Premium Gas vs Regular.

At these prices Whaddya think my choice is?

 

Wow, regular 87 was $3.03 a gallon in the north Atlanta burbs today. I feel for you my west coast brother!

 

6.59 in WEHO today for 87

 

Gas is cheaper in Alaska, go figure.

 

If you want better fuel economy, buy pure gas without the corn in it. Octane has nothing to do with it. It also doesn't add power or any of the other myths about octane. Higher compression engine need higher octanes to prevent the fuel from igniting from pressure alone. It's knock resistance. It does nothing for power or fuel economy as long as you are using the recommended octane or higher for the vehicle you are driving. It's also not hard to google this and learn.

 

Do you mean 87 octane with ethanol, or do you really mean E87? Two very different things. 87 octane with ethanol will be 10-15% ethanol whereas E87 is 87% ethanol in the same way that E85 is 85% ethanol. I've honestly never heard of or seen E87, though.

 

The octane has nothing to do with it. It's the lack of ethanol that is improving your fuel economy. Corn sucks as fuel.

 

Yep……I’m fully aware of that. But thanks for pointing it out.

Also, the ethanol free is more expensive as well. About on par with premium, but no alkyhaul

 

Just buy the gas with less water in it.

 

For a year i was putting 91 until I realized , its a truck not a porsche ! Go figure!

 

OucH

 

I bought a 2023 MT this year. I had been running regular for a short time, two or three tankfuls. I felt the engine ran a little bit rough - very, very minor issue but I could feel the engines vibrations through the shifter. I switched to premium out of curiosity. It took about 3 tankfuls to fully make the transition; but I am convinced it has smoothed out. It may take the ECU a bit of time to fully advance the timing when the switch to higher octane is made. The truck purrs like a kitten now. However, if I was getting a mileage increase it was so small as to be lost in the noise. So there is no way running premium makes financial sense. That said, the smooth running is worth it to me. Besides I use Costco gas - relatively cheap top tier fuel. I get premium for what the guy at the station down the street is paying for regular.

 

I guess, if you have to. There are a lot of fuel additives that could be used to bring that top tier 85 gas up a bit.

 

Can't "Like." It's .30 higher here in SoCal.

 

No need for premium or mid grade in the non turbo engine. My F150 Ecoboost runs better and is known to make more power with higher octane where as the Taco won't see any noticeable benefit

 

Also cheaper in Hawaii. They refine it in CA, ship it to Hawaii, and it still costs more per gallon in CA/parts of OR and WA.

 

If you put in half a tank of 91, and the other half 85, then drive around so it mixes, is that like 87-88? Costco here only sells 85 and 91. I want that top tier, but blowing money on a full tank of 91 when the manual says 87 seems wasteful.

 

Premium gas over regular gas depends on the type of engine your vehicle has. Premium gas has a higher octane rating, which means it can withstand higher compression before igniting. This is important for high-performance engines that have high compression ratios or turbochargers, because it prevents knocking or detonation, which can damage the engine. Regular gas has a lower octane rating and is more likely to ignite too early under high pressure, causing knocking or loss of power. If your vehicle requires premium gas, you should use it to get the best performance and fuel efficiency from your engine. If your vehicle only recommends premium gas, you may still use regular gas, but you may notice a slight decrease in horsepower and acceleration.

If your vehicle does not need premium gas, using it will not improve your engine’s performance or gas mileage. You will only be paying more money for no benefit.

The most important factor for your engine’s health and performance is not the octane rating, but the quality of the gas. You should look for gas that has more detergents and additives that can keep your engine clean and prevent deposits from forming.

 

Taxes and "fees" (related to the Enviroment) add $1.18 per gallon in CA.

 

I've got an oil post.... but I'm saving it till Friday.