Higher pump prices temporarily only, according to AAA

The motor club AAA Carolinas says the higher gas pump prices are temporary because of the disruption in moving shipments from the Gulf Coast. Colonial Pipeline operators are  working to repair the pipeline and expect this week to re-start the movement of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from Texas and Louisiana refineries to Gulf Coast and southeastern states.  But until normal shipments resume, the disruption could contribute to the availability of supply, and Upstate South Carolina has begun to see higher prices. “We want to remind motorists that this issue is temporary and to continue normal habits at the pump,” said AAA Carolinas Public Relations Manager Tiffany Wright. “AAA Carolinas continues to give members peace of mind during this time, and our roadside service will not be affected by this supply issue.” North Carolina’s average price of gasoline is currently $2.16, up slightly from last week’s average of $2.05. South Carolina motorists are seeing an average price of $2.04, up from last week’s average of $1.91. However, in Seneca one gas stop is advertising gas at $2.29.  Another has taken down its listing altogether.  Once the supply issue is fixed, motorists should enjoy lower gas prices as we move into the winter-blend of fuel. Pump prices typically decline during this time of year due to lower driving demand after the busy summer driving season has concluded and the changeover from summer-blend to a cheaper-to-produce winter-blend gasoline. The difference between summer- and winter-blend gasoline involves the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) of the fuel. RVP is a measure of how easily the fuel evaporates at a given temperature. The more volatile a gasoline (higher RVP), the easier it evaporates. Winter-blend fuel has a higher RVP because the fuel must be able to evaporate at low temperatures for the engine to operate properly, especially when the engine is cold. If the RVP is too low on a frigid day, the vehicle will be hard to start and once started, will run rough.