Chevron Marine Gas

[Max123]

I typed multiple versions of the following inquiry into ChatGPT and Google's Claude: "Is there any ethanol free gas available in BC"

All said the same thing - basically no, with minor caveats already noted above (low volume exemption). Below is the relevant section out of the regulation that establishes the target. A bunch of times the AI directs toward pure-gas.org which lists about 10 coop stations as having ethanol free, however as noted before, coop already addressed this in a press release stating pretty definitively that all of their stations meet the 5% minimum.

Also, Chevron used to have ethanol free 94, however this was phased out. My understanding is that they were allowed to have ethanol free because they met the 5% requirement averaged across their entire inventory (eg, higher ethanol in lower octane rating). Its unclear why they phased this out - I don't see that averaging is specifically prohibited in the regulation - and they may have done this for simplicity rather than legal reasons. Maybe some stations still use this strategy - I can't say definitively - but if you are testing the gas and it comes out at 0% - I'll take that as evidence that its still out there somehow (legally or otherwise).

 

[Bearded wonder]

Coop on Bowen in Nanaimo says their premium has no ethanol. They told me their marked gas has ethanol and there is no sticker anymore.

 

[Bryan Allen]

What a bunch of crap.... I also got assurance from Costco that the premium is ethanol free too. Who can you believe ???

 

[M1SF1T]

Fueled up yesterday at the Chevron I mentioned in Courtenay.

Attendant said that the Marine Gas on tap there was 91 and not the same formulation as the 91 on the regular pump but he couldn't elaborate on what the difference was, also wouldn't comment on ethanol content. There is a sticker on the pump "87-91 may contain 1-10% ethanol" - I ended up fueling up with 94 because it was 5¢ cheaper.

I may switch out to run 87 for the balance of the summer on my new to me Merc Seapros and then 94 + stabilizer at end of season.

Mercury states their Seapros are optimized to run 87 and up to 10% ethanol. Maybe not best practice though?

 

[Whole in the Water]

Seems pretty obvious to me that with all the confusing, conflicting info and unknowns out there that very few know the true answer to this question. Buyer beware.

 

[Aces]

Fueled up yesterday at the Chevron I mentioned in Courtenay.

Attendant said that the Marine Gas on tap there was 91 and not the same formulation as the 91 on the regular pump but he couldn't elaborate on what the difference was, also wouldn't comment on ethanol content. There is a sticker on the pump "87-91 may contain 1-10% ethanol" - I ended up fueling up with 94 because it was 5¢ cheaper.

I may switch out to run 87 for the balance of the summer on my new to me Merc Seapros and then 94 + stabilizer at end of season.

Mercury states their Seapros are optimized to run 87 and up to 10% ethanol. Maybe not best practice though?

I’ve been running that fuel for years in my 150 Mercs. My friend who own APM says no problem

 

[Paperslayer]

Fueled up yesterday at the Chevron I mentioned in Courtenay.

Attendant said that the Marine Gas on tap there was 91 and not the same formulation as the 91 on the regular pump but he couldn't elaborate on what the difference was, also wouldn't comment on ethanol content. There is a sticker on the pump "87-91 may contain 1-10% ethanol" - I ended up fueling up with 94 because it was 5¢ cheaper.

I may switch out to run 87 for the balance of the summer on my new to me Merc Seapros and then 94 + stabilizer at end of season.

Mercury states their Seapros are optimized to run 87 and up to 10% ethanol. Maybe not best practice though?

If you look at the number of tanks they have in the ground versus the number of pumps, you will see that they have fewer tanks than they do types of fuel. They blend the high octane with the 87 to get the mid grades. Under the LCFS, there simply is no ethanol free fuel being marketed in BC anymore. It is mandated at 5% now and going up to 10%. It really truly sucks.

 

[M1SF1T]

I was in Campbell River today picking up some gear and stopped at the Chevron for some Diesel...

I noticed they had Marine Gas also. Talked to the attendant, he referred to it as "Marked Premium" - anyway it was $1.649 - 26¢ cheaper than their premium 91 at $190.9 - it's even a little cheaper than their regular at $1.65.9.

At the Courtenay Chevron the Marine Gas is $2.099 - 10¢ more than their premium 91 @1.999 and 5¢ more than 94 @2.049.

So this has answered my reason for starting this thread - I couldn't understand why the marked gas was the most expensive of them all. What was different?

Turns out nothing apparently, but there is some kind of disconnect at the Courtenay Chevron on Cliffe where they are charging more for marked fuel that should not have an excise tax applied. Maybe the station owner thinks that boaters can afford it and aren't paying attention or something and it's gouging... Anyway, I'll scratch that spot off my list and look around for some other places selling marked gas that have their pricing in order. Otherwise it's worth trailering up the highway for a fill...

 

[Max123]

If you look at the number of tanks they have in the ground versus the number of pumps, you will see that they have fewer tanks than they do types of fuel. They blend the high octane with the 87 to get the mid grades. Under the LCFS, there simply is no ethanol free fuel being marketed in BC anymore. It is mandated at 5% now and going up to 10%. It really truly sucks.

Interesting - I didn't realize that the grades between 87-94 were just blended at the pump (which makes sense).

 

[Whole in the Water]

Gas prices are a joke - they go up and down daily like the stock market. Gas prices seem to have little to do with logic and making a reasonable profit. It is all about how much you can gouge the consumer and get away with it.

 

[chris73]

Good thing there is an easy solution - at least for transportation on the roads: go electric! I only use gas for my boat now. Saved thousands over the last 2 years!

 

[M1SF1T]

Good thing there is an easy solution - at least for transportation on the roads: go electric! I only use gas for my boat now. Saved thousands over the last 2 years!

Good for you. But that's not what we're talking about in this thread.

 

[M1SF1T]

Interesting - I didn't realize that the grades between 87-94 were just blended at the pump (which makes sense).

That is interesting and all the more reason that there is something wrong with this price at Chevron in Courtenay...

When is the die applied in these fuels that are mixed at the point of dispense?

 

[Paperslayer]

Gas prices are a joke - they go up and down daily like the stock market. Gas prices seem to have little to do with logic and making a reasonable profit. It is all about how much you can gouge the consumer and get away with it.

It has always astonished me that they have been able to dodge anti-price fixing legislation.

 

[Olde School]

Last year I noticed the Co-Op on Bowen Road in Nanaimo was advertising a fuel at a much lower price than regular gas.
A bit of research and some simple math proved that this low price fuel was high ethanol and that due to the much lower energy density of ethanol compared to regular gas this lower price fuel actually COST MORE PER MILE than regular gas.
I don't how you all spell stupid but that's my descriptor for all of this ethanol craziness.
I hate when corporations and governments lie to us, and treat us like sheeple.

 

[chris73]

Last year I noticed the Co-Op on Bowen Road in Nanaimo was advertising a fuel at a much lower price than regular gas.
A bit of research and some simple math proved that this low price fuel was high ethanol and that due to the much lower energy density of ethanol compared to regular gas this lower price fuel actually COST MORE PER MILE than regular gas.
I don't how you all spell stupid but that's my descriptor for all of this ethanol craziness.
I hate when corporations and governments lie to us, and treat us like sheeple.

You have a LOT to hate then.

 

[M1SF1T]

Last year I noticed the Co-Op on Bowen Road in Nanaimo was advertising a fuel at a much lower price than regular gas.
A bit of research and some simple math proved that this low price fuel was high ethanol and that due to the much lower energy density of ethanol compared to regular gas this lower price fuel actually COST MORE PER MILE than regular gas.
I don't how you all spell stupid but that's my descriptor for all of this ethanol craziness.
I hate when corporations and governments lie to us, and treat us like sheeple.

In some US stations you have the option of regular with pure gas, regular with some ethanol, or lots of ethanol (E85). I've bought the first two and mileage is noticably better on the first.

I also noticed when I was down in the Oregon dunes earlier this year so many premium fuel options at the pumps including 110 leaded, 100 octane unleaded race gas, and more...

I long to be part of the free world once again ..

 

[Jegermiester]

I was in Campbell River today picking up some gear and stopped at the Chevron for some Diesel...

I noticed they had Marine Gas also. Talked to the attendant, he referred to it as "Marked Premium" - anyway it was $1.649 - 26¢ cheaper than their premium 91 at $190.9 - it's even a little cheaper than their regular at $1.65.9.

At the Courtenay Chevron the Marine Gas is $2.099 - 10¢ more than their premium 91 @1.999 and 5¢ more than 94 @2.049.

So this has answered my reason for starting this thread - I couldn't understand why the marked gas was the most expensive of them all. What was different?

Turns out nothing apparently, but there is some kind of disconnect at the Courtenay Chevron on Cliffe where they are charging more for marked fuel that should not have an excise tax applied. Maybe the station owner thinks that boaters can afford it and aren't paying attention or something and it's gouging... Anyway, I'll scratch that spot off my list and look around for some other places selling marked gas that have their pricing in order. Otherwise it's worth trailering up the highway for a fill...

Hey M1SF1T!
Thanks for the info provided.
I dropped in at the Chevron station today (1830 Island Hwy) to see what the access/egress is like and confirmed the Premium rating with the attendent & it's also indicated at the pump, like you mentioned. Price was still $1.65.9.
I then dropped in at the Esso fuel station across from the Big Rock boat launch, as they also carry marked Premium fuel.
The price was a penny cheaper, but the access to the pump is not as tight as the Chevron station.