Gas prices - the real reason

[spidey07]

I can't be the only one to think of this. It has nothing to do with "more travel" which is certainly another factor.

But.....If all vehicles traveled the exact same miles as they did in the cooler months the amount of gas used would still go up 10% just because the air is much warmer.

So, as far as miles per gallon how much of an impact on demand is the weather/temperature? I say it's the biggest impact there is:

1) Less MPG
2) People 'going out' to take advantage of the weather.

 

[crab]

But cars get better mpg with the summer blend...

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I can't be the only one to think of this. It has nothing to do with "more travel" which is certainly another factor.

But.....If all vehicles traveled the exact same miles as they did in the cooler months the amount of gas used would still go up 10% just because the air is much warmer.

So, as far as miles per gallon how much of an impact on demand is the weather/temperature? I say it's the biggest impact there is:

1) Less MPG
2) People 'going out' to take advantage of the weather.

3) The supply is artificially limited because of 1 + 2, creating equally artificial high prices.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: crab
But cars get better mpg with the summer blend...

I get up to 7 mpg better in the summer.

 

[KK]

what about cooler engines using more gas. If it takes the vehicle longer to warm up, then til it warms up the vehicle uses more gas. right?

 

[vi edit]

Ummmm. No.

Milage plummets in the winter. Winter blends, idle times, ect. I typically get 20% less out of a tank of gas in the winter than I do in the summer.

 

[jai6638]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I can't be the only one to think of this. It has nothing to do with "more travel" which is certainly another factor.

But.....If all vehicles traveled the exact same miles as they did in the cooler months the amount of gas used would still go up 10% just because the air is much warmer.

it'd go down.. Warm air is less dense and hence, less fuel is needed. Fuel consumption goes down.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: joshsquall

Originally posted by: spidey07
I can't be the only one to think of this. It has nothing to do with "more travel" which is certainly another factor.

But.....If all vehicles traveled the exact same miles as they did in the cooler months the amount of gas used would still go up 10% just because the air is much warmer.

So, as far as miles per gallon how much of an impact on demand is the weather/temperature? I say it's the biggest impact there is:

1) Less MPG
2) People 'going out' to take advantage of the weather.

3) The supply is artificially limited because of 1 + 2, creating equally artificial high prices.

Can we pretty please keep this on topic to the affects of weather/temp/humidity on mileage and it's potential affect on demand?

I'm posting a technical hypothesis.

 

[compnovice]

The engine loses more heat in winter because of larger temperature difference. More energy is required to maintain optimum engine temperature so mileage during winters should be less.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: joshsquall

Originally posted by: spidey07
I can't be the only one to think of this. It has nothing to do with "more travel" which is certainly another factor.

But.....If all vehicles traveled the exact same miles as they did in the cooler months the amount of gas used would still go up 10% just because the air is much warmer.

So, as far as miles per gallon how much of an impact on demand is the weather/temperature? I say it's the biggest impact there is:

1) Less MPG
2) People 'going out' to take advantage of the weather.

3) The supply is artificially limited because of 1 + 2, creating equally artificial high prices.

Can we pretty please keep this on topic to the affects of weather/temp/humidity on mileage and it's potential affect on demand?

I'm posting a technical hypothesis.

Uh.. the topic of the thread is "Gas prices - the real reason". This is entirely ON topic.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: jai6638

Originally posted by: spidey07
I can't be the only one to think of this. It has nothing to do with "more travel" which is certainly another factor.

But.....If all vehicles traveled the exact same miles as they did in the cooler months the amount of gas used would still go up 10% just because the air is much warmer.

it'd go down.. Warm air is less dense and hence, less fuel is needed. Fuel consumption goes down.

So why do I have more power and better Mileage in the cooler months?

 

[her209]

This is what I don't get. Gas prices went up because oil refineries were shutdown thereby decreasing supply. At the same time, demand is increasing because of the summer months. So how come we haven't heard of any gas stations running out of gas yet? Where are the 1970ish type lines!?!?!

 

[AFB]

or 4) Supply being artificially limited then miraculously fixed when enough people start to complain. They realize that demand for gas is mostly inelastic in the short run. You can't abandon your car or stop driving to work, only take into account gas price when you buy a new car and limit optional travel which is already small due to high gas prices.

It's pretty simple economics. If you're operating on the inelastic portion of your demand curve, then you'll realize an increase in total revenue by increasing prices. Same thing happened with Enron and California.

 

[KK]

Congress, if they are worth anything, will look into it. Once they start probing around the gas prices will come back down. They always do once congress gets off their asses.

 

[lyssword]

yeah blame the weather. Gas prices in the winter high because it's too cold, in the summer because it's too hot. Which one is it?

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: compnovice
The engine loses more heat in winter because of larger temperature difference. More energy is required to maintain optimum engine temperature so mileage during winters should be less.

Not necessarily.

In the summer, since it's hot out, the car must turn a radiator fan which requires energy to turn. In the winter, the thermostat can more efficiently control the temperature.

The engine already has an excess of heat. It doesn't require much extra energy to keep it at the optimum temperature, and the little that it does require is used to keep the engine cool, not hot.

 

[spidey07]

Jeez guys, I really didn't mean to start another gas price thread.

Just thought I had an "innovative" idea that hasn't been postulated yet as I rigorously track my mileage/gas.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Jeez guys, I really didn't mean to start another gas price thread.

Just thought I had an "innovative" idea that hasn't been postulated yet as I rigorously track my mileage/gas.

You could make the point that when the air is warmer, it's less dense and decreases the wind resistance.

 

[ScottFern]

What in the hell are you talking about! My car is getting on average 4mpg better now that they switched to the summer blend gasoline.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: spidey07
Jeez guys, I really didn't mean to start another gas price thread.

Just thought I had an "innovative" idea that hasn't been postulated yet as I rigorously track my mileage/gas.

You could make the point that when the air is warmer, it's less dense and decreases the wind resistance.

True.

Maybe we can make the point that vehicle's ECUs are not properly programmed to fully take advantage of temperature changes?

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: spidey07
Jeez guys, I really didn't mean to start another gas price thread.

Just thought I had an "innovative" idea that hasn't been postulated yet as I rigorously track my mileage/gas.

You could make the point that when the air is warmer, it's less dense and decreases the wind resistance.

True.

Maybe we can make the point that vehicle's ECUs are not properly programmed to fully take advantage of temperature changes?

Sure they are. That's what the air temperature sensor is for. The ECU includes that reading in its formula for determining how much fuel to inject.

 

[BatmanNate]

My intercooler heat soaks way too quickly in the summer. One of the drawbacks of mid engine car, I suppose!

 

[Soccerman06]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Jeez guys, I really didn't mean to start another gas price thread.

Just thought I had an "innovative" idea that hasn't been postulated yet as I rigorously track my mileage/gas.

Shoulda known better, esp when "Gas prices" is in the first line, thought a lifer would realize that...

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: spidey07
But.....If all vehicles traveled the exact same miles as they did in the cooler months the amount of gas used would still go up 10% just because the air is much warmer.

Where are you getting this info from? Anything I've seen, from simple observations of my own, to a couple thermodynamics classes I've taken say exactly the opposite. Gas mileage is worse in winter because it takes your vehicle longer to get up to steady state operating temperature.

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: her209
This is what I don't get. Gas prices went up because oil refineries were shutdown thereby decreasing supply. At the same time, demand is increasing because of the summer months. So how come we haven't heard of any gas stations running out of gas yet? Where are the 1970ish type lines!?!?!

The local Sunoco's around here (Daytona) all run out of ALL grades by Sunday AM. They are generally
3-4 cents cheaper than Shell or Exxon. I refuse to wait in line to save 40-60 cents, probably burn the savings
up just waiting...