Anybody else unable to buy 91 or 93 premium?

"Land_Yacht_225" (nadenator)
09/19/2016 at 11:38 • Filed to: None

The state of North Carolina, for all intents and purposes, has run out of premium and, in the case of most gas stations, mid-grade too.

My mechanic says I shouldn’t worry about running 87 in the V12 temporarily, but I’ve got enough issues running it on premium.

I’ll rent a car if I have to.

DISCUSSION (36)

Textured Soy Protein > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:44

I just bought 93 yesterday here in Wisconsin.

Any car with a decent knock sensor will pull ignition timing in response to the lower octane. Driving around like normal should be fine. I wouldn’t necessarily go drag racing on it but you’re not going to cause any real harm running a tank or two of lower-than-recommended octane.

EL_ULY > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:44

Put $2.14 at a Shell by my house for 93 octane.

Plenty here.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:47

Where I live the highest I’ve seen in 91, I only ever saw 93 at on gas station but I need to sell my kidneys for it.

shop-teacher > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:47

Sounds like last week’s gasoline pipeline spill is hitting you. Your mechanic is probably right, but hopefully supply will recover in a few days.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:50

I filled my Lexus up on Saturday with 91.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:50

I’m in NC, but I have a diesel and probably won’t actually need to fill until late in the week.

Jack Does Cars > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:51

All the Sheetz in Apex and Fuquay are out, as are most Shell’s and Circle K’s/Kangaroo’s. Thankfully, the Eagles near my school in Morrisville have 87.

Scimitar7 > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:52

Haven’t had any issues in the Hampton Roads area, but the issues are trickling north from what I’ve seen & read. Gas jumped about 10-15 cents the day the pipeline leak hit the news. Fortunately Costco suck to their prices through the weekend. Call me paranoid, but I got both cars and the truck filled up just in case. If it turns out to have been an unnecessary step, then at least I won’t have to fill up again for about 2 weeks!

Party-vi > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:52

Most stations have a manifold system that takes 93 (or higher) and blends with 87 to make the other grades (91, 89, etc). Makes sense that you’d be out of everything but 87. If you’re too worried you could supplement with an octane booster from a local auto shop. That would theoretically fix any octane issues you may have.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:53

I filled up Saturday night in an affluent Richmond suburb for $2.71 for premium. Haven’t heard of any supply issues yet.

Land_Yacht_225 > Textured Soy Protein
09/19/2016 at 11:53

My car adjusts timing by altering the time between the firing of each of the two plugs in the cylinder, and the responsibility of that lies with the extremely failure prone coil packs. Needless to say. I don’t like the car to have to think too hard.

Land_Yacht_225 > shop-teacher
09/19/2016 at 11:53

Bingo.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:53

I only run 93 in my car, because that’s what it requires. (91 works too, but thankfully that’s not an issue for me in the midwest)

There have been a lot of idiots who have run their FR-Ss/BRZs on Regular since day 1 (despite the clear label on the gas cap), and have argued that it’s completely fine.

If you car requires premium, you should use premium whenever possible. However, it’ll run fine if you use regular, but isn’t ideal and could cause issues it’s run on Regular fuel all the time. If the manufacturer just says that premium is recommended , I wouldn’t worry about it at all.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:54

We have plenty in North Alabama, but areas of Nashville ran out of everything over the weekend. Population density thing, of course.

McMike > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 11:56

I’m lucky enough to have plenty of pumps up here (in DC) that offer four grades most the time.

I need 93 in the motorbike, 91 in the British cars, but everything else takes 87. I suppose I could retard the timing in the British cars, but I’m too lazy. Would probably buy additive in case of a shortage.

Land_Yacht_225 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
09/19/2016 at 11:57

Yeah, my filler flap gives more than a recommendation for the premium...

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 12:00

Then I wouldn’t worry about it at all.

I’d only be concerned if it says “Premium Only” or “Premium Required.” I’m sure you guys will have your supply back before long. Fill ‘er up on Regular and go about your merry day! :)

Land_Yacht_225 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
09/19/2016 at 12:10

No, that’s what I meant, more than a recommendation:

PREMIUM ONLY in big German authoritative script.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 12:12

Ahhh, gotchya. Sorry, I read that as “more of a recommendation.” My bad.

Really, you should be fine to run it on the short term. I can’t imagine you guys will be out of Premium for more than a few days to a week. One tank or so of Regular won’t kill it.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 12:22

Yes, went to gas up the car on Sunday afternoon in the Charlotte area, no premium. I used 89 since the ‘16 GTI is supposed to be fine on regular, and I sometimes use it. Prices are still reasonable, at least.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 12:24

We had it here in SC as of last night.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 12:47

Although octane booster is hokey(because most people's cars don't actually have the ability to make use of it) I think it actually does what it says, and adds octane. May be a decent short term solution.

punkgoose17 > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 12:49

If you cannot get 91 I would buy the best I can get 89 and a bottle of fuel additive since that is mostly ethanol which has an octane of 110. For every ten gallons: 10*89+0.1*110=89.2 never mind just use the best fuel you can find.

TheBimmerGuyWhoNowOwnsAChevy > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 13:39

*sips cup of 87* sorry man.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 14:01

You should be fine with regular temporarily. That being said, I would avoid more than half throttle, particularly if ambient is super hot. You could also try octane booster additive but the efficacy is questionable at best.

THShorn92 - Left his car in America > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 14:44

Going to try today. Hopefully I can get some. I run premium in the Passat and I’m getting ready to drive 13 hours to Mississippi on Wednesday, straight through all the states effected by the pipeline spill...I have a little over half a tank right now but I don’t want to get stuck with no gas when I need to leave town.

Land_Yacht_225 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/19/2016 at 14:55

See, it’s the fact that the car already handles high ambient poorly with 93 that makes me feel really uneasy about putting 87 in the tank.

I can rent a LaCrosse for $80 for this weekend, so I’ll probably just do that and get the prepay fuel.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Land_Yacht_225
09/19/2016 at 18:20

Fair. You will be so happy to get your car back after renting.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
09/20/2016 at 10:46

^the reason I never use ABC sport mode.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > EL_ULY
09/20/2016 at 10:51

God damn. I filled my LS400 with 91 at 2.50 a gallon yesterday and considered that cheap.

EL_ULY > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
09/20/2016 at 10:58

Reg is in the low $1.70's here

93 premium ain’t bad either. Under $2 in some spots

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > EL_ULY
09/20/2016 at 11:07

Holy crap

Land_Yacht_225 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
09/21/2016 at 16:10

Speaking of...

In the market to expand your Designo Mercedes collection?

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/cto/574704…

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
09/21/2016 at 16:17

If it was an E55 or a 500 4matic if have already bought that lol.

Land_Yacht_225 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
09/21/2016 at 16:37

You know, when I’m finally in the market for my first more reliable supplemental car, I think I’m gonna try and find a Designo W210 E320 or W163 ML320.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
09/21/2016 at 17:56

Designo is magical