Granny_Weatherwax Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 What is 'regular' in your area? I ask this question because my mom's pricing/idea of regular is different than mine. The lowest ovel of octane in my area is 87. The lowest level of octane in my mom's region is 85. She considers the 85 octane to be regular. I don't. For me 87 octane would be regular. There is a .15 cent difference between her idea of regular and my idea of regular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regular is the cheapest unleaded gas I can buy. Here--that is 87 octane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkInTheBlue Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Uh, I honestly didn't know there were different minimums in different locations. Wow, learn something new every day. Our lowest octane is 87, I'm pretty sure, so that's what we consider regular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I get around quite a bit and the lowest I've seen is 87, since they started selling unleaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I'm never seen anything below 87. The choices I've seen are 87, 89, and 90something (sometimes 91, sometimes 93). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 It's 85, 87, 89 octane here. I think it has to do with altitude. Took me awhile to get used to that when I moved from TN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mejane Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regular is 87 here as well, and it's also about .15 cheaper. We always use the lowest octane, but then we don't drive high-performance vehicles. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristinaBreece Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 For me, regular=whatever is cheapest. In Ohio, that's 87. I would probably be cool with 85 if that were an option & it was $0.15 less. At this point, with only a V8 truck, we need to save on gas whenever we can. (I know... environmental fail on my part.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regular is the least expensive 'flavor' that is going in the tank -- no clue about octane. When we bought the hummer we were told to use regular and we always have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regular gas has lead in it. You have to have a really, really old car to use it. It may still be used in small engines, I have no idea. Unleaded gas is available in three different octanes here. I buy the lowest octane, which is 87. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regular gas has lead in it. Leaded gas is what I think of when people refer to gas as regular. I haven't seen a station selling leaded gas in years. You have to have a really, really old car to use it. It may still be used in small engines, I have no idea. When I was driving my 66 VW Bug I put an additive into the tank to keep the engine running properly. Unleaded gas is available in three different octanes here. I buy the lowest octane, which is 87. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 (edited) The lowest ovel of octane in my area is 87.The lowest level of octane in my mom's region is 85. She considers the 85 octane to be regular. I don't. For me 87 octane would be regular. The lowest level available here is 87. We don't have 85, but I have seen it in other states. ETA: I looked it up, and here gas is 87, 89 & 91. Edited February 23, 2011 by gardening momma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regular gas has lead in it. You have to have a really, really old car to use it. It may still be used in small engines, I have no idea. Unleaded gas is available in three different octanes here. I buy the lowest octane, which is 87. Here it's called Regular Unleaded, vs. Midgrade Unleaded or Premium Unleaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristinaBreece Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Here it's called Regular Unleaded, vs. Midgrade Unleaded or Premium Unleaded. :iagree: This. Hehe. I was born in 85, so I'm too young to have any frame of reference other than varying levels of unleaded. ETA: Oh... You're in Ohio, too. Makes sense that it would be the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 87 is regular, and I won't buy gas that is less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 We have 85 here (as well as 87 and 89). Interesting that altitude might have something to do with it (that gas station is at about 6500 ft). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Its the one with the lowest number at the costco pump :) my truck freaks out if i give it the expensive stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 :iagree: This. Hehe. I was born in 85, so I'm too young to have any frame of reference other than varying levels of unleaded. ETA: Oh... You're in Ohio, too. Makes sense that it would be the same. Grew up in Michigan, and it was that way there too. I do remember when unleaded was new, and it was important to note whether or not your car needed unleaded or leaded gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Regular unleaded to me is 87 From Wiki about the octane levels: United States: in the Rocky Mountain (high elevation) states, 85 AKI is the minimum octane, and 91 AKI is the maximum octane available in fuel[citation needed]. The reason for this is that in higher-elevation areas, a typical naturally-aspirated engine draws in less air mass per cycle because of the reduced density of the atmosphere. This directly translates to less fuel and reduced absolute compression in the cylinder, therefore deterring knock. It is safe to fill a carbureted car that normally takes 87 AKI fuel at sea level with 85 AKI fuel in the mountains, but at sea level the fuel may cause damage to the engine. A disadvantage to this strategy is that most turbocharged vehicles are unable to produce full power, even when using the "premium" 91 AKI fuel. In some east coast states, up to 94 AKI is available [2]. In Colorado as well as parts of the Midwest (primarily Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri) ethanol-based E-85 fuel with 105 AKI is available [3]. Often, filling stations near US racing tracks will offer higher octane levels such as 100 AKI[citation needed] . California fuel stations will offer 87, 89, and 91 AKI octane fuels, and at some stations, 100 AKI or higher octane, sold as racing fuel. Until summer 2001 before the phase-out of methyl tert-butyl ether aka MTBE as an octane enhancer additive, 92 AKI was offered in lieu of 91. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I've always seen 85 as the lowest/regular in all the states I've driven through (OH, UT, NV, CA, IN, etc). We have 85, 87 (what I get), and 89. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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