Slashdot Mirror
Motorists Sue Over 'Hot' Fuel
i_like_spam writes "Motorists in 13 states have filed lawsuits against big oil companies and gas retailers alleging unfair pricing practices related to fuel-pumping temperatures. From an industry standard developed in the 1920's, the price for a gallon of gasoline is based on the density of the fuel at a temperature of 60 degress F. A gallon of gas at higher temperatures is less dense, and therefore contains less energy. The lawsuits claim additional costs of 3 to 9 cents per gallon without temperature adjustments. The fuel industry claims that the costs of installing temerature-adjustment sensors on every pump would be prohibitively high. These sensors are already installed in Canada, however, where the colder temperatures favor consumers."
Business math 101: Their accountants looked at the money they'd lose after installing the sensors and prohibited the engineers from doing it. Ergo, the sensors are prohibitively expensive.
How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
Shouldn't competition keep the prices low?
I bet the 3 to 9 cents is coming off the price and not out of the pocket. The only place where it really matters is when the temperature swing is large and people fueling during rush hour are left paying more than those at night, of course if the consumers were educated about that it would free up rush hour slots at the station and consumers would still win.
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
Or are the chips on fatty margins?s -selling-solar.html
--
Solar power with maintenance included: http://mdsolar.blogspot.com/2007/01/slashdot-user
I have always thought that I was getting ripped off by the person before me that used regular gas, when I pumped premium. Are there several hoses in that pipe, or do I get a hose length of 10 cent cheaper gas in my car everytime that I fill up? If the latter is true... someone start up a class action lawsuit... I have a job that keeps me too busy.
robots obey what the children say - TMBG
Just make the standard at 100F instead of 60F, then temperature sensors will be all the rage, as they apparently are in canada.
The oil companies would respond by trying to accelerate global warming and push the average temperature over 100F so they can start saving money again.
Dyolf Knip
It's not the heat, it's the humidity! :-P
How hot can a pump get in the summer heat of Arizona? Maybe 200 degrees? Let's make it that then.
Forget the temperature compensation crap. Let's just require fuel to be served at 200 degrees.
Now that I think about it, this might help safety and environmental issues. Fuel expanding in a car's gas tank gets vented outside. That's awful. If it starts out hot and low density, venting is unlikely.
OT: Am I the only one who thinks this thread is redundant?
I bet this guy's wife is the sort that washes cling-wrap for reuse, gets two cups per tea-bag and uses BOTH sides of the toilet paper?
Mongrel News all the news that fits and froths
navel
I knew a navel aviator once. He could never manage to break the lint barrier.
Please, we like it that way!!!!!
Simple, problem solved. Buy electricity by Amps.
Reality has a conservative bias: it conserves mass, energy, momentum...
But in another more accurate way, Barney is the winner.
Just because it's not how you would choose to spend the money doesn't mean it was pissed away.
Actually, I can pretty much guaranty it was pissed away.
I come here for the love