The question of whether or not there is any-speedway gas in Los Angeles, California has been asked since the 1970s. Since that time, many have reported finding the so-called “gray oil,” or “burnt rubber smell,” but it has never been conclusively proven that this odor is actually coming from gas stations. Some attribute the presence of this substance to faulty tailpipe emissions, while others suspect it is the result of gas stations themselves.
Is there any-speedway gas in Los Angeles? According to some, the answer is yes. However, finding proof is difficult. In this article, we will discuss some of the evidence that leads people to believe there is indeed Speedway gas in Los Angeles. We will also address some of the reasons why it has been so difficult to prove this theory conclusively.
The Gray Oil Trade
There are various ways in which one can make money in this industry. Some turn to stock trading while others join gas station owners as part of a gas buying team. Still others get paid per-gallon for taking orders over the phone. However, perhaps the most popular method is to simply buy and sell “gas futures,” or put simply, “gas futures” are contracts to buy or sell gas at a certain price at a later date. For instance, say you are interested in selling gas at the Los Angeles airport, but don’t want to go through the hassle of directly selling the gas there. You can enter into a gas futures contract with a broker, agreeing to buy gas at the Los Angeles airport for a certain price at a later date.
In the months leading up to November 20th, 2019, prices at the Los Angeles airport were rising. Between mid-October and late November, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline increased by 10 cents per gallon, reaching an all time high of $4.12/gallon. At this point, it seems that everyone needed a gallon of gas more than ever before, and with the holidays coming up, many expected the price of a gallon of regular fuel to continue rising.
However, on November 20th, 2019, something happened, and the price of gas began falling. What caused the price drop? Was it due to decreased demand as a result of the pandemic? Were there supply issues? Or was it just a matter of time, and the price of gas would eventually decline as new renewable energy sources began replacing fossil fuels?
Whatever the case may be, the price of gas has declined, and as a result, many in the “gasoline” industry are now looking for ways to profit from the situation. Some have even suggested that the decline in price is because there is no longer any-speedway gas in Los Angeles. According to them, all of the gas stations have been shut down and converted into places to gather and socialize, effectively meaning that there is no longer any demand for gas since people aren’t going anywhere. This, in turn, has caused the price to decline as there is no longer any profit to be made from selling it.
The Evidence
If you’ve ever driven on the 10 freeway in Los Angeles, you may have noticed a distinct smell, similar to that of burnt rubber. The smell is described as “burnt rubber,” “gray oil,” or “cat urine” and is attributed to the byproducts of fossil fuel combustion. Some have even gone so far as to call it “the smell of gasoline.”
When oil is burned, it gives off a number of chemical compounds, some of which are extremely pungent and can be detected at very low concentrations. One of these chemicals is 2-Methylpentane, or 2-Methylpentadecane for short. Upon combustion, this compound is transformed into 3,5-Dimethyl-2-Pentanone, frequently known as “dimethyl ether,” or simply “dimethylether” for short. This compound itself is extremely pungent, and its smell has been compared to that of nail polish, turpentine, and even cat urine. While many are familiar with this chemical compound and its smell, it is less well-known that it can also be found in a trace amount in the exhaust fumes from some gasoline-powered cars.
Theories
Depending on who you talk to, there are a number of different explanations as to why there is this gray oil in Los Angeles. One popular theory is that it is the result of tailpipe emissions. When exhaust fumes are released into the air, they can undergo a process of chemical change known as “complete combustion,” or simply “burning,” in which all of the compounds in the fuel are converted into energy. However, this process of burning can’t happen if there are any impediments in the way, and this is where tailpipe emissions come in. Certain compounds, such as nitrogen and carbon monoxide, can block the flow of oxygen into the tailpipe, preventing the car from “breathing” properly and resulting in incomplete combustion and subsequent hydrocarbon emissions. It is believed that these incomplete combustion products contribute to the formation of gray oil. Other compounds, such as carbon dioxide and some sulfur compounds, can also contribute to the formation of this substance. When these latter compounds are burned, they give off a distinct odor that has been described as “rotten eggs” or “paprika.”
Is there any-speedway gas in Los Angeles? Is the “gray oil” smell coming from gas stations? While there are still many unanswered questions, one thing that is for certain is that the gas station industry has changed a lot since the 1970s. In this article, we discussed some of the theories surrounding whether or not there is any-speedway gas in Los Angeles. One thing is for certain: whether or not you believe in ghosts, the smell of gasoline in Los Angeles is impossible to miss and is not going away anytime soon.