The Future of Gasoline in the US
06-30-2017, 07:34 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
The Future of Gasoline in the US
What is the future of motor gasoline octane? Not E40, E60 or E85, but just plain ole gasoline (with up to 10% E)?
What octane is your premium pump carrying?
It seems refiners/blenders are going in the wrong direction (for us that is). I just came thru ID, MT, UT & NV. Most states had 3 grades, but the low octane was down to 85, with a mid of 87/89, and then 91 as premium. I know CA, NV & AZ have only 91. In the past I've only seen 91 in WA & OR. Didn't have a chance to check pumps when on the East coast a couples earlier this year.
Is it only the Gulf coast states that can get 93?
E85 is looking strong now it appears, in that the average octane of ethanol is 112-115 and even if blended with some low octane crappy sweet naphtha the octane would still be OK, not to mention the other favorable characteristics. Was reading recently blenders are "whining" about too much octane give away in the lower E-XX blends. Not good.
Just curious what others thoughts are...not a fan of electric motors in a sports car
What octane is your premium pump carrying?
It seems refiners/blenders are going in the wrong direction (for us that is). I just came thru ID, MT, UT & NV. Most states had 3 grades, but the low octane was down to 85, with a mid of 87/89, and then 91 as premium. I know CA, NV & AZ have only 91. In the past I've only seen 91 in WA & OR. Didn't have a chance to check pumps when on the East coast a couples earlier this year.
Is it only the Gulf coast states that can get 93?
E85 is looking strong now it appears, in that the average octane of ethanol is 112-115 and even if blended with some low octane crappy sweet naphtha the octane would still be OK, not to mention the other favorable characteristics. Was reading recently blenders are "whining" about too much octane give away in the lower E-XX blends. Not good.
Just curious what others thoughts are...not a fan of electric motors in a sports car
06-30-2017, 09:08 PM
#2
Race Director
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Location: Raleigh, NC
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St. Jude Donor '15
East coast still seems to have 93 everywhere I've been. E85 is common in NC and SC, haven't really looked much beyond that.
FYI pure ethanol is around 100 octane when using (R+M)/2 (called AKI) method that is used on everything pretty much in the US. The 110+ numbers people cite is when using RON
FYI pure ethanol is around 100 octane when using (R+M)/2 (called AKI) method that is used on everything pretty much in the US. The 110+ numbers people cite is when using RON
Last edited by schpenxel; 06-30-2017 at 09:09 PM.
06-30-2017, 09:35 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
There are only two stations that carry e85 in columbia. Its drying up down here. The handle says 105 octane and is generally e70.
It is common to have 87/89/93 and what used to be in the e85 pumps is ethanol free 87.
It is common to have 87/89/93 and what used to be in the e85 pumps is ethanol free 87.
06-30-2017, 09:51 PM
#4
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St. Jude Donor '15
That sucks. I've gotten it in the Spartanburg/Greenville area recently maybe I just got lucky and hit stations that had it
06-30-2017, 10:17 PM
#5
Safety Car
89/91/93 & E85 is everywhere around here.
07-01-2017, 08:15 AM
#8
Drifting
I think a lot of it is due to elevation also. They can get away with the lower octane crap for a lot of stuff where the DA is high. Our area has been going backwards also and most preamium is 91 while just a few years ago 92 and some 93 were available.
We still have a lot of e10 gas and e85 offerings, but they keep reducing the content regulation so it leaves you open to getting a wide verity of e %.
We still have a lot of e10 gas and e85 offerings, but they keep reducing the content regulation so it leaves you open to getting a wide verity of e %.
Last edited by slow ride; 07-01-2017 at 08:17 AM.
07-05-2017, 02:03 PM
#9
Since you haven't noticed, octane is elevation based. You need less of it in higher elevations. That's why you see 85 in Montana.
Edit: Didn't read the whole thread looks like someone beat me to it
Edit: Didn't read the whole thread looks like someone beat me to it
07-05-2017, 10:10 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
In Indiana you are hard pressed to find a station that doesn't have 93. With very few exceptions the pumps here are 87/91/93. Sunoco sells 94.
Average elevation is around 750 ft.
Average elevation is around 750 ft.
Last edited by User Omega; 07-05-2017 at 10:11 PM.