Rec gas prices???

[Berdink]

I’m in California and regular 87 octane cheapest is about $5.50/gallon and up. My truck was at about a quarter tank this morning. Cost me over $120 to fill it . At marinas regular currently is between $7 and $8 per gallon. Its insane.

I will not click "Like" for this post. ;-)

 

[KJM]

So from I'm reading here, you guys have lakes where you can only burn high octane gas? Or am I confused as usual!

 

[909]

High octane gas is more "flammable" than regular gas.
Outboards perform better with high octane gas.
You'll observe less "gunk" residue oozing from the exhaust.
Most engines perform fine with regular gas, however one of the issues is with Ethanol.
Ethanol is hygroscopic. This means it will attract water.
Water will corrode aluminum, especially in carburetors, even moreso if it's left stagnant inside your engine.

If you have a small outboard, an intelligent solution would be to have a smaller separate tank of ethanol free gas.

At the very end of every trip, switch tanks via a hose connection and run ethanol free high octane gas for a few final minutes. Disconnect the hose and run the outboard completely dry before you shut it down.

This will help you save a bit of money because regular gas is cheaper. If any fuel is left in your outboard it will be ethanol free high octane gas which is less detrimental to your engine.

 

[dingbat]

High octane gas is more "flammable" than regular gas.
Outboards perform better with high octane gas.

You know octane is a combustion inhibitor right? It’s less flammable than 87 octane.

It buys you nothing with an outboard but a empty wallet.

Might want to do a bit of reading on the rest of your topics. Most are old wives tales and snake oil salesmen pitches

 

[tpenfield]

Octane is the resistance to auto-ignition (aka pre-ignition or knocking). The actual energy within the fuel is the same regardless. Higher octane generally results in a more effective release and utilization of the fuel’s energy within an engine

 

[dingbat]

Higher octane generally results in a more effective release and utilization of the fuel’s energy within an engine

In high compression engines….Totally useless in a 2 stroke outboard

 

[tpenfield]

Remember this back in 1974 ?

.
Waiting in lines to get a limit of 10 gallons of gas. National speed limits reduced to save on fuel (you guys know that lower speeds and smoother driving habits use less fuel . . . right? ). Gas prices went up so fast (basically doubled) the fuel pumps had to be retrofitted to meter prices over $0.99/gallon. For a while gas stations just 'stickered' the pump with a sign that said '1/2 the purchase price', so you had to double the price shown on the pump. I remember going places in college, where we had to cut our trip short, because we couldn't get gasoline and were running out.

We've 'been there' and managed to get through it.

BTW - I did not realize that Russia is the second largest oil producing country in the world, second to the USA. World events and global economies . . .

 

[KJM]

Imagine, Venezuela has one of the highest oil reserves in the world and is no longer even on the chart! Here in NL we have lots of oil still in the ground but the question is will it ever be developed as Canada has made promises on climate change......

 

[Texasmark]

Octane is the resistance to auto-ignition (aka pre-ignition or knocking). The actual energy within the fuel is the same regardless. Higher octane generally results in a more effective release and utilization of the fuel’s energy within an engine

Well that's the kicker because it does justify its increased price in my small engines, espcially 2 strokers that require 89, not 87 minimum per the owner's manual and as I recall my 115 2 stroke outboards manual....in the manual or not they still start faster and run better on 91 octane gasoline. My road vehicles run on 87 E10 as I don't want to confuse the computers and the computers are smart enough to get the performance I want with the cheap gas......er ah, lower octane gas.

 

[Texasmark]

Remember this back in 1974 ?
View attachment 357095
.
Waiting in lines to get a limit of 10 gallons of gas. National speed limits reduced to save on fuel (you guys know that lower speeds and smoother driving habits use less fuel . . . right? ). Gas prices went up so fast (basically doubled) the fuel pumps had to be retrofitted to meter prices over $0.99/gallon. For a while gas stations just 'stickered' the pump with a sign that said '1/2 the purchase price', so you had to double the price shown on the pump. I remember going places in college, where we had to cut our trip short, because we couldn't get gasoline and were running out.

We've 'been there' and managed to get through it.

BTW - I did not realize that Russia is the second largest oil producing country in the world, second to the USA. World events and global economies . . .

View attachment 357094

Not too many years ago Texas reversed the sign you see and realized that getting traffic moving actually saves gas and consumer commute time....when time matters on the paycheck. We have a sensible governor. Hope he keeps the same speeds as currently exist....its an election year and he is up for reelection...probably will keep them as the motoring public love them.

I remember when the national limit was reduced to 55. Taking the kids to grannys in a distant town was an all day affair and you know what kids do when they have to sit cramped up in a car...before the advent of the smart phone pacifier!!!!!!!

 

[dwco5051]

Remember this back in 1974 ?
View attachment 357095
.
Waiting in lines to get a limit of 10 gallons of gas. National speed limits reduced to save on fuel (you guys know that lower speeds and smoother driving habits use less fuel . . . right? ). Gas prices went up so fast (basically doubled) the fuel pumps had to be retrofitted to meter prices over $0.99/gallon. For a while gas stations just 'stickered' the pump with a sign that said '1/2 the purchase price', so you had to double the price shown on the pump. I remember going places in college, where we had to cut our trip short, because we couldn't get gasoline and were running out.

We've 'been there' and managed to get through it.

BTW - I did not realize that Russia is the second largest oil producing country in the world, second to the USA. World events and global economies . . .

View attachment 357094

I have lived through all that and survived. I am old enough to remember when my Dad's 1938 Buick had one of these on the windshield.

 

[dingbat]

Well that's the kicker because it does justify its increased price in my small engines, espcially 2 strokers that require 89, not 87 minimum per the owner's manual and as I recall my 115 2 stroke outboards manual....

From the Evinrude website

Current recommendations are to use a minimum of 87 octane, 89 octane is preferred. There is no additional benefit from using higher-octane fuels, in fact they may cause hard starting conditions in hot weather.

If you have an older motor and the owner's manual requires premium fuel, here's why:
When these were built, the best oil available was TCW-2 rated, and did not contain the additive package (detergents, carbon preservatives, etc.) which our current oils (XD-30, XD-50 and XD-100) contain today. In that era, premium fuel contained the additive package that helped prevent the formation of internal engine deposits. That's why premium fuels were preferred at the time. Ultimately, in the late 90's the federal government mandated fuel refiners to use the same additive package in all grades of fuel and the premium fuel requirement was dropped.

 

[tpenfield]

BTW - for those selling their boats this season - remember a full tank of fuel greatly increases the value of your boat

 

[alldodge]

BTW - for those selling their boats this season - remember a full tank of fuel greatly increases the value of your boat

And more so if it holds more gas then its worth

 

[wooky30014]

We paid $4.59gal yesterday at QT, we only burn mid-grade 89 octane except for the Mercedes which gets premium but now that QT offers 90 octane non-ethanol she'll be getting that instead. Oh and yes, even my lawnmower gets mid-grade and my "new" Force outboard will as well. I know there are a lot of arguments out there about 'throwing money away but what I know is this, my vehicles run better and require a little less maintenance by running a slightly higher kick gasoline

 

[roscoe]

Until recently, the only ethanol free gas available here was 91 or 92 octane.
Now some stations are offering both 87 and 92 octane eth-free. The 87 is 40 cents cheaper than the 91.

Remember, ethanol diluted gas contains less btu per gallon, so you use more.
And we are using valuable crop land to grow corn for ethanol, in a world with a huge food/grain shortage needed to feed people.

 

[tpenfield]

Here ya go . . .

No waiting in line
.

.
Highest priced gasoline in town.

 

[garbageguy]

Leaving for Buffalo in a couple of minutes. Guess I better fill up here…$4.19

$3.99/gal for 87 octane at a res in Niagara County on Friday 3/11/22

 

[wooky30014]

Here ya go . . .

No waiting in line
.
View attachment 357112
.
Highest priced gasoline in town.

Yeah, likely the tanks are empty, tanker trucks can't afford to make fuel drops either

 

[racerone]

Tank holds about 200 gallons or $1000 worth.----My home heating oil tank does not have a lock on it.-----Looked it up on google and locking devices are available.----Might make something as my cat does not bark any warning like the dogs used to.