I fully concur.
The average price of gas across Canada right now is about a $4.37 US per US gallon. In my neck of the woods it is $4.59 for 87 octane. Add $0.52 for 91 and we are at $5.11 USD for 1 US gallon.
A typical fill up for me will run around 18 US gallon so it ain't cheap. I can mitigate it somewhat because a local grocery store offers coupons of about 15 cent per US gallon to use for anything in the store.
Having said all that, gas is still the cheapest thing that goes into the car and I wouldn't use lower octane just to save a few bucks now and pay later due to engine issues arising from use of lower octane fuel.

 

Well at least you get free healthcare. Here in the US between what my employer and I pay, it's $25000 per year for a family of 4.

 

Ah! If only it were free.
Gas prices include 32% of the cost as tax some of which ends up funding healthcare.
Depending on province you can pay up to $900 depending on income per tax filer. (Ontario)
In BC we pay $72 for a single person/mo., $130 for a couple and $144 for a family of 3 or more.
If you are a senior in Ontario and your drugs are on the provincial formulary, you pay $6.28 per perscription. All others pay what is charged unless you have a plan with your employer or buy private insurance.
In BC drugs are charged on one's ability tp,pay. The higher your income the higher your deductible. Once you pay your deductible, and again based on income, you have a family max which is a 70% patient/30% co-pay system beyond which the government pays 100%. Most people unless they have a very low income or are extremely unwell and blow through th co- pay, rarely see more than the 30% government support after their deductible. Again if your employer has a plan you get help.
If I leave BC and go to Ontario, and as an example need an ambulance, BC allows $85 but being out of province I could be charged as much as $450 for an ambulance in Ontario. I am responsible for the other $365 so I buy insurance.
Not free at all. Universal access - you cannot be turned away from healthcare in Canada - does not mean free.

 

Thanks, Alex. Should be eye opening to Americans.

Regards,
Don

 

I should perhaps made the point that a) the rest of healthcare funding comes out of tax revenue that federally gets transferred from the Feds to the provinces and from provincial taxation and b) many services province to province are of similar cost but if you are not a resident of a given province a hospital stay could cost more. My local hospital has a huge sign in admitting outlining the cost for non- residents as does Ontario.

 

Fuel requirements
Gasoline engines
Use only premium-grade unleaded gasoline.
The octane number should be at least 91.
Details can be found on the gas pump. The
octane number is the average value of the
Research Octane Number (RON) and the
Motor Octane Number (MON): (RON +
MON) / 2, also known as knock resistance.
Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) and/or
unleaded gasoline with additives can be used
if the concentration of the additives in the fuel
does not exceed 10%, e.g.:

 

If you can't afford premium, probably should not be driving an MB - or any other car that requires it.
Even Consumer Reports says to use what the manufacturer says.

 

Agree. Silly way to try and save short money.

 

This argument has been going on for a very long time. It all boils down to the fact that the manufacturer builds the engine and programs the ECU in such a way that it expects a particular grade of fuel. Going below that octane causes issues, and going above it is effectively a waste of money, and can also cause issues with the engine.

Both of my motorcycles take regular 87 octane fuel, but there are still people out there that insist that they get better performance with their bikes when they put in 93 (or higher... there are some that will put avgas in their for 100 octane). They might get a bit better performance, but at what cost?

 

Avgas is leaded! That could cause some serious issues.

 

Could someone tell me why some areas only sell 91 octane and others sell 93? I've noticed that states with a strong liberal bias seem to be where 91 is the highest available.

 

Not true at all.
I live in South Carolina, probably the most conservative state in the nation and 93 octane has always been available here.
We have 87, 89 and 93-no 91 at all. Think it is the same in NC and GA, but never really checked.
FYI: Top Tier prices today are $1.89-87; 2.04-89 and 2.19-93. SC has the lowest total tax on fuel in the nation.

 

Likely a mix of two factors:
1) Certain brands want to market a certain octane level as a differentiator.
2) Local regulations on fuel quality force certain ethanol or reformulated gasoline blends. Depending on the type of fuel regulated, increasing octane can be more or less expensive, and refineries built to produce fuel of a certain octane level.

 

Who actually determines the octane levels in any given region? Fuel now is pretty much regional rather than by states. California may be an exception, but then it is big as most nations so it can be.
Why would one region "require" a higher octane than another or do the refiners determine it? If so, why?
Other than CA, are there really local regulations? Heck, in the South the states don't regulate anything very much.
As for ethanol, that is required by Congress at the "influence" of the agri-business, transportation and distribution corporations.

 

It isn't that the regulations dictate octane levels, but that they specify what 'blend' of gasoline must be used. Differing blends have different advantages/challenges in increasing octane.


Gasoline regulation in the US is a patchwork. In some cases, specific counties have their own required blend.

 

we have 93 here in Michigan.

 

That's insane. Super low prices. Next Thursday we get a .10c gas tax implemented here in PA

Then next year another .10c. Ridiculous. I don't get it.

 

SC actually has the lowest or second lowest fuel tax in US and NO additional sales taxes. Many states have a fuel or road use tax and a sales tax.
Of course, we have some of the sorriest roads in the nation. And basically no public transportation system to speak of, other than what a few cities offer on their own.
SC also caps vehicle sales taxes at $300 regardless of price of vehicle - $20,000 or $2,000,000 have same sales tax.

 

Yes, in the North East US all I see is that.

 

I think "probably most conservative" is an understatement. We have several stations in Greenville that carry 91 octane. Even though it is available, I use 93 in my 350 and SLK, the Volvo gets 91.

 

Sales tax on vehicles are low, but your personal property tax on the vehicle will open your eyes when you get the bill. You must pay this tax before your registration is renewed every year. It declines as the car ages, but essentially lasts forever. They chose to get their money in in a different way. The roads sort of suck, but they are generally better than my previous roads in Chicagoland and NYC area.

 

Live in the next county from you in a municipality and while properety taxes are higher than I would like, they are probably pretty low compared to similar situations in other states. Also, no additional city or county "road use" taxes in SC. Naturally, taxes on an MB (been paying for four years on this one) are quite high compared to most other makes.
One aspect of S.C. is that about 60% of roads and streets are owned by the state whereas in most other states, counties and cities maintain most of theirs. I served on a county transportation commission and it was an eye opener. 50% of "county" revenue for roads actually came from state. 95% of streets in municipalites are actually either state (60%) or county (35%), not city. In fact, most smaller towns and cities do not own any of their streets at all.

 

In PA currently, $2.31 for 87, $2.61 93. Thanks Costco.

 

I would certainly hope so, given the mild winters in SC vs Chicago or NYC.

 

Costco today:
87 $2.18
93 $2.46