What is the best brand of gas to use?
#61
Instructor
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Newport Beach CA
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Used Arco years ago cause it was the least expensive in my area and I thought all gasolines were about the same. Had to have my injectors replaced. I don't know if it was the Arco but since then I have been using Chevron and have had no problems. I also have a BMW and my dealer and several mechanics also recommend Chevron due to the Techron additive. I have read that when emissions testing is conducted for the new cars, several manufactures will use Chevron.
#63
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2005
Location: Big Bend Country, TX
Posts: 29,114
Received 2,186 Likes
on
1,337 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
#64
Race Director
Raw gasoline is traded amonst the industry and shared.
When it is sold at the wholesale loading rack it must comply with minimum Federal standards with specified characterisitics including a minimum detergency package.
THe raw gasoline and the specific additives used to get it to minimum vary by refinery orbit.
Each refinery blends components to crate their gasoline and uses different belending components to achieve the desired octane level. These differences result in different "driveability"
Driveability affects smoothness of idle, hesitation, and acceleration. In additon at the automated loading rack the major oil companies have rented a piece of land and installed a tank containing their owm proporietary detergency apckage. When the un marked tanker goes to the loading rack, they slide the Brand specific magnetic stiped card ( like a credit card) and the the Brand specific additive package is injected at the correct dosage into the gasoline as it is pumped into the tanker.
Since the swiping of the card is how the gasoline gets billed, If the driver swipes the wrong card, ( Say Chevron instead of Shell)someone else is paying for the gas... and the computer printed invoice will direct the drive to deliver the accidentally filled tanker to a site from the netowrk of the card he actually used ( Chevron) and NOT the one he thought he used ( Shell)
So yes it is common practice for the driver of an unbranded tanker to pick up loads of gas at the same termonal which to him appear to be identical and deliver them to competing Brands.
If they are competing Brnads whcih are satisfied with meeting the Federal minimum standars, then they will be exactly the same gasoline including the additives.
BUT if one is Top Tier and the other is not, then they will (in the absence of a major computer glitch ) be different gasiline by nature of differnt additive packages.
What the top tier companies have done is to ensure guaranteed level of driveability AND a higher level of detergency is found in every gallon sold across their network.
Those not on the list may have excellent gas in one refinery orbit ( say one with their own refinery) but be buying crap gas from someone elses refinery in another geographic region.
That is why historically some loved one brand , while others said it was crap. They were both right, but buying differnt gas in different regions.
IF you have a local gas station and you are happy with it that is fine...
THe Top tier endorsement can also help you pick what gas to use when you are can't stop at your regular station.
When it is sold at the wholesale loading rack it must comply with minimum Federal standards with specified characterisitics including a minimum detergency package.
THe raw gasoline and the specific additives used to get it to minimum vary by refinery orbit.
Each refinery blends components to crate their gasoline and uses different belending components to achieve the desired octane level. These differences result in different "driveability"
Driveability affects smoothness of idle, hesitation, and acceleration. In additon at the automated loading rack the major oil companies have rented a piece of land and installed a tank containing their owm proporietary detergency apckage. When the un marked tanker goes to the loading rack, they slide the Brand specific magnetic stiped card ( like a credit card) and the the Brand specific additive package is injected at the correct dosage into the gasoline as it is pumped into the tanker.
Since the swiping of the card is how the gasoline gets billed, If the driver swipes the wrong card, ( Say Chevron instead of Shell)someone else is paying for the gas... and the computer printed invoice will direct the drive to deliver the accidentally filled tanker to a site from the netowrk of the card he actually used ( Chevron) and NOT the one he thought he used ( Shell)
So yes it is common practice for the driver of an unbranded tanker to pick up loads of gas at the same termonal which to him appear to be identical and deliver them to competing Brands.
If they are competing Brnads whcih are satisfied with meeting the Federal minimum standars, then they will be exactly the same gasoline including the additives.
BUT if one is Top Tier and the other is not, then they will (in the absence of a major computer glitch ) be different gasiline by nature of differnt additive packages.
What the top tier companies have done is to ensure guaranteed level of driveability AND a higher level of detergency is found in every gallon sold across their network.
Those not on the list may have excellent gas in one refinery orbit ( say one with their own refinery) but be buying crap gas from someone elses refinery in another geographic region.
That is why historically some loved one brand , while others said it was crap. They were both right, but buying differnt gas in different regions.
IF you have a local gas station and you are happy with it that is fine...
THe Top tier endorsement can also help you pick what gas to use when you are can't stop at your regular station.
Last edited by rws.1; 11-02-2007 at 07:39 AM.