"Hot Fuel" burns a hole in drivers’ pockets

The phrase “hot fuel” refers to diesel fuel or gasoline sold at retail pumps at temperatures higher than the century-old government standard of 60 degrees. That is the temperature used in the petro-chemical industry to measure all petroleum liquids.

At the 60-degree standard, a gallon of diesel delivers a certain amount of measurable energy to move a truck down the road. But when expanded by higher temperatures, a gallon actually contains less fuel and delivers less energy.

Let’s say your tanks hold 200 gallons of fuel. Here’s what happens if you fill them with 75-degree diesel: It still takes 200 gallons to fill the tanks, but because you’re buying temperature-expanded fuel you’re effectively buying 198.8 gallons (as measured at 60º) for the 200-gallon price. If your truck gets six miles per gallon, you’ll travel 7.15 fewer miles down the road, and you’ll pay $4.43 dollars more than you should have (at the March 6, 2008, average price of $3.71 per gallon). At 90 degrees—not unheard of—you’d 14.2 miles fewer down the road and out $8.80.

Then again, it’s only money.

But if hot fuel makes you hot under the collar, visit www.turndownhotfuel.com. The purpose of Owner-Operator Independent Driver’s Associations (OOIDA) Turn Down Hot Fuel campaign is to educate consumers about how selling fuel at temperatures above the standard affects the real cost of fuel. It also provides an avenue for communicating to lawmakers the need for automatic temperature compensation at every retail fuel pump. Without input from drivers this issue will continue to be ignored. It will take a unified voice to bring this issue to Congress and achieve a solution. Visit www.turndownhotfuel.com now to learn more and to find a way to make your voice heard on this issue.