Harvey, Rising Gas Prices May Affect Labor Day Drivers
CARS.COM — Pump prices are rising rapidly ahead of the Labor Day weekend after Hurricane Harvey closed or damaged more than a dozen refineries in the Gulf area, knocking out nearly one-third of the nation’s refining capacity.
Related: Labor Day Car Deals
The AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report Thursday said the national average for regular gas was $2.45, up 10 cents from a week ago and the highest it’s been so far in 2017. Premium gas was 7 cents higher at $2.94, and diesel fuel was up 4 cents to $2.57.
In Texas, which bore the brunt of Harvey’s devastation, regular gas jumped 12 cents to $2.26, and it was up 8 cents in Louisiana to $2.22. Regular gas spiked 20 cents as far away as South Carolina. Pump prices rose by double digits in at least 15 other states as the effects of the hurricane rippled across the country. The full impact of Harvey on gas prices may not be felt for a week or two after Labor Day, when crude oil and gasoline supplies become more depleted.
Despite rising pump prices, gas is still cheaper approaching Labor Day than in most recent years. In 2015, the national average for regular was $2.58, and in 2014 it was $3.43. The year before that, it was more than $3.50. Last year was an exception; the average price then was $2.22, the lowest at the start of the holiday weekend since 2004.
While the Labor Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest for travel by automobile no matter fuel prices at the pump, it’s also a busy time for emergency roadside service.
Mike Calkins, AAA’s manager for technical services, said the travel group expects to answer 193,000 emergency service calls from members from Thursday through Monday.
AAA predicts motorists who lock themselves out of their cars will be the No. 1 reason, followed closely by flat tires. Jump starts will rank third and emergency battery replacement fourth. Jump starts and battery replacement combined will account for 40 percent of the emergency calls.
Before hitting the road for the weekend, Calkins recommends that motorists at the very least check the air pressure in their tires and have their battery checked by a repair shop, many of which perform that service for free (as do many parts stores).
“I would start off with tire pressure because traveling at highway speeds in hot weather, you don’t want underinflated tires. They hurt fuel economy, and if they’re underinflated enough and overloaded enough, they could actually blow out from heat buildup,” Calkins said, noting that vehicles often are packed to the gills with people and cargo for holiday weekend trips.
“The lower the air pressure, the lower the load-carrying capability of the tire, and that is related to the ability of the tire to dissipate heat,” he added. “The more weight you put on a tire at a lower inflation pressure, the less capacity it has to dissipate heat.”
As far as batteries, Calkins said, “AAA recommends that for batteries that are more than three years old, have it checked annually. A good battery tester will give you a percentage of life remaining, and hopefully you will avoid a breakdown. The more you get past three years, the less reserve capacity that your battery is going to have.”
Other tips: “For safety reasons, you want to be able to see and be seen,” he said. Replace worn wiper blades — many parts stores install them for free — and clean the windshield outside and inside, where a hazy film tends to accumulate. Keeping the daytime running lights on (or turning on headlights) will help other drivers see your vehicle.
