Top Tier Gas ... vs

Here in the UK several companies are promoting more fuel efficent "gas" with a higher octane...

The octane is measures as "RON" here in the UK and typical fuel is 95RON

Here is a report from a motorsports company, albeit a biased report.

http://www.tesco.com/Momentum99/files/Tesco-Momentum-99-Fuel-Report.pdf

 

I try to ignore FUD and marketing gibberish. There may be something to top tier but the difference in cheap and expensive gas over time is not "maybe" and "could" but definite; thus, I always, always, always go with the cheapest gas I can find. I know there are some very subtle differences in certain gasolines but a nickel or dime per gallon is worth more saved to me.

Unfortunately, this thread has turned into what is almost inevitable with such topics and that is a lot of arguments and anecdotes and little real numbers. If anybody can refer to a real study showing that Shell gas gets better mileage than whatever-the-heck-is-cheapest and it's enough to make up that difference, I'll get it. The only actual difference I've ever seen meaningfully documented was Shell V-power. Apparently it really does get better mileage. Like 1%. But the stuff costs 5% more, so you run those numbers.

Actually, it's probably more like comparing the quality of the products in the soda machines between the community college and the university.

 

I think I musta said a few pages back, but, the only difference worth worrying about is ethanol content. If you can find a station that sells ethanol-free gas, go there and track your mileage. You will be amazed...

 

Supposedly where i live the Kwik-Fill stations don't have ethanol. I'll try it on my next full fill up! Is ethanol really that inefficient, or is the Prius not tuned to utilize it properly?

 

Ethanol is far less efficient than gasoline and is mandated at least in part to subsidize corn farmers. E-85 is far worse than the 10% which all modern cars tolerate pretty well but in cars that can use it, the mpg using E-85 is noticeably worse than using E-10 and makes it as or more expensive even though it costs a lot less, sometimes 60 or 70 cents per gallon.

All cars made recently can tolerate 10% but select new cars, usually labeled "flex-fuel" are engineered for straight gasoline, 10% or E-85.

 

Ethanol is less energy dense by a bout 10 percent. In washington A minimum of E10 is required . That means 10 percent or more Of ethanol per gallon. That is approximately a 1 percent reduction in mileage. So there is about 1 mile per gallon difference. PREVIOUSLY oregon Did not require ethanol so i filled up there a few times but to be quite honest with you didn't notice anything much.

another issue i contend with E 10 has been required In the Puget sound region Since the late eighty's. We had a. Of the few years Where is the requirement was revoked But that didn't last long.
So i really don't know anything else.

 

Actually, I find it's worth 2-4 MPG, easily. I have a source for ethanol-free gasoline, and it's all I use now. Once in awhile I'll get caught on a longer trip and have to use the laced stuff, and the difference is readily apparent.

 

10% Ethanol is mandatory in Oregon all year long.

alfon

 

I never use non name brand gas. There is more to it than "all gas is the same." Major makers make sure their name brand fuel is what it is supposed to be. They are liable for the product with their name on it. There was an article somewhere about flushing the tanks etc at the refinery, and the name brand fuel is not getting that flush.
I wouldn't drive out of my way to save 40 cents per tankful 8 gal x $.05 anyway.

 

For most of us it doesn't matter what is done at the refinery. We are going to get the same gas from that refinery regardless of brand. It gets stored in one big tank, and from there shipped to the individual stations of differing brands.

A small percentage of people live in areas served by more than one tank farm, but not most of us.

Tom

 

Post edited.

 

I don't know about that, but that's OK, otherwise what is the point of discussion if one only thinks they (and their little group usually) are right. The oil companies, like Shell, go to great lengths to differentiate brand from no name, or other brand, gas. There is no disagreement with that fact, as it is on their websites. Or maybe it is possible to explain the fact as a marketing ploy. Not likely though. It seems pretty unlikely all the gas is thrown together and is the same, then they advertise otherwise. There seems to be missing information. In any case the quickie lucky mart or whatever it is called, is always 1-2 cents less than the modern newer pump Shell that is nearby. I find it interesting the quickie is loaded with cars jockeying for a pump position, but the Shell is open lanes. Just makes no sense to me. I go to the Shell. They always have windshield cleaner tools and paper towels at hand. I am willing to be a big spender and pay 8-16 cents per fillup for that, plus their name on the pump.

 

I think i would prefer generic gas, especially if its had no additives at all. I have seen additives 4 Rust inhibitors, anti corrosion, injector cleaners excetera. They all have volume which in turn reduces the volume of gasoline for each gallon u pay for.

So i would think less additives means more gasoline

 

Companies like Shell spend money advertising to create product differentiation where there otherwise wouldn't be much. Advertising isn't about spreading the truth. Commercial advertising is about pushing your own brand. The truth is often omitted or distorted, and in some cases replaced with outright lies. In the case of brand gasoline, there is some true differentiation. Differing additive packages are added to the tank trucks for different brands, so there is some truth to the marketing claims. That said, the advertisements suggest much more differentiation than actually exists.

You see the same thing with bottled water. In this country, where we have good public water, bottled water is not better for you than tap water. In some cases it is actually worse, and that is without the environmental concerns of plastic bottles and shipping. The people marketing bottled water would have you believe otherwise.

Tom

 

Marketing is basically the study of human psychology so as to lie to people without "lying" in a true and obvious technical sense that would hold up in court. Entire companies and product lines are built upon it, with endless examples. My favorite is probably people who buy brand name meds.