Glad my car takes regular.

[Hollow]

Here in Chicago I'm seeing a 50-60 cents/gallon difference between regular 87 and premium 93 fuel.WOAH.

Back home, it's still 30 to 40 cents/gallon different. I grew up with gas always being X, X+.10, X+.20 for the grades. Why is premium so much higher these days?

 

[bvance554]

I recall when each grade was $.10 higher than the grade below it, but then gas was $1.xx a gallon. I think the difference between grades today is proportionate to the increased cost of gas.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yeah, the difference between 87 and 93 has creeped up here in recent times. Thankfully, I don't drive much these days, so it's not that big of a deal. The retailers must have finally figured out that the people who own those fancier cars that require premium gas will have no problem handing over the extra dough.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Some stations in So Cal charge only 8 cents more for mid-grade another 8 cents for premium (91 octane). When 87 was 80-90 cents back in the 80's and 90's, premium was 20 cents more which is about 25% more. Now 87 is around $3.60 in So Cal and 16 cents extra for premium is about 5% more, which is darn cheap.

 

[Voltmaster]

most places in southern california are 10 cent diffrence , in the main city could be 15. never seen more than 20. maximum i saw was 25 on the way to vegas in middle of no where for Shell branded.

Vegas and North cali are between 10-15.

 

[The_Jeff]

The recent price drops on regular seem to not have a correspoinding drop on premium. Makes me feel like what's in the tanks is leftover from summer.

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
The recent price drops on regular seem to not have a correspoinding drop on premium. Makes me feel like what's in the tanks is leftover from summer.


Same here in New Yorkistan. The use to be .10 cent difference between grades is gone. Prem is about .3 additional around me.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Here in CNY, regular gas is around $3.30 ... 91 is $4.00.

 

[NHHEMI]

I was told( true? )that the reason mid and premium grades are so much more $$$ these days compared to 87 is because they make less of it. With gas so high most people run the lowest octane they can. So they make 87 at a much higher rate and thus it can be sold for less. With less 89, 91, 93 made it costs more.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Yeah, the difference between 87 and 93 has creeped up here in recent times. Thankfully, I don't drive much these days, so it's not that big of a deal. The retailers must have finally figured out that the people who own those fancier cars that require premium gas will have no problem handing over the extra dough.



I too have wondered if it is this, or the "feel good" element of buying a supposedly "premium" product in the high octane gas, or else if it is merely just supply and demand - refiners shifting production to the lower octane fuels to drive prices down...

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
I was told( true? )that the reason mid and premium grades are so much more $$$ these days compared to 87 is because they make less of it. With gas so high most people run the lowest octane they can. So they make 87 at a much higher rate and thus it can be sold for less. With less 89, 91, 93 made it costs more.


That could be. Also the gas station where I buy gas only sells non-ethanol premium. That could help drive the price up too.

 

[otis24]

There is a 60 cents per gallon here. And that is between 87 and 89 octane. The story here is that the EPA mandated ethanol. Therefore, regular is hard to get. Suppliers are mixing a low octane (83 octane) with a high octane (91 octane) to get a midgrade. I think the prices are partly suppliers and stations taking advantage of the situation because there are a number of customers who will not burn ethanol. Even the 10% ethanol.

 

[Jameson]

most Gas stations premium fuels also contain more additives. At least Sheel, Citgo, and BP - THEY ALL ADVERTISE this fact, among others I cannot remember.

JC

 

[surfstar]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Some stations in So Cal charge only 8 cents more for mid-grade another 8 cents for premium (91 octane). When 87 was 80-90 cents back in the 80's and 90's, premium was 20 cents more which is about 25% more. Now 87 is around $3.60 in So Cal and 16 cents extra for premium is about 5% more, which is darn cheap.


This. Percentage.

It always struck me as funny when gas got above $4.50/gal that people really sought out the cheap stations and waited in line to save .12/gal or whatever. When gas is that high, the percent difference you're saving is quite low.

 

[steve20]

"""That could be. Also the gas station where I buy gas only sells non-ethanol premium. That could help drive the price up too"""

Wow--didn't think anywhere (except a marina) in NY sold anything but ethanol laced gas..

Good news may be on the horizon though, read this week in Yahoo News Congress is considering phasing out/lowering the ethanol requirement as they have finally come to the conclusion more corn is grown to produce ethanol than to feed people, which is true
My Honda would be so happy to have plain old gasoline