Premium gas prices

[zelmo]

For many, many years the spread between regular and premium gas in my area was $0.30 to $0.45. A little while ago that jumped to $1.00. While it has backed off a little it is still at $0.90.

Did something happen to change the dynamic?

[okhawg]

You are correct. I used to see the regular price and know at several different brand stations that premium would be about $0.40 more. Now the QT's are $0.60 more and the others run $0.80-1.50 more than regular. I haven't heard any good explanation at all.

[mperry]

Because they can. ��*♂️ I have heard that they are changing to the summer gas. Not sure what the difference is.

[MCS]

Because they can. ��*♂️ I have heard that they are changing to the summer gas. Not sure what the difference is.

Additives that limit evaporation and "smog" but costs more to make.

[zelmo]

I have heard that they are changing to the summer gas. Not sure what the difference is.

Changing the seasonal blend never had an impact before on the spread. All grades would rise and fall together. Since the same thing is happening in different regions and states it can’t be local taxes and I don’t think that the taxes would be different based on the octane rating.

[ECobb91]

Seen similar pricing.

when I started driving in 2009, the difference between 87 and 93 was always about 30cents.

now it’s right around $1-$1.50 more per gallon; I use premium in my lawn mower and my boat since it’s the only octane around here that is ethanol free

[FrancoCialone]

Seen similar pricing.

when I started driving in 2009, the difference between 87 and 93 was always about 30cents.

now it’s right around $1-$1.50 more per gallon; I use premium in my lawn mower and my boat since it’s the only octane around here that is ethanol free

In most cases higher octane is not required, its more expensive and the higher octane causes more carbon build-up. My 26 year old push lawn mower uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol and Startron fuel additive, my 13 year old Optimax uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol and "Don's Cocktail". My 16 year old Honda snowblower uses the same gas as my lawn mower. My 11 year old Highlander uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol (no additives). No fuel related problems so far.

[zelmo]

In most cases higher octane is not required, its more expensive and the higher octane causes more carbon build-up. My 26 year old push lawn mower uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol and Startron fuel additive, my 13 year old Optimax uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol and "Don's Cocktail". My 11 year old Highlander uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol (no additives).

You dare not put 87 octane gasoline in a Corvette with a performance package.

[ECobb91]

In most cases higher octane is not required, it’s more expensive and the higher octane causes more carbon build-up. My 26 year old push lawn mower uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol and Startron fuel additive, my 13 year old Optimax uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol and "Don's Cocktail". My 16 year old Honda snowblower uses the same gas as my lawn mower. My 11 year old Highlander uses 87 octane with 10% ethanol (no additives). No fuel related problems so far.

i never knew it caused more carbon buildup, just that it burned slower and I would see a reduction in speed with the boat.

i barely use my boat (8 times in the last 2 years since our daughter was born, it’s actually still winterized at my parents house.. won’t be picking it up until maybe tmrw night. So I just got the non ethanol stuff since it sits for a while and didn’t want to risk phase separation.

the other small engines I might need to fill a 2.5 gal can once every couple months so I didn’t mind too much. Snowblower got some use this year, seemed like it was in use once a week from Christmas to March

[davidsa]

i never knew it caused more carbon buildup, just that it burned slower and I would see a reduction in speed with the boat.

i barely use my boat (8 times in the last 2 years since our daughter was born, it’s actually still winterized at my parents house.. won’t be picking it up until maybe tmrw night. So I just got the non ethanol stuff since it sits for a while and didn’t want to risk phase separation.

the other small engines I might need to fill a 2.5 gal can once every couple months so I didn’t mind too much. Snowblower got some use this year, seemed like it was in use once a week from Christmas to March

I use non-ethanol in my boat as well related to it sitting a lot. I am thrilled that a few stations in the south now offer 87 oct no ethanol.

[n2ratfishin]

About a 80 a gallon more in TN. Both our vehicles call for premium. Sam’s Club has been 3.03 a gallon for the last couple months.

[rboren]

About.80 a gallon more here. I run it in my boat because it calls for 91 octane or higher.

[okskeetertzx190]

Some of the gas stations around this area have ethanol free for their only premium option and some of them have ethanol premium. The ones without ethanol in their premium have a much larger price discrepancy than the ones with premium that includes ethanol.

[zelmo]

Some of the gas stations around this area have ethanol free for their only premium option and some of them have ethanol premium. The ones without ethanol in their premium have a much larger price discrepancy than the ones with premium that includes ethanol.

I wonder if there is some correlation here with the reduced focus on being green these days.

This isn’t in my wheelhouse so I am just rambling. The stations around me haven’t sold ethanol free gas, but the pumps just say that they can contain up to 10% ethanol. I guess that means it could have 0% ethanol. If they are omitting ethanol from the premium fuel that would affect the price.

I’ll have to pay more attention the next time I fill up.

[geodebasser]

My GTO with 11 to one compression absolutely has to have premium

[zelmo]

My GTO with 11 to one compression absolutely has to have premium

That car must sound sweet. What year is it?

[ProVle]

The Twin Turbo Caddy and other Turbo vehicles require premium for best performance. Others have E85 sensors for the ECM programming.

[spinningreel]

Got marine fuel on the water the other day, 6 gallons was almost $40

[tcesni]

Got marine fuel on the water the other day, 6 gallons was almost $40

Well I think you win! That is better than running out of fuel but $6.50+ per gallon? Wow.

[21XDC]

It used to be 10 cents more than 89. 89 was 10 cents more than 87....