The price of gasoline and how much we consume are common topics of conversation around the globe and particularly in Canada. We thought it was time for an oil company to contribute to the discussion. Welcome to Petro-Canada’s PumpTalk blog.
When we're talking about oil prices, we see these two terms in the news a lot: WTI and Brent Crude. What do they mean - and what's the difference between the two?
Not all crude oil is created equal - different API gravity (an indication of the ability of the crude to make gasoline) and sulfur content, for example, affect the grade and classification of crude oil. WTI (an acronym for "West Texas Intermediate") and Brent Crude are two different classifications of crude oil.
The progression in automotive technology over the last fifty years has certainly been beneficial and impressive - moving from carburetors to fuel injectors, enhancements in safety technology like ABS, traction control, stability control, electronic brake force distribution and of course, improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions. But lately, I feel like we may be going a little too far in our technological innovations, possibly at the expense of the "joy" of driving.
There was a time when diesel was a bad word. It conjured up images of black, dirty smoke and a heavier, oilier smell when you filled up. I recently saw this ad on TV and it got me thinking about how diesel has changed in the last 30 plus years.
I am not a casual driver. I take driving very seriously, engage in it daily, and am interested in enhancing my performance in reasonable ways. This has included things like completing Advanced Driving Training with BMW, taking part in comparison drives and learning from the experts. One thing I've often wondered about is octane boosters. Since I work for Suncor, I decided to seek out our Petro-Canada fuel experts and put the question to them! Here’s the great info they shared with me.
This week, I wanted to provide an updated view on crude oil and gasoline, and how prices are set. Michael Ervin is an expert gas analyst and although this Globe and Mail article is a couple years old, his responses to reader questions are extremely insightful and still hold true! Hegoes beyond this and also discusses diesel, the actual effect of boycotts and many other subjects. Fascinating article: “Explaining Sky High Gasoline Prices” - hope you like it!!
We know that everyone wants to get the most out of their gasoline dollar - and the last thing you want to worry about is whether you're being charged extra because of malfunctioning equipment.
We've had a few questions about our gas pump calibration recently and I thought it might be helpful to share a little bit about Petro-Canada's fuel dispensing equipment and how it's maintained throughout the year. System checks are not exactly glamorous, but it matters to us - and to you - that everything is working properly!
This week, I wanted to talk about cruise control. Given all the driving that many of us will do this summer - whether to cottages, camps or road trips - there is often the potential to benefit from using it. This is something that I'm very passionate about - especially over a long drive when I set my speed and end up passing, being passed by and then RE-passing drivers who cannot maintain a steady speed. Anyway, let's get into the benefits, and there are several!
If you’re going to be driving almost anywhere in Canada in the next few months – and unless your vehicle happens to be pulled through the air by 9 tiny reindeer! – you’re likely going to have to deal with the hazards of winter driving.
If I were asked to list the best piece of driving advice I’ve ever received, I’d probably refuse. I’d refuse because I really see three items as being on my list. These are applicable to all drivers and multiple situations - unless you’re one of the lucky ones who don’t have to endure winter. In that case, skip the winter driving tip which I conveniently placed last! So back to the list:
They say a birthday is just a number and it’s all about how you feel, not how old you are. Not so with your tires. As you can see, I’m staying on this tire safety theme. You read in my last post that taking proper care of your tires is important for the overall safety of your vehicle, its passengers, not to mention helping with fuel efficiency when the tires are properly inflated. In fact, next to a smart and aware driver, your tires are truly the most important safety feature on your car. And, when it comes to your tires and their “best used before date” or “birth date”, it is all about the number.
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