Comments on: Citywide: City saves $50,000 by using cheaper gasoline

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:06:10 +0000

Other commenters have already covered this, but I’ll add to the conversation anyway: This article is incomplete. What exactley are they changing? Were they using 91 in vehicles that recommended 87? Or are they now going to put 87 in vehicles that recommend 91? Or both?

They should be using whatever is recommended. Putting 91 in a car designed for 87 does nothing good and will probably reduce mileage. Same goes for using 87 in a car designed for 91. The only time using 91 in a car designed for 87 is beneficial is in a car that knocks/pings, which usually occurs under heavy load like going up a hill or hard acceleration.

The simple question is this: Were they doing the wrong thing before, and have corrected themselves, or the other way around?

By: Froggmann

Froggmann — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:47:54 +0000

Talking about a Face-Palm moment. So, your telling me that common everyday vehicles including escorts, cavaliers and the like have been running around burning 91 octane up until recently?!! Must be nice to spend other people’s money on the equivalent of caviar for your Corolla.

By: waiting

waiting — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:10:09 +0000

High Top:
That is a good idea but they can’t make that change all at once, they need to begin replacing vehicles with hybrids as they take older ones out of service.

Keep in mind that there are probably many city vehicles that can not be replaced by hybrids such as larger trucks.

By: HighTop

HighTop — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:44:16 +0000

Think how much more they could save if they switched to Hybrid vehicles like Brea and other cities are doing.

By: Saltydog

Saltydog — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:24:36 +0000

“The city has always used 91 prior to the recent changeover, because a good number of the high-powered engines required premium fuel (as per the manufacturer specs),” Sitkoff wrote in a e-mail. “In the past few years, auto manufacturers began building more efficient engines that could run on the 87 octane fuel.”
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Is anyone at the helm? If this is quoted properly, then the city maintenance department ignores vehicle-by-vehicle requirements. Most likely, there are gas tanks in the maintenance yards for city vehicles with one level of octane. That adds a layer of bureaucracy and EPA requirements that is unneeded $$ out the door.

By: Alison

Alison — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:05:26 +0000

totally agree!

By: C

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:01:25 +0000

Most cars can take 87. Only high performance vehicle require no less than 92. Even some older, classic cars require 92.

By: Eugene W. Fields, Staff Writer

Eugene W. Fields, Staff Writer — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:55:42 +0000

Lauren -

It’s an interesting way to save $50,000

By: X-DEM

X-DEM — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:45:40 +0000

How about saving more money by eliminating the “perk” cars that the bigwigs drive?

By: blah

blah — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:22:49 +0000

Ewww, I hate 87 octane. Even my Honda Accord four-banger notices a difference between 87 and 91. However, since I usually drive only on flat surfaces, 87 is sufficient. When I go to Vegas, though, I fill’er up with 91 to get past through hills.