Bottom line: Hosers (Canuks to you non-hosers :-) ) are getting
hosed at the pumps! If it's colder that 15C (about 60F), we're
getting less gas than we pay for.
The "ATC" sticker on the pumps IN CANADA is called "Automatic
Temperature Compensation". The oil industry use it to provide
a consistent measurement of gas as it is transferred from oil refineries
to terminals to gas stations. Temperature compensation is a form
of measurement which makes up for the fact that gas shrinks in volume
when cold and expands when hot. With ATC gas is always measured
as if it were 15C.
Critics of the ATC method say that the problem with that method
IN CANADA is that the temperature of gas is closer to the Canada's
mean air temperature which is 6C.
The difference between compensated and non-compensated pumps
can be quite stark. When it's cold 20 litres of ATC gas comes up
a quarter litre short of non-compensated gas. 1 IMP gallon equals
approximately 4.56 litres.
An ex-Imperial Oil executive estimates that the average consumer
are paying $20-25 for gasoline that isn't received.
Of course, the oil industry has another viewpoint! They say that
it doesn't matter that you're getting less volume because you're
still getting the same amount of energy and your vehicle will still
travel the same distance. BUT, as someone in this thread pointed out,
you buy volume! You don't buy energy! You don't buy weight!
Maybe us hosers should smarten up by finding a dealer who sells
non-temperature compensated gas and buy in the winter. And
buy ATC gas in the summer >:-} But then we wouldn't be hosers :-P
Bob
BTW, the Institute of Standards and Technology has a study that
estimates that U.S. consumers are paying for 670 million additional
gallons of gasoline because expanded fuel is being sold at temperatures
above the 60F standard. In New York, the average fuel temp. is 61F
and NY consumers pay for 3 million additional gallons or about 10 million
dollars, according to Aug. 2006 prices.
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