What kinda gas do you buy for your car/truck?

Jstas

I was just reading an article about this. It's said to be a marketing thing and there is no difference that anyone can discernibly tell between a tank of say Chevron and a tank of Costco.

Honestly, there really is little difference between brands because it all comes out of the same refineries and has to meet federal standards. The way they do it is if company A puts 200,000 barrels into the system and company B puts 300,000 barrels in, company A gets the equivalent product that 200,000 barrels would produce and company B gets 300,000 barrels. Beyond that, whatever additives the different companies add is what makes any difference.

So do you see a difference depending on where you fill up?

The only difference I've ever seen is between a tank of premium Sunoco Ultra and a tank everywhere else. Well, not so much anymore because Ultra doesn't come in 94 octane anymore and that is where the difference was. Got better mileage, better throttle response and smoother running with a tank full of Ultra 94.

sucks2beme

Jstas wrote: »

I was just reading an article about this. It's said to be a marketing thing and there is no difference that anyone can discernibly tell between a tank of say Chevron and a tank of Costco.

Honestly, there really is little difference between brands because it all comes out of the same refineries and has to meet federal standards. The way they do it is if company A puts 200,000 barrels into the system and company B puts 300,000 barrels in, company A gets the equivalent product that 200,000 barrels would produce and company B gets 300,000 barrels. Beyond that, whatever additives the different companies add is what makes any difference.

So do you see a difference depending on where you fill up?

The only difference I've ever seen is between a tank of premium Sunoco Ultra and a tank everywhere else. Well, not so much anymore because Ultra doesn't come in 94 octane anymore and that is where the difference was. Got better mileage, better throttle response and smoother running with a tank full of Ultra 94.

I stay away from Racetrack(moisture in the gas problems).
Other than that, low price regular.

Early B.

Chevron premium 'cause it's the most convenient gas station and 'cause I gotta use premium with my car (at least that's what the owner's manual says).

bobman1235

Cheapo regular. Thankfully don't need to use anything other than 87, and have never noticed a difference between stations (and I always am checking my mileage so I'd notice).

nms

Most gas problems will be from station issues, not refinery issues (dirty tanks, water in tanks, etc).

skipf

You're partially correct. All gas is basically the same until it reaches the distributor (Chevron, Shell, Exxon, etc). The major companies add their proprietary additives at the loading rack when it is pumped into the tanker for delivery to the station. It's the additives that make one brand better than another. Chevron's Techron additive is the best according to the studies I've read. Most distributors group together in one central location and actually have piping between their plants for the purpose of swapping gas between themselves. Water in the fuel rarely happens at the distributor, but comes from poorly maintained tanks at the gas station. UGT's should be checked monthly for water build-up and the water pumped out if present.

PhantomOG

Chevron Premium. My car requires premium (turbo). I've read that Chevron's Techron is the best and it also happens to be the most convenient gas station based on where I live/work.

Jstas

skipf wrote: »

You're partially correct. All gas is basically the same until it reaches the distributor (Chevron, Shell, Exxon, etc). The major companies add their proprietary additives at the loading rack when it is pumped into the tanker for delivery to the station. It's the additives that make one brand better than another. Chevron's Techron additive is the best according to the studies I've read.

Um, not sure who you were referring to but if it was me, maybe you missed this part of my post: "...Beyond that, whatever additives the different companies add is what makes any difference."

sucks2beme

nms wrote: »

Most gas problems will be from station issues, not refinery issues (dirty tanks, water in tanks, etc).

Racetrack has been known for the water in the gas. I had problems with several stations. Others have told me the same. Maybe a distribution center issue? I don't believe they are anything but a local (Texas?) brand.

Frank Z

Hi-Test for the Jeep, cheap **** for everything else.

nadams

I stop at the Giant food store gas station, because they're close, resonably priced, and good quality. Plus, I get money off gas after buying x amount of groceries.

One of the worst (and, surprise, cheapest) places around is a little noname station up the street. Run by your stereotypical "Qwikee Mart" folks... Always the lowest price, but I've had so many people come into Autozone complaining that their car doesn't run right. I ask them where they just filled up... "Oh, that cheap place across from K-Mart". My guess is, water in the tanks.

tcrossma

I always use Mobil. 93 for one, 89 for the other (per manufacturer specs). I like Mobil because of the convenience of the speedpass and I like the stations. A few cents a gallon difference means nothing to me, so I rarely go shopping for the lowest price.

dorokusai

Unleaded - 89 from wherever.

Rivrrat

Diamond Shamrock regular, because it's close to home, and that's what grade my F-150 calls for.

FWIW, If I weren't a cheap bastid, I'd put Chevron in, because it seems my truck runs better on it.

rskarvan

Chevy Duramax drinks diesel. But, delivers 24 mpg.

dragon1952

Usually Shell out of convenience and sometimes Chevron. My car takes premium which is 92 octane around here. I can't tell any difference mileage or performance-wise between the two brands.

StevieB

Regular BP seems to produce better mileage in my Titan than other brands.

heiney9

I buy Shell V-Power simply because it's higher octane than just about all other gas stations around here and it costs the same per gallon as the lower octane counterpart at another station

Most stations around here including the big ones, BP and Mobil and Marathon sell these octane ratings

87-regular
89-plus
91-premium

Shell sells:

89-regular
91-plus
93-premium

for the same price as the other stations sell the lower octane.

My car has a few mods including a chip and it needs 93 octane to run it's best.

H9

heiney9

The only other difference I've ever read about is the detergent formulations are different from brand to brand. They all meet federal regulations. Also some companies use fuel with a higher percentage of ethanol. I prefer a lower percentage of ethanol or no ethanol at all. I don't think Shell uses ethanol in the V-Power fuel.

Ron-P

91 Chevron. I've used that gas all my driving life and never once had a single issue because of it.

Libertyc

Whatever is the cheapest. I would put water in my tank if it would work.

Ricardo

Regular. Closest station when the reserve light goes on.

I used to pay attention to gas that gave best performance, but that was when I was in my 20's.

mantis

I always liked the way my cars/trucks ran on Hess/ Mobil / Texaco / Sunoco.

I use 89 and 93 in my trucks.

ViperZ

My car takes premium gas, and I usually buy it at Shell (in Canada). Shell's Gold gas has 0 ethanol in it.

bassaholic

dorokusai wrote: »

Unleaded - 89 from wherever.

+++++1

bassaholic

heiney9 wrote: »

My car has a few mods including a chip and it needs 93 octane to run it's best.

H9

Chips are bogus, your cars comp. re-learns the factory specs. save your money

heiney9

bassaholic wrote: »

Chips are bogus, your cars comp. re-learns the factory specs. save your money

You obviously know nothing. :rolleyes:

Willow

I buy from Petro- Canada as I like to check my tire pressure and they have free air, plus it's about 2mins from my house. BTW I usually buy 89 once in a while I'll fill it with premium. But 99% it's 89.

apc

Sams Club or Costco, which ever we're closer to when it's time. Never had knocking or other ill effects from these.

ohskigod

Lukoil had a big problem up here by me. 7 tanker loads of water logged gas from a dirty tank got distributed. Gas tanks filled, cars stopped running about 5 miles later. thousands in damage per car. bad Mojo. won't be going to a Lukoil any time soon.

your right that most gas the same, but oddly enough, my truck (91 GMC) seems to run a little better on the gas from the gulf station by my house.

I loaded up with a gas station in Newark recently and the truck ran just a little rough, so sometimes there might be some differences.


for the Stang, it's 89 octane from this gulf station, since thats what was in the tank when JDM tuned it ....why eff up a good thing unless I really have too?

Joe08867

bobman1235 wrote: »

Cheapo regular. Thankfully don't need to use anything other than 87, and have never noticed a difference between stations (and I always am checking my mileage so I'd notice).

+1.