Malfera wrote:
Gas prices ALWAYS go up this time of year and people bitch, moan and lay blame as usual... The refineries stop production to change the mixture to what they call the "summer blend". That's to please all the environmentalist wackos out there. This is nothing new, yet the debate goes on and somehow it's always Bush's fault. It's the basic economic principle of supply and demand and not some bullshit conspiracy theory that involves the Middle East.
Appease environmental wackos? Try starting your car in winter with the fuel you get in summer. Using the wrong octane fuel will not only reduce the performance of your car but will add lots of extra wear and damage to your engine. Use low octane fuel that you get in winter during summer and the fuel ignites too early in the pistons cycle. It's called knocking it can ruin your engine. Use high octane fuel in the winter and you'll end up paying for high performance, high octane, more expensive fuel that will gain you nothing in terms of performance or fuel efficiency.
The effect is large enough that high places at higher altitudes will have a different fuel mix than places at low altitude.
By changing from a summer to winter blends they aren't screwing you over in summer, they're saving you money in winter.
