New Records Continue to Haunt Pumps as the Start of the Vacation Season Creeps Closer

bulk oilThe price of bulk oil – yet again – continues to rise to new heights as it reaches near $128 a barrel, pushing the average to roughly $3.79 per gallon. The price of diesel fuel has also gone up to due to China’s demand to refuel their power plants in light of this week’s earthquake. This news comes as President Bush journeys to Saudi Arabia to push the production of oil in the Middle East. Analysts expect the national average for gas to reach $4 a gallon within the coming weeks, though some states are already paying that.

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Cleaning Oil Spots from Your Garage/Driveway

Cleaning Oil Spots from Your Garage/DrivewayMost boat owners have to keep their vessels at home and as is such, there can be messes made due to the general maintenance that happens there. One such mess can be spilling boat motor oil everywhere. Cleaning up oil can be a pain; here are some tips that will help and make it slightly easier:

• Pour cola on the oily or dry stained areas, and leave the cola on overnight. Squirt a generous amount of dishwashing liquid into a bucket until you have a good lather. Rinse with the soapy water, then with a garden hose.

• Sprinkle baking soda or an absorbent powder such as cornmeal or sawdust on the oily spots. If the stain is dry, wet it first to make a scouring paste. Scrub with a stiff brush or push broom.

• Sprinkle automatic dishwasher detergent on the oily concrete. Leave it for several minutes, then pour boiling water on the stained area. Scrub with a stiff brush or push broom, then rinse.

• Try a commercial concrete cleaner such as Garage and Driveway Cleaner by Red Devil Co. or a grease solvent such as Benzine. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Sprinkle trisodium phosphate (TSP) on the oily concrete. If the stain is dry, wet it first. Let it stand for 30 minutes. Scrub using a stiff broom. TSP is a dangerous product; if you must use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing. Also, never wash a TSP product down storm drains.

• As a last resort, combat tough spills with muriatic acid and a pressure washer. Apply the acid following the manufacturer’s directions, and let it soak for several seconds. Follow with a pressure washer set at 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. per square inch (psi), or 176 to 211 kg per square cm. Like TSP, muriatic acid is a dangerous product; likewise, if you must use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing, and never wash such a product down storm drains.

• After trying any of the strategies above, sprinkle baking soda over the cleaned area to neutralize the solution you’ve used.

• Opting for professional pressure washing services offers a highly effective solution. Boat owners can rely on services like Pressure Washing Services in Tarrant Co, TX By ARP Wash to restore the pristine condition of their driveways, sidewalks, and garage floors. With specialized equipment and expertise, these services offer a powerful and efficient way to eliminate stubborn oil stains, ensuring a clean and well-maintained environment.

• However, garage door maintenance is as important, ensuring the safety and functionality of your home’s entry points is paramount. A properly installed garage door not only enhances curb appeal but also provides essential security and convenience. Whether you’re upgrading to a modern, automated system or need repairs for an existing door, professional services like Fixed my garage door ensure that every aspect of installation and maintenance is handled with precision and care. Regular maintenance by trained professionals also helps prevent unexpected breakdowns, keeping your garage door in optimal condition throughout the seasons.

• Another service at hand can help maintain the reliability of your garage door, ensuring that it continues to operate smoothly. Garage door repair services, such as those offered by experts in Garage door repair in boise, can address problems ranging from misaligned tracks to malfunctioning openers. By choosing experienced technicians, you can rest assured that every component is thoroughly checked and optimized for performance.

• Similarly, when addressing structural issues such as basement wall cracks or basement leak detection, relying on expertise becomes indispensable. These foundational concerns can jeopardize the stability and safety of your home if not promptly and correctly addressed. Professional basement crack repair experts possess the knowledge and specialized tools needed to assess and repair these vulnerabilities effectively. By entrusting these tasks to experienced professionals, homeowners can ensure that their properties remain secure, resilient, and well-maintained, safeguarding both structural integrity and peace of mind for years to come.

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Making Lemonade Out of Life’s Lemons

Making Lemonade Out of Life's LemonsLast year, Boating Industry reported that 2007 was the worst year for boat sales, with 2008 projected to decline further. While this report may seem a bit on the grim side, it may also be a good time to take advantage and buy a new boat or replace that engine and give your boat some new parts.

While some may consider this kicking the small business owner while they’re down, a surge in these kinds of purchases could very well help in reviving sagging boat sales. Whether you buy a boat, replace a steering wheel or buy large amounts of marine engine oil, every contribution will help and ensure that there is a viable boating community out there.

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Record High for Oil (Again)

Record High for Oil (Again)Today oil prices surged, yet again, to $127 a barrel. On the heels of this news are the concerns that oil prices will not go down as Memorial Day weekend (the unofficial first day of summer travel) looms closely. That said, outboard motor oil prices are also scheduled for a slight price increase. Do yourself a favor and start buying oil for the summer now. Don’t wait around or you’ll be apt to spend your summer on land.

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Oil Lobbyists to Appeal to American Public

Oil Lobbyists to Appeal to American PublicToday, the Washington Post reported that the American Petroleum Institute, the industry’s main oil lobby, is embarking on a multiyear, multimedia, multimillion-dollar campaign.

The intended audience is elected officials and the public, with an emphasis on the latter. The industry is trying to convince voters — who, in turn, will make the case to their members of Congress — that rising energy prices are not the producers’ fault and that government efforts to punish the industry, especially with higher taxes, would only make pricing problems worse.

The campaign has stirred outrage among consumer groups. They complain that the industry is using its outlandish profits to make even more money, and that its advertisements use statistics selectively.

The news comes on the heels of a brief record high of bulk oil prices coming in at $126 a barrel, before falling back down to $124.

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Buy Now and Save for the Summer

Buy Now and Save for the SummerOil prices continue to climb and even though we’re still in the last few weeks of the Spring season, you may want to consider buying your outboard motor oil now. As it stands, many retailers – especially online – are still able to carry top notch brands such as Yamalube and Evinrude and discounted prices. Don’t dawdle and get your oil before the Summer starts.

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Dems Unveil Bill that Targets OPEC and Oil Firms

bulk oilToday as bulk oil prices again reached a record high of $124 a barrel, Democratic leadership in Washington, D.C. unveiled the Consumers First Energy Act. The bill contains provisions that feature a 25% windfall profits tax on oil companies in the U.S., as well as giving the U.S. Attorney General authority to bring price collusion charges to OPEC.

GOP leaders also had a plan to open up oil production and drilling in Alaska.

While legislators work on a solution, analysts are now predicting barrel prices to reach $160 by fall.

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Not All Mercury Causes Poisoning

Mercury engine oil.When you’re prepping your boat over the coming weeks for the summer boating season, don’t forget to use some Mercury engine oil. As a synthetic blend, Mercury will provide the maximum amount of power to your engine, without all the corrosion that typically comes around. Get a bottle soon and have a whole summer for smoothly riding the waves.

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Gas Tax Holiday

Bulk oil Bulk oil prices are surging to $123 a barrel, up from $116 last week. Several factors – including a recent attack on a Nigerian oil producer and the fluctuating American dollar – have caused unsteady prices in the last year. Now politicians are calling for a gas tax holiday. Sens. Hilary Clinton (D – NY) and John McCain (R – AZ) are urging to cut federal gas tax between Memorial Day to Labor Day. Likeminded state politicians are also lobbying to have the state gas tax cut in the same time period, which is particularly important since it is an election year.

This surge comes after predictions that gas prices would begin to fall; a poll by CNN has Americans expecting fuel prices to reach up to $5 a gallon.

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Evinrude: Reliable as Can Be

Evinrude: Reliable as Can BeAccording to an informal poll on Yahoo, Evinrude motors are among the best motors in terms of reliability, fuel efficiency and horsepower. As is such, you may consider trying out one of their motors for the summer season, perhaps even using Evinrude oil to make sure that you get the full-on experience.

One of the users reported: “[Evinrude] runs stronger, cleaner, and more efficient than any other 4-stroke.” While most of the comments bad mouthed other brands, Evinrude was among one of the brands that had consistently positive reviews.

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Invest in a Life-Jacket

Invest in a Life-JacketSunshine and leisure is right around the corner and as folks are polishing their boats and changing their outboard motor oil, I can’t stress the importance of wearing a life-jacket when you take to the water.

Eighty percent of drowning victims are reported as not wearing life-jackets at the time of their drowning. Do yourself and your family a favor and don a life-jacket when you hit the water. It could make all the difference.

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