85 octane regular gas mid west states?

[Fishy_Old_Man]

I will be driving car to Wyoming from Tennessee. Will I encounter 85 octane for regular gasoline? Hard to find 87 octane in Midwest?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

[Lynnmor]

I thought that posting the exact recommendations would be good since it doesn't mention mountains, 92+, or "probably".

[Atlee]

Isn't that basically what I said?

Lynnmor wrote:

Atlee wrote:
The owner's manual for my 2014 F150 Ecoboost engine says to use 87 octane or above at all time, including in the mountain areas that may have as low as 85 octane.

My owner's manual also says 87 octane is good for my Ecoboost, but further says that premium 92+ octane is probably best for the engine, when pulling a trailer, and especially when in the mountains.

It actually says:
3.5L V6 EcoBoost Engine
Regular unleaded gasoline with a pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87 is recommended. Some stations offer fuels posted as Regular with an octane rating below 87, particularly in high altitude areas. Fuels with octane levels below 87 are not recommended.
Premium fuel will provide improved performance and is recommended for severe duty usage such as trailer tow.

[Atlee]

Again except for the Eco-boost engine. Ford says not to use E85 fuel in the Eco-boost.

tatest wrote:
You will not find the reduction of "regular" grade from 87 to 85 octane until you get to higher altitudes, approaching Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

What you will find in the Midwest, particularly the Corn Belt, is wide availability of E-85 at reduced prices. If you are concerned about anti-knock properties and your vehicle is flex-fuel, you can get higher octane properties (typically low 100s) by going to E-85, at some cost in fuel consumption.

[Sam_Spade]

tatest wrote:
is wide availability of E-85 at reduced prices.

by going to E-85, at some cost in fuel consumption.

Since most or all of the tax subsidies for ethanol have expired, the loss of fuel mileage MORE than off-sets the slightly reduced price.

I think the cost savings lately has been about 30 cents or less.
At $2.40 a gallon, that's about 12%.
The loss of fuel mileage is more than that.

[tatest]

You will not find the reduction of "regular" grade from 87 to 85 octane until you get to higher altitudes, approaching Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

What you will find in the Midwest, particularly the Corn Belt, is wide availability of E-85 at reduced prices. If you are concerned about anti-knock properties and your vehicle is flex-fuel, you can get higher octane properties (typically low 100s) by going to E-85, at some cost in fuel consumption.

[TyroneandGladys]

Our generator will not run on 85

[Lynnmor]

Grit dog wrote:

Fishy Old Man wrote:
I will be driving car to Wyoming from Tennessee. Will I encounter 85 octane for regular gasoline? Hard to find 87 octane in Midwest?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Don't get out much?
These here gas stations have 3 kinds of octane now. Like when ya used to say filler up with regular or Ethel except add one more.

By golly when it comes to condescending remarks, you take no prisoners, you just shoot them all!

[Grit_dog]

Fishy Old Man wrote:
I will be driving car to Wyoming from Tennessee. Will I encounter 85 octane for regular gasoline? Hard to find 87 octane in Midwest?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Don't get out much?
These here gas stations have 3 kinds of octane now. Like when ya used to say filler up with regular or Ethel except add one more.

[Lynnmor]

Atlee wrote:
The owner's manual for my 2014 F150 Ecoboost engine says to use 87 octane or above at all time, including in the mountain areas that may have as low as 85 octane.

My owner's manual also says 87 octane is good for my Ecoboost, but further says that premium 92+ octane is probably best for the engine, when pulling a trailer, and especially when in the mountains.

It actually says:
3.5L V6 EcoBoost Engine
Regular unleaded gasoline with a pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87 is recommended. Some stations offer fuels posted as Regular with an octane rating below 87, particularly in high altitude areas. Fuels with octane levels below 87 are not recommended.
Premium fuel will provide improved performance and is recommended for severe duty usage such as trailer tow.

[dodge_guy]

If you get the chance run a tank of 92 octane without ethanol. You will be amazed at how much better the mileage and power is because you have no ethanol in it!

[Rover_Bill]

In the Black Hills area of South Dakota, most gas stations have 85, 87, and 91 octane fuel. Their REGULAR grade 85 octane fuel does NOT contain ethanol so it costs more :? then their PLUS grade 87 octane fuel which contains 10% ethanol. The PREMIUM grade 91 octane fuel also contains 10% ethanol.

[Atlee]

The owner's manual for my 2014 F150 Ecoboost engine says to use 87 octane or above at all time, including in the mountain areas that may have as low as 85 octane.

My owner's manual also says 87 octane is good for my Ecoboost, but further says that premium 92+ octane is probably best for the engine, when pulling a trailer, and especially when in the mountains.

[3oaks]

time2roll wrote:
Probably fine with 85... however I use the next higher grade as my owner's manual says 87 minimum.

Yep, as do I.

In our travels, I see a lot of 85 octane gas at the pumps but have never seen where a higher octane wasn't also available. I never use gas with less octane than the owner's manual calls out.

[Fishy_Old_Man]

Thanks to all for your replies. I really appreciate it.

Fishy