If you only fill up with regular octane gasoline, you may not have noticed what's been happening at some pumps across the nation lately. Some of you who fill your tanks with mid-grade and premium may have seen stations increase the price between higher grades and regular. Traditionally, it's been near 10-cents here in much of the Midwest, but I've noticed more than one chain attempt to charge more lately, even though their diffidence in cost hasn't necessarily risen between regular and higher grades.

As much as I may like Pilot Travel Centers, I've noticed they are a big believer lately in charging customers more that use higher octane fuels. Pilot had traditionally charged 10 cents more for mid-grade and another 10 cents for premium. Lately, they've been increasing that more and more. On a recent trip to Chicago, I noticed that Pilot had increased the "grade gap" (the difference I've been referring to) to 13-cents. That is, charging 13-cents more for mid-grade than regular, and another 13-cents more for premium than mid-grade. While it doesn't immediately add up to a huge increase, at the end of a year, using premium could cost you $60 more at a station that has 13-cent grade gaps than one that has 10-cent grade gaps.

Let me be first to say it hasn't just been Pilot- but it is likely the largest chain that I've noticed practice this behavior and it's not a trend that bodes will for consumers, regardless of what grade gasoline you pump. Several local chains has also begun to increase their grade gap, changing it on occasion- likely to gather feedback.

While I'm not necessarily complaining about the increase, it is frustrating to know that Pilot (and other stations) are attempting to ride the backs more for motorists who prefer or require higher quality fuel for their vehicle. What has changed that Pilot thinks they should suddenly charge more? Not much has changed- their wholesale cost for premium costs as little as 8-cents more than regular gas, so when their pump asks me to pay 26-cents more per gallon, what else can I call it but unnecessary?

So- those who require mid-grade or premium in your vehicles (and even those who don't)- what do you think about stations charging more and more for higher quality fuels even though the raw cost hasn't risen? Has anyone else noticed some stations increasing the "grade gap"?

Perhaps its time for a bit more oversight or "regulation". Those two words should scare the industry into being much more careful.