Best gas solved

Yes, all the gasoline that arrives by pipeline to the depot in your region is equivalent, no matter which refinery it is from. However, the gasoline that’s sold at retail is not all the same. Different “additive packages” are mixed into that gasoline as the delivery truck is filled.

One important additive is detergent. The EPA requires a minimum level of detergent in all gasoline sold. However, automakers have developed a certification and branding program for gasoline with a higher detergent level, called Top Tier.

Brands that meet the Top Tier standard now are: http://www.toptiergas.com/media/... . This includes Arco. (They were not on the list in 2012 when I first downloaded it. Neither were BP, CITGO, Marathon, Sunoco, and Valero, for that matter. All now are.

In general, most big-name brands of gasoline have been certified to the Top Tier standard for their additive packages, though you have to trust that the delivery driver adds the additives consistently. Discount gas may have only the bare minimum of detergent that the law requires.

Personally I am getting a Costco memebership in a couple of weeks because it is excellent gas and usually significantly cheaper ($0.70) cheaper a gallon in the inland empire region I live.

My experience is chevron is the best. This means I’ve gotten the most MILES PER TANK AVERAGE (mpg is very subjective and fickle) so in order of my experience and “best gas”

1. Chevron
2. 76, Shell
3. Mobile

Then this crap... way down here

111. Valero
129. Arco

Arco burns so fast you’d swear there was a fuse hanging out of your gas tank chasing your around town!

As far as performance? Meh I’m not towing or going up mountains so I can’t give you honest feedback on that.

But anyone who takes the time to compare... try arco for a few tanks and see how many miles you get before fill up (not what it says on the display WHEN you fill up)

Then try Chevron or She’ll and you’ll see it’s actually true. You’ll get less miles per tank on arco and I mean a lot less.

Finally do the math. Arco out here
0.15 cheaper? So you save $1.50 every 10 gallons or $3.15 per full tank. It’s your Tacoma. Run bear piss if you want but gas cost too much out here as it is so I’d like it to last longer.

 

Well said. I've telling people that most of the gas in Oregon comes in on the same pipeline (no refineries in the state) yet there are some who think that it's all trucked in. I sometimes shop at the local Fred Meyer as I can get discounted gas from the fuel points I accumulate. Right now it's 2.559 and I have currently a .40 discount so I'll be using it later today. Costco is usually .05-.06 less than Freddies and it seems to get better mpg there.

 

The top tier additive package is detergent. Why would you think that improves your gas mileage? In the long-term, the top tier gases should lead to less fouling of the injectors, TB, and plugs, which longterm may help with mileage. But I've never heard anyone claim short term gains.

BTW, I ony use top teir...Chevron, 76, or Shell. None of that warehouse store gas for me

 

Do some comparison between E15 / E10 / 100% gasoline. Ethanol has 60-70 percent stored energy compared to gasoline. There are also a bunch of other additives used seasonally for emissions or other purposes like managing dissolved moisture and solids.

Are you doing any specific gravity testing? Your difference in mileage is probably tied to variations in ethanol content and other octane rating additives.

 

There is a difference between Top Tier gas and non Top Tier gas. That's it.

 

Oh my gosh no, I've not getting that deep into it. Guess it's more of a feeling but since I track my mpgs on every tank, I can take it a step further and start tracking where I buy and go from there.

 

Costco is top tier.

 

I've seen slightly better MPGs with 93 octane, but beyond that the smoothest for Southeast (where Chevron is now sparse / unavailable) is Shell VPower. Much smoother running engine and none of the low speed detonation / slight miss feeling many experience when running 87 (top tier or not).

 

Worked for fuel companies. The difference if any is neglible. The Top Tier are for detergents to be put in the fuel. It's done to "help" the environment and create jobs for companies creating the chemicals. Think Ethanol subsidies. It doesn't change your fuel so drastically that it would be affecting your wallet that much.

 

and as FYI to all... Sams Club is NOT

 

It's what they can get cheaply.

 

Lol

 

I always use shell gas. Used to alway get thumb Tom. Try to avoid those "ghetto" gas stations. The ones with pumps from like 1990

 

It’s a certified top tier gas, just like the other major brands you mentioned.

 

I'm not really flaming Costco gas. Im sure it's fine. I just think the Costco brands are ammusing. Like the Kirkland beer, or the Kirkland scotch. Sure, it's fine.

 

Kirkland gas is fine by me and my Taco.

 

From the same source as everyone else.

 

shell gas makes my truck hesitate at idle, I find esso to be top tier around here, chevron is number one but they have like two service stations in my city which is a bummer

 

For those that enjoy a quick read... this article may be informative to you regarding Top Tier fuel advantages:

Quick excerpt “...Among brands tested, non-TOP TIER gasolines caused 19 times more engine deposits than TOP TIER brands after just 4,000 miles of simulated driving...”

https://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/07/aaa-not-gasoline-created-equal/

Edit: and of course, Toyota recommends using TopTier fuel

 

I’ve only ever put Chevron, Shell or Mobile. Thankfully all three are near me and near where I hang out. Recent I started putting regular and have not noticed a difference in MPG and I’ve lasted the same amount on the tank.

Inb4premiumisking