Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 11:04:46 -0700
Reply-To: Bill N <freeholder@STARBAND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill N <freeholder@STARBAND.NET>
Subject: Re: Day 4 (west to east)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I just spoke to a fuel tech at Chevron. I was put in touch with him by the local distributor,
who is a client of mine. The fuel tech tells me that the octane difference from state to state
is not an elevation issue. As he pointed out, if it was, it would not change suddenly when you
crossed a state line, but would be regional. He tells me that is is actually a result of state
regulations, and that's the reason it changes suddenly when you cross a state line.
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Brush" <jbrush@AROS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: Day 4 (west to east)
>
> >Here in Arizona, I have never seen anything lower than 87 octane. In New
> >Mexico, all regular I have seen is 86 octane. Arizona averages higher
> >than New Mexico in elevation. People don't realize how mountainous
> >Arizona is unless they have explored it a bit. The expressways stay to
> >the easy ground, so driving through on I-10 or I-40 doesn't give one a
> >realistic picture. Well over half the state is above 4500'. We have
> >several good sized towns located above 7000', and the "occasional
> >mountain passes" often are much higher. Some peaks near 13000'. Don't
> >judge the whole state by Phoenix, although even that valley metropolis is
> >much higher than the highest point in Illinois, where I grew up.
>
> Nice that you are proud of your state. You answered your own statements.
> Most everyone lives and drives at the lower elevations, therefore, you
> need the higher octane. If the fuel was rated for those few places at 5000
> feet, the rest of the users in Phoenix would have to buy the more
> expensive gasoline.
>
> >My point was that octanes are lower in New Mexico than in Arizona, even
> >though the average elevation in New Mexico is lower than in Arizona.
>
> Its not about average elevations, its about where the people live and
> drive.
>
> >That makes me question if the difference is strictly altitude related.
>
> One more time.
>
> The lower octane is used in places where the elevation is higher. The oil
> companies save money on the lower octane fuel (not that they pass it on to
> us) so they deliver that to areas that reside at higher elevations, such
> as Colorado and Utah.
>
> AZ may have places that are high up, but the majority of the residents
> live and drive at lower elevations, so you need the higher octane. Its not
> a contest between who has the most mountains and the highest eleveations,
> its a matter of where do the people drive.
>
> The octane rating is not a method of judging the quality of the fuel.
> Using a fuel with a higher octane rating than is needed, is a waste of
> money.
>
> John
>
>
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