Why no good gas..? 

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 01/11/2018 at 02:15 • Filed to: None

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Anybody know why 93 octane is readily available in the Eastern US but almost non-existent in the west?

Zoomed in comparison

Shoop > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 02:41

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I heard you don’t need it in the higher elevations

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 02:49

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Because People’s Republic of California

Dogapult > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 03:23

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Depends, if you’re getting 91 with no ethanol. That’s pretty damn good too.

McMike > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 05:28

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I noticed that too on our last cross-country trip.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/that-time-america-ran-out-of-octane-1724763880

Some stations don’t even have 91.

Roundbadge > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 07:16

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Seconding Shoopdawoop993, pretty sure it’s altitude.

Ash78, voting early and often > Shoop 01/11/2018 at 07:51

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This x 1,000. No conspiracy. Science and stuff.

Now, let’s talk about high altitude baking directions!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 08:14

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Because we’re better than you.

93 being the high grade gas here is actually a point of contention with me. My car recommends 91, but the only options here are 87, 89, & 93. I can put in 89 and know my timing is being pulled or I can shell out more than I should have to for 93.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 08:17

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I know that all Chevron stations in metro Vancouver carry 94, so I think the map is out dated maybe?

diplodicus > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/11/2018 at 08:17

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50/50 89/93 gives you 91 if you want to go through that hassle.

Maxima Speed > Decay buys too many beaters 01/11/2018 at 08:18

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I know California was around before the Chinese Communists, but seeing the full name still makes me laugh, considering Californias generally left politics.

BigBlock440 > Shoop 01/11/2018 at 08:22

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Makes sense without too much thought put into it. Less dense air to compress, less heat, less chance for detonation.

npc58501 > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 08:44

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map outdated for ND/part of SD. Most stations sell 87/93/diesel. What they don’t sell at all for the most part is 89 octane.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Maxima Speed 01/11/2018 at 09:34

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California is weird for car lovers. Some of the best roads, scenery, and weather but also some of the most restrictive and arcane rules.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 09:43

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What site/app are you using?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > diplodicus 01/11/2018 at 09:47

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No. Bad dinosaur. Bad.

Ash78, voting early and often > Shoop 01/11/2018 at 09:55

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The same question could be asked as “Where is all the 85-octane gas? All the people out west get it!”

AM3R, lost another burner > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 13:07

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Shoot. I get 93 at Costco here in VA.

Textured Soy Protein > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/11/2018 at 14:02

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In places where premium is 91, it’s not any cheaper than premium in places where it’s 93.

benjrblant > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 14:07

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Colorado offers 85/87/91 mostly because of the altitude resulting in lower compression for most n/a vehicles. Mine recommends 87 but is happy on 85 with no adjustments to the distributor. It seems to prefer ethanol-free, but I feel that’s because its a ‘97.

Mach-inator > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 14:09

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The I’ve been to a few Sunoco’s in Michigan that have a 98 or 100 octane gas they call “Race Fuel”. Idk if all Sunoco’s do that though. I’ve also wondered if it was actually race fuel or just a Euro blend gas they’re trying to market here.

Future next gen S2000 owner > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 14:10

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We really just need to go to 93 or 95 and have only once octane.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Textured Soy Protein 01/11/2018 at 14:12

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Most anything is cheaper than buying 93 here.

Gerry197 > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 14:14

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Good gas doesn’t equal octane by the way. I worked in the gasoline industry, years ago due to a mixture of regulations and Union licensing fees California dropped from 92 to 91.

However, if you notice, most manufactures that require premium specify 91 octane in their specs & owner’s manuals, not 93. The reason is California’s sales volume pretty much makes it cheaper for all manufactures to just use their specs and regulations for the rest of the country.

Whatever CARB does, another 13 or so states also follow, and it’s just cheaper for car manufacturers to do what the strictest states does and apply it to everyone else.

By the way, most octane is a little conservative in rating. Most 91 will test at about 92 or 92.

TahoeSTi > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/11/2018 at 14:19

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your car only asks for 91 because of CARB restriction, (Califonia Air Resource Board) your manufacture wanted to build a 50 state car, not a 49 state car....might be 48 now because of NY the East Coast CA.

Get your car tuned for more power run 93.

Textured Soy Protein > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/11/2018 at 14:22

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I mean, that’s all expensive, but at least the jump up to premium isn’t too much over regular. Here in Wisconsin premium is a minimum of $0.70/gal more than regular at every station except Costco. Which is why all my regular in-town fill-ups are at Costco.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > TahoeSTi 01/11/2018 at 14:35

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I choose to believe I need 91 because it’s a high-ish compression motor.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Textured Soy Protein 01/11/2018 at 14:39

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If I drive just an hour and a half inland of here gas prices go down by at least $1/gal across the board.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 14:46

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Our dinosaurs lived mostly a gluten free avocado toast based diet which keeps them from burning as well as the dinosaurs on the east coast.

TahoeSTi > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/11/2018 at 15:36

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You’re car would require 93 if it wasn’t for CARB. Becuase that’s what it would use in every other country but the USA...Thanks to shitty California Gas cars in the US get down rated on power.....So go get your car tuned for 93 and enjoy the extra power.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Maxima Speed 01/11/2018 at 17:40

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Generally left?! Living here is a sea of blue only getting bluer...

Maxima Speed > CaptDale - is secretly British 01/11/2018 at 19:08

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I know, I just didn’t want to cast aspersions on the few sane citizens left by lumping them in with commie/socialists ;)

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Ash78, voting early and often 01/11/2018 at 20:07

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when i was out west on vacation “wtf is economy 85?!?”

CaptDale - is secretly British > Maxima Speed 01/11/2018 at 20:08

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Well I much appreciate it

Dusty Ventures > AM3R, lost another burner 01/11/2018 at 20:29

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93 is cake to find anywhere east of the Mississippi. Just about everyone carries it. But it starts thinning out once you cross the river, and once you’re west of Missouri it’s like it doesn’t exist.

AestheticsInMotion > Ash78, voting early and often 01/11/2018 at 22:49

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But at the same time regardless of elevation a higher octane gas would still be better from a tuning perspective no?

AestheticsInMotion > McMike 01/11/2018 at 22:50

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Annoying. Doesn’t really matter for me like it did for you, but if I’m building an engine and adding boost, it would be nice to have the good stuff available

AestheticsInMotion > Dogapult 01/11/2018 at 22:51

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How do you know if it has ethanol? I’ve never seen it marked (but I’ve never checked either, so....)

AestheticsInMotion > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/11/2018 at 22:52

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It’s user-submitted info, so it definitely doesn’t have everything but seems to be one of the better references

AestheticsInMotion > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/11/2018 at 22:53

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Just the first thing that popped up on Google. It’s user-submitted data for people trying to find high octane gas for thier modified cars

McMike > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 22:55

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Next time, I’ll just carry some of this stuff.

Yeah, the marketing is cheesy, but I like the single-dose packets, and it packs easier than a 160z bottle of boost.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > AestheticsInMotion 01/11/2018 at 22:59

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Yeah, I’ve consulted the map while planning road trips, but I find it lacking.

Dogapult > AestheticsInMotion 01/12/2018 at 00:49

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Nowadays, most gas contains “up to 10% ethanol.” so 0% ethanol is usually labeled.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion 01/12/2018 at 09:00

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The closest stations (with 93) to me are 1.5 hours away... :(