Pain At The Pump: Industry Lobbies For The Death Of Low Octane Gas In The US

do it!

Nah, don't do it!

There are good automotive engineers who meet or exceed emissions standards using regular gas, thereby delivering vehicles with a lower fuel cost per mile than if you needed mid-grade or premium gasoline.

Also, Mazda will be coming out with their new HCCI engine at the end of next year. It claims to get significantly better fuel economy (rivalling diesels!), and much lower emissions (CO2, miniscule NOx, no Carbon nanoparticles, etc.) It requires low-octane gas, and runs even better with less than 87 octane. Interesting coincidence?

Do you think that US auto industry lobbyists might be concerned about the new HCCI engine being a success, and being a game-changer? This would also be a negative for the oil industry, as it would make regular gas, which carries less profit, more viable and more popular for ICE (assuming HCCI delivers as promised, and catches on in popularity).

My guess is that these auto industry lobbyists represent the interests of US automakers (who find it easier to engineer an engine that demands premium gas), and the oil industry (who would benefit from selling more profitable product), rather than having the interests of The People in mind.

TheSTEVE - IF they could actually produce a single grade of gasoline - regardless of octane rating - that produced at least 3 Percent more mileage - for what the article claims is a MAXIMUM of 5 CENTS a gallon over regular unleaded(In my area - that is LESS than 3% of what unleaded costs today) - I cannot see the downside to that one. AS LONG AS THE FIVE CENTS is true.I have yet to see an Oil company say it is possible though.

Yes - there are technologies that would allow the use of current gasoline and increase mileage - but they all would ADD to the cost - while this scenario would actually reduce costs (About 2 %). AS the easy gains become harder and harder to achieve - if this IS POSSIBLE - do it.

AS far as saying this is just the American manufacturers - European manufacturers have been lobbying for similar octane gasoline for several years now as well.

I don't see any compromise if (and only if) it actually only costs no more than 5 cents a gallon more than today's regular grade. Many of today's cars could easily use a new computer mapping and see a benefit from the higher octane. And it won't hurt older cars, like Ethanol does (assuming that Ethanol isn't the way they increase the octane level).

But it completely depends on the petroleum industry making the single grade of fuel, with the related savings, and passing those savings on to the consumer. They don't have the greatest reputation in that regard.

BS from GM, Ford and Fiat. How is it the most fuel efficient vehicles do it with 87 octane? If it was true Prius would use premium.

This whole article is all wrong. European regular gas is 95 RON which is 91 Octane (Which is not commonly available in most of the US except CA)...this is what the automakers want to make the standard NOT 95 Octane.

BINGO and thank you for correcting that misconception.

It would be decades to get down to one grade if ever. GM in the past had warned to use only 87 in engines designed for it, apparently will not burn completely.

@FAQMD, your understanding is incorrect. If an engine has a higher compression ratio, then it needs higher octane gasoline to prevent detonation. The higher compression ratio, in and of itself*, does not guarantee "more efficient burn" (increased thermal efficiency), higher fuel economy, or lower emissions.

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*The qualifier "in and of itself" is vitally important to note!

Remember when mid grade was 10 cents higher than regular and 20 cents higher for premium? I love how the have increased the gap slowly every year.

I remember when "high test" gas was 4 cents per gallon more than regular - and two dollars worth of gas was half a tank. Sadly - I don't think that age will ever happen again.