Free Republic

In a time of rising gasoline demand and refinery bottlenecks, the US could use more octane as the spread between premium gas (octane level of 93) and regular gas (octane level of 87) has blown out. Premium fuels eliminate engine knock in high-performance vehicles that have high compression engines. For most vehicles, using regular gas is advised and cheaper. Wholesale premium fuel sells for 62.50 cents more per gallon, a record high. Bloomberg explains the blowout of the spread is due to “low supplies of octane,” which may exacerbate gasoline supply tightness this summer for premium fuel, adding it could...

every time I fill up my car, I suspect all the different octane gasoline are exactly the same, 91 octane. The only difference is what it is called (eg. gold) and the price. Gas company puts in the same octane gas, with a little advertising, gets more money by calling it gold or premium plus. It is all marketing. Unsuspecting driver feels better buying higher price gas for their beloved car. Any one likes to comment.