Anyone know why the gas prices are tiered so strangely in Denver? (design, car)

[Mike from back east]

IIRC google, Gas Buddy, etc, help people determine where to find the lowest prices at nearby filling stations. Are there other apps?

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by Xanathos

The answer to the original query is nothing more than "because Colorado gas station owners can". Like, that's the whole story. Your state is weird because it can be.

Can you exclude any of the other 49 states from that statement?

[COcheesehead]

Originally Posted by Xanathos

It actually does, but I'm in no mood to distill it to a lowest common denomination.



The answer to the original query is nothing more than "because Colorado gas station owners can". Like, that's the whole story. Your state is weird because it can be.

I am OK with you not agreeing me, but you don't have to post disparaging remarks.

[Sir Quotes A Lot]

Originally Posted by COcheesehead

I am OK with you not agreeing me, but you don't have to post disparaging remarks.

I don't think he was referring to you, silly.

I think he was saying: I'm not in the mood to break it down.

[N610DL]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

You go right ahead. Let me know when that GM car running on 87 hits over 200k miles - original engine.

I'm also not the one calling 87 octane pricing "punitive".

I had an '04 Chevy Malibu that had over 140K in 2012 and was still going strong using 87 grade fuel but totaled it. It could've broken close to 200K I'm willing to bet.



In Denver I filled my Euro sedan up with the highest tier fuel and the alternator went out 4 months into moving to there. It wasn't based on that, but the altitude adjustment for a car formally based at sea level was likely the cause. 85 grade fuel is just ridiculous to me.

[BarryK123]

Originally Posted by N610DL

In Denver I filled my Euro sedan up with the highest tier fuel and the alternator went out 4 months into moving to there. It wasn't based on that, but the altitude adjustment for a car formally based at sea level was likely the cause. 85 grade fuel is just ridiculous to me.

Utter nonsense.
P.S. formerly, or did your car wear a tux at sea level?

[ryanek9freak]

Originally Posted by Sir Quotes A Lot

I don’t know about that particularly, but I also dislike that 87 octane is considered mid grade, and they sell 85 octane as regular. While our elevation apparently makes 85 octane a workable fuel source, most car manufacturers advise motorists to use at least 87 octane. And many of them are looking to bump that requirement up to premium grade in the future for better all around performance and fuel economy. In many parts of Europe, 93+ octane is the standard consumer grade fuel.

Gasoline octane behaves differently at altitude. an 85 octane fuel will perform like an 87 octane fuel at 6000 feet of elevation, because the air is less dense. That's why. I for one like it because it costs less to produce a lower octane fuel, that's why we usually have some of the least expensive gas in the country.

[ryanek9freak]

Originally Posted by Sir Quotes A Lot

It's your car, use whichever fuel you want. I personally stick with the manufacturer recommended fuel. The additional cost vs. 85-octane is punitive to me personally. My only qualm is that we're paying about $.20/gal more than what everyone else around the country is paying for 87-octane.

https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/

Median Regular (87-octane) Price across US: $2.75
Colorado's 87-octane Price: 2.98

Delta: +$.23/gal

If you do an apples to apples comparison, Colorado is one of the most expensive states in the continental US for fuel. Top-7, as a matter of fact, not including Hawaii and Alaska for obvious reasons.

Bottom line: You are wasting your money. Period. If your car is designed to use 87 Octane at sea level, using 85 octane at elevation is accomplishing the same thing. I promise you 1000%, you will have zero issues using an 85 octane fuel, unless you own something with high compression or forced induction, i.e., turbocharged or supercharged, which I'm sure you don't because those are designed to run only on premium unleaded fuel.

I have been a professional automotive technician for 22 years now, all of them in Colorado. I can not think of one single engine failure in a low compression, naturally aspirated engine that can be attributed to not using 87 octane. The vast majority of us in Colorado have been using it in our cars for decades with no ill effects. Hell, I've got a 1986 Subaru with 340,000 miles that has been on 85 octane it's entire life. Properly maintain your car, and it will last forever, even on the lowest grade of fuel (provided you're not driving a performance car with a high compression or forced induction engine)

[COcheesehead]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

Bottom line: You are wasting your money. Period. If your car is designed to use 87 Octane at sea level, using 85 octane at elevation is accomplishing the same thing. I promise you 1000%, you will have zero issues using an 85 octane fuel, unless you own something with high compression or forced induction, i.e., turbocharged or supercharged, which I'm sure you don't because those are designed to run only on premium unleaded fuel.

I have been a professional automotive technician for 22 years now, all of them in Colorado. I can not think of one single engine failure in a low compression, naturally aspirated engine that can be attributed to not using 87 octane. The vast majority of us in Colorado have been using it in our cars for decades with no ill effects. Hell, I've got a 1986 Subaru with 340,000 miles that has been on 85 octane it's entire life. Properly maintain your car, and it will last forever, even on the lowest grade of fuel (provided you're not driving a performance car with a high compression or forced induction engine)

I have a turbo and my owners manual suggests 87 not 92 or 93.

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by COcheesehead

I have a turbo and my owners manual suggests 87 not 92 or 93.

Which is why he said normally aspirated. Most turbocharged or supercharged engines work to a particular manifold pressure and are oblivious to the lower atmospheric pressure here. Only the recommended octane should be used in those engines.