sounds Titillating

 

That seems like an odd survey - your favorite gas - like anyone can notice a difference.

 

Yea that's an odd survey. None of those stations are around me. WaWa or Royal Farms is probably the top rated around me because they are cheapest. You pull up, pay, get gas and leave

Is Top Tier Worth the price?

 

Anybody from Houston/Dallas,, I worked a gig at a oil company years ago,, there was a wonking huge building with AOC (American Oil company) in the center of town.
All of the major oil companies had htier CEO's offices there, each floor was a company. "There can be only one" LOL

IN my area,, there is only 2 fuel distributors and they delivers to all the stations no matter what thier brand, the additive package is mixed at the tank farm for each station.


YMMV (Literally)

 

Following my mechanic's (&Honda's) recommendation, we use only Toptier 87 octane in both our Fit and Civic, which here in Central Pennsylvania means Shell (my preference) Sunoco, ExxonMobil, or Costco. When I travel I carry a list of all the Toptier brands.

 

I think I'm on here somewhere, but this is what I do too.

 

Very good idea. Both local mechanics and Honda Service recommend getting a tank of non-ethanol gas, like Stewarts Premium, once a month, or so.

 

We use VALERO Top Tier 88 w/E5 or 90 non E . You should look for the TOP TIER sticker located on the pump . RED arrow points out TOP TIER sticker . Click banner for viewing .

 

We had a Valero station near us, it closed recently..no idea why, it was just off the route 39 exit of I81.

 

90% of my gas comes from Safeway. It's the cheapest in the area and they give the "cash" price for debit cards too. I believe they are 89 octane.

 

I use 87, but occasionally - once a month, or so - I use Stewart's non-ethanol premium. Both the dealer and a couple of mechanics recommended that. It's supposedly good for the converter or the injectors or both.

https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

I don't know what happens at the point of sale -- the gas station itself -- but when I was living in AZ about 15 years ago, for a few days there was no gas anywhere after a Kinder Morgan pipeline from the West Coast broke. I had no idea that ALL THE GAS IN ARIZONA came through ONE PIPE, until that happened. It suggests that... it really doesn't matter much where you buy your gas, because it's all the same stuff anyway. Or am I missing something? Do gas stations add... "additives" to the gas on-site after it's been delivered? Or do they go in elsewhere, after the gas has come through that one pipe from the coast?

Urb

 

Yes, it's my understanding that additives are added at some point before the pump.

 

One of the primary automotive eternal debates. Gas Quality and Octane.
You hear everything.
You hear "Gas is Gas" it's all the same, to "Additive Packages really make a difference" Top TIer all the way.

My approach is probably both extremes are some degree of wrong and some degree of right.
But if gas is gas? And I'm going to make a degree of a mistake? I'd rather lose a few pennies and go with the Top Tier gasoline. In my area, the difference in price between a Chevron, Shell, or "Top Tier" gasoline vs. Cut Rate "gas" is really minimal. Admittedly also in my area, almost all available stations are Top Tier. It's hard to find one that isn't.

I mostly just use Chevron. With only vague 1/2 hearted illusions about whether I'm getting any benefit from the additive package.

As far as Octane? I go with the minimum recommendation of the manufacturer. Well....most of the time. A handful of times through the year I might sneak a tank of premium in, just through some ill advised, ritualistic idea that it's doing something good. Or maybe I'm just feeling like I need to feel the extra pain of paying that much more? If I fill up with Premium I can pretend I'm driving a big rig.

But this debate is never really going to end.
For me?
I do use Chevron, primarily, and Top Tier stations almost exclusively.. But I usually don't fill with anything but regular.
Occasionally when my Grocery Store rewards points add up? I'll fill up at discount at the franchise chain, with no guilt.

 

If you have T-Mobile, you should download the T-Mobile Tuesday app on your phone. They often give out these 10 cent/per gallon discount for Shell ever week or so.
Just a tip!

 

just switched back to 87 oct. no discernible diff on mpg. slight loss of power, as expected (ktuner base map was created on 91). due to the recent gas price increases in CA... I was forced to start pumping the cheaper fuel. as I look back at my fuel logs, I dont plan to ever switch back to 91. it was a fun experiment

(ignore the one big drop in mpg, that was when the car was at the shop)


91 oct - ktuner base map



recently changed back to 87 oct

 

You can thank me for the fuel price increase. I bought a full size 4x4 pick up truck earlier this year and tuned it for 93 octane. Watching fuel prices go up and up ever since. Last fill up was just over $100. Ouch!

Makes running premium in our Fit seem super cheap/thrifty. It's all definitely relative. Guessing someone in Europe wouldn't find my $100 truck fill ups unusual.

 

I started using 87 at Speedway (SuperAmerica) just like I've been using on my older Hondas. Never had an issue with mpg drop or gas-related issues. I use 1 bottle of Techron every 3000 miles and about 1000 mi before I need to change the dino oil (I've used conventional 5W30 in the Civic VX, CR-V, Accord and Integra).

 

Honda recommends using gas that's Tier 1, such as Citgo. The dealer and local mechanics also recommend getting a tank of non-ethanol gas occasionally. It's supposed to be good for the injectors and converter.
https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

91 chevron. 91 cuz it was practically a new car to me so I figured it was better gas. I know I know lol. And chevron cuz I have a chevron gas card lol.