Gasoline brands, myth or fact?

I would suggest you go to a website "toptierfuels.com. This is an independent unbiased rating of gasoline and the companies that manufacture it. After you check the site out you will never use Arco, costco, Safeway, or any of the other bulk retailers. Also suggest you check out "ethanol free fuel" on line and find a station near you with ethanol free fuel.

Howard Musolf
1981 308gtsi
1982 400i Cabriolet
1994 348 spider
1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo

 

A good friend of mine used to work as a chemist for a gas additive company. While the fuel itself is pretty standard, there are definitely differences in additive packages between brands. While this was over a decade ago, her comments were:
"I wouldn't put Diamond Shamrock gas in my Honda" and "Texaco doesn't skimp on additives."

That being said -- I used to race my Corvette with cheap-ass Diamond Shamrock 92 octane in the tank and I have a season trophy to show how bad it was .

 

That's what I always heard as well - "gas is gas" - it all ends up at the same
distribution tank where the trucks roll up. Go to the "ARCO" stall, you get JUST GAS.
Go to the Chevron stall, you get "Gas+Techroline" additives, go to the Shell stall and get "Gas+V-Power"
additives, etc.

Is that true?

Jedi

 

I use top tier gasoline in my Ferrari
In my 4Runner I don't bother, it runs just fine for 200K miles on inexpensive crap.

 

Yeah, toptierfuels is as unbiased about gasoline as the NRA is about gun issues and AARP is for old folks.

That is true.

 

I don't know why, but my 1965 Corvette with an old-school 327 engine (350 hp) runs better and starts easier on Sunoco Premium gas than any of the other gas brands typically sold in my area (Shell, BP, Citgo, Exxon, etc.).

It is the only car I own that I actually go to a specific station to fill it up at.
.

 

Gotta be careful of other "name brands" also (i.e. Unocal, Valero) as they purchase gas on the wholesale market vs manufacture their own formulas (in some cases, at least).

I use only Chevron or Shell in all of my cars. Costs more, but I don't have to sweat having some engine damage caused by poor quality fuel.

 

There's one myth that is fact.

Shell has supported Ferrari since the early days -- in good years and through long droughts.

For this, they get my business.

 

toptierfuels.com goes to a generic at best website.

 

Some brands use more detergents than others. Techron=Nitrogen=Polyether Amine. You can buy Redline Fuel System Cleaner if you don't think your place of gasoline purchase adds enough detergent.

Some geographical regions have crappy blended fuel. The oil companies don't determine that, the EPA does. http://www.exxon.com/USA-English/GFM/Files/US_Gasoline_Map.pdf

SoCal winter blended fuel is notorious for poor drivability in some makes and years of cars.

 

Yep, I got the same ****. Probably best to run a virus scan now.

 

JUST MY INPUT- TOP TIER IS MARKETING EFFORT BASED. pROPAGANDA, LIKE SO MUCH AUTO PARTS/CONSUMER HYPE. gAS IS LOW TECHNOLOGY. Additives.detergents is old, low tech science. Better old science than bad/pseudo science. nITROGEN ENRICHED PROPAGANDA ALSO HYPE. (oops- caps key on)

Stay away from the cheap ****? Then pay more for expensive gas. Its your $$.

 

+1

 

The actual website it this: http://www.toptiergas.com/

But the entire "top tier" fuel thing is a membership alliance, and is NOT an independant resource or group....so forget any chance of no bias...

I once spoke to a guy who works at Costco Corp in the automotive buying section...he said their gas easily meets the top tier designation, but paying for the fees does not fit with their business model, since they have to pass that on to their membership in higher costs.

 

I vote Shell #1, Chevron #2

Maybe 'cause it's American?

 

Sunoco is not the list, so to me, it confirms what the Costco guy mentioned to you.

 

the pump i use at the texaco station has a sign that says, "unbranded, for marine use only"
i was in the coast guard but i use it anyway.

 

Who really knows? The only thing I can tell is that Arco gas makes my cars ping like crazy.

IMHO it depends on how sensitive your engine is to carbon buildup. If your old, simple engine somehow replaces worn metal with carbon then it's a win. If your newer engine gets gummed up by it, then it's going to bite you after so many miles.

 

Been using Chevron 91 for my cars for years. Occasionally Shell when I'm in the neighborhood. Never had any problems.

 

The good thing with that is it shouldn't have any ethanol, to me that's huge!

I'm thinking that the octane maybe on the low side if you're pingin' along with carbon build up (on the heads/valves & piston tops), and it's not in the wear areas unfortunately...those areas are being scrubbed clean with oil. I think its the carbon that's a major contributor of pre-ignition. I found that running a few/several tanks of premium (depending how much carbon build up) burns the carbon off, which is best done via highway miles.......not the stop & go crap.

 

I try to use only alcohol free gas for the old car, but the majority of stations that carry it in western WA are Union 76, CONOCO, CENEX, or unbranded. All Chevron, Shell, etc. have alcohol. Maybe with the corn shortage this year someone might get the bright idea that it is better to feed hogs and people than put it in gasoline. Then everyone would see an increase in their mileage.

 

I'm in Western WA as well - what brand stations carry alcohol free? Does it really
increase gas mileage - never heard of that before. I use mostly Shell and Chevron,
which ALL have alcohol in WA state.

Jedi