Automotive

91 Octane gotten more expensive proportionally?

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  • Sep 20th, 2020 4:55 pm
Newbie
Jun 13, 2016
28 posts
11 upvotes

91 Octane gotten more expensive proportionally?

Has anyone else notice, since gas prices rebounded from the pandemic in May that 91 octane gasoline has gone up in price in its proportion to 87 octane? Prior the premium on 91 octane was always around 25-26 cents a litre on 87 octane but has now gone up to 30-32 cents in the Ottawa area. Example. yesterday at a Shell 87 was 0.959 a litre while 91 was 1.269.

I'm just curious if anyone else has noticed this.
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Deal Expert
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Jul 30, 2007
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Toronto
In Toronto, that has not changed (for the last 3-4 months). Shell regular - > 91 has always been 29 - 31 cents premium. Shell usually raised their spread 2x a year on Regular - > 91.
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Oct 6, 2010
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Toronto
91 never really went much below 1.20 in the GTA unless you went to costco. I think it was 1.15 once. Once.
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Deal Fanatic
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Oct 24, 2005
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Burlington
I did notice it's above 30 cents now. Even Costco was 20 cents above and I could have sworn it used to be 15 cents or so.
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May 10, 2005
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Ottawa
Premium gas has not been affected by any of the regular price changes. While there may be price wars between stations, it is always just the regular gas. Premium has always been$1.27 and up.
Regular was down to 96 cents the other day and premium (which I need for my Wifes SLK320, was $1.29 (Shell station)
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Deal Expert
Aug 22, 2011
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Tha_Doggg wrote: I did notice it's above 30 cents now. Even Costco was 20 cents above and I could have sworn it used to be 15 cents or so.
Yup, the spread between regular and premium at Costco has increased from 12cents as far back as I can remember.

Edit: today's pricing at Barrhaven Costco, is 93.9 for regular and 113.9 for premium...10cent spread!
Deal Fanatic
Aug 29, 2011
9926 posts
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Mississauga
In my experience, Shell has always had the biggest spread between 87 and 91.
Deal Expert
Jun 24, 2006
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vkizzle wrote: Yup, the spread between regular and premium at Costco has increased from 12cents as far back as I can remember.

Edit: today's pricing at Barrhaven Costco, is 93.9 for regular and 113.9 for premium...10cent spread!
Umm 10cents?? Winking Face
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Jul 30, 2007
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vkizzle wrote: Yup, the spread between regular and premium at Costco has increased from 12cents as far back as I can remember.

Edit: today's pricing at Barrhaven Costco, is 93.9 for regular and 113.9 for premium...10cent spread!
that's 20 cents Smiling Face With Open Mouth And Smiling Eyes
Sr. Member
Aug 25, 2009
582 posts
143 upvotes
12 cents spread in Mirabel (Quebec), Belisle gas station. Same as before COVID. Ultramar 15 cents spread
Sr. Member
Jan 13, 2007
689 posts
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Toronto, Ontario
This is definitely a thing. A long time ago, I remember 91 octane being about 10 cents greater than 87 octane fuel. Then it crept up to about +13 cents for quite some time. These days, however, I see the spread being even greater than that.
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Oct 5, 2008
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vkizzle wrote: Yup, the spread between regular and premium at Costco has increased from 12cents as far back as I can remember.
I agree it was 12 cents forever...not anymore however.
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May 10, 2005
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mrweather wrote: In my experience, Shell has always had the biggest spread between 87 and 91.
I agree but having had several cars that need premium, I found the best premium gas was Shell.
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Deal Fanatic
Jul 30, 2015
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Toronto, ON
koffey wrote: 91 never really went much below 1.20 in the GTA unless you went to costco. I think it was 1.15 once. Once.
Height of pandemic I got it for $0.95 or 96 at Shell in Brampton. It was below a dollar for a few days at Shell. Longer at other stations since their spread is lower.
Deal Expert
Jun 24, 2006
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bhrm wrote: 20 years ago it was 10 cents.
Yup, but I know I did the math on this in a different thread.

While the difference in $$ has gone up over time, the percentage difference has stayed relatively the same. It always has seemed to be in the 18%-20% mark up over regular. 20 years ago, and today.
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Oct 6, 2010
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canoek wrote: Height of pandemic I got it for $0.95 or 96 at Shell in Brampton. It was below a dollar for a few days at Shell. Longer at other stations since their spread is lower.
wow, that's impressive.
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Newbie
Jun 13, 2016
28 posts
11 upvotes
So I'm not completely crazy. So instead of the previous spread of 25 cents at Shell its now gonna be 30+ cents per litre over 87 octane. It's a bit annoying in all honesty to have fuel prices being lower but suppliers extracting more from 91 octane customers on top of the already large premium we were paying before.
Deal Guru
Feb 9, 2006
13378 posts
8308 upvotes
Brampton
I remember when Ultramar / Pioneer was doing $5 of 10L for First Responders and medical staff that was the best I was going to get on Premium.

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