U.S. gas prices—February 25, 2008

Gas prices rise again this week.

National retail fuel price averages

Price

Change from last week

Regular gasoline/gallon	$3.13	↑ .09
Diesel fuel/gallon	$3.55	↑ .16

Regional regular gasoline prices

Price

Change from last week

East Coast	$3.15	↑ .10
-New England	$3.13	↑ .09
-Central Atlantic	$3.15	↑ .09
-Lower Atlantic	$3.15	↑ .12
Midwest	$3.08	↑ .03
Gulf Coast	$3.06	↑ .12
Rocky Mountain	$3.05	↑ .09
West Coast	$3.27	↑ .13
-California	$3.33	↑ .14

Source: Energy Information Administration, 2/25/08

Comments

[fuel additives]

I'm just glad to see that my state is currently on the lower end of the spectrum. I know that rumor has it that the prices are going to skyrocket this summer. I hope that as a nation we can start to make necessary changes before we are forced to because of high prices.

[patrick]

Gas companies are charging whatever they feel like charging, and they will continue to do so as long as they can get away with it. It's pretty obvious that gas companies are functioning like a monopoly (albeit collectively). Isn't there some kind of government or something that's supposed to protect the American people from this kind of thing?

[Cale Johnson]

Patrick, What you're talking about is called collusion. And yes, it's illegal. But, there is no evidence that the market is operating that way. It's easy to feel helpless all the same.

[Ron S]

Prices on the rise again.. Just makes me ill that Oil companies post record profits quarter after quarter. I'm doing my part to reduce demand. Bought a motorcycle 2 years ago. The $$ that I used to spend on gas in a month just about covers my motorcycle loan pmt, insurance, and gas! Instead of contributing towards Exxon's bottom line I am building equity in my form personal transportation. Used to fill up every 4-5 days @ $60 a tank, now fill up at same frequency for less than $9.

[Douglas Crandall]

What fuel dditive used to clean the engin do you recommend. I am now using Sea Foam motor treatment for gas and diesel engins.

I have subscribed to Consumers Reports for the past ten years and read articles that are of interest to me which have been most beneficial in the past. I contribute to your requests knowing that you do not accept paying adds and pass your magazine on to friends who certainly appreciate it.

[Missy Storm]

I have been reading about Ethos, a gasoline additive. Have these products been reviewed? I saw that Douglas Crandall is asking a related question. I will watch for a response. I drive several hundred miles each week with my job and every added mpg will be appreciated.

[Walter Pfeifer]

Has Consumer Reports looked into Ethos For Gas claims in increasing average gas mileage by 20% with no bad effects on the engine?

[Nick Marden]

So Consumer Reports ...where's the review ?????
An Ethos and Lucas gas additive products comparison please.
$4 a gallon !!
Please report to the consumers !
We need help .

Nick Marden

[Gary Krone]

With Gas going through the roof and more people looking at motorcycles and scooters, Consummer Reports needs to start doing reports on two wheel forms of transportation as well as cars. We want to know mileage per gallon, reliability and the rest.
This is a serious issue as running down to the corner store is not a given any more. When can we expect CR to start this reporting?

[Pavel Balatka]

Dear CR,
Gas is $4.29 here in CT.
Please could you reply to several requests about the Ethos FR and Lucas?
Thank you.
PJB

[REB]

I would also like to see an impartial review of the Ethos fuel additive product. It almost sounds too good to be true, though I have seen a lot of anecdotal comments on the web that claims that it does actually work. I am tempted to buy some. I am less concerned that it might not work. I am actually more concerned that it might damage my engine. Being a scientist, I would also like to know the composition of the product and have some idea of why and how it claims to do what it does. One little video clip said that it was a mineral oil based product, so it almost sounds as though you are turning your four cycle engine into a two cycle engine by adding oil to your gas. I would be concerned that the plugs would foul over time. Please CR, help us out here!

[Juan]

I noticed many enquires for Ethos fuel reformulators. Fox 10 news ran a test on the Ethos fuel reformulator and concluded that the product does work especially on higher mileage engines.
It is used by the city of San Diego in many of their fleet vehicles, police cars, school buses, garbage trucks...
Also, China is using Ethos fuel reformulator in their fuel supply for cleaning up the air in preparation for the 2008 Olympics.

[Jenn]

I'd love to see some reviews on scooters and motorcycles. Gas prices will only go up, despite demand in the US going down, with the rest of the world, like China and India, demanding more and more.

[Ruth]

Has anyone ever found any reliable data on the CA40 fuel additive that Ed Schultz advertizes? Does it work? Is it safe for the engine?

[Liza Barth]

Due to the overwhelming interest in motorcycles/scooters in our blog comments, we have created a discussion forum where you can continue to talk about buying a bike/scooter, mpg, safety, etc. Check out our new forum here: http://discussions.consumerreports.org/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=cr-0609fcaethan&tid=109

[Teresa]

On motorcycles/scooters: Forum topics are all well and good, but I have nothing to add to that linked discussion (such as it is), because I come to CR as my starting point: I often learn here about issues to consider that I hadn't thought of on my own. After talking with my dad yesterday about the possibilities of this kind of transportation, I was disappointed to come here and find nothing to get me started. And very surprised -- it's not like they're some newfangled invention. So, add my voice to those hoping for reviews in the future.

[Jeff Bartlett - Consumer Reports]

Teresa,
Believe us, we understand and are looking VERY seriously at this. We will have a blog on the topic this coming week, and further out, we are evaluating how to report on scooters in the future.

For us, this is a tough issue. Consumer Reports is EXTREMELY safety focused, yet we see a demand for a product type that has inherent dangers. For a car to be recommended, it must meet stringent crash test and dynamic performance requirements. With that said, hopefully you can appreciate the challenges with addressing scooters, a product that any mishap could lead to injury.

If you are considering a scooter, do consider the safety risks before buying.

[Paula]

Please could you report on the relative benfits, if any, of Ethos and any other gas additive? Thank you.

[Edward Gross]

Any other CA-40 users out there? I have used CA-40 for since April 08& gotten the following mileage on my 1995 Acura Integra-GSR(five-speed): baseline-18.86mpg. with the product:27.06mpg(H),34.40mpg(H), 21.68mpg(C),25.44mpg(C), 14.47mpg(C),17.44mpg(C),25.45mpg(C).I did atune-up ,oxygen sensor replacement, & an air filter/to get back to 25mpg. No other problems. Anyone have any info or warnings?

[Andrea]

I purchased Ethos in May. Have been using since June. Shows no change in my mpg. My usual mpg without Ethos is 28 city 33 hwy. Nissan advertised on window sticker when I purchased it to be 28/36. But it's only 36 when I drive almost the whole tank at hwy only.

Ethos has a guarantee to refund you (double) if you show no improvement. But I also saw on a discussion website of theirs that if you have fuel injection you need to disconnect your battery 3 times for 30 minutes each time, 7 days apart in order for the sensor to sense the new fuel combination. This, of course, means you have to reset your clock and other digital readout info goes to 0. So they say. Also read on that site that one person's O2 sensor needed replacing. However, wouldn't happen if the fuel injector was reset via disconnect of battery. I have decided not to go through all this trouble.
Yet, each time I call or email Ethos' powerfullife site, I get "Oh, sorry, we will get you your refund asap--or your gas vouchers which were also part of the deal.--Have not received anything yet.
Anyone out there know where I can go to complain about their business ethics?

[Ann]

I purchased Ethos in May and have followed all their directions and sent in gas receipts for 3 months for promised gas coupons. My mileage has NOT improved and they never sent the "free" gas coupons although I have written and called about them. They just do not respond to the question of the free gas coupons but they do acknowledge receiving my gas receipts. I thought they were a legitimate company but now believe they are just another scam and I am very disappointed.