Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
I used to scoff at Top Tier gasoline until I read up more about it here and on other sites. I still was not convinced, so I started using it whenever possible a few years ago. I had a car at the time that needed the throttle body cleaned once a year, and chewed up O2 sensors. That all ended after about a year. The throttle body cleaning interval at least doubled, and I noticed too that when I went to do my usual clean the gunk was not as thick or as hard. I did the same for my outboard and motorcycle gasoline and I have noticed that the carbs stay cleaner, the fuel seems to last better in storage, the bottom of the fuel jugs stay much cleaner, the spark plugs stay cleaner, and when I take the fuel filters off they are clean too. Is this just a coincidence? I don't know, but I'll take the good luck and stick with Top Tier.
I am having some trouble seeing how top tier had anything to do with the throttle body. The main reason that throttle bodies even get junk on them is due to those times with PCV pressures are such that the "clean" side of the PCV, that part that attaches from the valve cover to the intake between the air filter and throttle body, has to take some of the CC pressure and some oil vapor comes along with it. Usually during WOT events.
Not disparaging top tier use. If one feels it does better, than use it. I like more reasoned results that show a benefit that can be quantified outside of the other variables like the one I mentioned. Even if top tier locations were the same price as non top tier, which they are not in my area, burning up the extra couple of gallons of fuel to get to them does not provide me with enough incentive to seek them out. The vast majority of fuel outlets in my area are not top tier. And those few locations that are, generally run around 4-5 cents a gallon more and are further away from me. Seems the OEM's forgot that more than city folks use their vehicles. Closest town to me is 8 miles away and only has a small fuel stop / convenience store option. The next town, 15 miles away, has majority of non top tier locations. The two that do have TT, are on the other side of that town from me and more interstate highway oriented in their pricing. That would be over a 40 mile round trip just to get TT fuel that costs more per gallon. Not worth it. I just drop in a couple of bottles of Techron, Amsoil P.I., or Gumout Regane into the 36 gallon gas tank when I fill up around oil change interval.
