Experts Say Gas Price Increase Could Slow Down Soon

Murrieta commuters may start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to filling up their gas tanks.

An expert with the Automobile Club of Southern California said the smaller increase in gas prices Tuesday could mean the consecutive increases that have taken prices well over $4 a gallon could end soon.

"The increases have definitely slowed down,'' said Marie Montgomery of the Automobile Club of Southern California. "We're going to have to see a couple a more days to be able to declare the increases are over.''  

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Inland Empire rose today for the 15th consecutive day, but the increase of two-tenths of a cent indicates a slow-down.

The $4.192 average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties is the most since Aug. 4, 2008, and 3.9 cents above one week ago, 24 cents higher than one month ago and $1.093 greater than it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.  

Montgomery attributes the slowing of the increases to last week's decline in oil prices to about $106 a barrel off their peak of $113 earlier this month.   

Crude oil costs account for two-thirds to three-quarters of the price of a gallon of gasoline, according to Tupper Hull of the Western States Petroleum Association, a trade association representing oil companies in six western states.   

However, the average price is 42.2 cents less than the record high of $4.614 set on June 22, 2008.

The average price has risen 27 of the past 28 days and 68 of the past 70. A 41-day streak of increases ended March 22 with a decrease of a half-cent.

A 12-day streak ended April 4 with a decrease of one-tenth of a cent.

More Californians running out of gas

Comparing roadside service calls for gasoline for the first quarter of 2010 to the first quarter of 2011, the Auto Club saw a 12.9 percent increase, according to a news release.

The Auto Club currently is delivering gas to about 15,600 stranded members each month. Although the service call is generally free as part of the membership, members must pay for the gas delivered, the Auto Club said.

“Higher gas prices may be contributing to more people running out of gas because they are trying to stretch each tank further than normal,” said Steve Mazor, manager of the Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center.  “However, as painful as trips to the gas station may be getting, letting your car regularly run on an almost-empty tank can cause even more wallet damage with expensive repairs.” 

Running a vehicle with a nearly empty tank on a regular basis may cause sediment in the bottom of the tank to clog the fuel pump pickup, the fuel filter or the fuel injectors, added Mazor.  

“Secondly, letting the vehicle’s level of fuel run down to empty may cause the electric fuel pump inside the tank to overheat,” according to Mazor.  “The cost to replace this one component alone can be $500 or more in parts and labor.”  

Vehicles using diesel fuel have additional needs after running out of fuel. A special “priming” procedure to get fuel to the pump may require the services of an automotive technician, the Auto Club reported.

City News Service contributed to this report.