Top tier, brand name gas vs no name

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

A still?

Quite the opposite. A cup of water in a container of gas, shaken not stirred, and let it sit for a few hours. The alcohol grabs the water molecules and settles to the bottom, and the pure gas floats on top.....

[KevinC]

Watch out for this BS, spotted in nearby Bisbee recently at a Conoco station, who is on the Top Tier list...



Also.. last month I was in Tucson and needed gas, decided to seek out a QuikTrip station for both low cost & Top Tier gas. I get there and there was a similar warning on the pump - "might not be Top Tier right now" or something to that effect. Marvelous. Basically an open-ended non-compliance.

We have ONE Union 76 station nearby, which also happens to have the cheapest gas in town. 76/Conoco is all one company nowdays - you can even use the 76 app on your phone to buy gas at Conoco and vice-versa. No such warning on the 76 pump, still proclaiming Top Tier with no caveats.

[Frankenstein_135]

I typically fill at Costco and switch to the "top tier" gas once every 2 months or so. Probably doesn't matter; I just like to make my life more complicated.

[freakystyly]

Originally Posted by Frankenstein_135

I typically fill at Costco and switch to the "top tier" gas once every 2 months or so. Probably doesn't matter; I just like to make my life more complicated.

Check out the registered "Top Tier" list (google it) and find Costco is already on it.

[Frankenstein_135]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

Check out the registered "Top Tier" list (google it) and find Costco is already on it.

LOL just like I said - I just like to make my left more complicated.

Appreciate the info.

[FrankMstein]

Originally Posted by Turkish Pickle

I don't care as long as it's not BP, I'm not sure what it is, but BP gas makes my car run like ass. Wish they were as good as making gas as they are spilling it!

I generally go to costco or Shell just because costco is cheaper and there's a shell 3 blocks from me

There is a reason why BP is not on the TT list...

[FrankMstein]

I tried 93 at Quick Trip (QT) the other day, instead of the 6y long love affair with Shell 93, in the Charlotte area because I found it on the TT list in my daily G37...and it made a huge difference. I can tell a difference with most fuel.
Can't wait to put it in my F80!

[jp0319]

Costco or HyVee for me, I like to save as much as possible…

[dreamingat30fps]

What's better guys FPL or Duke?? I think it feels a little quicker on the FPL juice.

But for realz, what brand gas I use is like 198th on my list of shit to worry about. If it requires premium I use that, otherwise it get regular. I tend to buy all my cars used and I don't tend to keep them that long. Knock on wood never had an issue with gas quality. HOWEVER my 335i did NOT like that cheap blue windshield fluid, clogged it up something nasty, luckily was fixed under warranty and was told it needed special fluid. GTFO!

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

What's better guys FPL or Duke?? I think it feels a little quicker on the FPL juice.

But for realz, what brand gas I use is like 198th on my list of shit to worry about. If it requires premium I use that, otherwise it get regular. I tend to buy all my cars used and I don't tend to keep them that long. Knock on wood never had an issue with gas quality. HOWEVER my 335i did NOT like that cheap blue windshield fluid, clogged it up something nasty, luckily was fixed under warranty and was told it needed special fluid. GTFO!

It wasn't the cheap blue stuff, if you mean the plain methanol/water. It was previous use of the RainX stuff - the ainti rain (silicone?) in it kills the pumps over time.

[TTM0TION]

I like shell. Even if it’s bullshit they sponsor a lot of stuff I like so I’ll repay the favor a bit. Marketers wet dream basically.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Not an option in metro pollution areas, which is where all of our regional fuel comes from. I'd have to drive an hour deeper into the sticks to be free of the ethanol tyranny, and it isn't worth the trip for lawnmower/generator fuel.....

A few of the newly built stations here have E0 93, but it's dramatically more expensive.

Not to mention, 93 over 91 isn't really worth anything. You're getting maybe a few whp above 5000rpms.

I know for instance with OFT tunes for the BRZ, running 12.5:1 compression, the only difference fore 91/93 tunes was a few degrees more timing above 5500 rpms for the 93 tunes.

[zb2603]

It is really interesting to see that the preferences vary a lot based on the geographical location of the forum members (within the states). Haven't heard half of the brands that are mentioned here like Hyvee, Quick Trip, Hess, Sheetz, Phillips 66 etc.

On a separate note some members are really fond of brands that I honestly avoid thinking that they are subpar and would never put in my car out here in southern California. My preference is based on how the car "feels"might be placebo but don't really car, as opposed to technical knowledge.

For me the hierarchy is: Chevron/Shell > Mobil > 76, if it's any other brand I won't put it in my car. (Don't crucify me.) At this point the brand name 91 (highest we have available) is between $6.69-7.09 on average where as "non-brand name" is $6.39-6.69 so doesn't that much of a difference and would rather drive further and get "cheap" brand name than expensive "non-brand name".

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by zb2603

It is really interesting to see that the preferences vary a lot based on the geographical location of the forum members (within the states). Haven't heard half of the brands that are mentioned here like Hyvee, Quick Trip, Hess, Sheetz, Phillips 66 etc.

On a separate note some members are really fond of brands that I honestly avoid thinking that they are subpar and would never put in my car out here in southern California. My preference is based on how the car "feels"might be placebo but don't really car, as opposed to technical knowledge.

For me the hierarchy is: Chevron/Shell > Mobil > 76, if it's any other brand I won't put it in my car. (Don't crucify me.) At this point the brand name 91 (highest we have available) is between $6.69-7.09 on average where as "non-brand name" is $6.39-6.69 so doesn't that much of a difference and would rather drive further and get "cheap" brand name than expensive "non-brand name".

I know here in San Diego, EVERY station gets their "base" fuel from the tank farm in Mission Valley. The proprietary additives are then added at the individual stations.

[zb2603]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I know here in San Diego, EVERY station gets their "base" fuel from the tank farm in Mission Valley. The proprietary additives are then added at the individual stations.

Probably the same applies to Los Angeles. In 2016 I had a friend pump 91 at an Arco in DTLA in his 650i and had to go to service because the car went into limp mode and the service told him that 2 of his pistons were misfiring. They also (I don't know how true it is) told him that they found 87 fuel in the system which basically f*cked the car up. He had problems with the car and every 2-3 months it had to go back to the shop. I guess I'm traumatized from that

[Rich.Wolfson]

Originally Posted by zb2603

...They also (I don't know how true it is) told him that they found 87 fuel in the system which basically f*cked the car up.

I find it hard that a dealer has the equipment to measure octane. I suppose they could send it to a lab but....

///Rich

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by zb2603

Probably the same applies to Los Angeles. In 2016 I had a friend pump 91 at an Arco in DTLA in his 650i and had to go to service because the car went into limp mode and the service told him that 2 of his pistons were misfiring. They also (I don't know how true it is) told him that they found 87 fuel in the system which basically f*cked the car up. He had problems with the car and every 2-3 months it had to go back to the shop. I guess I'm traumatized from that

I bet that this was a station-specific fail, probably water contamination in their tanks. We just had that happen here to a Mobil station right by my house - turns out they had cracks in their tanks and were getting lots of water in the gas. It was bad enough that the state caught it, perhaps tipped off by mechanics. They have to pay damages to some customers who needed repairs. Luckily their prices were consistently high so I never went there, but it is a 'top tier' brand and I would have otherwise. A good rationale to use consistent stations - at least if you have problems you have a chance of sussing it out and getting it fixed.

[bosstones]

I keep to top tier. More specifically, Shell since it's never given me problems and it has always had the most conveniently located gas stations for me going to/from work and on my usual errand routes.

Solely using top tier gas may be unnecessary in the long run (?) but I feel my car is designed to do a good enough job f'ing itself up and doesn't need any help from me in that regard.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by bosstones

I feel my car is designed to do a good enough job f'ing itself up and doesn't need any help from me in that regard.