BP/Amoco Gas No Longer on "Top Tier" List
10-12-2021, 05:59 PM
#1
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BP/Amoco Gas No Longer on "Top Tier" List
Today I was talking with the Corvette tech at our local dealership, who always recommends using Top Tier gas in any car, even the DI engines like a C7.
He mentioned that BP & Amoco are no longer on the official Top Tier list.
They had been on the list since 2013, and even before that had claimed that their Premium gas met the Top Tier standards even if their Regular did not.
When I printed the list in May of this year, BP & Amoco were still there, now they're gone.
Today, their FAQ section implies that their Invigorate (sounds like another form of Viagra, keeps your engine hard?) additive, meets the Top Tier standards.
I wonder if this is just a paperwork mixup, like waiting for tests to verify their new additive meets Top Tier standards, or if they've taken a dump with their additive package?
Although DI engines like ours don't get much benefit from Top Tier in keeping the intake valves clean, GM still recommends using it and there are other benefits to Top Tier besides the valves.
He mentioned that BP & Amoco are no longer on the official Top Tier list.
They had been on the list since 2013, and even before that had claimed that their Premium gas met the Top Tier standards even if their Regular did not.
When I printed the list in May of this year, BP & Amoco were still there, now they're gone.
Today, their FAQ section implies that their Invigorate (sounds like another form of Viagra, keeps your engine hard?) additive, meets the Top Tier standards.
I wonder if this is just a paperwork mixup, like waiting for tests to verify their new additive meets Top Tier standards, or if they've taken a dump with their additive package?
Although DI engines like ours don't get much benefit from Top Tier in keeping the intake valves clean, GM still recommends using it and there are other benefits to Top Tier besides the valves.
Popular Reply
11-01-2021, 05:44 PM
Drifting
Guys, the Top Tier fee is insignificant. It simply covers the administrative costs of the non-profit program. The thing that saves companies money, and thus the reason that every single company who is not Top Tier decided not to be Top Tier, is that the additive packages required to generate Top Tier cleanliness levels are more expensive. So you can be absolutely, positively, 100% certain that the reason BP/Amoco is no longer Top Tier is that they are now using a less expensive and less effective additive package. The reason they would make that move is that they figure most people are not even aware of Top Tier, and even among those who are aware of it, a significant percentage are fans of conspiracy theories that say Top Tier is some combination of worthless or an oil company rip off. The latter conspiracy theory is especially entertaining since Top Tier was started by auto companies, not oil companies, with their reasoning being that it would reduce their warranty costs. Will non-Top-Tier gas ruin your engine? Of course not. Will your engine be as clean at 50,000 miles with non-Top-Tier as it is with Top Tier? Also, of course not.
10-12-2021, 06:09 PM
#2
Following... I use BP all the time...
10-12-2021, 07:15 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
Also following as I use BP/Amoco.
10-12-2021, 07:24 PM
#4
Very interesting. I will drive out of my way to use Shell (which is still on the list), and have almost exclusively used Shell in my performance vehicles for many years, but BP is usually my 2nd choice in a pinch if I'm somewhere and can't find a Shell. I always assumed it was a good 2nd choice, but now, maybe not.
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Ron_Attleboro_MA (10-12-2021)
10-12-2021, 07:39 PM
#5
Team Owner
Put me in the minority if the pump says 93 octane it is good enough for my Z.
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10-12-2021, 10:20 PM
#8
10-13-2021, 12:55 AM
#10
Team Owner
Don't know what else it does. I mean, to clean the fuel injectors, I have usually pulled them and sent them out every 100K or so.
10-13-2021, 05:55 AM
#11
Team Owner
Shell or Chevron is all I use. Haven't used BP since the spill.
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10-13-2021, 09:50 AM
#13
Team Owner
10-13-2021, 01:42 PM
#16
Racer
We just got a Costco 20 miles away and I'm over that way frequently. That's now where I fill up. I figured it last week, if I fill up 6 times it will pay for my annual fee. Yes, it's that much cheaper for premium. And it's Top Tier. If you have one close by, I recommend it!
10-13-2021, 05:23 PM
#18
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I use ConocoPhillips for the majority of my gas needs, but when on a trip, that could vary widely.
10-13-2021, 07:16 PM
#19
Advanced
For example, when the program began, Sunoco chose not to be involved. Then, around 2008, Sunoco submitted fuel for certification, and received top tier certification. Then, a year or two ago, Sunoco withdrew from the program. I don't know if their fuel changed in 2008 or in 2020, only that they chose not to initially be involved, then to become involved, then to not be involved.
10-13-2021, 08:32 PM
#20
Team Owner
Not unusual. When top tier category was introduced, manufacturers had to submit their fuel for compliance testing. They had to pay a submission fee and a test fee. They had to continue paying to keep their fuel on the top tier list. Some manufacturers chose not to get involved from the very beginning, not seeing the benefit from spending the money, etc. Some manufacturers have dropped by the wayside in recent years; not seeing any advantage to the top tier label. Except for many of us, most people don't even know about top tier fuels and don't go looking for them. And, some fuels meet all the top tier requirements. That the manufacturer chose not to submit and pay doesn't mean the fuel is substandard, only that the manufacturer chose to spend its money elsewhere.
For example, when the program began, Sunoco chose not to be involved. Then, around 2008, Sunoco submitted fuel for certification, and received top tier certification. Then, a year or two ago, Sunoco withdrew from the program. I don't know if their fuel changed in 2008 or in 2020, only that they chose not to initially be involved, then to become involved, then to not be involved.
For example, when the program began, Sunoco chose not to be involved. Then, around 2008, Sunoco submitted fuel for certification, and received top tier certification. Then, a year or two ago, Sunoco withdrew from the program. I don't know if their fuel changed in 2008 or in 2020, only that they chose not to initially be involved, then to become involved, then to not be involved.