High Octane

EPA Considering Higher Octane Standards for U.S. Gasoline
Octane Boost Would Enable Greater Efficiency, Higher Performance

Quote :

The USA is first in many areas, but one area where the country is well behind the rest of the developed world’s standards is fuel octane. Regular unleaded in the U.S. is typically 87 octane, with premium having a rating of between 91-93 octane. In Europe, the region’s equivalent of regular is around 95 octane. According to Automotive News, the EPA is considering raising fuel octane standards in a quest to raise overall fleet efficiency.

Other than the obvious benefit of potentially increasing engine output, higher octane levels could enable higher compression ratios and higher boost on turbocharged engines, allowing for even greater power density (the amount of power an engine produces relative to its displacement). Fuel octane levels may be part of the mid-term review of the federal fuel economy standards, which require a 54.5 mpg fuel economy average by 2025. By today’s EPA standards, that figure is closer to 40 mpg.

Automakers are struggling to reconcile the market’s ever-growing demand for crossovers and SUVs and the looming fuel economy standards. Although diesel engines produce higher particulate and NOx emissions, the engine type’s high fuel efficiency and high torque output would be a natural fit with heavier crossovers and SUVs.

Higher octane will require additional steps and costs in the refining process, which will inevitably mean higher prices at the pump. Would you be willing to pay a little more at the pump to get better fuel economy and more power?

Truck Trend

hey EPA,

I have a better idea first.

get rid of the massive scam called ethanol

EPA===Extortionist Professional Assholes

Quote :

The USA is first in many areas, but one area where the country is well behind the rest of the developed world’s standards is fuel octane. Regular unleaded in the U.S. is typically 87 octane, with premium having a rating of between 91-93 octane.

BS story .... octane in the U.S. is measured differently than Europe. Europe uses the RON (Research Octane Number) which is roughly 10 points higher give or take than another type of octane measurement called MON (Motor Octane Number). The U.S., Canada, and some other countries use the AKI (Anti Knock Index) which is an average of the RON/MON numbers- RON+MON/2. AKI numbers run roughly 5 points lower than RON numbers for the same fuel.

Wasn't aware of that RB. Thanks for the info.

pup and BB identified the real problem. I'd wager a Washington or two (I'm a man of modest means) that this is a backdoor way for the EPA (Extortionist Professional Assholes) to push more ethanol on us. E-85 has about 1/3 less energy content than 100% gasoline so mpg takes a big hit. One of the few (about the only) advantages it does have is higher octane with AKI numbers in 94-97 range. My guess is E-85 sales are in the tank- the subsidized lower price advantage of E85 is almost gone around here- why pay about the same for an inferior fuel?. The EPA, unfortunately, is run by eco-Marxists, almost always wrong but never in doubt.

Also, doesn't Europe use the Imperial gallon that has 1 more quart than the U.S. Gallon therefore more MPG is not comparing apples to apples?

The UK uses The Imperial System but Europe is Metric.

I mean look how well the EPA managed the inspection of the mine in Colorado, what could go wrong?

joemac wrote:

I mean look how well the EPA managed the inspection of the mine in Colorado, what could go wrong?

In many ways this is a worse disaster than the 2010 BP Macondo oil spill. Three million gallons of toxic waste water (not one million as originally reported) laced with arsenic  and other heavy metals and headed towards Lake Powell, threatening farmers' irrigation water, drinking water for hundreds of thousands, and recreation and the jobs associated with it. If it was a private sector company that did this, there would be hell to pay. The EPA doesn't play by the rules it uses on others.

'EPA Fails to Acknowledge It Coerced Mine Owner to Grant Access'
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/16/epa-fails-to-acknowledge-it-coerced-mine-owner-to-grant-access/