What is 88 octane regular?

[lrrifleman]

A few weeks ago when I was in central Tennessee for a Glock match, I saw a number of stations advertising 88 Octane Regular. At home in NJ, I have never seen 88 Octane Regular. What is it?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

 

[ladder13]

Sheetz advertises it here, never available.

 

[S42N8]

More ethanol — 15% ethanol vs the 10% in 87 octane. Big Agra approves.

Unleaded 88 - Kwik Trip | Kwik Star

What Is E15 Unleaded Gasoline? The Fuel's Pros and Cons

 

[lrrifleman]

@S42N8, would that be what would be recommended for the Flex Fuel engines?

 

[THE PILGRIM]

What is Unleaded 88?
Unleaded 88 is a blend of 84 octane gasoline and ethanol. The difference is Unleaded 87 has 10% ethanol and Unleaded 88 has 15% ethanol. The 5% increase in ethanol increases the octane rating to 88.

 

[johngalt]

I will not use > 10% ethanol in a vehicle unless it is Flex Fuel (which can go up to 85%). Regular gas engines can use a maximum of 10%.

Big Ag claims that modern engines will tolerate 15% without damage. The car manufacturers say they won't. I know which I believe.

MN has a strange definition of premium. Everyplace else premium E10 is 93 octane. Here in MN premium E?? is 91 octane. I have no idea what the ethanol content actually is, and it is apparently a mix of a lower grade than is used everyplace else, so I don't trust it. Premium E0 (91 octane) is easy to get here, so I use that.

 

[pawngal]

@S42N8, would that be what would be recommended for the Flex Fuel engines?

That is a great choice for Flex Fuel vehicles, save a few cents but no lose of power or mileage. I used it my Tundra whenever I could find it.

 

[coltle6920]

Places around me here in Colorado have 85,87 and whatever premium octane. 85octane here is the equivalent of 87 at lower altitudes.

I used to shop for gas by price. I then went to "top tier" gas. Even then I found that they weren't all equal. Don't be afraid to try a tank of different gas or even octane unless you're driving a high performance car.

I settled on Exxon 85 octane for my 2006 5.4L Triton Ford P/U. Emission tests are still a breeze after 16yrs.

Sorry if I lost sight of the threads topic.

 

[magmag]

I guess its not Earnhardt Jr (88) brand fuel that makes you drive like Jr?

 

[ameridaddy]

Sorry guys, but ethanol has less energy (BTU/gallon) than gasoline, so car mileage has to go down with increased ethanol content.

Unleaded gasoline has ~116,000 BTU/gal.
Ethanol has ~76,000 BTU/gal, so the more ethanol is added to the mix, the more fuel is required to do the same job as pure gasoline.

Ethanol was originally added to gas many years ago to lower, IIRC, nitrous oxide exhaust emissions.
That's no longer a problem with today's engine management technology and catalytic converters, but ethanol gas persists as a product of Big Agra marketing.

IOW, you can't get blood out of a turnip. Or converted corn for that matter.

 

[johngalt]

Sorry guys, but ethanol has less energy (BTU/gallon) than gasoline, so car mileage has to go down with increased ethanol content.

Unleaded gasoline has ~116,000 BTU/gal.
Ethanol has ~76,000 BTU/gal, so the more ethanol is added to the mix, the more fuel is required to do the same job as pure gasoline.

Ethanol was originally added to gas many years ago to lower, IIRC, nitrous oxide exhaust emissions.
That's no longer a problem with today's engine management technology and catalytic converters, but ethanol gas persists as a product of Big Agra marketing.

IOW, you can't get blood out of a turnip. Or converted corn for that matter.

Yep. Corn belongs in my bourbon, not my gasoline.

 

[Krogen]

Places around me here in Colorado have 85,87 and whatever premium octane. 85octane here is the equivalent of 87 at lower altitudes.

I used to shop for gas by price. I then went to "top tier" gas. Even then I found that they weren't all equal. Don't be afraid to try a tank of different gas or even octane unless you're driving a high performance car.

I settled on Exxon 85 octane for my 2006 5.4L Triton Ford P/U. Emission tests are still a breeze after 16yrs.

Sorry if I lost sight of the threads topic.

In what manner are they not equal? Not disputing that that probably are, but what effects did you observe?

 

[wood714]

The manual that came with my 2018 V6 Tacoma says 10% ethanol is no problem at all.

It also says this...

"Many people believe that opting for a higher grade gasoline will improve the performance of your car, but this is not so. Gasoline ratings have been determined on the basis of octane; 87 octane is regular, 89 octane is mid-grade and 91 or higher octane is premium. The octane ratings are not an indication of performance, but instead, indicate the fuel's resistance to pre-ignition.


The engine of your Toyota operates with a mixture of air and fuel. You can get more power if you increase the compression of this mixture before it is burnt. However, this will cause premature ignition of the fuel, known as pre-ignition. So when you are using a higher grade gasoline, you are just increasing the resistance to this pre-ignition and not deriving more power.


Pre-ignition can damage engine, and fixing it can be pretty expensive. Modern engines are equipped with sensors that can take care of pre-ignition and minimize the damages, but there is a still a slight chance."

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I use the Regular reported to be 86 Octane.
Recently I drove up to the Sandia Crest Road.
That's a paved road up the back side of the Sandia Mountains, to 10, 676 feet.
I was up in the lookout area looking West toward town when I looked back East where I was parked.
On Man! Look what just parked next to me!
I bet he came up the mountain faster than I did!
And probably used more and a higher Octane Gas!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Inquiring minds want to know:

-Ethanol from white corn or yellow corn? Field corn, shelled corn, cracked corn? Grown with all natural fertilizer, or anhydrous ammonia?

-If they can get the corn content high enough will a tank of gas come with recipes for feeding the kids?

-Inspection stickers on all the gas pumps show that they are all inspected and approved by government officials. Are they testing the contents, or simply verifying that the dispensed quantities are correct so that the per-gallon taxes are collected?

-Will the "red gas" sold for agricultural uses (no federal or state motor fuel taxes) really destroy my engine, maybe make the seat cushions turn hard and uncomfortable, make the dashboard clock display the wrong time, or is that just an urban myth?

-Why can't I fill up my truck all at one time, instead of having the pump shut off at only $100 using my credit card? Don't they know that the prices have doubled in the past year or so? I always pay the bills on time.

Gosh, it's only been about 44 years since gasoline rationing, waiting lines around the block at service stations, "odd and even days" (based on vehicle license number, odd numbers could buy gas on odd-numbered days, even numbers on even-numbered days), public safety broadcasts warning about storing gasoline in Pepsi bottles inside the home, locking gas caps became essential equipment, and regular gasoline jumped up over 32 cents per gallon while I grilled hamburgers made with ground beef at 3 lbs. for a buck.

Filled up the truck yesterday. Probably doubled its value. Looking at a new security system for the catalytic converter, Wifi-enabled, but I would need a new smart-*** phone to make it work.

Enough rambling for now.

 

[Pig Hunter]

Ethanol is made from regular yellow field corn grown all over the midwest. It is everclear and then they put poison in it. A great scam as it is basically an inert filler that reduces overall mileage. Great for farmers, bad for gamebirds as when prices of corn are up all available acres are put into production and habitat suffers. None of these green new deal ideas would be viable and profitable without gov't subsidies. The starch in the corn has to be converted to sugar to make alcohol. All to make us feel warm and fuzzy about the planet. We would all warmer and fuzzier if they just made booze out of it.

 

[SupportTheSecond]

I have heard that they want to increase ethanol production due to the current gas situation but that is a bad idea. First off one gallon of ethanol takes 22 pounds of corn thus removing an important food grain from the market.

Second ethanol is horrible on components of your vehicle regardless if it's a flex fuel designation or not.

 

[LDM]

15% ethanol is the green weenies latest trick to destroy IC engines and push people into the overpriced, glorified golf carts only rich liberal dilettantes can afford.

 

[ladder13]

This will all be over soon enough.


Exxon Mobil CEO: All new passenger cars will be electric by 2040

 

[Golddollar]

This will all be over soon enough.


Exxon Mobil CEO: All new passenger cars will be electric by 2040

I'd better start saving up now for an electric Batmobile. I plan to be around then.