So what is up with gasoline octane in the Bay Area of CA?
I just went to gas up a few weeks ago and found a lot of stations are selling 91 octane as the "super grade" rather than 92 that they used to sell.
And the mid-grade 89 is now posted as 88.5 octane at a lot of places.

California is trying to go away from MTBE additives so now the Federal EPA is mandating Ethanol -- So does Ethanol drop the total octane?

 

That was the excuse I heard, phasing out of MTBE dropped octane ratings. Oh well, 91 is still within the "recommended" range for the engine so no big deal.

 

i get 93 where i live in CA not that it really matters though...

 

Where do you live in CA? I always though super was 92 normally. Do you live like near a state border or something?

Maybe the 91 octane only affects the SF Bay Area. However, even in Sacramento the octane for super is now 91.

 

i'm in Riverside the octane is 91 for super, and 88.5.. wtf is going on?

 

i'm in Riverside the octane is 91 for super, and 88.5.. wtf is going on?

 

Phasing out MTBE?? Good for Cali! I wonder if NY is doing it, too. That MTBE is such a joke. Even without its hazardous environmental water contamination drawbacks. I mean, you oxygenate the fuel to get better gas mileage only to have your cars ecu compensate for the oxygenated fuel and make the mileage worse cause the car's getting more air than fuel. Sheesh.

DW

 

For information on this change go to http://www.binaryvista.com/temp/ToscoMemo1.html

 

I live in Half Moon Bay, CA (Bay Area) but I get gas in Foster City.

 

I noticed the same thing here in S.D.! I was going to post on it but thought I would be the only one who even noticed, let alone cared. Glad to know there are others. Yup, I started noticing all these shiny, clean, new yellow '91' stickers where the '92' used to be. The low grade and midgrade are still 87 and 89 though, I haven't seen 88.5 like you guys said. I'm kinda bummed but oh well, what are you gonna do? I'm a little worried because I was told I have to use high octane with my new ECU. But I guess 91 qualifies. Also, I like to treat my car to octane booster every once in a while anyway.

 

Thanks for the website info DBM --

So since the California common carrier pipeline is changing, does that mean all gas stations (not just 76) are changing from 92 to 91 octane?

I guess we can hopefully always buy octane boost -- I hope that doesn't become "illegal" to sell under emissions laws too...

 

It was gradual, but all of L.A. now has 91 Octane Super. I haven't seen the 88.5 Mid Grade, yet.

 

... last week I went to Saratoga Springs (upstate) New York to visit my grandparents and while driving their Ford Escort wagon (boy did I miss my Maxi!), I stopped to get gas. The FOUR (yes 4) choices were: 87, 89, 93 and 94!!!! I couldn't beleive my eyes.