Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Ok I admit it. I'm very "anal" about my vehicles. I log every gallon of gas, calculate running MPG, and even write down the service stations. So, I have a LOT of data from 12/1/2001 to present.
So, the average cost-per-gallon for unleaded regular gas in the Willamette Valley of Oregon (mostly Eugene & Springfield) for December of 2001 was $1.07.
The average cost-per-gallon for March of 2005 was $2.14 (no, I did NOT make that up)!
This means that fuel costs doubled from 12/1/2001 to 3/29/2005.
If I remember correctly, I paid $0.45 cost-per-gallon of unleaded gasoline back in 1974, and that was in San Diego, California!
And again, if I remember right, I was paying $0.27 cost-per-gallon of regular (no unleaded in them years) in 1968.
What does this mean? It means that from 1969 to 1974, gas ALMOST doubled in cost. From 1974 to 2001 gas went up 137% (a little more than double).
BUT --- from 2001 to 2005 gas has DOUBLED AGAIN!!
First period was 5 years. Second period was 27 years. Third period was a little over three years.
Who's making a profit, here? Also as I remember, the cost of gas went up very quickly in the early 70's due to OPEC's "need to reduce their output" and the consequent higher demand.
Natural gas and Propane were historically cheap. Northwest Natural Gas was pushing people so hard to use it to heat their homes, water and cook their meals that they would almost give away the gas, and install the plumbing. They aren't doing that now, and Natural Gas (and Propane) have increased dramatically.
Diesel. More and more cars are coming out with diesel engines. Have you noticed that the cost of diesel fuel for non-commercial (that means you and me) users is now even higher than gasoline? Where's the logic in that? Diesel is less-refined than gasoline. Has less additives (if any) and is, I think, much cheaper to produce. So why does it cost MORE for us normal users?
And the EPA and government have been after US consumers for YEARS to reduce fuel use, increase fuel efficiency, use publiuc transportation, and tele-commute where possible, thereby reducing pollution, but gas mileage has not gone up much, except for hybrids. My 1968 Chevrolet El Camino got 22 mpg on unleaded regular on the highway, and it had a 305 cu-in V-8 with a four-barrel carb. Today's trucks with electronic fuel injection and computer control (those with V-8's) get about the same. My 1957 Chev 283 with three dueces (three two-barrels) got about 18 mpg. Both were automatics.
My 1990 Buick Century averages about 30 mpg highway. My 1995 Ford Escort gets about 35 mpg highway (but it is REALLY small for my 6'5" frame, folks).
What do new SUV's get? Heck, I don't know. Who can afford an SUV? Not me. I'm only a life-support system for my two kids.
Things to ponder, I think.
What do YOU think?
So, the average cost-per-gallon for unleaded regular gas in the Willamette Valley of Oregon (mostly Eugene & Springfield) for December of 2001 was $1.07.
The average cost-per-gallon for March of 2005 was $2.14 (no, I did NOT make that up)!
This means that fuel costs doubled from 12/1/2001 to 3/29/2005.
If I remember correctly, I paid $0.45 cost-per-gallon of unleaded gasoline back in 1974, and that was in San Diego, California!
And again, if I remember right, I was paying $0.27 cost-per-gallon of regular (no unleaded in them years) in 1968.
What does this mean? It means that from 1969 to 1974, gas ALMOST doubled in cost. From 1974 to 2001 gas went up 137% (a little more than double).
BUT --- from 2001 to 2005 gas has DOUBLED AGAIN!!
First period was 5 years. Second period was 27 years. Third period was a little over three years.
Who's making a profit, here? Also as I remember, the cost of gas went up very quickly in the early 70's due to OPEC's "need to reduce their output" and the consequent higher demand.
Natural gas and Propane were historically cheap. Northwest Natural Gas was pushing people so hard to use it to heat their homes, water and cook their meals that they would almost give away the gas, and install the plumbing. They aren't doing that now, and Natural Gas (and Propane) have increased dramatically.
Diesel. More and more cars are coming out with diesel engines. Have you noticed that the cost of diesel fuel for non-commercial (that means you and me) users is now even higher than gasoline? Where's the logic in that? Diesel is less-refined than gasoline. Has less additives (if any) and is, I think, much cheaper to produce. So why does it cost MORE for us normal users?
And the EPA and government have been after US consumers for YEARS to reduce fuel use, increase fuel efficiency, use publiuc transportation, and tele-commute where possible, thereby reducing pollution, but gas mileage has not gone up much, except for hybrids. My 1968 Chevrolet El Camino got 22 mpg on unleaded regular on the highway, and it had a 305 cu-in V-8 with a four-barrel carb. Today's trucks with electronic fuel injection and computer control (those with V-8's) get about the same. My 1957 Chev 283 with three dueces (three two-barrels) got about 18 mpg. Both were automatics.
My 1990 Buick Century averages about 30 mpg highway. My 1995 Ford Escort gets about 35 mpg highway (but it is REALLY small for my 6'5" frame, folks).
What do new SUV's get? Heck, I don't know. Who can afford an SUV? Not me. I'm only a life-support system for my two kids.
Things to ponder, I think.
What do YOU think?
