny, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1You have the right to remain silent.
  • bluejet, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1If we put corn on farmland instead of Walmarts we may get over this problem faster. Until then we need to run these oil industry lap dogs out of Washington.
  • wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -8/+4"Gasoline pricing Winter vs.Summer." BS, it is the end of the quarter and the petroleum companies want to report another record profit to the share holders so they jack up the prices. F'n thieves!
  • ConservoHippie, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1@slapshot24

    Well, my understanding of ethanol is that the most common source of it would be the stalks from growing corn for the food supply that are otherwise unused. So, in that regard, it would be cheaper because we're already growing the corn and using it for food.
  • gangstawhiteboy, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3this is complete propaganda. if you believe this crap your dumb. Why is Exxon making records profits. and where were these summer/winter blends in 1998 or earlier?when gas was 1.09 a gallon. why have gas prices just skyrocketed since the war?? dont just stop at this little report about it, continue to research oil and gas and im sure you'll stumble upon some hard to take truth.
  • pogfreak, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1BUT THE OIL COMPANIES MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY ITS THERE FAULT. I HAVE A RIGHT TO "CHEAP" GASOLINE
  • ICANSTANDIT, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0Greed? Profits? Get the suckers while they/we can? It all depends on whose stock you own.

    Need we say more?
  • macgabriel87, on 10/12/2007, -10/+1i heard that ethanol was a cleaner burning gas and since its grown here, its must be cheaper but here they mention it costs more money and it pollutes more. so who is lying here?
  • gascapexpansion, on 10/12/2007, -18/+8Gasoline pricing Winter vs.Summer. Part of the equation.(Good Read)

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