What Octane Boost Do You Use

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Vince

Thanks for the update. It pretty much supports what went down (along with the octane ratings, lol) except for a few details.

" Unocal had a bunch of patents on how to formulate 92 octane. Most of the oil companies share in how they develop fuels but Unocal basically had a particulary (sp?) difficult process. For the other companies to adopt their process to get the newly mandated 92 octane, would raise the price per gallon about 5 cents."


The Business End of this

TOSCO (Unocal) had the patent for the formula and was charging the other oil companies that nickel per gallon for the rights. All the other oil companies had their backs against the wall with an unreasonable government imposed deadline to meet and had no choice but to pay TOSCO until they could figure out an alternative. While all this was going on, TOSCO was negotiating the sale of Unocal. In a major business coup, TOSCO managed to sell off Unocal at a premium (pun intended) price but managed to keep their rights to the MTBE high octane formula.

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"He also explained to me "why" gas is so expensive which was a very interesting conversation."

That would be very interesting to hear, although I believe that this country pays less per gallon of fuel than any other country in the world.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Originally posted by MikeFleming

OK, I'll take you up on that. I'll be out your way evening of June 4 for a couple of weeks. Will be hold up in a hotel for seminars for 7 of those days, but we can find some time outside of that schedule.

I'll bring my petrol/electric car and we can race.

Cool! PM me when you get a firm schedule and I'll propose a diversionary agenda for your entertainment. It might be hard to top the shop with all the cobras that we visited last time but I'll do my best.

[vrinner]

That would be very interesting to hear, although I believe that this country pays less per gallon of fuel than any other country in the world.

I guess the US gov. funds most of the exploration of oil, that is why it is cheaper than the rest of the world.

He gave me the basic run down of what it costs to produce, mainly the price is for the crude (sp?) oil (per barrel price). Then by the time you add on all the refining, transportation, and taxes, he says that often times they are break even, but then there will be very good times as well. I don't remember all the details of the costs but from the way he explained it, it sounded like the "basic" per gallon price was fair. Now I'm sure there are lots of other things to consider and him "just" being a chemist, really doesn't know the whole picture, but I still found it interesting.

[frankparker]

What is better...

MTBE or Ethnol? Those are the two types of gas's that you can buy here in california. I believe Ethnol is because it is more or an alcohol burning mixture?