What happened to Top Tier gasoline?

BINGO.
They will tell you that the truck driver or the station owners are supposed to add the "magic elixir" to the fuel after it is delivered.
You can believe that if you want.

 

Are they the same guys who say little 5oz bottles of additives are going to actually do something mixed with 38 gallons of gas in my pickup?

Edit: just thought of - it's car homeopathy

 

Kind of.
But some products actually DO something if used in the right situation.
With a 38 gallon tank, you might need 3 of those 5 OZ bottles.

 

The fuel delivery truck that filled dad's farm tanks was smaller than the big tanker trailers I commonly see at gas stations, yet still had multiple partitions inside. We took regular leaded in one tank, premium unleaded in another, but didn't take any diesel. Dad's diesel equipment was acquired later.

Based on the number of pipe connections I see on the bellies of some of those big tankers, it seems they can have even more partitions inside.

 

Our intake valves are spotless compared to direct injection Ford engines. This isn't an issue for us to be concerned with. No issue at all exists in this realm

 

Does 5th gen Prius have dual injection (direct and port), or am I dreaming? Have a vague recollection maybe it was The Car Care Nut said that.

 

Generally the best based on industry tests

Only Chevron and their subsidiaries like Texaco use Techron. Others use Dupont or their own such as ExxonMobil or Shell.

The trucks have several compartments. It is true that most gasoline in a given area is fungible (the same) but the tank farm Loading Terminals have standalone additive injection systems for each major that had drivers pick up loads. Often one company will have increased injection rates between grades.

. The rav4 2.5 gas only or hybrid engine is dual injection. The new Corolla or Prius 2.0 engine is also dual injection.

Rav4

 

There is always carbon buildup in the engine and minimizing it is a good thing. Top tier gas helps in this regard so I will use top tier gas whenever I can. Top tier gas is "strongly recommended" in the owner's manual.

 

I’m finding top tier gas pretty easily in the US. Keep in mind most stations don’t specifically say “top tier” on the pump (Valero usually does). But if says anything about an additive then it should be Top Tier. Different brands have their own name for it like “Techron”

 

It’s been a few years back but I’ve seen photos of engine valves comparing ones that used regular fuel for many years compared to engines that used “Top Tier” fuel. There was a distinct difference in how much much deposits were on the non top tier engine vs the top tier valves.

Personally I try to find stations that carry top tier but in a pinch I buy whatever I have to. Typically I don’t see any appreciable difference in the price, so why not use it?

 

All gasoline is required to have detergent additives these days because of fuel injectors. The amount, quality and a refiner's ability to maintain octane makes a difference.

 

Pumps of Top Tier brands are supposedly required to bear the Top Tier sticker.
Most places I go, the least expensive gasoline is "off" brand or unbranded stations that are generally not Top Tier. However, Costco and QT sometimes match those prices, and they're both Top Tier.

 

Agreed,. also it could be on some days, the non-Top Tier station gets lucky and gets Top Tier in his delivery. The only "legal" requirement is that the Top Tier stations meet the specs that they agreed to meet.

 

The requirement is that all stations of the brand meet the specifications, so individual station owners operating under a Top Tier brand name don't get to decide whether to agree to meet the the standard or not. (Although I suppose they could try cheating.)

 

Agreed I think...I was only saying the off-brand stations would have flexibility

 

Yes, we do. TCCN also suggests everyone continue with the Italian Tune up about every month or so...get your vehicle up to operating temperature and open her up like Mario Andretti...blow out all that carbon buildup. I've done this will all our cars since the 80's and only fill them up at Top Tier gas stations. (If there's no Top Tier sticker on the pumps it's not Top Tier gasoline...period.)

 

I'm not sure how reliable the attendant would be with what a producer was putting in their gasoline. Shell's website still says that they are TT certified. I filled up at Shell today and the pump said TT certified.

I asked the question on Top Tier website, if Shell was in fact still certified and if they know if Petro Canada or ESSO will be returning. I await their response.

My gut says if a producer dropped the TT certification (what I read elsewhere cost peanuts to certify), they did so because of lack of availability of additives, or they did it because of additive cost. Either way, unless I learn differently, I say if they aren't certified then they couldn't (most likely), or do not want to meet the TT standard.

There is a plethora of opinions respecting additives; what works and what doesn't. I Google searched this myself for my own purposes ad nauseam. I was only interested in tank additives. I'm still not 100% sure of my own selection but I opted for Techron (which I could not source last time despite Amazon saying they had stock) or what I last used, Amsoil PI.

I speculate that 95% of the motoring public do not have the first clue what Top Tier is, and that those producers dropping the Cert are well aware of their market.

 

Top tier is simply gas with extra fuel detergent additives designed to keep fuel injectors clean. In port injected engines the additives help keep the back of the intake valves clean. However all gas has a detergent additive package in the US regardless if it is top tier or not. Additives do cost money, partially because additives are added at the truck loading terminals (product terminals) and not at the refinery which is usually hundreds of miles away by pipeline.

Techron aftermarket additive is good.

 

Just adding that Shell responded confirming that all of their fuel grades are TT certified.

Your request (5370501) has been updated. To add additional comments, reply to this email.

Addy (Shell Canada)

26 Jun 2023, 16:47 BST

Hello Gary,

Thank you for reaching Shell Canada.

All fuel grades are Top Tier, but if you want more details you may reach 1-800-661-1771 option 5 or 1-514-390-5135 option 4 or email at .

Kindly let us know if you have other concerns.

 

To conclude my post, please see the response from TT: Note links were removed due to insufficient permission to post.

From: Top Tier <>
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2023 4:11 PM
To: <>; Top Tier <t>
Subject: Answers to your TOP TIER™ questions


Dear Mr. xxxxx,


Thank you for contacting us and for your interest in TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline. We always appreciate feedback from consumers.


Please be assured, Shell is enrolled in the TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline program as a licensed TOP TIER™ supplier in Canada. If a Fuel Retailer (brand) joins the TOP TIER™ program, all of their retail outlets (and all octane grades) in the country must adhere to the TOP TIER™ standards. Therefore, all Shell brand gasoline sold in Canada meets the stringent TOP TIER™ performance standard.


In regards to the other two brands you inquired about, at one time Esso and Petro Canada were both enrolled in the TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline program for Canada but unfortunately they each chose to leave the program. The gasoline that they now sell is not TOP TIER™.


Of course the TOP TIER™ program and its sponsors were disappointed in the decision that Esso and Petro Canada made but the program is a voluntary one and a marketer chooses to participate. The TOP TIER™ program strives to keep its standard relevant with respect to changing engine technologies and the impact that fuel properties and fuel additives have on engine operation. Those marketers that participate value all aspects the program brings such as: 1) being identified as supplying gasoline that meets the requirements of sponsoring auto manufacturers for optimum engine performance and longevity , and 2) quality monitoring of gasoline they supply by an independent, third-party.


A full listing of Retailers and Brands enrolled in the TOP TIER™ program can be found on our website, at . We update the list regularly so please check back. All octane grades at TOP TIER™ Retailers must meet the TOP TIER™ requirements. If a brand appears on this list, they are enrolled in the program and the gasoline they supply meets the TOP TIER™ performance standard.


Thank you again for your input and for taking the time to contact us! Have a great day!


The TOP TIER™ Team


The TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline Program is managed by:

The Center For Quality Assurance Inc. (CQA)

4800 James Savage Road │ Midland, Michigan 48642 │ USA