Octane rating different by location, why???

JKK · 08-05-2009, 11:42 PM

I've been reading the posts about fuel/gas/octane related.
my questions is: why are all the gas stations have different octane rating? For example.....some stations have 92 as regular and a 98 as the premium. others have 89 as regular and 97 as premium. why can't we all just have the standard rating?

where I live, we have 92/98 respectiverly and I only put 98 because it's labeled as "premium". but technically, I can put 92 with no performance downgrade, correct?

what do you guys think about this?

VTECaddict · 08-05-2009, 11:51 PM

Europe and Asia use RON to measure octane. The US uses the (RON+MON)/2 method.

87 in the US is about 92 RON.
93 in the US is about 98 RON.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

Your manual should list the proper octane rating you should use. It should be about 98 if you're not in the US.

JKK · 08-06-2009, 01:09 AM

ahhh...I see.

thanks for your clarification.

ToXiC · 08-06-2009, 01:13 AM

I was sort of wondering this too, I know that in Europe the rating is different, but I have noticed that in the US shell V-Power is rated at 93, but in Canada it is 91. In fact I have yet to see any 93 octane pump gas in BC, Canada. Is this because of altitude or something?

08-05-2009, 11:42 PM	#1
JKK JKK 0 Rep 18 Posts Drives: E90 LCI M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Overseas iTrader: (0)	Octane rating different by location, why??? I've been reading the posts about fuel/gas/octane related. my questions is: why are all the gas stations have different octane rating? For example.....some stations have 92 as regular and a 98 as the premium. others have 89 as regular and 97 as premium. why can't we all just have the standard rating? where I live, we have 92/98 respectiverly and I only put 98 because it's labeled as "premium". but technically, I can put 92 with no performance downgrade, correct? what do you guys think about this?
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08-05-2009, 11:51 PM	#2
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Europe and Asia use RON to measure octane. The US uses the (RON+MON)/2 method. 87 in the US is about 92 RON. 93 in the US is about 98 RON. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating Your manual should list the proper octane rating you should use. It should be about 98 if you're not in the US. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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08-06-2009, 01:09 AM	#3
JKK JKK 0 Rep 18 Posts Drives: E90 LCI M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Overseas iTrader: (0)	ahhh...I see. thanks for your clarification.
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08-06-2009, 01:13 AM	#4
ToXiC Private 5 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	I was sort of wondering this too, I know that in Europe the rating is different, but I have noticed that in the US shell V-Power is rated at 93, but in Canada it is 91. In fact I have yet to see any 93 octane pump gas in BC, Canada. Is this because of altitude or something? __________________ '09 BSM 135i Coupé w/ Savannah Interior
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