California may switch to winter blend gas early - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

jeebus · 10-05-2012, 02:57 PM

Due to gas shortages in California, which has caused prices to go up around 40 cents per gallon this week, they are contemplating switching to winter blend gasoline about a month early. This means more butane in the fuel and worse mileage.

With as picky as the subiyota is to gasoline, ethanol content, etc; I'm curious (if not a little scared) about how the car will react to EVEN LOWER energy content fuel while the temps are still relatively warm out here.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/...eaded-our-way/

travace · 10-05-2012, 03:14 PM

yea if you have some gas cans i would fill em up now. its getting kind of scary

Re~Mix · 10-05-2012, 03:51 PM

My mileage has already taken a plummet. Used to get 30/31, down to 28.

mikeg7827 · 10-05-2012, 05:11 PM

so this is only on the west coast? winter blending happens normally each year for you in CA?? wow i never heard of this.. u learn something new each day!!!

maybe contacting your local toyota/subaru service shop and ask?

hav0c · 10-05-2012, 06:12 PM

That is interesting. I was always under the impression that CA used a special blend in the summer (to reduce air pollution) and winter gas is the normal gas that everybody else uses.

Tim_Asphalt_FRS · 10-05-2012, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hav0c

That is interesting. I was always under the impression that CA used a special blend in the summer (to reduce air pollution) and winter gas is the normal gas that everybody else uses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeg7827

so this is only on the west coast? winter blending happens normally each year for you in CA?? wow i never heard of this.. u learn something new each day!!!

maybe contacting your local toyota/subaru service shop and ask?

Our winter gas is oxygenated...

serialk11r · 10-05-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_Asphalt_FRS

Our winter gas is oxygenated...

Uh I thought all gas is oxygenated...just means it has 10% ethanol in it, CARB mandate (and federal now I think too?).

It definitely doesn't get cold enough in CA to warrant a more volatile gasoline for cold weather operation, but I pretty much don't know anything about how fuel formulations work. So I might be completely wrong.

But holy shit, I did not notice the gas prices going up. Gonna fill up if I see ~$4.2/gallon since $5 is way crazy.

EDIT: okay read that article, it says they add butane into the fuel for the winter, which I'm guessing has slightly lower energy density or something.

Tim_Asphalt_FRS · 10-06-2012, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Uh I thought all gas is oxygenated...just means it has 10% ethanol in it, CARB mandate (and federal now I think too?).

It definitely doesn't get cold enough in CA to warrant a more volatile gasoline for cold weather operation, but I pretty much don't know anything about how fuel formulations work. So I might be completely wrong.

But holy shit, I did not notice the gas prices going up. Gonna fill up if I see ~$4.2/gallon since $5 is way crazy.

EDIT: okay read that article, it says they add butane into the fuel for the winter, which I'm guessing has slightly lower energy density or something.

All I know is there's a sticker on the pumps here in San Diego that says during the months of OCT-MAR, gas may be oxygenated to reduce greenhouse gases. That's paraphrased. Maybe I'll take a pic next time I fill up.

serialk11r · 10-06-2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_Asphalt_FRS

All I know is there's a sticker on the pumps here in San Diego that says during the months of OCT-MAR, gas may be oxygenated to reduce greenhouse gases. That's paraphrased. Maybe I'll take a pic next time I fill up.

Yea I think oxygenated probably isn't the most accurate term, but they do change the formulation to something that burns easier in colder air.

5 dollar a gallon gas sure is scary though, gonna slow down a bit when I drive back to school this weekend lol.

Tim_Asphalt_FRS · 10-06-2012, 01:05 AM

http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/gasoline..._gasoline.html

serialk11r · 10-06-2012, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_Asphalt_FRS

http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/gasoline..._gasoline.html

Looks pretty out of date, because gasoline in CA is required to be 10% ethanol already. MTBE was banned in 2003, not sure what else they put in gas as "oxygenate" now. I feel like ethanol is the only thing used, but that might be wrong.

Pretty sure winter gas has the "base" reformulated with lighter compounds or something.

nab335 · 10-07-2012, 12:53 AM

WHAT is up with this bs I went to fill up today and looked at the price and it said 4.90 WTF i felt like i was getting robbed

BRZ? · 10-07-2012, 02:18 AM

I really want to visit Cali but it's shit like this that stops me

Lonewolf · 10-07-2012, 02:22 AM

In time, these problems will be everywhere...

10-05-2012, 02:57 PM	#1
jeebus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2015 Mustang GT (on order) Location: San Diego Posts: 904 Thanks: 114 Thanked 471 Times in 208 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	California may switch to winter blend gas early Due to gas shortages in California, which has caused prices to go up around 40 cents per gallon this week, they are contemplating switching to winter blend gasoline about a month early. This means more butane in the fuel and worse mileage. With as picky as the subiyota is to gasoline, ethanol content, etc; I'm curious (if not a little scared) about how the car will react to EVEN LOWER energy content fuel while the temps are still relatively warm out here. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/...eaded-our-way/ __________________

10-05-2012, 03:51 PM	#3
Re~Mix Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 13' Scion FRS MT Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 737 Thanks: 290 Thanked 333 Times in 191 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	My mileage has already taken a plummet. Used to get 30/31, down to 28. __________________ 07' Z4M Coupe \| KW Clubsports \| AFE Intake \| Stromung Mufflers \| UUC Shortshifter \| Advan RS 15' 228i MSport 13' FR-S \| TRD CAI \| TRD Catback \| UEL Header \| OFT Stg 1 \| Rota Grid-V \| RCE Suspension \| Hankook \|

10-06-2012, 01:05 AM	#10
Tim_Asphalt_FRS Is it fast? No. Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Manual-Asphalt Location: Vista, CA Posts: 604 Thanks: 824 Thanked 164 Times in 122 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/gasoline..._gasoline.html __________________ 2013 (Rebadged) Toyota GT-86 {Perrin intake tube, aFe dry air filter, custom 2.5" exhaust, PLM overpipe, Kartboy crank pulley, Hotchkis springs, custom Flossy grip tape shorty, TRD shifter, Berk HFC, Whiteline Sway-bars} [Wanted: Delicious Stg 2 tune, Bilstein struts]

10-07-2012, 12:53 AM	#12
nab335 Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: e92 335i, FRS, Lexus ls400 Location: Irvine Posts: 627 Thanks: 213 Thanked 330 Times in 181 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	WHAT is up with this bs I went to fill up today and looked at the price and it said 4.90 WTF i felt like i was getting robbed __________________ IG: nabb335

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10-05-2012, 05:11 PM	#4
mikeg7827 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 1995 Ford Probe Location: Iceland Posts: 375 Thanks: 31 Thanked 37 Times in 32 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	so this is only on the west coast? winter blending happens normally each year for you in CA?? wow i never heard of this.. u learn something new each day!!! maybe contacting your local toyota/subaru service shop and ask?

10-05-2012, 06:12 PM	#5
hav0c Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: WRB BRZ Limited (AT) Location: Monterey Bay, CA Posts: 62 Thanks: 42 Thanked 52 Times in 21 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	That is interesting. I was always under the impression that CA used a special blend in the summer (to reduce air pollution) and winter gas is the normal gas that everybody else uses.

10-07-2012, 02:22 AM	#14
Lonewolf Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: Moped Location: CA Posts: 4,300 Thanks: 4,905 Thanked 2,132 Times in 1,195 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	In time, these problems will be everywhere...

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