Currency exchange rate now 1.30 to 1.00

[HunkyBill]

probably higher octane here

the manufacturer recommends a certain octane grade. nowadays, the car's computer (ECU) will calibrate the fuel system to the lower octane if you should use higher octane than what is required. in other words, it's simply a waste of money to put higher octane gas unless you wish to have no ethanol which is often the case with premium blend fuels.

Regular gasoline in the Washington state is the same octane as in Canada: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...gas-better-than-american-gas/article13224927/

 

[summerbreeze]

Higher octane far better when towing or hill climbing. City driving more a keep your fuel system from getting clogged up.

 

[summerbreeze]

Higher octane is a volatility issue and BTU per litre.

Higher volatility meaning will burn faster and cleaner. Good for higher rpm and under higher loads.

BTU (British thermal units) means more heat per litre or unit measure.

Meaning more gas expansion in cylinder per stroke.

Laws of physics at play here. At least according to my thermodynamics prof at university.

 

[HunkyBill]

higher octane is supposedly better for older cars due to the carbon deposits forming, but that's always subject to debate.

for newer cars that don't require premium, the auto industry is in agreement that it's not necessary.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0210-paying-premium-high-octane-gasoline

 

[summerbreeze]

all of this is related to compression ratio, timing and dwell, and fuel quality and octane

many objectives and of course needs to be dumbed down to a simple formula so the consumer can handle it

higher compression engines knock with low octane, newer engines are designed to handle lower octane

the cars I own/drive could barely function with regular gas so for me its not an option, but these are higher performance engines

issues include carbon build up, knock (which is an unregulated combustion in the cylinder such as a compression ignition pre spark ignition) fuel economy, acceleration performance, high end torque

I have found from experience when towing my boat that in a regular car or van it pays to mix half premium half regular for normal driving city or highway, when heading over mountain passes or hill climbing I go premium and the fuel economy in dollars per mile or km is way better.

Also found for highway driving I got more miles per tank of gas with premium so if you are stretching it in terms of going between gas stops such as night time driving when some of the smaller town stations are closed, the extended mileage pays off. (such as Oregon where by law gas stations are closed after a certain time)

As normal, people try and find a one solution fits all in a world where that is seldom the case.

For many new car owners with normal needs, I would agree in many cases premium might be a waste.

 

[nmjoff]

Hardware sales
Edeileen dairy
Big Als Diner
Grocery outlet ($3.99 sauvignon blanc NZ, Spanish Rose' $4.00...)
24 Canadian brewskies 19.00 and the 5th time its $9.00 for a 24!
Bobs Tavern in Birch Bay and Tony's tavern in Custer woohoo
Silver reef casino great exchange rates...
Birch bay nice beaches, great crabbing, warm water and lots of free parking unlike White Rock...


I could go on... The only downside
A severe lack of reliable SP's! and US law sucks when it comes to pooning

 

[summerbreeze]

the one which pisses me off the most are the books with us and Canadian prices printed on the sleeves. when our dollar was par or higher the book industry still charged us those rates through the retailers

curious how oil is down to around $40 a barrel and the pump price is still way up there......

a gouged society unfortunately in certain cases

 

[deathreborn]

looks like a 65 cent dollar is on the way thanks to the morons at the bank of canada. this country gets harder and harder to live in by the day because of the stupid people running it into the ground from the municipal, provincial and federal level.

 

[87112]

Was hoping to buy a nice Babolat Aero Pro Drive in the coming weeks with my USA dollar up there. : )

 

[bcneil]

I may be wrong, but I think the quality of the gas in Vancouver is better than that in the USA.

The gas I get at the Vancouver Shells, have more power in my car, than Shells in Washington.

I didn't know this thread was about gas. The best gas is the chevron 94. The best in WA is 92.
For people into sportscars and tuning we are pretty lucky. I have friends in my car clubs down in California.
What some of them do is fill their tank with 2/3rds 91 octane...the highest there. Then add 1/3rd with 100 octane race fuel.
It ends up even costing them more than 94 does up here.

 

[summerbreeze]

looks like a 65 cent dollar is on the way thanks to the morons at the bank of canada. this country gets harder and harder to live in by the day because of the stupid people running it into the ground from the municipal, provincial and federal level.

not much to do with our government, mainly about a currency which is market valued and a country who have significant exports of natural resources

resource prices are down, so earnings are down in that sector. oil, gas, metals, minerals, fertilizers, etc.

GDP is down as a result which affects our dollar

good for the manufacturing sector selling to the US though as well as our tourist industry

 

[BofSea]

I`ll say again,the lower dollar is good for me as I can come north and have a longer time or more women for less money. On the subject of octane and gasoline a new Mustang will tune itself to the octane you give it. My little old 94 Escort also likes the premium for road trips-mileage is way better,not sure about around town as I just run regular then.

 

[princeofdarkness]

I'm planning to treat a good friend and her two daughters to an overnight shopping trip in Bellingham. It's mostly a back-to-school treat from the girls' "Uncle" Priinceofdarkness.
Yesterday morning's VBCE transaction for $3,000 USD was just over $4,000 CND. I suspect the rates will slowly increase further over the next month or so.

Peace.

 

[paprides]

Some things in the US are simply still a bargain, even at today's exchange rates.
Some things are not.

Either way, I've yet to find (and please, if someone could recommend some in the GRVD, that would be great) the calibre of Mexican food on this side of the border, as I can in Seattle, Bellingham or Burlington even.

So when my taco el pastor jones are banging away at me, I head south.

Now if only I could combine two of my hobbies at the same time!:eyebrows:

 

[summerbreeze]

Too right, Mexican food far better south of the border.

Si

 

[BigBoy69]

Can you please recommend some of these great Mexican places in Bellingham and Burlington?

 

[summerbreeze]

over in fairhaven there is a great mexican restaurant, head west towards old part of bellingham

http://www.dospadres.net/

dos padres

----------------------------------------

another area which is great for mexican food is just south of osoyoos, little town called oroville

the mexican agricultural workers (fruit pickers) come up each harvest season and there are very good authentic mexican restaurants in oroville run by mexicans for mexicans

rare treat, border is just 15 min drive south of osoyoos

 

[paprides]

4200 block of Guide Meridian in Bellingham. A truck sits beside the yellow awning of Super Gas on the west side of the road named El Tapatio. Great food.

In Burlington, take the WA20 turn off to go east. Where 20 dog-legs to the left at South Burlington Blvd, there's the "industrial food," Mi Mexico on the left (which is actually quite good) but the real treat is on the right hand side. Taquiria los Jarritos is interesting, and so are the taco trucks parked on the east side of S Burlington Blvd as you drive north. Just north of the railroad track crossing there's a taco truck on the right hand side of the road. Don't have the name at the tips of my fingers.

Taco truck you ask? Absolutely. I've eaten at many and enjoyed-in some cases-superior Mexican food. Hygeine is excellent and are usually mom-pop operations that recognize and appreciate regulars.

Summerbreeze speaks the truth. Oroville and if you're venturing that way, Tonasket on Hwy 97 is a great source of Mexican.

 

[HunkyBill]

Some things in the US are simply still a bargain, even at today's exchange rates.
Some things are not.

Please share your findings what is still considered a bargain after exchange, duty, et al? Maybe we can have a separate thread on US bargains? lol.

Today, RBC bank rates are 1.37 If you pay by credit card, add an additional 2% unless you have a no exchange surcharge credit card. Using just a basic staple. One US gallon jug of milk (3.785 litres) that sells for a great price of $3.09 US now costs $4.23. Superstore or Save On charge less $4.99 for milk (assuming you don't take into account the use of growth hormones in US dairy or cattle.

 

[HunkyBill]

not much to do with our government, mainly about a currency which is market valued and a country who have significant exports of natural resources

The conservatives, I mean, their "puppets" including the Chancellor is clearing thinking along the same lines as Harper who always preferred a low loonie to devalue the CDN $ to increase exports. Several times (when the dollar was trading close to parity) someone from the government made mention that if the dollar doesn't drop, they would interfere.

More recently, the dropping of the interest rates contributed to the spiralling loonie. The government was baffled not long ago why the drop in interest rates and the low CDN dollar didn't stimulate Canada's economy. While the feds don't directly influence the market, others may argue otherwise or feel that they influence the dollar indirectly.