More octane choices. Why?

Joined
Jun 5, 2003
Messages
30,412
Location
Apple Valley, California
New gas station opened up near my work. Stopped there this morning. All our gas is usually 87,89 or 91 with 10% ethanol per law.

This place has 87,89,90 and 91. Their prices are a few cents less than anyone else. Wonder what the reasoning for 90 octane is?

IMG_20250416_072828965_HDR.webp
 
I can't speak for your situation there.
However, around here 90 is Recreational Fuel (Alcohol free.)
Yeah it's the base fuel for what would have been 93 with the alcohol.

This just looks like a blender pump. Sunoco used to be big for these.
 
How much difference can there really be when it’s only a point difference? I guess I need to read up on Octane some more.

Here (NC/SC/GA) we generally have 87, 89, 93. I figure a six point jump up from baseline 87 regular to 93 premium is worthwhile (generally +0.50 cents/gal) so I run it in the Cadillac Northstar V8 but the rest of the fleet lives on 87.
 
Every time I read about ethanol-free gas; it is 90 octane. That is probably what this is, I’d ask about it.
 
The presence or absence of E0 is related to location of the OP, just as it is here in the five-county EPA nonattainment area in Southeastern Wisconsin. It is unrelated to the octane rating.
 
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