Gas blends.

[otis24]

Locally, we had 87 octane (straight gas) and 89 octane (10 percent ethanol). Recently, supposedly due to EPA regulations, we went to two different 87 octane blends. The first was a 10 percent ethanol blend, the second was a straight gas blend using a blend of 83 and 91 octane. The price difference was about 10 cents in both cases.

Now, we have an 87 octane that is 10 percent ethanol and an 89 octane straight gas. The price difference is about 40 cents. I think that vendors are taking advantage of a scarcity of straight unleaded blend, or trying to create a scarcity.

Has anyone else experienced this in their area?

 

[Rolla07]

In Canada, our Mobil equivalent (Esso) claims up to 10% ethanol (87,89,91 octane) i believe Shell is up to 10% ethanol in the 87 & 89 but the 91 octane is ethanol free. The Mobil I frequent in the USA up to 10% ethanol in all blends. I have tried to find a mileage difference by using the higher octance (ethanol free) but dont notice any difference in gas mileage. I guess it depends on the application you are using it in. Whats your concern with using an up to 10% ethanol blend? I used to always use 91 octane but its not worth the added price.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: otis24
Has anyone else experienced this in their area?

Before the ethanol regulations came about, we had the opposite here at our Husky/Mohawk stations. Regular 87 was pure gas. Mid grade 89 was ethanol blended and the same price as regular 87 pure gas. The rules messed that all up, of course.

 

[volk06]

We pretty much had the same here. The magellan pipeline that carried pure 87 was the one of the last ones in the country. Our gas use to be E0 87, E10 89, E0/E10 91 (depending on station). Now our gas is E0 87, E10 87 and E0/E10 91 (again depending on station). E10 is now ~.20 more than E10 and E10 91 is .30 while E0 91 is .40 more.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: otis24
Has anyone else experienced this in their area?

Before the ethanol regulations came about, we had the opposite here at our Husky/Mohawk stations. Regular 87 was pure gas. Mid grade 89 was ethanol blended and the same price as regular 87 pure gas. The rules messed that all up, of course.

I remember those days. Mohawk/husky had 87 octane pure gas then 90 octane with ethanol and the 90 octane was the same price as the 87 octane.
So you could chose 90 octane ethanol or 87 octane regular for the same price. As soon as the gubment passed some kind of ethanol mandate suddenly the ethanol 90 octane was gone and the 87 octane had ethanol

At least here 87 octane is 10% ethanol and 91 octane is pure gas. The 89 is supposed to be 5% because its mixed at the pump.

 

[Garak]

Of course, they could have easily left it alone. Husky/Mohawk was obviously able to make ethanol work from a business perspective without being forced to do so.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: otis24
Locally, we had 87 octane (straight gas) and 89 octane (10 percent ethanol). Recently, supposedly due to EPA regulations, we went to two different 87 octane blends. The first was a 10 percent ethanol blend, the second was a straight gas blend using a blend of 83 and 91 octane. The price difference was about 10 cents in both cases.

Now, we have an 87 octane that is 10 percent ethanol and an 89 octane straight gas. The price difference is about 40 cents. I think that vendors are taking advantage of a scarcity of straight unleaded blend, or trying to create a scarcity.

Has anyone else experienced this in their area?


At least you have the option for E0. All gas here has to be E10.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

At least you have the option for E0. All gas here has to be E10.


Recenty, quite a few stations around here are advertising zero percent alcohol gas, which to me is amazing because I live in corn country. So some of these stations sell 87 octane with zero percent alcohol (or so it says on the pump) and 89 octane with 10% alcohol. The only bad point about the zero percent gas (87 octane), is that it's quite often a full $.10 to $.20 higher than E10. So the cheapest gas is 89 octane and 87 octane gas is at least a dime or twenty cents higher.

 

[Spector]

I have been testing the 87 100% gas for the past month in two cars and with a 20 cent differential my MPG has to increase quite a bit to break even. Well, it seems that it has so I am at least breaking even on the gas with the increased MPG but (I know, not factual) I do feel they run better with the 100% gas