This may or may not be a silly question. The local Sunoco station sells 94 octane for 10 cents a gallon more than their super 93. How much advantage is there to that 1 octane difference? Is it worth a dime?
ThanksGrant
94 Octane worth a dime?
Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (Fujiwara Tofu)
None.No.Fujiwara Tofu wrote:How much advantage is there to that 1 octane difference?Is it worth a dime?
Sorry.
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Q45tech
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (Jesda)
Depends on the blending.........does the cheaper premium contain ethanol and the expensive premium NOT or the converse.
Ethanolized gasoline will reduce your mpg by at least 3-4-5% so pick the one without ethanol if possible.
The cheaper one may contain MTBE which is to be phased out on~~May 5.
Massive problems as the refiners and pipelines try to clear the system of old formula gasoline........tank farms usually have 10 day supply storage.
I again warn everyone in locations just switching to ethanol to replace their fuel filters in the next week or so, to be ready.
Remember you are dealing with $1500 worth of fuel injectors and $500 for the fuel pump.
Ethanolized gasoline will reduce your mpg by at least 3-4-5% so pick the one without ethanol if possible.
The cheaper one may contain MTBE which is to be phased out on~~May 5.
Massive problems as the refiners and pipelines try to clear the system of old formula gasoline........tank farms usually have 10 day supply storage.
I again warn everyone in locations just switching to ethanol to replace their fuel filters in the next week or so, to be ready.
Remember you are dealing with $1500 worth of fuel injectors and $500 for the fuel pump.
Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (Jesda)
Actually, I have raved about Sunoco 94 Octane in the past. The Q' s engine loves it. When driving from ATL to NYC, I usually get some on the NJ Tpk. The power difference is VERY noticeable when going from 93 Octane. Wish I could get some in GA cause that's all I would probably run.Jesda wrote:
None.No.
Sorry.
A 10 cent increase for each octane level is normal all over the US. 91,92,93... each increase is always 10c at the pump.
...Drew...
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jamesmost
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (DrewQ45)
the sunoco stations near me stopped selling 94, i used to buy it all the time
Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (Fujiwara Tofu)
its wasteful to run that high of octane on a stock motor...ur just throwing money out the door!
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jamesmost
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (b-townKA71)
alot of us do not have stock motors.b-townKA71 wrote:its wasteful to run that high of octane on a stock motor...ur just throwing money out the door!
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elwesso
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (jamesmost)
I have bought 94 before, and I really cant tell much difference..... I can tell far more difference between winter and summer gas.
Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (b-townKA71)
Throwing what money out the door, 10 cents per Gallon? The $ difference is less (by 50%) than someone who decides to run premium in a car that can accept regular. Keep in mind that you can easily come across that discrepancy by comparing the prices for the same octane level from station to station. Running 94 would probably cause less fuel burn and definately would reduce your chances of engine knock.b-townKA71 wrote:its wasteful to run that high of octane on a stock motor...ur just throwing money out the door!
Wes, if you switch to 94 during a long highway run you'd see the difference. Probably not so much tooling around town.
....Drew..
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Q45tech
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (DrewQ45)
Just because the only marketing criteria is octane, that can be posted on the pump, you should delve deeper into the chemical parameters of the fuel.
If it contains more detergents or a different sensitivity index or aromatic ratio. THAT COULD BE REASON ALONE TO SPEND THE EXTRA DIME!
Hopefully they are using the octane number and price differences to hint at a higher quality product.....things they are unable to say due to marketing regulations [legal restrictions] in each STATE. If the extra expenditure doesn't create a noticeable difference there are likely to be few repeat sales.
Most companies are not that supid or evil to give you nothing for your extra money. The station gets 5 cents, the tanker/tank farm gets a penny, that leaves 4 cents for the refinery, I bet you get a good bit from the refinery for those 4 cents.
If it contains more detergents or a different sensitivity index or aromatic ratio. THAT COULD BE REASON ALONE TO SPEND THE EXTRA DIME!
Hopefully they are using the octane number and price differences to hint at a higher quality product.....things they are unable to say due to marketing regulations [legal restrictions] in each STATE. If the extra expenditure doesn't create a noticeable difference there are likely to be few repeat sales.
Most companies are not that supid or evil to give you nothing for your extra money. The station gets 5 cents, the tanker/tank farm gets a penny, that leaves 4 cents for the refinery, I bet you get a good bit from the refinery for those 4 cents.
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elwesso
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (DrewQ45)
Drew, all I do is highway driving...
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Q45tech
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (elwesso)
When gasoline get to $4.25-$5 per gallon, you better have a chemical background [start now to study] to analyse it before you fill your tank with the stuff. As there will be water added to significantly affect the profits, the temptation will just get too high!
Those 5 speed G20 [with or without turbos] will look good.
I had a great chat with a tanker truck driver the other day he was happy because no one ever took the time to talk to him and learn what he knew.
He talked about their new training to measure the water in each tank and the proceedures he used at the tank farm. Gave me the name of the Tank farm manager and the supervisors.........said they would be happy to talk with me to get their side of the story out ---------correctly.
Those 5 speed G20 [with or without turbos] will look good.
I had a great chat with a tanker truck driver the other day he was happy because no one ever took the time to talk to him and learn what he knew.
He talked about their new training to measure the water in each tank and the proceedures he used at the tank farm. Gave me the name of the Tank farm manager and the supervisors.........said they would be happy to talk with me to get their side of the story out ---------correctly.
Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (jamesmost)
i understand that but i'm saying if you did....94 is still kinda wasteful on a mildly upgraded car...91-92 would be just find and save you a hand full of change...my 240sx is mostly stock and i run 92 i could safetly get buy with 89 though...i'm not trying to piss anyone off here i'm just giving my opinion on the topicjamesmost wrote:alot of us do not have stock motors.
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Fujiwara Tofu
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (b-townKA71)
I found this at http://www.ethanol-gec.org/winter96/eawin9610.htm
Sunoco Rolls Out Ethanol Blends in Mid-America Market
Sunoco Mid-America, a business unit of Sun Oil Company, has completed the roll-out of ten volume percent ethanol blends in virtually all of the retail gasoline stations in its five-state market region.
The move will allow the company to produce its 94 octane premium-grade gasoline at a lower cost and with less complexity at the refinery and through the distribution system, according to Sunoco. This will allow for more rapid expansion in the region and will affect more than 750 retail gasoline stations.
The driving forces behind the move to ethanol were refinery complexity and a desire to expand the company's business, said John McCook, director of marketing for Sunoco Mid- America.
"The 94-octane premium is difficult to produce at the refinery and the logistics of transporting it are very difficult," he said. "By using ethanol, we ae able to produce a 93-octane gasoline in our Toledo refinery and blend it with ethanol at the terminal to reach 94 octane."
The ethanol blends also will lessen the threat of shortages at the retail level. "With ethanol, we can get 93 octane from another source and blend it up to 94," said McCook.
Sunoco Rolls Out Ethanol Blends in Mid-America Market
Sunoco Mid-America, a business unit of Sun Oil Company, has completed the roll-out of ten volume percent ethanol blends in virtually all of the retail gasoline stations in its five-state market region.
The move will allow the company to produce its 94 octane premium-grade gasoline at a lower cost and with less complexity at the refinery and through the distribution system, according to Sunoco. This will allow for more rapid expansion in the region and will affect more than 750 retail gasoline stations.
The driving forces behind the move to ethanol were refinery complexity and a desire to expand the company's business, said John McCook, director of marketing for Sunoco Mid- America.
"The 94-octane premium is difficult to produce at the refinery and the logistics of transporting it are very difficult," he said. "By using ethanol, we ae able to produce a 93-octane gasoline in our Toledo refinery and blend it with ethanol at the terminal to reach 94 octane."
The ethanol blends also will lessen the threat of shortages at the retail level. "With ethanol, we can get 93 octane from another source and blend it up to 94," said McCook.
Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (b-townKA71)
Running "less than Premium" in a Q45 (VH45DE) is penny-wise pund-foolish. The Q specs Premium fuel, unlike some of Nissans other motors.b-townKA71 wrote:i understand that but i'm saying if you did....94 is still kinda wasteful on a mildly upgraded car...91-92 would be just find and save you a hand full of change...my 240sx is mostly stock and i run 92 i could safetly get buy with 89 though...i'm not trying to piss anyone off here i'm just giving my opinion on the topic
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Q45tech
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Re: 94 Octane worth a dime? (Rex)
From that press release data you want to buy the 93 octane not the 94 as that will decrease your MPG.
Again the marketing department is putting a spin on ETHANOL.
I calculate that 10% ethanol should raise the 93 fungible to 95 octane, probably they tested and found the 93 was more like 91.5 and the resultant hit 93.500000000000001. so 94 octane.
Would be interesting to try the 2 different fuels in the heat and measure the KS retard.............you could run the 93 down to near empty and test then fill with "94" and see the changes in WOT timing with a Consult.
You could then decide if less knock was worth less MPG at cruise from Ethanol's lower BTU in blend.
Ethanol spot prices as delivered to tank farm are know equal to retail price of premium at the pump so of course they need to charge 10 cents more per finished gallon.
Subtracting tax yields ~~$2.40 per gallon.........10% ethanol at $3 adds [60 x 0.1= 6 cents] give the gas station 5 cents extra and you are in the hole a penny!
Again the marketing department is putting a spin on ETHANOL.
I calculate that 10% ethanol should raise the 93 fungible to 95 octane, probably they tested and found the 93 was more like 91.5 and the resultant hit 93.500000000000001. so 94 octane.
Would be interesting to try the 2 different fuels in the heat and measure the KS retard.............you could run the 93 down to near empty and test then fill with "94" and see the changes in WOT timing with a Consult.
You could then decide if less knock was worth less MPG at cruise from Ethanol's lower BTU in blend.
Ethanol spot prices as delivered to tank farm are know equal to retail price of premium at the pump so of course they need to charge 10 cents more per finished gallon.
Subtracting tax yields ~~$2.40 per gallon.........10% ethanol at $3 adds [60 x 0.1= 6 cents] give the gas station 5 cents extra and you are in the hole a penny!