Gasolines, What you may not know!!

[spta97]

Originally posted by BBQ_HotDogs
Oh, I guess there is no smoking at your job huh?

LOL, actually, the gasoline itself is NOT explosive as you beleive. It is the VAPORS that ignite so easily. I am a heavy smoker as a matter of fact, but smoking only goes on in designated areas, such as the Captains or the Cheif Mate's office. They even pass out the free smokes for us when we do a "good" job for them.

HotDogs

I know, throwing a match into a containor of gas when I was a kid left less than dazzling results. I figured since you can smell it that the vapors are present?

 

[X~FACTOR]

I always tend to stay with one gas company- Exxon. I've had one bad experience from many years of driving. That was when I used Exxon gas from a very small gas station inside the inner city. The price, if I could still remember, was about 20 cents cheaper than the closest Exxon gas station. My car run horribly after about half a mile driving it home. I could figure out what was wrong with it. After a week of testing and readjusting things I finally run out of gas so I went to fill up to a different Exxon station and, lo and behold, the hesitations went away on the way back home.

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

I"m staying with Chevron most likely forever. I may get Shell if I have to. The main reason for staying with name brand for me is that I tried running my new Sport on Beacon gas. It absolutely hated it. It had constant problems starting. Since I've been running Chevron, all the starting problems have gone away and the truck runs and idles smoother too. I like my Chevron and will never go back to the cheap a$$ stuff.

 

[frickea86]

i've never noticed a difference in the smell of the gas but i'll take ur word on that one. thats very good to know also...

 

[unclemeat]

I don't know where you get your information. Gasoline is gasoline at least for most of us. 90% of the gasoline sold in the contential US is common carrier pipeline product. ALL the tanker trucks fill from the same pipe. In Hoston there may be a difference due to the product source not being the common carrier pipeline. However, for the rest of the country there is no difference in the product. Gasoline is short chain hydrocarbons, there are no fancy recipes. It is blended for local environmential conditions and pollution control. The quality of the gasoline is more dependent on the condition of the underground storage tank, more than any other factor.
But do not take my word for it, all I am is an engineering consultant to several petroluem distributers. Go to the distribution facilities see for yourself. You will see all the gas brand trucks filling from the same tap.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

I know, throwing a match into a containor of gas when I was a kid left less than dazzling results. I figured since you can smell it that the vapors are present?

LOL, you are 1 lucky kid. Now I am not a rocket scientists by any means, but I do know Jet Fuel. LOL. The reason you got less than dazzling results is because gasoline vapors are heavier than air. They tend to sit down, or crawl out of nothing is blocking them. Take this for an example - Ever put some gas on an ant bed, walk away and throw a match on it to watch it ignite all around in a small explosive manner? That is because the vapors can travel out to escape, just not up. With the exception, (since I see a few like detail), When it is being stirred up. Such as filling your tank, the vapors can release into the atmosphere that way, such as the same way when we load ships, barges, and trucks. That is why now they have come up with the vapor recovery system. They actually can capture these harmful vapors and put them back into the tank or line.

HotDogs - Probably sniffed 1 too many tanks in my day.

 

[85Dave]

Some of what you say may be true in Texas, but it certainly is true for other parts of the country. There is so much mis-information here, I don't know where to begin.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Gasoline is gasoline at least for most of us. 90% of the gasoline sold in the contential US is common carrier pipeline product.

You are dead wrong. No if ands or buts. 90% of It does NOT travel through pipeline. Where did you get your facts? Mine come from DOING the transfers on BOTH ends, loading and discharrges. So I guess the next time that I go to the gas station, I will look for that big old 24", 36", or 48" pipeline connected to there tanks. WRONG!!!

All gasoline in gas stations was stored in Storage tanks above ground at a storage facility for testing or at a storage tanks at a refinery for testing BEFORE ever being shipped out, aka, sold. It is then moved to different locations around the WORLD by trucks, pipelines, barges, and ships. No one has a pipeline running to there gas pump storage. No One. Prove me wrong!!

HotDogs

 

[Positive Vibes]

03ExplorerSPT: I love Chevron also but don't like the fact they add MTBE or whatever that cancer causing crap is. Also I will NEVER go to Exxon, after the Valdez oil spill.

 

[mhn3773]

now now not all the gas u get from mom and pop stations is bad i worked at a safeway gas station for a few months and got to talk to the drivers alot

alot of the time the mom and pop stations will buy whats left in the truck after they drop at a station

so like safeway would buy gas from tosco use the hired rigs to take it to the safeways..if the rigs had fuel left over and it wassent profitable to take it to the nearest safeway that needed gas they would call some of the local places that safeway had made a deal with and drop there..the local place would then pay safeway a discounted rate...but its stil the same gas

also how can the gas pass all the test's if its bad for the car? i know that the gas station i worked at once got shut down because of a loading mishap

just my .02cents since i used to work at a gas station

edit- also at the safeway gas stations atleased if u walk up and tell them u want to read the veder root print out they have to give it to u...itl say right on it if theres any water and also will tell u how much gas is in the tank so u wont have a chance to get any scum..i know the filter systems work well but after it gets down to like 500-700 gallons they start to get clogged u will notice the pumps running reallly really really slow

 

[unclemeat]

Dude you need to stop sniffing gasoline, it has affected your judgement and clarity. It will also cause cancer. The only time gasoline has a "brand" is when it leaves the refinery. Gasoline is stored in tanks at the distribution facility because of its octane rating not where it was refined. You should go to the distribution facilities and see for yourself.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

But do not take my word for it, all I am is an engineering consultant to several petroluem distributers. Go to the distribution facilities see for yourself. You will see all the gas brand trucks filling from the same tap.

Now since you tried to contradict me, I will contradict you. The same tap. B/S If you are an engineer, then you should know about that different pipelines running from various tanks to the same outlet. RIGHT? Many pipes to 1 valve. That is the key here. Now let's go to the source of all those pipes. Storage tanks, RIGHT? Many of them, RIGHT? You are going to sit there and tell me as an engineer. that you have personnaly climbed these stinking tanks, as many as 15 connected to the same line, pulled samples, tested, and everyone stinking one of them tanks has Gasoline it it? AND all of the Gasoline is the same??? You are nuts my friend. Just because you see a tank trunk, by no means does it say in stone that he is hauling gasoline in the first place. IE, jet fuel, #2 fuel oil, kerosene, 1000's of various Chemicals, Gasoline additives, and on and on. Read his MSDS placard that he MUST have on his truck for Joe Public to know the hazards that he is carrying. Even railcars have to have this on them to travel or their tanks are empty and not sealed up. They are diamond shaped and red, green, yellow, or white.

This is what makes our job so dang difficult. Smart guys that think they know everything about everything. I don't know much at all, but I do know 1 thing, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW GASOLINE LIKE ME!!!!!

Nuff said.....

HotDogs

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

There is so much mis-information here, I don't know where to begin.

On my end? Please begin if that is the case. Mine are only facts.

HotDogs

 

[mhn3773]

lets be fair here bbq has a VERY valid point

think about how much gas we use in the us..now think about how many people are employed to test the gas..now think about how many tanks are just in cali...then how many trunks and truck companies haul gas..stations

it wouldnt be un heard of to get bad gas i know i have gotten gas bad enough i have noticed it b4..BUT it was at a rural station from what i have expirenced around town ( i live in cali if thats makes a difference) there are no stations i have used that had such bad gas

just lets not try to get harsh with each other this is an awesome forum one of the only forums i have been on where u dont get flamed for being wrong or off or spelling like an idiot( i.e me)

the only quam i had with the orig post is that he said mom and pop stations in general were bad...i just dont want to give ALL stations like that a bad name

 

[mhn3773]

hey bbq....i may be wrong but i heard from the drivers at my last job that different places like shell and arco and safeway put different uh..hmm i cant think of the word..octane packages? i know thats not right but mabey u know what i mean

 

[Chew_12]

If every station got there gas at the same place, they all would have to pay the same price. Then how could the mom and pop places afford to sell gas so cheap. The only explanation would be that they get there gas cheaper from somewhere and that gas is probably of lesser grade. Thats what im thinking

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Oxygenates or Octane Boosters? And by the way, the drivers, most do not know what the analyists are on there particular cargo. Only the weight. That's how they get paid some times.

HotDogs

I did not mean to slam the Mom & Pops by any means. I just wanted to state a clear and cut fact, that the gas they do get, is NOT reformulated gasoline like they sell at the majors. It's like, is the Ranger the same pick-up as the F-150? They are both trucks and both are made by Ford. Does this mean the Ranger cannot perform like the F-150? You get the point, I hope. Everything has a mission. It's just that some have a higher mission than others.

 

[unclemeat]

I get my facts from the people who distribute gasoline. They make their living distributing petroluem. All of them say the same thing that gasoline is gasoline. There is usually one pipeline that carries all the different products. Products are stored in different tanks to allow the pipeline to transport different products.

 

[Positive Vibes]

unclemeat, then how can gas fluctuate so much from Chevron vs. Little Timmys Gas? How can Timmy sell his gas for cheaper?

 

[chris c]

Originally posted by BBQ_HotDogs
Propaganda? Are you serious? Bad gas could have been the stations fault, not the refinery. Are you sure that at the station, it did not have a leak? Did water by some chance leak into there storage tank underground? When you say bad gas, what was wrong with it, if you know?

I state only facts!!! That is period.........

I do not work for ANY refinery, marketer, blender, etc. I am an independent that read some posts and saw some misconceptions about gasolines. I am only pointing out the facts. Cheap gas comes from people selling it that are not affiliated with any major refinery. That gas is blended to "just pass" all inspection tests set by the US Government. If by some long shot of a chance that you truly beleive that all gasolines are the same, then explain the price difference.

Higher the Octane, the cleaner it will burn!! FACT!!
Colder States must have higher RVP levels than Southern Sates!! FACT!!!
Is Mexico's gas as good as the US's gas? NO! FACT!!

Ask me, I will tell you the truth!!

HotDogs

higher octane fuel does not burn cleaner.

anyway, i don't want to hear you speak the truth. present it in documented valid data.

you should all pick up a book titled "high performance fuels and fluids" it is a great read...