All this stink about fuel...any one know about the quality difference between Shell gas and say 76 fuel? or Mobil? or is it just the same stuff with a name attached?

 

The only difference would be the cleaning additives. All other pertaining to performance (octane etc.) is the same.

 

Base gasoline stocks are the same for all.

It's the proprietary additive packages that major refiners pay big bucks to research, develop and test. Those are NOT all the same.

 

All comes out of the same pipe line to the tank farm. Then trucks pick it up and deliver to your stations.

One truck could stop at, BP, Shell, Hess or NoName all in the same trip.

IIRC at the station the additives are put into the storage tank.


Fuel is Fuel. Choose the lowest cost highest Volume station in your area to get the freshest fuel.

In my are that would be Sheetz or Hess.

 

Thanks for the responses...just curious because I swear I saw the same truck enter a 76 and then go across the street to shell! I run only shell because I get sold easy on stuff that is told to take care of my Z.

 

But I use Non ethanol when possible

 

Gas is not the same everywhere. The blend of hydrocarbons used varies from refinery to refinery. For cost savings a refinery serves many brands in the same market. The difference is the additives that each brand ads. The refiner adds the minimum required detergents (Federally regulated) The cut-rate marketers (unbrandeds) sell that base product.
Each brand rents a space at the terminal and has a tank on it that contains their proprietary additives. A magnetic card reader is at the loading rack. The driver picking up gas for a specific brand swipes the brand specific magnetic card that activates a pump to dose the brand specific additive package into the load.

It is the additive packages that make the difference.

IF you want to know which additive packages meet a higher level of cleanliness standard check out this site
www.toptiergas.com

 

regarding your comment about then going across the street,

Gasoline tankers have several compartments inside. Each compartment is separately loaded. So a common carrier could deliver more than one station on a trip.
The Branded company has a strictly enforced contract with the station operator. If it is a Company owned station there is no way that they would put non Brand gas in the tanks... there is too much of a legal liability if there is a mis fueling.

IF it is an independently owned station , they might cheat.... but the site operator usually uses the Brand's electronic card reading system and there is often a remote tank gauging system to automate scheduling deliveries... so there are means to determine if the operator is cheating and cheating results in losing the Branded franchise....

 

Wow awesome info...thank you.

 

 

This is the same explanation my son who works for a major oil company gave to me.

 

Buy from a top tier supplier and smile

 

i highly doubt that! Can you back up your post with proof? :

 

A few of the guys that I went to (chemical) Engineering school with ended up at oil companies told me to use Chevron, Texaco, or Shell in my C-5 to avoid problems. BTW- gas changes composition seasonally by law!

 

Only in certain states. These "boutique blends" (there are a number of them depending on the particular state) also drive up the retail price of gasoline.

The Kommissars in those states are quite pleased.

 

I notice you are in California. In CA all of the fuel is the same, except for minor additives. The state of California specifies the gasoline blend. There is a summer and winter blend. All fuel sold in Ca is refined in Ca, no imports from other states, which is why the price is so high. Fuel from any refinery can be sold under multiple brand names. Bottom line, fuel is fuel as previously stated.


Phil

 

Thanks Phil

Goliath

 

another reason to stay out of ****-land... I use shell and here in west Texas, NO Ethonol,but only 91 octane

 

Linky
tons of stuff in here but skip to pages 4 or 9 for batch examples

 

I agree with using Texaco and Chevron. I have personally had great experienced with better mileage whenever I use Texaco. No matter where on the east coast I bought it.

But I can not agree with the Shell due to a current issue. At least the Shell Station on rt 604 in Roanoke, VA specifically. I have been fueling both my Tahoe and 2002 C5 exclusively at this Shell station for the past 3 months. About 2 weeks ago my Tahoe fuel gauge started working intermittently. It would move from full to 1/4 then back to 1/2 randomly. I also noticed my mileage reduced by 2-3 mpg. That's a huge decline even while alternating tanks of 89 and 93 octane.

Then just this past Sunday we took the Vette for a long cruise. Filled up and hit the road. 20 miles into the trip the fuel gauge dropped to empty. I'm sure most of you are aware of this problem- sulfer contaminants.

I have also been using their 93 octane in my 32:1 premixed for my dirtbikes. These fuel gauge issues prompted me to open up those carbs. Of course I found significant residue in all 4 of our bikes float bowls as well as all the jets being gummed some.

So no more Shell for me.