[Richard L]

Originally Posted by SaabTuner

"Most californian fuel is oxygenated, it doesn't seem to prodcue the same effect as the chart I wonder what happen to the knock resistance properties?" -- Richard L

MTBE, which is what is used primarily in other states, is also an Oxygenate. California just has much lower octane in most places because the cost to refine 93 octane fuel at the VERY low Sulfur requirements of California would raise the price of fuel to beyond what most gas stations think the average consumer will buy.

So they makeup for the added cost of refining low sulfur by selling ultra low octane cheaper gasoline. Though you can buy 100 octane fuel at some pumps in CA, it just costs more than it does anywhere else in the US. (Except maybe Alaska or Hawaii.)

Thanks for the information.

I am still puzzled why don't they add more alcohol to their fuel to boost the octane number to some where near the chart?


According to most tuners CA gas behaves like 89 octane everywhere else in the country. :roll: Sucks to live here.

Adrian~