[rjd_F30]

Hey guys,

I've been curious about this so I figured I'd post a thread. I've heard and read a lot about making sure to use premium gas when filling up. Not octane rating, but gas that has higher quality additives and what not, often called "top tier". From what I read, Exxon, Mobil, Sunoco, Chevron, BP and plenty of others (https://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/) carry this top tier gas. So, since reading this, I've exclusively used top-tier gas, but I'm wondering if it's really worth it. I've been in need of gas and passed up on certain stations because they weren't top-tier... am I being over-cautious/paranoid? What kinds of benefits does it provide? I've read that it can prevent carbon buildup, among other things, but I'm just wondering if you guys think this is actually true... It kind of sounds like one of those things people say is true and it's just accepted as truth, but it really isn't. Just curious.

On another note, I went to Sunoco the other day, which I usually don't, and noticed that on the pump it said "10% Ethanol Added". Is this a standard among all gasolines, or this only Sunoco that does this? I feel silly saying it but the car did feel especially quick after that fill up... maybe it was in my head.

[floydarogers]

Virtually all gas sold in the USA/CA has some ethanol in it. Don't fret about it. If you really want no ethanol, go to pure-gas.org. (If you use a lot of power tools, you should be using it to prevent gunk build-up in the carbs, especially for the winter not-used period.)

top tier gas has the same high quality additives in all their grades, which is different than others (in most cases.)

With the newer DI engines, even top tier doesn't stop carbon build-up (CBU). To some degree, the better and higher percentage additives in it don't matter so much. There is no real need to drive extra just to get to a top tier station; premium from any station is enough for one tankful; just go to top tier for your next tank.

[Wires]

My rule of thumb is just stick to brand name stations.

In the past, 7-11's in my city used to get some nasty high sulphur blends (when I was tuning engines, you'd literally stink of sulphur at end of day). Avoid them like the plaque!

Otherwise they are all about the same (just differences in additives).

[Billfitz]

Even discount gas is usually just as good as top tier. Discount operations don't have their own refineries, they get their gas on the spot market, and that gas is the same gas sold by the big names. All gas has detergents, all have additives, and almost all have ethanol. Look at the brands that are listed as Top Tier, it's hard to find a brand that isn't there.

I went to Sunoco the other day, which I usually don't, and noticed that on the pump it said "10% Ethanol Added". Is this a standard among all gasolines, or this only Sunoco that does this? I feel silly saying it but the car did feel especially quick after that fill up... maybe it was in my head.

The technical term for what you experienced is placebo effect. It's omnipresent. For instance:

[rjd_F30]

So it sounds like the "top-tier" thing is kind of a wash... I'll still probably stick to top-tier stations (now with no good reason) but at least I know I don't have to actively search for them when I'm out of town. Thanks for the input folks.

Billfitz I figured it was a placebo, but worth mentioning. Looks like my typical Exxon uses 10% ethanol as well, curious that Sunoco so brazenly advertised it on the pump...

[Gen13 F36]

All Gas came from the same gas pipe.....when a truck pick them up who ever company ie....arco, chevron, 76 or mobil.....after filling gas on said same pipe....they go to another pipe and fill it up with propietary cleaning formula....

[Sea-Tac]

This is a good link...check it out:

https://www.toptiergas.com

Stick with one or two brand name, top tier gasolines. I use Chevron and Shell. I run for two thousand miles on one brand the switch to the other for two thousand miles. Back and forth. I do this with the Porsche and BMWs.

[Noelified]

As Gen13 F36 stated. Most come from the same base gas.

This is going back about 15 years, I'm not sure if things have changed but a buddy of mine owns a fuel delivery company. He said his haulers with the same gas will drive from Sunoco to Mobil to Jaspers, etc and fill their tanks. He said the important thing is the quality of detergents and additives each company station uses. This is where the "Top Tier" comes in. Sunoco, Shell, Mobil are all chemical manufactures and make their own proprietary chems to add to the gas. At the time he said Mobil was the best, especially due to their detergents. The only other factor is the quality of the individual franchised station. They are responsible for the quality of their tanks and amount of water, condensation, contaminates etc in the underground tanks that hold the gas. They have franchise rules and tests as well as state regulations and are subject to tests by the state and Parent company.

As for ethanol, each state allows up to a certain % max allowable which seems to keep rising each year. We are now at a level that will pretty much destroy a small combustion engine, 2 and 4 stroke, in a single season. That's why I only use VP pure gas in my gas power tools. It's about $18/gallon but they start up with one pull even after sitting for the winter.

[eluded]

Kirkland signature

[Gen13 F36]

Originally Posted by eluded

Kirkland signature

Costco right...good gas and price right...just borrow a members card....hahaha😂

[bavarianride]

Costco top tier is great, it usually is $0.20 cheaper than others, plus 4% cash back with Costco Citi CC.

[rjd_F30]

Not a Costco member unfortunately lol.

Noelified Gen13 F36 Thanks for clearing that up, never knew how that worked.

I wonder if Costco uses the same strategy with gas as they do with golf balls... For those that don't know, for about a year "Kirkland Signature" labeled golf balls were literally Titelist Pro V1's with a Costco logo on them. Very close to an exact replica. There was litigation to follow, of course. Maybe Costco's so good because it's really just Mobil they're pumping over there.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by rjdnyy224

Looks like my typical Exxon uses 10% ethanol as well, curious that Sunoco so brazenly advertised it on the pump...

It should be listed on all pumps. I think it's OK to use in just about all modern cars, but there are vintage cars that would have a problem with it, so that's why the warning sticker.

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by Sea-Tac

This is a good link...check it out:

Stick with one or two brand name, top tier gasolines. I use Chevron and Shell. I run for two thousand miles on one brand the switch to the other for two thousand miles. Back and forth. I do this with the Porsche and BMWs.

Like isn't showing...

[Savageenterprise]

I happen to know a good bit about this because of my experience in the automotive industry as well as knowing a lot of gas station owners. So my father owned a gas station as well for years and he literally told me it’s all the same exact shit. He was a no name station and had friends in the business that had “name brand” stations and it’s literally all the same. There aren’t a tremendous amount of gas refineries folks, sorry to break the news.

As for additives, it’s true they put them in the gas and the benefits of them would be effective if they used them properly....but they don’t. All of the gas stations for example: BP with “invigorate” .....and Mobil clean whatever it is have the additives in the fuel but they don’t have enough concentration to be effective.

By law, they have enough of the additive to sell/advertise that their products have these special formulas but in all reality, the additive treatment to PPM of fuel (parts per million) is way off rendering the additives ineffective.

[chuckr]

By the best gas you can get. Ethanol is evil. BMW had Chevron invent Techron additive for them back in the 80’s due to excessive carbon build up. BMW still sells Techron.
I am able to get 91 octane NO ethanol gas here in Louisiana. The stations that sell it are NOT “Top Tier” stations. I use Royal Purple octane booster as an additive with the 91 octane gas in all my cars !
Great performance and great mileage !

[Savageenterprise]

Originally Posted by chuckr

By the best gas you can get. Ethanol is evil. BMW had Chevron invent Techron additive for them back in the 80’s due to excessive carbon build up. BMW still sells Techron.
I am able to get 91 octane NO ethanol gas here in Louisiana. The stations that sell it are NOT “Top Tier” stations. I use Royal Purple octane booster as an additive with the 91 octane gas in all my cars !
Great performance and great mileage !

Techron is pure bullshit. If you look on the label one of the main ingredients is petroleum distillates which is just a fancy name for oil. Have you ever seen an oil fire? Billows of black smoke/ carbon deposits. A by product of combustion in an engine is carbon because gasoline is derived from oil and gasoline ignites and burns in your cylinders.

Take your Techron, put it in a bowl and light it on fire, then tell me the results. Ultimately, if you add Techron to your fuel it will burn in the combustion chamber with your fuel and in no possible way will it prevent or clean carbon.

The only types of additive products that can possible clean carbon would be alcohol based and chances are it would do a better job preventing more buildup rather than clenaing it.

[Sea-Tac]

Originally Posted by rjdnyy224

Like isn't showing...

Thank you for letting me know the link was missing. The link is up now and also included here.

https://www.toptiergas.com

[TXDaddy]

I have a tune on my truck for 93, and the 328 calls for 91. Without a doubt, both run better on the Chevron 93 vs the Kroger 93, and I eake out a few more miles per tank. Cant see how additives could be the difference. Whatever you do - drive right on by a station getting refilled by a tanker truck as you dont want that stirred up crap in your tank...

[rjd_F30]

A couple questions now:

If the gas at different stations all comes from the same truck, is it the same for additives or are the additives proprietary?

If Top-Tier is BS, what goes into the certification of certain brands as Top-Tier brands? They have to be looking at something and doing some sort of testing, no?

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by chuckr

By the best gas you can get. Ethanol is evil. BMW had Chevron invent Techron additive for them back in the 80’s due to excessive carbon build up. BMW still sells Techron.
I am able to get 91 octane NO ethanol gas here in Louisiana. The stations that sell it are NOT “Top Tier” stations. I use Royal Purple octane booster as an additive with the 91 octane gas in all my cars !
Great performance and great mileage !

Why is Ethanol evil?

[Savageenterprise]

Originally Posted by rjdnyy224

Why is Ethanol evil?

It chews up seals and reduces lubrication