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wmiddle Rookie Author Iowa Posts:1 Points:1,020 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 16, 2012 9:06:18 PM Ignore wmiddle Report Abuse I am new to GasBuddy and just downloaded and started using the android app yesterday while my wife was driving. As we passed a gas station I posted the price on their signs as the Regular grade of gas. I realized today that I may have been posting bad prices. I was thinking that the Three grades of gas were based on price, but am now assuming that it is based on the octane. Since the lower priced ethanol is usually priced lower than the lower octane without ethanol, the lowest octane is not necessarily the cheapest. I looked on this site trying to find a definition of this, but was unable to find anything. Here are my questions: Is grade based on octane rating? Since most stations advertise their lowest price, can you post a price from just looking at the sign, without seeing the pump which shows whether it's the lowest, mid or highest octane? Assuming I posted the wrong prices, should I just wait for someone to correct with new postings or is there a way to delete my posts? Thanks

wmiddle

Rookie Author
Iowa

Posts:1
Points:1,020
Joined:Nov 2008

Message Posted: May 16, 2012 9:06:18 PM

Ignore wmiddle Report Abuse

I am new to GasBuddy and just downloaded and started using the android app yesterday while my wife was driving. As we passed a gas station I posted the price on their signs as the Regular grade of gas. I realized today that I may have been posting bad prices. I was thinking that the Three grades of gas were based on price, but am now assuming that it is based on the octane. Since the lower priced ethanol is usually priced lower than the lower octane without ethanol, the lowest octane is not necessarily the cheapest. I looked on this site trying to find a definition of this, but was unable to find anything.

Here are my questions:
Is grade based on octane rating?

Since most stations advertise their lowest price, can you post a price from just looking at the sign, without seeing the pump which shows whether it's the lowest, mid or highest octane?

Assuming I posted the wrong prices, should I just wait for someone to correct with new postings or is there a way to delete my posts?

Thanks

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

plastic Champion Author Virginia Posts:46,738 Points:2,835,120 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 18, 2012 11:18:08 AM Ignore plastic Report Abuse Ok, gotcha. Thanks, Brind.
Brindfan Champion Author Colorado Posts:8,171 Points:1,531,570 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: May 18, 2012 11:05:33 AM Ignore Brindfan Report Abuse plastic: That's not the case. Where wmiddle is, the regular grade fuel is ethanol free. The mid-grade fuel is spiked with ethanol, and is sold at a lower price because of ethanol subsidies.
plastic Champion Author Virginia Posts:46,738 Points:2,835,120 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 18, 2012 9:10:01 AM Ignore plastic Report Abuse It looks to me like the question still is not answered. I'm reading it as the station has two choices of low octane- with and without ethanol. If this is the case then Gasbuddy is further behind the curve than I had originally thought. Wmiddle, if I'm understanding your question correctly, as expressed above, I would post the higher-priced (non ethanol gas) in the "Reg" position and don't bother posting the price for the ethanol regular. You could always post something about the ethanol gas in the comments section for what it's worth.
ziyulu Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:8,479 Points:1,598,875 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: May 17, 2012 7:15:47 AM Ignore ziyulu Report Abuse The sign at Wal-Mart only lists the E10 price, which is mid-grade. I've seen people post that as regular, and the 100% gas as mid-grade.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,170 Points:3,249,620 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 17, 2012 7:08:25 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse Correct kwzh. Prices should be posted by grade.
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,631 Points:3,678,650 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: May 17, 2012 7:06:42 AM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse I'm not entirely sure the question was answered, so I'll ask it myself, more directly (even though it doesn't apply to me here in CA). For stations where "midgrade" is cheaper than "regular", I assume they should still be posted according to those labels, e.g., the price listings might read "3.89 3.79 3.99". Is this correct?
ziyulu Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:8,479 Points:1,598,875 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: May 17, 2012 6:15:28 AM Ignore ziyulu Report Abuse I know the Wal-Mart near where I live sells mid-grade at a lower price than regular since it is E10--that price is what is displayed on the sign.
Brindfan Champion Author Colorado Posts:8,171 Points:1,531,570 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: May 17, 2012 2:48:09 AM Ignore Brindfan Report Abuse wmiddle: Post by grade of fuel. 89 octane is "mid-grade" in IA, as well as in most states. In high altitude states,(CO, UT, WY, etc), "mid-grade" is 87 octane. gaspricepasser: In IA, IL, NE, and other corn growing states, ethanol is highly subsidized and they use it in the mid-grade(89 octane)fuel. Because of this, mid-grade gas is usually priced 10-20 cents a gallon cheaper than regular(87 octane). [Edited by: Brindfan at 5/17/2012 3:48:23 AM EST]
gaspricepasser Champion Author Miami Posts:3,904 Points:502,615 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 17, 2012 12:33:58 AM Ignore gaspricepasser Report Abuse Welcome to Gas Buddy. You may want to read the FAQ that is located under the "Help" button on the blue bar above, as it will answer a lot of your questions. The four grades that GB recognizes are regular, plus, premium and diesel. Most stations post these three or four prices on their sinage, and that is what you are supposed to post here, or on the mobile app. When stations have both cash and credit prices [credit being higher] you are supposed to post the cash price. There is a notation section on the bottom of the price input, where you can note that there is a cash/credit difference, and what the amount is, e.g. cash prices, credit is + $.05. Most stations consider 10% ethanol to be regular gas, in whatever grade. E85 is the subject of debate here, as to how and whether to list it. See the section under the forum for Suggest a Website Change. Feel free to ask more questions, and thanks for contributing.