September 17, 2026, 07:26 AM
vthokygas prices
$3.99 / 5.99 for reg/diesel today.
Politicians seem to have forgotten that they work for us, not the other way around.
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God bless America. September 18, 2026, 06:51 AM
vthokyReg/diesel increased to $4.09 / $6.15 overnight.
Politicians seem to have forgotten that they work for us, not the other way around.
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God bless America. September 18, 2026, 07:54 AM
oddballSomeone in another forum complained about diesel hitting $9.30 per gallon in Los Angeles. Not too far away from ten bucks.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
September 18, 2026, 07:55 AM
fischtown7I have a 1979 Mercedes 300CD, time to break out the french fry/vegetable oil again.
September 18, 2026, 12:18 PM
chellim1Midwest Braces For Diesel Crisis After Exxon's Joliet Refinery Suffers Disruption
A major refinery in the US Midwest went offline this week after a power outage, adding to global refining disruptions as US diesel prices reach record highs.
Exxon Mobil shut its 275,000-barrel-a-day Joliet refinery in Illinois on Sunday after a power failure triggered the facility's safety flare, Reuters reported. A Thursday filing also disclosed that floodwater had overwhelmed a pump at the plant.
https://www.zerohedge.com/ener...y-suffers-disruption
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor September 18, 2026, 09:51 PM
fischtown7I just read that about Joliet and now the lifting of the hours of service on fuel drivers makes sense. There are no shortages locally, so I was wondering why exemption. They must be planning on long hauling fuel from other parts of the country to cover shortages in the Midwest.
FMCSA exemption. Something tells me better start stocking up.
September 19, 2026, 02:31 AM
tatortoddquote:
Originally posted by Gustofer:
Sitting right next to a steaming pile of horseshit.
The US produces 176 million barrels of diesel annually which is much more than we consume (the rest is exported).
They are gouging us on the price of diesel and using Russia and Iran as an excuse to do so.
$5.99 this morning.
Your complaint on diesel prompted me to look into it.
Short version:You have made an excellent point with diesel exports. Diesel prices are at an unprecedented high and it's not showing much correlation with crude oil prices due to diesel exports. However, I vehemently disagree with you on two points:
The US refines 1,584 million barrels of diesel per year not 177 million barrels of diesel per year. It took me under 2 minutes to get that value from EIA so whomever you're getting your information from is an assclown and shouldn't be trusted as they're off by a factor of 9. A source cannot be that wrong without pulling numbers out of their ass.
From a macro level (i.e. US wide or PADD wide not individual gas stations) your price gouging assertion is flawed. More in long version.
Long version:
I've been focused on Iran's impact on crude oil since March which ultimately impacts gasoline and diesel prices. Frankly, I've paid very little attention to Ukraine and Russia in 2026, and it caused me to miss something.
A brief history:
For decades, there was a nice refined products mutually beneficial synergy between the US and Europe that benefited both consumers and industry. The US refineries produced a surplus of diesel but we had a shortage of gasoline (especially on the East Coast). The Europeans produced a surplus of gasoline, but had a shortage of diesel. We literally shipped diesel to Europe and they shipped gasoline back to US so these exports were fantastic from a consumer standpoint.
European Union decides to implement the ULSD diesel (ie. diesel went from 500 ppm sulfur to 15 ppm sulfur) with a phased approach 2005 to 2009. This is where added expense to consumer is first identified that lubricity additives must be injected at loading rack to offset the lubrication the sulfur previously provided. On top of that, the additional desulfurization at the refinery cut yields. Yes, the politicians created an environmental regulation that made less diesel available to the market AND required money to be spent on an additive to be injected into the diesel so it wouldn't crater engines.
The GW Bush's EPA decides to copy the Europeans and implement the identical diesel standard with the known consumer downsides with a phased approach 2006 to 2010. US refineries and distribution terminal spent billions collectively to retool for ULSD.
2014/2015 the European Union decides there are entirely too many consumer diesel vehicles being sold so they implement Euro 6 NOx regs (i.e. reduced emissions consumer diesels could emit), eliminated decades old substantially lower registration fees for diesel vehicles compared to gasoline vehicles, and allowed municipalities (e.g. Paris) to implement low emission zones with even tougher emission standards than Euro 6.
ULSD was a huge impact aforementioned US-Europe refined products synergy. The European Unions 2014/2015 actions was a pretty minor impact as the consumer diesel portion wasn't much volume (i.e. commercial truck not impacted by regulations and it's the major long term driver for volumes).
Now let's get back to the present:
Crude oil prices are up 28% in last 3-months from the conflict with Iran. Not as high as March, but briefly went over $106 but settled down to $96 today. Historically, crude oil accounts for 52% of the price of gasoline and 42% of the price of diesel which is one reason I keep an eye on crude oil prices.
Ukrainian drone strikes have hit 6 Russian refineries once every 3 days January thru August of 2026, and these 6 refineries account for 50% of all Russian diesel production. Kirishi is completely offline. Volgograd and NORSI are running at about 25% of nameplate capacity. Taneco's strike is so new impacts not yet known.
From a geopolitical standpoint, the proponents of Ukraine drone attack strategy are asserting that it's paralyzing Russian's ability to finance its war, and the opponents of the strategy are saying it's destabilizing global commodity markets (i.e. both crude oil as Russia is refining less and refined products as Russia is producing less) and damaging western economies.
Europe had been using Russia to make up for its diesel shortage for commercial trucks. Now, they've shifted primarily to the US to make up for their diesel shortage. Essentially leaving European truck drivers to bid against American truck drivers and American consumers with diesels for the same gallons of diesel.
US refineries are up against the capacity of their desulfurization units to produce more diesel.
As far as refinery percent utilization, 2026 has been the 3rd best year since 1980 (i.e. only 2004 and 2018 were better) which means refiners are pushing their refineries hard to pump out diesel.
This Sept 2016 to Sept 2026 graph really depicts the divergence of diesel from crude oil and gasoline prices caused by the diesel exports.
Every time gouging comes up there are some gross misconceptions:
a refinery goes offline due to major incident and people erroneously claim doing it to raise prices. That refinery is making $0 off current gasoline/diesel prices and is in fact losing millions per day. Its competitors are making money and nobody loses millions to benefit their competitor.
Zero US integrated oil companies and zero large refiners have large enough percentage of refining capacity to sway the market. The FTC anti-trust division sees to it the Rockefeller days of controlling 90 to 95% of US refining capacity are long gone and currently the largest refiner controls 16.4% of US refining capacity. The FTC also insure refiners have their refining capacity spread out amongst the PADD districts so they cannot dominate a region.
Only OPEC/OPEC+ have the ability to sway the market with their coordinated cartel controlling crude oil production of 40% of the world's crude oil production.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. September 19, 2026, 09:44 AM
GustoferYet another reason to not trust AI.
The refining number came from GoogleAI. But, I still maintain that we produce far more than we consume. Given the right regulations, imposed by a not inept Congress, supply and demand would demand lower prices on the homefront (I don't give two shits about European problems). Congress could, quite easily, drastically reduce or eliminate exports and do away with the ridiculous ULSD mandate. Instead, they decide to take the next two months off.
"America first" my ass.
I will stand by my gouging claim. You can bet anything that oil company lobbyists are fighting tooth and nail to keep things just as they are to maximize profits and screw over the American people in the process.
I've read that the truckers are planning a nationwide strike on October 1 to protest these prices. That could be ugly, but perhaps that's what it'll take.
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It is long past time for a Convention of States. The Founding Fathers gave us this tool to fix an out of control government and we need to use it.
September 19, 2026, 03:30 PM
nhracecraftquote:
Originally posted by shovelhead:
Riding the motorcycles a lot more at present. Went grocery shopping yesterday after I worked out and loaded the sadddlebags.
I’d ride to work today but rain is in the forecast and I want to take one of my AR’s into the range while there. Don’t think the local P.D. would appreciate me riding through town with it on my back despite it being cased.
ATGATT...
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If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !!
Trump 47....Making America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!
September 19, 2026, 05:16 PM
jljonesquote:
Originally posted by Gustofer:
Yet another reason to not trust AI.
The refining number came from GoogleAI. But, I still maintain that we produce far more than we consume. Given the right regulations, imposed by a not inept Congress, supply and demand would demand lower prices on the homefront (I don't give two shits about European problems). Congress could, quite easily, drastically reduce or eliminate exports and do away with the ridiculous ULSD mandate. Instead, they decide to take the next two months off.
"America first" my ass.
I will stand by my gouging claim. You can bet anything that oil company lobbyists are fighting tooth and nail to keep things just as they are to maximize profits and screw over the American people in the process.
I've read that the truckers are planning a nationwide strike on October 1 to protest these prices. That could be ugly, but perhaps that's what it'll take.
Hang out another minute or two. He can explain away the fact that oil companies are making bank off of this and it should be ignored. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t “look into it” and claim it’s fake news.
Or he’ll pull out the old standby, that anyone who questions the oil companies are just too angry and unstable to recognize it’s ALWAYS someone else’s fault. Never big oil.
Turmoil is always extremely lucrative. If turmoil is lucrative, developing and lobbying for a system that creates turmoil is good business. Remember that the next time an excuse is made blaming a terrorist act. Exxon is laughing all the way to the bank.
Temporary pain at the pump is the new two weeks to flatten the curve.
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People hate you. Train like it.
September 19, 2026, 05:33 PM
abnmacvDrove 6 hours around the state yesterday with $6.00 a gallon for regular the average price.
U.S. Army 11F4P Vietnam 69-70 NRA Life Member
September 21, 2026, 06:27 AM
coyotedudequote:
Every time gouging comes up there are some gross misconceptions:
a refinery goes offline due to major incident and people erroneously claim doing it to raise prices. That refinery is making $0 off current gasoline/diesel prices and is in fact losing millions per day. Its competitors are making money and nobody loses millions to benefit their competitor.
Zero US integrated oil companies and zero large refiners have large enough percentage of refining capacity to sway the market. The FTC anti-trust division sees to it the Rockefeller days of controlling 90 to 95% of US refining capacity are long gone and currently the largest refiner controls 16.4% of US refining capacity. The FTC also insure refiners have their refining capacity spread out amongst the PADD districts so they cannot dominate a region.
Only OPEC/OPEC+ have the ability to sway the market with their coordinated cartel controlling crude oil production of 40% of the world's crude oil production.
Most oil major quarterly reports are due next month, I'd bet the opposite.... record profits and dividend hikes.
September 21, 2026, 08:36 PM
tatortoddquote:
Originally posted by coyotedude:
quote:
Every time gouging comes up there are some gross misconceptions:
a refinery goes offline due to major incident and people erroneously claim doing it to raise prices. That refinery is making $0 off current gasoline/diesel prices and is in fact losing millions per day. Its competitors are making money and nobody loses millions to benefit their competitor.
Zero US integrated oil companies and zero large refiners have large enough percentage of refining capacity to sway the market. The FTC anti-trust division sees to it the Rockefeller days of controlling 90 to 95% of US refining capacity are long gone and currently the largest refiner controls 16.4% of US refining capacity. The FTC also insure refiners have their refining capacity spread out amongst the PADD districts so they cannot dominate a region.
Only OPEC/OPEC+ have the ability to sway the market with their coordinated cartel controlling crude oil production of 40% of the world's crude oil production.
Most oil major quarterly reports are due next month, I'd bet the opposite.... record profits and dividend hikes.
Headlines for quarterly reports of integrated oil companies doesn't prove gouging. Only a minority of actual journalists in mainstream media will actually open the quarterly report and find the section for US downstream earnings. Even that doesn't prove gouging as it's a business based on an astronomical volume multiplied by a small margin which is measured in pennies. As an example of an astronomical volume, the US's largest refiner is Valero and they refine approx 92.4 million gallons per day.
Gouging by definition is on margins/markups. A few real world examples where state attorney generals were successful proving gasoline price gouging:
Hurricane Harvey - Texas Attorney General reaches settlement with 6 gas stations for a combined $300,000 in civil restitution. Prior to Hurricane Harvey, the average price of gasoline in Texas was $2.14 per gallon. Two gas stations nowhere near the hurricane had marked gasoline up to $9.99 per gallon and four gas stations in DFW Metroplex (i.e. dependent on Houston for gasoline) marked gasoline up to $3.99 or more.
North Carolina winter storms and 2 manmade disasters - State AG won court rulings and settlements with 27 different defendants across 11 lawsuits. One of the cases was the Colonial pipeline shutdown where the gas station raised prices from $3.29 per gallon to $5.49 per gallon.
What you won't find is illegal, systemic price gouging by supermajor integrated oil company such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, or BP:
Zero examples of state attorney general or assistant U.S. attorney general winning a price gouging lawsuit or settlement against a supermajor integrated oil company. Check for yourself.
Congress and federal agencies have initiated more than 25 major investigations into gasoline prices and the petroleum industry since 1972 — averaging roughly one probe every two years (i.e. nearly every election year) — and they have uncovered zero cases of illegal, systemic price gouging. Check for yourself.
What gasoline or diesel price gouging of the American consumer isn't:
an integrated (upstream + downstream + chemical) international oil corp making 55 to 85% of their money outside the US. For example, 2022 was Chevron's most profitable year of all time, but they made 66% of downstream (e.g. refining and marketing) profits outside the US.
an integrated (upstream + downstream + chemical) international oil corp making
55% to 90% of their profit in Upstream (e.g. production of crude oil and natural gas). For example, in 2023 ExxonMobil made a $36 billion profit but only 3.3% was in US downstream (e.g. refining & marketing) segment.
an integrated (upstream + downstream + chemical) international oil corp making money on their chemical business (e.g. plastic films to make potato chip bags).
a downstream only company not having any major incidents in a year but their competitors did. For example, a couple days ago Chellim posted about ExxonMobil's Joliet refnery going offline. That's their only refinery in PADD 2 so ExxonMobil isn't making any money in Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Toledo, etc. but their competitors (e.g. Marathon, Phillips 66, Valero, etc) are operational and making money. Attorney Generals in those States will watch them like a hawk to insure the margin is pennies per gallon.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. September 21, 2026, 08:49 PM
tatortoddquote:
Originally posted by Gustofer:
Yet another reason to not trust AI.
The refining number came from GoogleAI.
That makes sense! AI for some reason either likes to hallucinate or take a post from social media as fact.
Last weekend, Gemini (aka Google's AI) tried to tell me west texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil is hard to refine into diesel and US production is mainly WTI so that was a factor in current diesel prices. Well, I've actually stuck my fingers in WTI, know it's properties, and it's easy to refine into both gasoline and diesel. I called bullshit and Gemini immediately backed down and admitted their premise was bogus.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. September 29, 2026, 08:04 AM
vthokyEleven days steady, at $4.09/6.15 for reg/diesel.
Politicians seem to have forgotten that they work for us, not the other way around.
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God bless America. September 29, 2026, 08:10 AM
nhracecraftPremium holding steady at $4.99 over last two weeks here.
____________________________________________________________
If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !!
Trump 47....Making America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!
September 29, 2026, 08:40 AM
egregorequote:
posted by me, page 25, Sept. 16: Flirting with (i.e., almost but not quite) $4 and $6 for regular gas and diesel, respectively.
A few stations exceed this, but by and large, holding steady at this level.
September 29, 2026, 07:56 PM
808$3.79 Regular Tier one gasoline Stroud Oklahoma.
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NRA Life Member
September 30, 2026, 01:55 PM
BigSwede$3.89 this morning. Gov. Kemp just suspended gas tax for 30 days, supposed to be about .34
September 30, 2026, 05:50 PM
nhracecraftPremium DOWN here today...Now @ $4.89!
____________________________________________________________
If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !!
Trump 47....Making America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!