Motor oil prices going up as well as other things

[64\/54Cadillacking]

Have you guys noticed lately how expensive motor oil has become?

What I don't understand is that with oil price being well below the $100 a barrel mark for months now, motor oil keeps going up in price. Even transmission fluid has gone up by $5-7 for a 4 quart jug of Valvoline. The regular blue ATF jug from Valvoline used to be $16 for many years, now it's $22, similar to the Red jug High Mileage ATF, used to be $17-18 is now $26. Almost a $10 increase in less than a year! This is outrageous and not normal at all for prices to shoot up so fast in such a short amount of time.

For instance, I remember paying $25 for the longest time a 5 quart jug of Castrol Extended Performance Full Syn oil for my daily driver, now that same oil went up another $1.00 at Walmart last week for $33.

These price increases aren't slowing down either. Now all the Mobil one oil 5 quart jugs are about $30. EP versions are now all $32-33.

Inflation has caused havoc on our economy and the price of goods to skyrocket so fast that I don't ever remember a time when the prices for things have accelerated faster than I can think.

What's very strange as well is although currently a barrel of oil is hovering around $70-75 but yet out here in CA were still paying anywhere from $4.00-5.50 a gallon for gas. That's still very expensive obviously but what's even more odd is I remember when oil prices shot up to $130 a barrel oil way back in 2012 and our CA gas prices hit like $4.50 a gallon or close to that price.

It seems as if there's definitely price gouging going on as our gas prices should be well below $4.00 a gallon with the current oil prices.

I haven't even seen discounts on motor oil at say Walmart for a long time although oil prices have come down a lot.

What gives? What do you think is going on here?

As a car enthusiast, it's getting more and more expensive to keep up with the ever price increases, even things like a car battery are very expensive now and they don't last as long like before.

[fishnjim]

I don't think one can compare oil ten years ago to today.
As an astute observed told me, there's "profit in chaos".  But I add there's always winners and losers in the game.
Oil has been more around the $100+ mark most of the year, so inventory was priced up.  Most of the SPR oil sold for more than $100 - so had little affect on the gas price. (what they don't tell you)  All the old cheap inventory is gone replaced by new higher priced.  Today, crude is right at $80, so far from out of the woods.  Won't see "normal" prices if at all until it's $40-ish and there's a lag in the inventory.  If there's a marked shift away from fuels, to "volts-wagons" that will change the market volume.  Transitional "pain".
The problem with price spirals is they often don't return to normal, based on supply, due to wage forces.  ie, Wages have been pushed up so the ability to pay when things return is greater.  Politicians shed short term pain for long term pain.   The politicians haven't a clue about economics and marketing, just what gets them votes.   An oil company sales volume is based on the price of oil, which is a global market, ex production cost.  So if they make, for argument sake, 10% profit, on a certain volume sold the total amount of money they clear at low oil is less than at high oil, but the profit margin is the same.  That's not "gouging" per se.  That's the effect of the higher price of oil.  The old adage "make hay while the sun shines" applies to many things.  The current admin has it's head in the climate clouds, aka; anti-petroleum so don't expect things to change for a good while.
Best thing to do is forego those oil changes by increasing the interval by few hundred more miles/months.  It's the cost to maintain that's important.  Skip a filter replacement, etc.
The oil isn't really worn out at 3k-4k miles, that's for sales and marketing.  But check your specific vehicle's impact, by an oil analysis or other more subjective test, like color or feel for grit.

[TJ Hopland]

I would say about 75% of things I regularly purchase in my world have gone up 50-100% price wise.  That's pretty much everything, food and toys.  One example was the water drain on my air compressor has always been a pain to access especially as I get older.  Been on my to do list for years. 

A few weeks ago I finally decided to do it so went to the hardware store.  Its pretty simple 1/4" NPT fittings.  I had a 1/4" ball valve on hand so I just needed an elbow and 8" nipple to extend it far enough that I could more easily reach it. 

I was estimating the 2019 price of this stuff to be around $5 so I was expecting maybe $10. $26!  Probably slightly cheaper if I went down the street to Home Depot sort of place but much longer lines and the stupid self checkouts which don't work with tattered or missing barcodes often found on parts like these so not worth the hassle to save a couple bucks.     

[badpoints]

I have been getting take out for six to eight people from a local roast beef place on Friday nights for over twenty-five years. It is my poker night. Ever since the pandemic in 2019 their prices have been going up every three or four months. They can't even keep current prices on the menus. A small cheese pizza was $6 in 2019 now it is $9. A steak sub was $10 now $14. Those are big changes in three years.

[Jim Miller]

For those old enough to remember, the late '70's to early 80's we had rampant inflation and prime rate topping out at 20% in April '80. We survived it and had a fantastic run in the economy. We'll survive it again. Everything runs in cycles.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Just as a point of (some obscure) reference, in 1970 I was building a high performance Chevrolet motor. A BRAND NEW short bloc cost me a princely $235.  In the (19)20's a loaf of bread cost a nickle.
Greg Surfas

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Everyone.

Please note that all the posts in this thread that mention political issues have been removed and not available for reinserting.

Remember to keep politics and your political persuasions out of this Forum as this Forum is about Cadillacs and LaSalle vehicles, and not personal politics.

Bruce.

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

Ok Bruce, sorry about that.

[fishnjim]

Fine line between facts and how they're perceived.  The notion that politics can be separated from global issues is fantasy.  So ban global interest discussions?

[dn010]

All I can say is my latest oil change was nearly $70 with synthetic oil. My last oil change was around $40 for the same oil, same vehicle.

[35-709]

Fine line between facts and how they're perceived.  The notion that politics can be separated from global issues is fantasy.  So ban global interest discussions?

I would say a re-read of the forum rules is in order.  "Global interest discussions" (and politics) have no place here.

[fishnjim]

I don't see any links for "rules"?
I didn't start this post I only responded twice and one got erased?  So a bit arbitrary.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

As I posted in the "cleaning-up" post, the posts mentioning the Political issues were removed, as were the quotes that were added to future posts.

It is policy for Moderators to not make amendments to peoples' postings, but to either remove the lot, or leave as it is.

As for political comment, there is a difference between members exposing their own political persuasions and beliefs in current and past administrations, and general political information.

To quote a member, "those discussions belong on some other forum."   Not here.   Here, we talk Cadillacs and LaSalles, and other related stuff.   But, keep your politics to yourselves.

Bruce.

[35-709]

I don't see any links for "rules"?
I didn't start this post I only responded twice and one got erased?  So a bit arbitrary.

  In every single forum subject from General Discussion down through Calendar of Events you will see "FORUM RULES - Please read before posting" listed as the first or second topic on that page. 

[James Landi]

I entirely support the "politics free" exchanges...Indulging in cynical and angry narrative assumes that all of the CLC readers either entirely agree or are stupid and need special education. There's plenty of opportunities elsewhere to unleash political anger.  As some correctly mentioned in this thread, adjusted for inflation over the past 50 years, the dollar's buying power has gradually dimenished, but we're still a great country,enjoying a wonderful standard of living, especially relative to people in other countries.  So please keep on sharing your expertise and experiences-- you're all important to me, I  truly enjoy your exchanges, I continue to learn from you, I look forward to reading and contributing here EACH DAY, and I am truly grateful that you share your wisdom, expertise, and experience.  James 

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

As I posted in the "cleaning-up" post, the posts mentioning the Political issues were removed, as were the quotes that were added to future posts.

It is policy for Moderators to not make amendments to peoples' postings, but to either remove the lot, or leave as it is.

As for political comment, there is a difference between members exposing their own political persuasions and beliefs in current and past administrations, and general political information.

To quote a member, "those discussions belong on some other forum."   Not here.   Here, we talk Cadillacs and LaSalles, and other related stuff.   But, keep your politics to yourselves.

Bruce.

Bruce, what happens when actual political policies actually impact people who own Cadillac's and LaSalles... Does this forum turn into pre-Musk Twitter by deciding what people need to know, or not? Important to remember the CLC and this forum are based in the United States, which is still loosely covered by the 1st Amendment, "freedom of speech" et al. Also important to remember the majority here are age-challenged and consider this forum 'social media'. An easy solution is a RANT channel under General Discussion. As I said our growing prices on all things surrounding our cars, our lives, are politically driven. Here's proof, they're trying to eliminate fuel powered cars, as I said.... https://twitter.com/backtolife_2023/status/1601690654366920704?s=20&t=om08C9w9E97klh4DJa0Xog

[Lexi]

Bruce, what happens when actual political policies actually impact people who own Cadillac's and LaSalles...

I can see why the Forum frowns on political discussions, as they often drift from our core interest; Cadillac cars. When that occurs some comments can become acrimonious. But I have often wondered if that policy line is blurred when politics directly impact our vehicles as Laurie has noted. At some point it can be difficult to separate the two. Not sure if I would support a "rant" channel though. That would probably add to the woes of the moderators and make their job far more difficult. I think most of our members are here as they love Cadillac cars. Clay/Lexi

[gkhashem]

To be honest, just do not allow these type of posts period. Anyone with any sense at all should know why prices are going up. If not well I got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale. Anyone one interested?

[rwchatham CLC 21892]

Oh bot here come the conspiracy thinkers ,if I  want that i can read all the nuts with tin hats  on facebook .

[Joe G 12138]

For those old enough to remember, the late '70's to early 80's we had rampant inflation and prime rate topping out at 20% in April '80. We survived it and had a fantastic run in the economy. We'll survive it again. Everything runs in cycles.

Nobody likes inflation, but it's raised its ugly head before and we've survived. An interest thing happened to just the other day. I opened up a Carter Carburetor box that was from 1946 or 1947. And along with the other paperwork with the part, was a notice from Carter: "Effective immediatly add 20% to all prices on the 1940 price list on all items" 
Joe Gibeault