Gas stations 1/8 mile apart, one is 70 cents more a gallon than the other.

[Kern Dog]

......Why do people even go to the higher priced station?
Here in California, we have a variety of stations from Arco, Valero, Shell, Chevron and a few others. Chevron is always the most expensive. Always.
I'll drive by a Chevron station and see them priced near $5.00 for Premium while an ARCO station close by is around $4.30.
Now yeah, the prices are stupidly high here but that isn't my point.
I have never known the more expensive gas to ever make a difference in how my cars run. I have nearly a million miles of seat time in all my years of driving a variety of vehicles including low compression 70s cars, the Charger that was pushing nearly 11 to 1, trucks, 4WDs, towing, hot weather and cold. I've never noticed any difference.
I've seen no difference in fuel economy or performance from higher cost gas. Why do you think people buy it?
I have stopped into those places but rarely fill up. I've filled gas cans but the only time I've topped off is when I'm on a road trip and theirs is the only gas within many miles.

 

[eldubb440]

they all must have Charger money

 

[eldubb440]

btw............2.65 here, you're getting fokked

 

[Kern Dog]

Even if I got paid for the memes and nudie pictures I wouldn't waste money on the high priced gas...

 

[Kern Dog]

btw............2.65 here, you're getting fokked

The Sinclair prices in the picture above were from 2022! Our cheapest prices are in the $3.60 range.

 

[dodgeboy440]

......Why do people even go to the higher priced station?
Here in California, we have a variety of stations from Arco, Valero, Shell, Chevron and a few others. Chevron is always the most expensive. Always.
I'll drive by a Chevron station and see them priced near $5.00 for Premium while an ARCO station close by is around $4.30.
Now yeah, the prices are stupidly high here but that isn't my point.
I have never known the more expensive gas to ever make a difference in how my cars run. I have nearly a million miles of seat time in all my years of driving a variety of vehicles including low compression 70s cars, the Charger that was pushing nearly 11 to 1, trucks, 4WDs, towing, hot weather and cold. I've never noticed any difference.
I've seen no difference in fuel economy or performance from higher cost gas. Why do you think people buy it?
I have stopped into those places but rarely fill up. I've filled gas cans but the only time I've topped off is when I'm on a road trip and theirs is the only gas within many miles.

View attachment 1988125

That’s interesting….

1/8 mile is within sight of each other.

You’d think prudent behavior would be the

Guidance…… it’s either convenient?

Or More Money Than Brains !

And IF “ they “ continue to force the refinery

Business out , the prices will only get higher.

We here in Nevada receive much of our fuel

From CA as there are no refineries here …..

“ May we live in interesting times eh”…..

Mopar2ya!

John

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Is one fuel station close to the freeway or highway, I noticed that here one is like $.20 cheaper next to a freeway.

 

[Kern Dog]

I've looked to see if the high priced ones were in slightly more convenient corners and...it varies.
Fifty cents a gallon in a 20 gallon tank is ten bucks. Why give away money for no difference?
Now...if the cheap station were jam packed with long lines and the more expensive spot was wide open, I might pop in for a few gallons but that isn't usually the case.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Why give away money for no difference?

I’ve worked with people that would spend $5 in fuel driving way out of their way to save $.10 a gallon.

 

[kiwigtx]

I drive about 5 miles to save around 20-25 cents/litre. Taking along 4 x 20-litre bottles (about 5 gallons) the savings can be around $40-50, and that will fill my wife's car running for around three weeks.
I also top up with diesel while there....makes a big saving. I don't get the Prius drivers cramming in to save a few cents and only buying $20 worth.

Most of my trips are around $250. I used to get around $300 in a trip....wife would follow and I took my van. Not only that but I used to save the rewards points and get enough to fill another car every other month - round $150 worth. The guy at the local BP was getting pissed with me as I bought from a cheaper station and cashed in at his.

Over the course of 4 years saving those points, I gathered over $7,000 worth of free fuel.

 

[BB BELLA]

our highway stations arent close together in most cases so I think the operators feel there going to catch people who can't make it to the next station! In town fuel is usually .05-.10 ltr. cheaper! and don't even consider going up from 87 octane we get hammered for any mid or premium grade, to the tune of about $10gal.​

 

[YY1]

Usually it's because:

One station is WAY easier to get into and/or out of
or is on a more heavily traveled road

One station has a good convenience store attached

One station is closer to a freeway (sometimes that works opposite, though)

One station is a major brand, and the other not

One station "hasn't got it's truck yet".

 

[Don Frelier]

Maybe they have better coffee and don't sell it in those god forsaken styrofoam cups?

*Styrofoam cups kill.
According to Google:

Styrofoam (polystyrene) cups pose health risks because they can leach styrene, a suspected carcinogen, into hot, acidic, or alcoholic beverages. Chronic exposure is linked to nervous system issues (fatigue, headaches), potential reproductive/developmental harm, and increased risk of cancer, such as leukemia. Using reusable glass, ceramic, or stainless steel alternatives is recommended.

Oh and happy Groundhog day... I hate being so negative.

 

[threewood]

Didn't I hear something about your governor pushing for a mileage tax on top of the gas tax? You guys really take it on the chin.

 

[68BabyBlue]

The Sheetz convenience store chain controls the pricing in my area. None of their competitors have charged more and stayed in business. I've never noticed any difference between their gas and other stuff I've bought on the road. They also have a competitive advantage being one of only two vendors here offering ethanol free 90 octane.

Their diesel fuel is another story. I used it for the first year I ran the Peterbilt, but when the low sulphur fuel mandate was passed, I had to change vendors. What I saved in costs at the pump, I started paying for extra fuel filters, when they clogged at half my normal service interval, plus the down time involved.

A lot of owner operators swore by a competitor. I always thought the superiority of that fuel was an urban legend, but in actual practice, it was way better. The deal was, it came directly from a company refinery located three hours away, and was always fresh. One year the refinery had a week of unscheduled downtime, after a screw up during a regular maintenance shut down. The vendor was forced to sell fuel bought on the open market, and the shop I used for maintenance made a fortune installing fresh fuel filters when all the regular customers lost 200 horsepower overnight.

 

[68-500]

Must be a Loves truck stop. They are always at least 50cents higher then diesel across the street.

 

[ckessel]

The interesting part is that the tanker trucks fill up at the same facility. For this area, it's from Bakersfield. Very close to the place that did the thermal coating on the headers for my 65. When I've gone to Famosa to watch the races, there is a non branded station on the east side of 99 and 46. It's generally .20 cents or more less than what's on the west side of 99. If I don't fill up at Costco in SLO when driving the wagon, I look on Gas Buddy to see prices. I rarely fill up here at home in Osos as the two stations are usually .20 cents or more per gallon than Morro Bay. Gas Buddy is on my phone as an app which helps when not in my local area.

 

[WileE]

Hey guys, just ask customers. They have "reasons" to support their choice. Example, many moons ago, working in the garage. Talking to a customer about this topic, when gasoline was maybe only 5 cents higher at the Mobil, Esso, or Shell stations. She said, I saw the commercial where the car goes through the white barrier and using Mobil gas would get me better mileage.

 

[Armyvet25]

 

[YY1]

In FL, the county sets the tax on gas (well, the state has a gas tax, too) and it can be as much as 15 cents per gallon difference.