Business

The truth about octane: Does it really make a difference if you pump regular or premium?

By Ron Hurtibise South Florida Sun Sentinel
Sticker shock at the gas pump has faded as the price of fuel has dropped. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pump prices in South Florida had soared well over $4 a gallon.
Sticker shock at the gas pump has faded as the price of fuel has dropped. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pump prices in South Florida had soared well over $4 a gallon. Miami

With the price of regular unleaded gasoline still in the $4-a-gallon range, the comparative price of premium is kind of a bargain at many stations.

When the price of regular surged this spring, the percentage difference between regular and premium at many stations actually narrowed — most likely so drivers will keep buying premium.

Why does that make premium a “bargain”? Well, if $3.19-a-gallon premium was 39% more than regular at $2.29 in October 2020, as reported in Miramar, and premium was at $4.79 in April 2021 — 14% more than the $4.19 price for regular, that makes premium relatively cheaper than before. Happy days are here again.

To read more of this story, click here.

This story was originally published April 24, 2022 at 5:00 AM.

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