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Whit Johnson reportingGasoline prices in Utah are at a record high today. But some people may be paying even more than they need to.
In most cases, octane levels for regular gasoline are lower in Utah than the rest of the country. And that can make for some costly confusion at the pump.
For most drivers it's pretty much routine: Select the grade, pay the cash and pump away.
Today in Utah, AAA reports the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.93. It's another record high, but guess what?
Tim Stapleton, the owner of GT Automotive says, "There are quite a few people that will run higher octane than what's necessary."
In other words, it's a waste of money.
You may have noticed in the Beehive State, regular unleaded gas is usually 85 octane; plus is 88 octane; super is 91 octane.
For most cars that run on regular gasoline, it states clearly in the owner's manual that 87 octane is required. But here in Utah that rule doesn't necessarily apply.
"It's not needed to have it higher than that because of the altitude," Stapleton explained. "So the air is thinner here, so you have less volumetric efficiency. You don't need as high an octane."
Which is why regular is listed at 85, something most of the people we talked to didn't know. So if you've been filling up with plus gasoline, you may be paying around 20 cents a gallon too much. But mechanics recommend a test.
"You can track the mileage. If you get the same mileage at 85 octane as you do with a higher octane, then there's no reason to run the higher octane," Stapleton said.
Of course for some, the science is much more simple.
Driver Jody Dalton said, "I just buy the cheapest, that's what I do."
High-performance vehicles may require higher octane. If you're using an octane that is too low, your car may begin to make a pinging noise. If that's the case, see a mechanic.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
