Not sure what the deal here is but it may get expensive quick running premium (super) unleaded if this is a trend. This is really common in my area. This will cost 12 dollars more per tank than regular unleaded. What kind of price differences between regular and premium are you all seeing? I can understand 20 cents but 60 is a little too much!! Maybe they are dropping regulars price and making it up on premium. Not sure but that is a total ripoff, and I buy from Valero cause they have no ethanol, 100% gas.

 

In western WA, it seems to average 10-20 cents at most.

I have a Bluetec, so I am fine with the prices on that sign

 

yeah, but DAMN you car is nice

so damn clean I just want to go beat my car with a stick...

 

We are seeing around 20 cents difference between regular and premium here in CA. However, we still get more Smiles-per-Mile

 

Damn that's insane. It's still a 20c difference here. One thing I'm increasingly noticing is the "street numbers" (signs with prices facing the streets) are one price, then when you get into the Station, at the pump you notice a price that's 10 or more cents higher per gallon. Seems they put a small "Cash/Debit" text above the "street prices" and Credit Cards get the higher prices.

I actually got into my car twice and drove to the Station across the street who didn't do the CC upcharge.

 

You've likely answered your own question--no ethanol. Is regular also 100% gasoline?

 

On the subject of gasoline. Does anyone know anything about USA Gasoline? They have by far the cheapest gas around me, almost shockingly cheap next to the Chevron/Shell Stations right across from it.

I like to put in Chevron or Shell as I know those are known to be "the best" as they have additives that keep injectors clean, etc. I figured USA Gas was of Arco quality, i.e lower-end due to pricing, but noticed it's listed as one of the many "Top Tier Gasolines" @ http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

 

I use premium in my lawn mower too

 

USA Gasoline? Do you mean "Murphy USA"?

I have noticed that the big sellers Mobil, Shell, Chevron sell very poor gasonine for the most part. They may use additives that help keep your engine clean abut the performance of their fuel usually is low. By this I mean low power output and lower fuel mileage on road. Frankly I think the fuel they sell as 92 - 93 octane is not that high but how would an every day user prove that?

I have found the best performing fue in stations like Murphy USA, CITGO, Race Track etc.

CITGO has been the most consistent performer and now I look for their stations when I need gas. Unlucky me they do not have any stations in area where I live but on the road I can find them.

For keeping the engine clean I pour a bottle of injector cleaner in every 10th tankful or so.

 

.

 

In MN premium used to be a consistent 20 cents higher than regular.
Recently, there's a new trend for 25 cents and sometimes 29 cents higher.

 

I'm not sure what's causing it or if there is any rhyme or reason behind the difference. Is there a correlation to the higher the octane purchased the nicer or upscale the car being fueled is? I say there is. Could this perhaps be a way to focus on a way to make more money from gasoline? Even the middle grade 89 is a 50/50 mix of 91 and 87 octane. Even it's price doesn't reflect a middle grade cost which should be in the exact middle of the two prices, just as the octane grade is.

All the grades at this station are 100% gas with no ethanol. We do get more smiles to the gallon but the smile cost is increasing. Wasn't long ago diesel was more than premium. What gives?

 

In the DC area the difference is about 40-50 cents.

 

He he he you da man!

BTW, check youtube on the gasoline scam in terms of octane. It seems that we are lucky if we get 91 octane. Video reports that most gasoline stations only have one octane (89) in each pump but labeled much different. It seems its hard to distinguish between the various octanes during inspections.

My last MBZ I used 89 only after reading the gas octane scam in consumer report magazine. The article continued to report that three octane levels do not do much to the car's engine, MPG etc. since onboard computers can regulate the combustion and lower octane gas shows negligible MPG in every day driving. The article only focused on US gas not the 99 octane used in the UK. If we were in the 70's or 80's I could see concern but with the computing power in todays cars you can almost run the cars with Tequila/Vodka.

 

Sounds like a local trend to me, Hoping it doesn't move to close to home.

 

I live in New Zealand and pay the equivalent of $7USD per Gallon for 91 Octane.

My car gets 10 miles to the gallon.

You guys got it ****en sweet.

 

I guess it's "Tesoro's" USA Gasoline. Apparently they're replacing some Arco Stations in California (I'd assume that'd mean it's crappy gas?). They are SUPER cheap and don't charge you .50c like Arco does when you use a Credit Card.

I always though that Shell was like the most "high-quality" of gasoline suppliers. To make matters even more confusing, apparently some Arco's are being REBRANDED as Shell Stations (which explains why I see Shell logo's at some cheapest-price gasoline Stations however WITHOUT the name "Shell", always struck me as odd as I felt it was deceiving as to whether I was getting "Shell Gas" or "cheap gas") which would make me assume that Shell isn't all that after all? It's all confusing. I usually like to stick with Chevron but find myself putting a different brand of gas in my car like every tank, which isn't great, as prices vary so much.

I found this article which pertains to Los Angeles:
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/...-gasoline-usa/

 

My local station, today:

Regular: 3.899
Midgrade: 4.099
Premium: 4.199
Diesel: 4.299

Unfortunately (in this case), I run diesel, which in my state is always the MOST expensive.

 

In South Carolina, premium usually runs about 30 cents higher than regular at the discount stations, but local BP stations often charge 50-60 cents extra for premium. One BP station has 7 cents discount on premium on Sundays, but don't really advertise it. Might want to ask at your favorite if there are discounts at certain times or days. Also maybe getting one of their gas cards if has discounts.
BTW, all gasoline in US is unleaded.
I use non-ethanol premium in my outdoor equipment, but it costs about 50 cents a gal. more than regular.
The regular vs. premium price differential is supposedly caused by the local distributors. They charge more for premium because of low demand. Refineries charge more because of the low demand and extra things that have to be done to make premium and additives. Then the pipeline and trucking companies proably add a little extra to deliver premium. That's their story anyway.
I know a guy that manages a distribution point and the additives he adds are what is different about the gas coming out of the pipeline. Cheap gas has few, if any, additives and more expensive name brands have more. Premium has even more.
Read where US EPA is lobbying to get 50% (Yes-50%) ethanol approved. Guess they figure they have won the battle for 15% since US Congress will not repeal it.

 

This just confirms what I have been thinking is going on. We are being sold lower octane fuel for higher octane cost. I have seen this many times on the big name stations (Shell, Chevron, Exxon, BP). It is very easy to feel on my car when I get the correct octane fuel and this has happened only on small name stations, well CITGO is not that small though...

 

Missed some issues, but have never read where Consumer Reports said octanes are not as advertised. In fact, they often say to use the octane your manufacturer recommends, but do not use premium if regular is recommended.
Guess it comes back to trusting the person you purchase gas from. However, I could see this happening at "cheap" stations.
Checked yesterday and in my town in northwestern S.C., BP reg. was 3.19, mid-3.34 and premium-3.61. Use a BP card so I sort of get a discount and the station discounts premium 7 cents on Sundays. Brand X stations were 3.16 for reg. and 3.46 for premium. Only station that sells non-ethanol premium was 3.89. I use that in my outdoor equipment.
BTW, S.C. has the 2nd lowest fuel tax in US, which is reflected in the low prices above.
The onboard computer will adjust to regular gas, but it will definitely reduce your fuel efficiency (MPG) and performance. Otherwise, why would any car manufacturer require or recommend premium fuels?

 

Been filling up 93 octane @ 3.45..

 

Have you guys considered buying gas at costco?

 

I fuel at Costco all the time. I checked with their supplier and that stated that it is consistent that their fuel comes from Tesoro and their fuel filters are always changed and kept clean. I also fuel at Chevron and in checking the mileage and performance, I see/feel no differences. And, they're the cheapest station around.

 

That's one thing I'll have to change if I get the e350 - no more regular gas.
By the way, what's the cost to fill up the tank?