Best fuel for your vehicle

[cnelk]

As we move into Spring and Summer, we will be driving more, and that means more $$$ out of our pocket.

Since most know, I recently purchased a new(er) truck (I bought it from my mechanic).
He mentioned that there is a BIG difference in gasoline and where you buy it.

Below are some links and info to the \'TopTier Gasoline\' stations that carry the better gas
You may pay and extra 2-3 cents more but you will get better mileage and your engine will perform better

Find the one nearest you are give it a try

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Top Tier Detergent Gasoline

TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is the premier standard for gasoline performance. Seven of the world\'s top automakers, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Audi recognize that the current EPA minimum detergent requirements do not go far enough to ensure optimal engine performance.

Since the minimum additive performance standards were first established by EPA in 1995, most gasoline marketers have actually reduced the concentration level of detergent additive in their gasoline by up to 50%. As a result, the ability of a vehicle to maintain stringent Tier 2 emission standards have been hampered, leading to engine deposits which can have a big impact on in-use emissions and driver satisfaction.

These automakers have raised the bar. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline help drivers avoid lower quality gasoline which can leave deposits on critical engine parts, which reduces engine performance. That\'s something both drivers and automakers want to avoid.

 

[Olympushunt]

Please correct me if I am wrong or giving bad info here...... The problem, I have been told, is there is no enforcement whatsoever of fuel grades and quality. To make the list Bob\'s Service station can send off a sample of his best stuff, or submit the list of detergent quantities to make the \"top tier\" list (however they go about making the list) and then put rat piss in his tanks. Granted I am being a little facetious, as \"Bob\" would not be in business long if he did that.
I remember talking with my wife once and she argued are we REALLY getting super when you select it as it comes out of the same hose as the 87 octane. I told her, I do know for a fact most stations don\'t do that. I had a 92 Ford Ranger that the valves would clatter like crazy pulling a steep grade if I just had 87 in but when I put 92 octane in it wouldn\'t. So....I could tell if I got a lower octane grade than advertised. I never found any station that tried to slip me a fast one there. But I used to work at a service station as a youngster and the owner told me there are governing bodies that regulate the food we consume (FDA) and governing bodies that hold certain products and services to a standard but you will never find some governing body or organization that goes and dips tanks and tests the fuel they are putting out. Is this true?
Just wondering if soooooome stations charge more for \"top tier\" but are getting the same fuel supply as the other non top tier stations. Aren\'t there way more service stations than refineries? :dk:
I think if a person sticks with the proven stations....Chevron, Shell, Texaco...etc they are going to be good. Different subject but I think it is so interesting how I have some motors that are very finicky with the fuels I use. I have to many toys....my motorbike will run poorly if I used ethanol based fuels for much time, especially if I leave that garbage in my tank for extended periods. I have a friend who has had to rebuild his carb like 5 times in his generator because of that fuel. But my lawn mower...(I have secretly wanted a new honda for a long time) I can\'t kill that dang thing! I have never changed my oil and I put terrible old fuel in it and it runs and runs and runs. Stupid thing. I\'ve had it for 10 years. Awhile back I ran out of gas and only had mixed gas (very old too) laying around for my weed eater....I put that in....runs great. Man..... next I am draining all the oil out and I will see who is boss then!

 

[Swede]

Oly, I have no idea why you want a new mower, for a lawn that could be managed with a pair of school room scissors. :lol:
All gas is hauled out of the same tanks at the bulk plants. Late one night I saw an off brand truck, unloading at the local Shell dealer, where I got my gas. I asked the owner about that, and he said he got his gas wherever he could. He was an independent dealer with Shell signs. I am sure he did not put in a new additive or waive a magic wand over it, and turn it into Shell. It arrived as XXXX gas and stayed that way. If you want a special additive, go to your auto parts dealer and buy it there.

 

[elky McElkerson]

I buy pretty much all Costco fuel. When I\'m at home at least. I try on my road trips as well.

 

[cohunter14]

I can definitely vouch that there are bad gas stations out there. There is a company in Colorado called Boulder Gas. I don\'t even know if they are around anymore, but they would always be five cents or more cheaper than the other gas stations. After fueling up there a few times, it was obvious why: their gas was crap. I would get 15% less miles on a tank of gas from there than I would from a normal station.

 

[mtnmutt]

Congrats on your \"new\" truck. In September, I am sure a monster bull will mistaken it for another bull and add some character to it.

The list may be a good starting place for many. Since Costco is the closest to my house, I get my gas at Costco. While traveling, I get it anywhere. I go with what the car feels like after using a certain brand. If it doesn\'t feel right, I do not go back to that brand for either vehicle. A climb into the mountains on a new tank of gas is a good indicator of the quality of the gas.

In 1991, I moved to CO. My 1984 CRX manual 1.3 liter engine hated Conoco gas. That 1.3 liter engine needed all the help it could get to make the climb out of Denver into the mountains and Conoco gas was the worse. 20+ years later, it may make no sense to continue to boycott Conoco gas. I so remember the terrible performance that my CRX got from that gas that I cannot bring myself to try the gas again.

My vehicles are 1998 Honda Civic manual V4 and 2002 Toyota Highlander V6. I use the lowest octane for both. Once every 2-3 years, I add BG 44k ($20/can) to each car. I have no idea if it helps. Sometimes things are just marketing gimmicks. My cars have performed well for 13+ years with only regular maintenance. The Civic has never had a check engine light come on. The Highlander has had a check engine light twice in the last 18 months. It may be taking beating on the forest service roads, but the civic has been down some gnarly forest roads too.

The civic does not have auto door locks or power windows. I looked at a new Honda Fit where you start the car by pushing a button. Seriously, you push a button. You don\'t use a key to open the car. It senses you are near it and unlocks it. I don\'t want a car to auto unlock when I approach it.

I guess I am just old because I don\'t want a car that is smarter than me. Oh, who am I kidding? My old civic is probably smarter than me. Heck, my microwave/convention oven is definitely smarter.

 

[cnelk]

MtnMutt
The BG44K is some good stuff. My mechanic says it should only be used once a year at most.

I started a fuel beta test.
I filled up my truck last weekend at a \'discount\' gas station.
I drove to Laramie and back last weekend and around town this week - my ave was 15.9 mpg

Tonight I filled up at VALERO [its on the list], drove around town doing some errands and already my mileage is 16.4
Time will tell the test

 

[F M]

One thing I have found with my truck is it does not like higher ethanol fuels. Unless you burn 91 oct in Mn it all has ethanol in it. When I burn high ethanol I loose around 4 mpg.

 

[mtnmutt]

Thanks Brad. No one ever told me that about BG44k, but I was too cheap to do it more than once a year anyway.

When I lived in Denver, I used VALERO on my old little cars and they did well with that gas.

One thing I have found with my truck is it does not like higher ethanol fuels. Unless you burn 91 oct in Mn it all has ethanol in it. When I burn high ethanol I loose around 4 mpg.

Good Point.

I do not know much about cars, but I can sense when the performance goes down.

Winter gas mixes kill my civic\'s mpg by 5. In Winter, I go from 38 mpg to 33 mpg and I do not warm up my car in the driveway. Its performance also goes down in Winter because of the Winter gas mixes. The different mixes and ethanol stuff is what contributes to the overall cost of our gas and insiders say it does nothing positive for the environment. The opposite happens. Our mpg goes down with those mixes. People don\'t realize it because a lot of people warm up their cars in their driveways and think it has to do with warming up the cars. Maybe I am wrong on this. I have read about chemical engineers reporting these mixes as a sham. I just want one mix of gas everywhere in every state year round. KISS.