Fuel Shortages

[Toddy]

I'm the other way, I fill up when my tank drops to just under the half way mark....it's sitting on three quarters just now. I'm hoping that by the end of the Easter holidays things will have settled down. At my normal driving these days, I've got about a month's worth.

 

[TeeDee]

I'm the other way, I fill up when my tank drops to just under the half way mark....it's sitting on three quarters just now. I'm hoping that by the end of the Easter holidays things will have settled down. At my normal driving these days, I've got about a month's worth.

Mine was a little joke from Fools and Horses said by the very sage Trigger.

 

[Toddy]

I don't watch tv, I miss the pith of such comments.

 

[Toddy]

Not long home; picked up Son2 from the train station, and the local petrol station (8 pumps) is queued out onto the Main Road. It seems that the local supermarket pumps (Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Asda, etc.,) are out of fuel and have closed. Traffic was virtually all driving below the speed limit.

Aye. Here we go again

Y'know ? I grew up in the 70's and we thought those times were by, yet we've had lockdown (and go on confess it, who 'doesn't' have spare loo roll stashed ) and yet everything's up in the air.
I don't think I'm a prepper per se, but I'm glad my pantry's well plenished.

Do you think we'd get bored of living in Uninteresting Times ?

M

 

[GreyCat]

The last fuel ship, the Maetiga, which is loaded with jet fuel is due to dock in the UK today. After that there are no more fuel ships destined for the UK at all.

I can't help wondering if people are underestimating the severity of this situation. Is the term 'Energy Lockdown' about to become the new buzz-phrase of 2026?

The situation with aviation fuel seems most challenging. Uk imports most, but does refine quite a bit of petrol and diesel although not as much as it used to.

Thing is, refineries are set up for a particular type of oil, so North Sea light crude is no use as feedstock for a refinery set up for heavier Gulf oil. Asia has had shortages for a couple of weeks now, and refines products will go to the highest bidder.... UK is very dependent on imported fuels because "net zero" enthusiasm does not count imported fuel, only what we produce from the North Sea......

Not long home; picked up Son2 from the train station, and the local petrol station (8 pumps) is queued out onto the Main Road. It seems that the local supermarket pumps (Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Asda, etc.,) are out of fuel and have closed. Traffic was virtually all driving below the speed limit.

Aye. Here we go again

Y'know ? I grew up in the 70's and we thought those times were by, yet we've had lockdown (and go on confess it, who 'doesn't' have spare loo roll stashed ) and yet everything's up in the air.
I don't think I'm a prepper per se, but I'm glad my pantry's well plenished.

Do you think we'd get bored of living in Uninteresting Times ?

M

This has been quietly building for a while. A couple of weeks ago, I took my car (70mpg) rather than my work vehicle on a trip to a customer site as even then, fuel stations in the East Midlands were getting expensive and with some sporadic shortages of diesel.

The media was recommending filling up before 10.00 this morning because of busyness of people going on holidays vs constrained supply.

I have both vehicles (work and personal) full and been keeping them that way for a month, in any case I have always filled up at 3/4 tank ever since the major fuel crisis of early 2000's when there was a refinery blockade. So my habits have changed little.

Looking at the combination of less oil being shipped and timescales, I reckon that once everyone is back after Easter hols, the constraints on getting fuel will become more visible. It has been quietly talked about in my sector for a couple of weeks already..... and we are planning actvities to be more remote focused as we more into April and May.

Whilst I don't think we will run out and rationing is *probably* a way off, I think a mix of much higher prices and less reliable supply in some places will make people think twice about discretionary trips. Been ok so far where I live (admittedly we are relatively close to the refinery at Milford Haven), but the East Midlands had had sporadic fuel shortages for about 3 weeks, i gather that the Sainsburys on Pride Park in Derby was out of diesel on Tuesday, they had an overnight delivery and by 11.00 yesterday morning had sold 3/4 of that delivery and expected to be out by the late afternoon. (Someone I know up there was just thankful she managed to fill her work van that morning).

Interesting times indeed..... i just hope that the proposal to allow fertiliser to be shipped from the Persian Gulf to African and Asian nations who have had no part in the current hostilities is listened to.

GC

 

[Chris]

The situation with aviation fuel seems most challenging. Uk imports most, but does refine quite a bit of petrol and diesel although not as much as it used to.

Thing is, refineries are set up for a particular type of oil, so North Sea light crude is no use as feedstock for a refinery set up for heavier Gulf oil. Asia has had shortages for a couple of weeks now, and refines products will go to the highest bidder....



This has been quietly building for a while. A couple of weeks ago, I took my car (70mpg) rather than my work vehicle on a trip to a customer site as even then, fuel stations in the East Midlands were getting expensive and with some sporadic shortages of diesel.

The media was recommending filling up before 10.00 this morning because of busyness of people going on holidays vs constrained supply.

I have both vehicles (work and personal) full and been keeping them that way for a month, in any case I have always filled up at 3/4 tank ever since the major fuel crisis of early 2000's when there was a refinery blockade. So my habits have changed little.

Looking at the combination of less oil being shipped and timescales, I reckon that once everyone is back after Easter hols, the constraints on getting fuel will become more visible. It has been quietly talked about in my sector for a couple of weeks already..... and we are planning actvities to be more remote focused as we more into April and May.

Whilst I don't think we will run out and rationing is *probably* a way off, I think a mix of much higher prices and less reliable supply in some places will make people think twice about discretionary trips. Been ok so far where I live (admittedly we are relatively close to the refinery at Milford Haven), but the East Midlands had had sporadic fuel shortages for about 3 weeks, i gather that the Sainsburys on Pride Park in Derby was out of diesel on Tuesday, they had an overnight delivery and by 11.00 yesterday morning had sold 3/4 of that delivery and expected to be out by the late afternoon. (Someone I know up there was just thankful she managed to fill her work van that morning).

Interesting times indeed..... i just hope that the proposal to allow fertiliser to be shipped from the Persian Gulf to African and Asian nations who have had no part in the current hostilities is listened to.

GC

Seems similar to the Toilet Paper shortages of 2020 in that the shortages are caused by the panic response, rather than the other way round. There’s plenty of petrol/diesel if people just used the amount they usually do.

Supply lines, even in the best of situations, will take some time to catch up with random spikes caused by panic buying.

 

[TeeDee]

Seems similar to the Toilet Paper shortages of 2020 in that the shortages are caused by the panic response, rather than the other way round. There’s plenty of petrol/diesel if people just used the amount they usually do.

Supply lines, even in the best of situations, will take some time to catch up with random spikes caused by panic buying.

Tell me about it.

In the end I trialled so many different household substitutes for gen toilet paper...

In the end it was like the good old days of using the stuff we had issued in Primary school... slick..


< Not sure what that stuff was made from but I bet it was purchased from the 1970s bulk version of Temu ->

 

[Toddy]

Izal, came in wee flat boxes that fitted into the china holder on the loo wall. Horrible stuff. Decent tissue paper for drawing though.....we did pencil rubbings of coins and medals through it. Weird smell to the paper too, medicated or suchlike.

Neighbour further down the street with little kids in the house cut up old fleeces into squares and just washed them like nappies. Claire's washing line was like bunting strung between the clothes poles. She said it worked surprisingly well and the fleeces took the napisan stuff just fine.

 

[Chris]

Eurgh, that school stuff was nasty. Too thin/brittle to wrap your fish and chips, but otherwise not much different. Both the sharpest and least structurally sound material know to man.

 

[TeeDee]

Eurgh, that school stuff was nasty. Too thin/brittle to wrap your fish and chips, but otherwise not much different. Both the sharpest and least structurally sound material know to man.

Great for impromptu Rorschach however.

I never quite understood it - I can't believe for a second that it was biodegradable - it seemed more over engineered than its purpose would ever need.

 

[Toddy]

It was made from manilla pulp and it was 'medicated' with some extract of coal tar as a disinfectant iirc.
The use of the pulp meant that it would take printing on both sides, and early stuff had rhymes, etc., upon it.

 

[Toddy]

.....is this not terribly British of us ?
Here we are, world going to pot, thread about fuel shortages and we're discussing loo roll

Found this....

"In 1924, William Heath Robinson, cartoonist and illustrator, was employed to provide amusing drawings on the toilet rolls, and in 1930 there were rhymes printed on each sheet.

During World War Two, sheets were printed with cartoons of Adolf Hitler, which went down exceedingly well with the public, but less so with officialdom. "

 

[demographic]

My work is pretty close to home at the moment so a tank of diesel lasts about two and a half weeks.
Before Netanyahu and the orange one started this badly thought out bleedin mess I was just putting almost a tankfull in every two weeks.
Now I'm doing less driving about on the weekend but topping it up every week so I always have a minimum of a week and a bits worth in the tank. I have to get to work, whatever happens as I'm self employed the status of self unemployed doesn't appeal to me much.
Thats not panic buying, its calculated buying as every litre I buy now is knocking on 10p a litre cheaper than the next weeks price.

Even though I can get fuel I'm not going to be stupid with it, theres whole countries who could hardly afford fuel in the first place and their people don't need inconsiderate eejits bumping the prices up the prices unnecessarily for jolly jaunts.

 

[demographic]

Before we go too far I'd like to point out just how much difference fully developing North Sea Oil wouldnt make.

This might demonstrate it.
Clicky here

 

[Delta Tubs]

If you want to store your fuel longer term then use Stabil to do so. It can keep fuel good for up to two years.

STA-BIL UK | Fuel Stabilizers

The range keeps fuel fresh, maintains performance and ensures quick, easy start-ups every time. STA-BIL keeps engines running smoothly & protects cars from ethanol damage.

www.sta-bil.co.uk

 

[demographic]

If you want to store your fuel longer term then use Stabil to do so. It can keep fuel good for up to two years.

STA-BIL UK | Fuel Stabilizers

The range keeps fuel fresh, maintains performance and ensures quick, easy start-ups every time. STA-BIL keeps engines running smoothly & protects cars from ethanol damage.

www.sta-bil.co.uk

I've bought some from Machine Mart but I think it was made by Briggs & Stratton.

 

[Chris]

Had a hire car for the past couple of weeks, a Volvo V60 T6 which is a hybrid. Electric range is allegedly 40 miles but realistically seems more like 20-30 somewhere. Petrol engine is surprisingly efficient when driven sensibly, though I must say a turbo and supercharged petrol engine combined with an electric motor gives it some real poke. Thing’s like a rocket.

Unsuitable for my needs in the long term with a 120 mile round commute, but I can see the appeal for people doing short daily journeys.

 

[Broch]

Had a hire car for the past couple of weeks, a Volvo V60 T6 which is a hybrid. Electric range is allegedly 40 miles but realistically seems more like 20-30 somewhere. Petrol engine is surprisingly efficient when driven sensibly, though I must say a turbo and supercharged petrol engine combined with an electric motor gives it some real poke. Thing’s like a rocket.

Unsuitable for my needs in the long term with a 120 mile round commute, but I can see the appeal for people doing short daily journeys.

Yep, ours gives us about 36 miles on electric which is exactly what we need to get to the nearest town and back for shopping etc. Anything else is typically hundreds of miles, so the nice thrifty turbo petrol engine is ideal. The combined acceleration, as you say, is more than adequate.

 

[Tony]

I got back from France a couple of days ago, fuel there was a fair bit more expensive than here, £2-2.17/lt. and there were a fair few stations without diesel. But, I got more economy on the roads which I have to say were lovely to drive on, a lot less cars and no potholes!

 

[demographic]

I got back from France a couple of days ago, fuel there was a fair bit more expensive than here, £2-2.17/lt. and there were a fair few stations without diesel. But, I got more economy on the roads which I have to say were lovely to drive on, a lot less cars and no potholes!

Aye, must admit that when I went over to one of my brothers houses ( several brothers rather than several houses for each IYSWIM) in Normandy, they sure do look after the roads well, the worst road I saw over there was like the best here.
Made me wonder who gets all the money thats not spent on infrastructure over here.
Little villages in the middle of nowhere with 25 residents and great roads.