Don't they have higher octane than 91 in AZ? That would be the difference if they do...no matter how it's done chemically, 93+ >>>>91 for knocking.

I do know some chem (biochem major), but I know enough about EE and CS to know that's WAY more difficult for me to understand hahaha. Let me know if you find a glaring reason why CA gas is so bad (other than the fact that were limited to 91 octane by law).

 

arizona also uses 91 octane as their max offered at gas stations.

yeah i have been trying to figure out all this additives stuff as well and its just a lot of reading. (oh mech eng degree here)

those articles i posted earlier i had gotten from www.howstuffworks.com

 

91 was the highest I saw other than the freak 100 octane 76 stations. There's something funny with CA gas because cobb has specific maps for CA 91 opposed to the rest of the US 91 octane, too bad they only have maps for stage 1 and 2 for CA 91 octane because the stg 2 map worked pretty well for me before I added the turbo and injectors, now my only choice is their general 91 octane VF34 map which worked great in AZ but for some unforseen reason sucks in CA(one reason i'm considering ditching the accessport in favor of some other EMS or an ecutek retune). I'll have to dig around and see WTH is going on.

 

i think that there are a lot more additives in california gas then your typical oxyginates (mtbe, ethanol, etc) and thats why it sucks so much. stupid CARB makes everything so difficult and makes cars run like crap just because they can.