Gas deals emerging

For example, Comey said someone living in Burlingame and working in San Mateo might pass 10 gas stations in their daily commute. Rather than sticking with their usual station out of habit, Comey said people should pay attention to the daily fluctuations at the various vendors. Since prices are determined by so many variables, he said the best way to find the lowest prices is simply being on the lookout.

"It's hard to label a chain as a discount operation," Comey said. "Prices vary so much depending on what area the station is in, the market forces and the different gas stations in the area."

The single biggest factor in determining gas prices is the competing prices offered at surrounding stations, Comey said. Despite the differences in price between the stations, he said there is virtually no difference in the quality of gas.

With the exception of Hawaii, Bay Area residents typically pay the highest prices to get around. A snapshot of yesterday's prices illustrates just that; the average price of regular unleaded in San Francisco was $2.27 while the national average was $1.72 - two cents higher than the record of $1.70. The lowest gas prices in the nation - found only in Oklahoma City, Greeneville, S.C., and Augusta, Ga. - was $1.57.

Another way to save a buck is going for the regular unleaded fuel rather than the premium or mid-grade fuel - Comey said the various levels have little difference in the impact on the vehicle performance. Paying an extra $10 to fill a tank with premium is a waste of money, he said.

"You might as well take your $10 bill and hand it to the guy at the gas station, cause that's who's getting it," Comey said. "It's a common mistake people make, because they're under impression that their cars will last longer or run better on premium fuel."

Unless the owner's manual specifically requires premium fuel, Comey said there is no reason to go for the pricier levels. Only about 10 percent of cars in the United States require premium fuel, he said.

The seven gas stations within a mile radius of the Broadway 76 gas station in Burlingame make competition pretty fierce, said manager Tony Chan. The 76 headquarters notifies the station of its recommended price fluctuations, but Chan said he sometimes has to sell below that price to stay competitive with local stations.

Chan bought the gas station last September and said he didn't expect the business to be as tough as it is. Yet despite the competition from surrounding stations, Manager Marc Bec at the Chevron in Burlingame said the place tries to keep its prices within the same range as the five other gas stations in the area. Despite the recent spike in prices, Bec said business remains steady.

"The customer needs to put gas in their cars," Bec said.

Yunmi Choi can be reached by e-mail at yunmi@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.