Price of premium gas (relative to regular 87 octane)

[Zathras]

I haven't been driving much so I haven't been keeping close track of gas prices. Today I stopped at a Valero to fill up and their 93 octane grade was $3.05/gallon. Their 87 octane was $1.95. So the premium was $1.10 more a gallon than regular. That's insane. I needed gas so I put a few gallons in, but I didn't fill up like I planned.

I've noticed this disturbing trend of the premium grades everywhere being priced higher (relative to regular) but I've never seen a difference anywhere near a dollar a gallon. When I was a young man, it was a consistent rule of thumb that there would be a $0.10 difference between each grade--so if 87 octane was $1.29, 89 octane would be $1.39 and 93 would be $1.49. Why is there such a monster price difference between grades now?

Sponsored

 

[Twin Turbo]

Price of premium here in the UK is the equivalent of just over $7.......

 

[Bikeman315]

93 at Costco here in Myrtle Beach, SC $2.269. Regular is $1.999, so only $0.27 difference.

 

[rxryanm]

$0.60-$0.80 (usually don't get at the higher) most places I've stopped at in KY. Prices have jumped since I filled up last, but I think it was $2.09 for 87 and $2.69 for 93.

 

[Joe B.]

It's always 90 cents+ in Chicagoland. Why, I don't know, but I can guess.

 

[XS]

Here in Colorado it's 40 to 60 cents more. But that is for some lame 91 crap that quality wise, I wouldn't be surprised to see sticks and dead leaves floating in it.

 

[Louk]

Seems like all the "regular" gas stations have that large price difference. I use sams club and its normally about a .30 difference. between the discount on gas and the percentage back its only a few cents more than 87 at a regular station.

 

[Stage_3]

I gassed up today after I took her out for a little drive. I didn't even look at the price, but I should of, just to keep track of how high it's going to go.

***Just checked the website and it was $3.19 for the 93 octane at Mobil.
I use Mobil gas exclusively for the truck and the Mustang.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

there is usually about a dollar difference between 87 & 93 here in New Jersey. Prices are on the way back up here in the USA kids. Our new transportation secretary has just said he’d like a 65 cent federal tax on all gasoline.

 

[FreePenguin]

sams club/costco its about 15-20c difference from their 87 to 93.

ie. 2 dollars 87. 2.15-220 97 average.--- while every other gas station is like 2.20 for 87 and 3 for 93 on the same day

its always 20 cents difference roughly.

 

[spectreman]

Here in SoFla, it ranges from 60-80 cent difference per gallon from regular to premium. No doubt, w/the Dems at the helm, it's gonna go much higher, I'd venture to Obama-level costs per gallon, around $4. Thank you, Dems.

 

[Joeblowv1]

To parrot others, central NJ is about 50 cents higher. Prices for regular are around 2.50 a gallon, and "premium"/93 is around 3$ even.

I've been putting in 93, haven't filled with a tank of 87 to date, but I also only have about 1200 miles on my Bullitt, and the car will be seeing less and less usage for a bit now that somewhat regular snow is predicted.

Snowstorm overnight tonight ( whopping 1-3 inches.....) and NJ DOT was already going bonkers brining the hell out of the roads yesterday. Would have driven my truck yesterday too if I knew they were going to be jumping the gun...

 

[FreePenguin]

one good thing for real- if gas doubled or tripled, (not saying it will) at least on my EcoBoost, I theoretically could flash back to stock tune, and run 87 again. being a summer daily, if prices really did go that high, it would be a real possibility. im not made of money Lol.

but im thinking its be a max 1 dollar increase. I have been reading though, about a lot of people getting behind a taxation per mile per car type scheme, which I understand, as more EV cars come out, got to pay for the roads. but damn, that will be discouraging as hell to drive.

 

[Mustang_Lou]

I've noticed this disturbing trend of the premium grades everywhere being priced higher (relative to regular) but I've never seen a difference anywhere near a dollar a gallon. When I was a young man, it was a consistent rule of thumb that there would be a $0.10 difference between each grade--so if 87 octane was $1.29, 89 octane would be $1.39 and 93 would be $1.49. Why is there such a monster price difference between grades now?

Totally agree and it's been going on for years now.

Here in Canada, the usual price increase from grade to grade was $0.05 per litre but the gas co's have been upping their margin bit by bit as no one typically notices the price of the non-regular as regular is the only price you see posted up on the signs and in your head that's the comparison from day-to-day that occurs.

Meanwhile, even though reg may have been the same price as it was a year or 2 ago, the mid and premium has gone up considerably. Very sneaky.

 

[FreePenguin]

Right now, fuel in my area.

Sponsored