Terry, Fuel Power will raises the energe of the fuel, but does it affect the octane rating? The reason I ask is one of my vehicles does not work on a high octane fuel, only 87 octane or slightly higher.
best brand of gas?
- Thread starter eldawg4100
- Start date
- Status
hmmm i will stick with shell. i have never really been able to detect running quality of the car with diff. gas, but ill stick with shell anyways..
no chevrons around here, or i would get it...
no chevrons around here, or i would get it...
Add Fuel Power before filling to get a good mix.
Yes it increases Octane, we primarily tested the Lube Control and tried the FP because Odis recommends using both. We did not scientifically test the actual octane value boost. I estimate 1 Oct unit boost (avg).
EMS timing has been my guide and a car designed for 91 oct (avg) has not retarded using the absolutely cheapest gas 87 oct(avg) with FP here at 600 ft MSL.
Yes it increases Octane, we primarily tested the Lube Control and tried the FP because Odis recommends using both. We did not scientifically test the actual octane value boost. I estimate 1 Oct unit boost (avg).
EMS timing has been my guide and a car designed for 91 oct (avg) has not retarded using the absolutely cheapest gas 87 oct(avg) with FP here at 600 ft MSL.
The most important thing is to pick a station does good business, so that you are getting gas that has not been sitting in the tanks, possibly collecting water. Other than that, I notice no difference between brands, only regions. I get worse mileage from reformulated gas, which is what is sold in Houston.
Yea, the oxygenated winter gas makes my car not even want to run! It barely starts or idles now, but still runs decent once I get going. God I hate that crap. When summertime comes around, I can seriously tell the the exact tank of gas when they go back to non-reformulated because my car actually runs at that point.
You guys are saying that you've seen one tanker truck fill up at 4 or 5 different branded gas stations before? I know that some brands are un der the same parent company and all, but I'm sure there isn't 4 different brands that would be, so that would mean whatever they claim for additives being diferent and better from other brands of gasoline is total B.S., isn't it?
You guys are saying that you've seen one tanker truck fill up at 4 or 5 different branded gas stations before? I know that some brands are un der the same parent company and all, but I'm sure there isn't 4 different brands that would be, so that would mean whatever they claim for additives being diferent and better from other brands of gasoline is total B.S., isn't it?
ABM or Anything But Mobil.
Mobil 1 & Mobil Drive Clean =
Mobil Gasoline =
My 1991 Camry I4 will consistently ping badly on Mobil 87 octane purchased in NH, VT and NY. Other brands' 87 octane causes pinging only rarely.
Last summer I saw nearly a 2 MPG drop on a fill up of Mobil in my 1999 Camry V6 (ran low on the NYS Thruway [see "highway robbery"] and Mobil was it). Fuel economy returned to normal with Sunoco on the return trip to NH.
Mobil 1 & Mobil Drive Clean =
Mobil Gasoline =
My 1991 Camry I4 will consistently ping badly on Mobil 87 octane purchased in NH, VT and NY. Other brands' 87 octane causes pinging only rarely.
Last summer I saw nearly a 2 MPG drop on a fill up of Mobil in my 1999 Camry V6 (ran low on the NYS Thruway [see "highway robbery"] and Mobil was it). Fuel economy returned to normal with Sunoco on the return trip to NH.
Most of the posts here are based on a single incident or two. Reputation is most important in determining gasoline quality it seems, since we have no "fuel" analysis...
After reading the posts it seems that different performance issues with the same "brand" of gasoline could be due to the combination of at least two variables.
Refineries - even in a large metro area all the "brands" are piping in gasoline from at most a couple of suppliers. In other smaller markets all "brands" will probably fill up from a single supplier. The refiners provide different consistency, quality, composition, octane rating, etc.
ReFormulated Gas - they use various formulations and "oxygenators" are added in some parts of the country, viz.ethanol. RFG will be not be blended the same for Phoenix Arizona, as it will be for Chicago, Illinois; and that varies by the seasons.
How well Shell, Mobil etc. tweak their formulations for varying qualities of basestock gasoline, regions of the country, and time of the year would seem to make a big difference.
Refineries - even in a large metro area all the "brands" are piping in gasoline from at most a couple of suppliers. In other smaller markets all "brands" will probably fill up from a single supplier. The refiners provide different consistency, quality, composition, octane rating, etc.
ReFormulated Gas - they use various formulations and "oxygenators" are added in some parts of the country, viz.ethanol. RFG will be not be blended the same for Phoenix Arizona, as it will be for Chicago, Illinois; and that varies by the seasons.
How well Shell, Mobil etc. tweak their formulations for varying qualities of basestock gasoline, regions of the country, and time of the year would seem to make a big difference.
There's a fuel company named after me? LOL
Believe it or not, fuel quality will vary from refinery to refinery even if it's the same brand.
For example, I've gotten good results with Texaco Premium diesel here in Texas. Yet people up north have stated the same Texaco Premium is the worst fuel you could buy.
I refuse to buy fuel from the refinery in Tyler, TX ( mainly because I used to work there
Chris Thornton
[ December 20, 2002, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: TexasTDI ]
In many parts of the country tankers do get gas from the same source.....BUT the specific additives of the different major companies are added at the time the tankers are being filled.
Many areas share a common pipeline which pumps gasoline to that location (terminal), then the different comnpanies add their additives at that point.
Don't believe the BS that all gas is the same.....it is not...once the additives are added.......which does occur.
Imagine the lawsuits if no Techron was added? LOL
[ December 20, 2002, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: tenderloin ]
Many areas share a common pipeline which pumps gasoline to that location (terminal), then the different comnpanies add their additives at that point.
Don't believe the BS that all gas is the same.....it is not...once the additives are added.......which does occur.
Imagine the lawsuits if no Techron was added? LOL
[ December 20, 2002, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: tenderloin ]
I've never seen a "generic" tanker filling up a Shell or Chevron station. All of the no name stations could care less about additives to the gas so they can use the same tanker truck.
I think the additives are the difference of what keep your cars running well over the long run so you probably won't notice a huge difference by using a cheap station so long as you are using the quality gas most of the time. I mostly run Shell, occationally Chevron, and haven't had to add a fuel injector cleaner in my V6 Camry in 100,000 miles. I'm not certain, but I don't think the fuel filter has ever been changed either. Never had it fail a California smog check.
Anyone have Rotton Robbie stations around? Now that's a name that makes me keep driving by
I think the additives are the difference of what keep your cars running well over the long run so you probably won't notice a huge difference by using a cheap station so long as you are using the quality gas most of the time. I mostly run Shell, occationally Chevron, and haven't had to add a fuel injector cleaner in my V6 Camry in 100,000 miles. I'm not certain, but I don't think the fuel filter has ever been changed either. Never had it fail a California smog check.
Anyone have Rotton Robbie stations around? Now that's a name that makes me keep driving by
We use to have quite a few 76 and Sunoco stations around here in southwest Indiana but in the last 5 or so years they have pretty much all disappeared. The main ones around here that have the newest equipment and probably the newest tanks are: Philips 66, BP/Amoco (lots of them), Shell, Thortons, Motomart, and a couple Marathons. There is 1 nice Ashland station just before the Kentucky border as well. I wish there was still a good 76 and Sunoco because they have always made good gas. Back in the 60's with the ole muscle cars eating leaded gas, Sunoco especially Conoco were the places to buy from. What company now owns 76 anyway? I still see their oil advertisements in various different car magazines.
Jason
Jason
I agree with this statement. I saw on TLC not long ago, that just because you go to a Chevron station, doesn't mean you are getting Chevron gas. Oil companies help each other (if you can believe that) by supplying gas to a different brand name.
Rick
ps: in some cases, gas stations re-fill with pipelines instead tanker trucks....making it even easier for them to send a different gas to a given station.
While I cannot speak for all areas of the country, here in Southern California much of the gasoline (made by several refineries) is pumped by pipeline into terminals for distribution by many companies, name brand and independent alike.
While it is true they all fill up at the same terminal, the name brands add their proprietary additives when the tankers are filled up. Yes, independent truckers can carry national brands.
No Joe Gasmart or Shell stations end up having Techron in their gasoline. Likewise, Chevron stations do not end up with gasoline without Techron. The lawsuits would be $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
If anyone knows to the contrary.........let me know..I want to be RICH!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
[ December 31, 2002, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: tenderloin ]
While it is true they all fill up at the same terminal, the name brands add their proprietary additives when the tankers are filled up. Yes, independent truckers can carry national brands.
No Joe Gasmart or Shell stations end up having Techron in their gasoline. Likewise, Chevron stations do not end up with gasoline without Techron. The lawsuits would be $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
If anyone knows to the contrary.........let me know..I want to be RICH!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
[ December 31, 2002, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: tenderloin ]
Coupl'a miscellaneous points:
1) Tank trucks have multiple tanks inside, so there can be different products carried--but probably not three grades of gasoline for several brands...that would be nine tanks for three brands, too many.
2) I often see independent tankers delivering to the local Chevron, Texaco, & Exxon stations.
3) Texaco and Shell have had their joint venture "Equillon" in operation for several years where they shared refining, so the products were the same. Now, ChevronTexaco gets the Texaco refineries and Shell gets to rebrand the Texaco stations (more complex than this, though).
4) 76 is one of ConocoPhillips brands.
5) In addition to ConocoPhillips selling gasoline under the 76, Conoco, Phillips 66, and Circle-K brands, they also sell gasoline under the Coastal brand in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming, under the Exxon brand in Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, and the Mobil brand at 1,200 Mobil dealers and marketers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and Virginia.
6) Other refiners may have somewhat similar arrangements. I know that Tosco marketed gasoline under the BP brand in the Northwest before ConocoPhillips bought Tosco and rebranded the stations from BP to 76.
Hmmm...seems like a good line of work to be in would be selling and installing new signs at all the gas stations getting rebranded.
Ken
[ December 24, 2002, 04:07 PM: Message edited by: Ken2 ]
1) Tank trucks have multiple tanks inside, so there can be different products carried--but probably not three grades of gasoline for several brands...that would be nine tanks for three brands, too many.
2) I often see independent tankers delivering to the local Chevron, Texaco, & Exxon stations.
3) Texaco and Shell have had their joint venture "Equillon" in operation for several years where they shared refining, so the products were the same. Now, ChevronTexaco gets the Texaco refineries and Shell gets to rebrand the Texaco stations (more complex than this, though).
4) 76 is one of ConocoPhillips brands.
5) In addition to ConocoPhillips selling gasoline under the 76, Conoco, Phillips 66, and Circle-K brands, they also sell gasoline under the Coastal brand in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming, under the Exxon brand in Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, and the Mobil brand at 1,200 Mobil dealers and marketers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and Virginia.
6) Other refiners may have somewhat similar arrangements. I know that Tosco marketed gasoline under the BP brand in the Northwest before ConocoPhillips bought Tosco and rebranded the stations from BP to 76.
Hmmm...seems like a good line of work to be in would be selling and installing new signs at all the gas stations getting rebranded.
Ken
[ December 24, 2002, 04:07 PM: Message edited by: Ken2 ]
Isn't that against the law then? They say your getting Techron at a Chevron station, but perhaps a tanker with Texaco branded and formulated gas topped off there. I think they wouldn't do that with gas from a different parent company, would they? Like a Shell truck filling up at a Mobil station? It wouldn't make a difference if the station was a privately owned franchise either. That'd be like going to Mcdonald's and them only serving whoppers because they got a good deal on them
FWIW I have seen shell, amoco, bp, speedway, and admiral trucks filling up with product from the Mobil tank farm by my work. This tank farm gets its product via pipeline from the chicago area. I believe bp/amoco has a refinery there. The same pipeline also supplies the ashland/marathon tank farm thats a mile up the street. Just because you fill up with a certain brand doesnt meen that brand is actually producing it. I do know that the east coast gest most if its mid level distal;ites from the Hess refinary in the virgin islands.
I have a friend who in the past worked for a fuel company,if a tank of 87 octane was ran out of town to a few stations and for example the last stop there were 2k gallons left it would get pumped into the other tanks that would hold it,like the 92 octane tank.
About 16 years back Oklahoma had a law,the 93 octane must have a dye put in it so the consumer could tell what he/she was purchasing a few years back ..election year he he! a new guy got a job and bam,no more dye. Now it can only be determined by the unique smell of the 93 octane here.
The consumer once again got punked by the local government,,the State of Oklahoma.
On another note Shell just moved here,was really looking forward to their 93 octane gas,well guess what. They do not sell it here for some reason. It is also oxgenated,we are not supposed to have winter gas here,the Conoco with the Lubrizol adds gets around 2-3 miles per gallon better milaege than Shell at this time,maybe summer will be a different deal?
[ December 31, 2002, 06:44 AM: Message edited by: dragboat ]
About 16 years back Oklahoma had a law,the 93 octane must have a dye put in it so the consumer could tell what he/she was purchasing a few years back ..election year he he! a new guy got a job and bam,no more dye. Now it can only be determined by the unique smell of the 93 octane here.
The consumer once again got punked by the local government,,the State of Oklahoma.
On another note Shell just moved here,was really looking forward to their 93 octane gas,well guess what. They do not sell it here for some reason. It is also oxgenated,we are not supposed to have winter gas here,the Conoco with the Lubrizol adds gets around 2-3 miles per gallon better milaege than Shell at this time,maybe summer will be a different deal?
[ December 31, 2002, 06:44 AM: Message edited by: dragboat ]
- Status
