Here is a link to top tier stations. Poor quality fuel leads to carbon and shorter component life and efficiency and loss of MPG. [FONT="]Discount stations all use crappy quality fuel such as Costco which uses low tier fuel. Look for a station on the list. [/FONT] Top Tier Gasoline
Unfortunately there is no way to know what is in the tank, regardless of station branding. Here, the signage requirements are 2 years from date of construction. Have an Exxon station, first two years must be Exxon tank drops. After that, it's whatever the station owner decides.
Top Tier Gas is the way to go. I don't think it's as important in CA as in the other states because CARB requires twice the level of detergents in our gas as the EPA does. In other states, I think it's worth the trouble to look for the Top Tier cert.
There was a blog on Costco gas and a recording when a person was questioning the source of fuel and who supplys Costco with it. It turned out to be and low tier gas which is why they are maybe 15 cents less then others a gallon. She'll is very good gas and is a top tier gas.
Spend a little time watching the delivery trucks. They routinely stop at Mobil, Exxon, and Shell. Then they continue on and fill the Mom and Pop and cut rate stations. And they pump the same gas into all of the tanks. They pump regular and premium. Mid grades are simply a mix of the two done at the pump.
We usually go the top tier due to various discounts. But the lowest cost top tier is near the Costco's and BJ's stations. Lately we've been going to those cheaper ones to save a few bucks, and we need to shop there once in a while anyways.
On bob oil site alot of good posts on this. Apprently you may see a tier one venders truck at no name stations that does not mean its top tier formulation. You can buy from them and it won't mean they have but thier proprietary mix in. I remember this was covered on bobs site.
We've had this discussion on many other threads. In truth there is no advantage to top tier gas, other than the additive package. The gas itself comes from the same refiners, same pipelines, and same storage tanks. The additive package, if really added by the delivery people, may offer some advantage. Basic detergent additives are required by law and meet the requirements of all manufactures. Top Tier is a marketing effort to provide brand distinction and justify higher pricing. Tom
Agree. Spending more for "top tier" is a waste of time (to find it) and money. I recall my uncle laughing at the top tier folks. All the trucks (top and bottom tier) pull up to the refinery he worked at in Louisiana. When he asked the tiger in the tank folks how he can claim its different, he would pull out a small ~6oz bottle of "magic" that would be added to his fuel tanker (several thousand gallons), that was the techwhatever that is added in the fuel. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I shop price and have never had a fuel issue. Oh ya, I drive 5k miles a year on "dont use cheap mexican diesel" diesel too. No injector issues. I love $2.50/gal Pemex diesel.
Just to add to fastring's comments and keep kicking this thread down the road, I live on the coast and we have a gasoline tank farm close to the state ports owned by Hess Oil. There are ocean tanker's pulling in every week to fill up tanks and then tanker trucks lined up to distribute. I see the same tanker trucks at all of the local gas stations, top tier and all. I have always purchased the local Wilco-Hess low cost gas. I generally keep my vehicles for 10+ years and 100-200k miles. I have never had an issues with carbon buildup on any of my vehicles.
Naturally, the additive package is what distinguishes Top Tier gasoline from others. To say there is no advantage except for the additive package is to say nothing. Most gasoline add just enough detergent to satisfy EPA regulations. The problem is that auto manufacturers say that the EPA requirements are insufficient to prevent injector fouling and intake valve deposits. Fed up with expensive warranty work caused by poor quality gasoline, the automakers banded together and created the Top Tier cert. So this certification was created by auto makers and driven by the need to improve gasoline to prevent serious problems. Spend some time at the Top Tier website and read more about how the certification came to pass and what the requirements are to get the Top Tier cert.
There is also small video on that sites homepage but what I remember the most was the analysis those guys did with the laps at bobs site. That was all i needed back then after reading all that info on it. No way for me on low tier period. I don't mind if other Prius want to save a little on cheaper fuel but I must prevent this on the C dammit! Its just to nice of a car not to! hehe
If you live in cold weather area or do short hops, my recommendation is to add a 1\2 bottle of techron on every fill up! Mainly to prevent intake deposited due to the design of the Atkinson engine which push some of the charge back info the intake during compression stroke.
Gonna disagree with you on this one. . I get 4 - 5 mpgs more on top tier than compared to "off name, so called economy brands. I repeated this numerous times of filling w/ no name brands vs. top tier. Bottom line: top tier always give 4 - 5 additional mpgs / gal. DBCassidy
