Maverik www.maverik.com when I'm in Nye County. USA Gasoline www.tsocorp.com in Clark County. Both consistently have the lowest price. Personally I never pay a penny more than I have to for gasoline. And I've never regretted that decision.
The majority of the gas suppliers routinely transfer stock through a piping network. You have liitle assurances that you are buying the brand on on the sign. I would me more concerned about the volume of gas sold - to guarantee that you are getting fresh gas. I look for a high volume station with the best price.
A lot of anecdotes here, and a lot of regurgitated marketing ploys. Anyone have any actual data? Do any of those additives increase fuel economy? Do any of those additives decrease fuel economy? Is there merit in any of the complaints (i.e. is the cause actually the fuel)? Are any of the fuels actually lower in sulfur (another marketing ploy I have heard)? Absent actual evidence, I buy the cheapest gas that is not out of my way.
I don't think anyone here is trying to convince you to change your buying habits. The OP asked a question which we have all answered in our individual ways, followed with explanations as to why we buy what we buy. I don't know about an increase or decrease in MPGs based on a particular brand of gas, but I do have personal experience with a car running poorly on generic gas (running rough, engine knocking, that sort of thing).
Not sure why I am being singled out for doing the same thing. Right, more anecdotes. I wish we had data.
I interpreted his post as a question as well... but besides that, was your engine knock on a carbureted engine? Fuel injection has a lot more lee-way as far as bad gas goes. You will break something else on the car long before sludge becomes an issue with the engine.
Yes. At least, the first car (truck, actually) I had a "bad gas" problem with definitely had a carburator (i know because i changed it out). Not sure about the second car, which I never worked on, but it was a 90s Corolla. And it wasn't just me in one instance, there ended up being a small article in a local paper about the fact that many people in the area had problems with that station - I think some even tried to sue for repairs (Thrifty! I think that was the station).
Ah ok. 90s Corolla was FI. Sometimes bad gas happens. I've gotten bad gas at a station before, but mostly because of a hurricane that came through and flooded the tanks. They didn't realize it until after a bunch of people complained. My Chevelle wasn't happy with me for a couple of days, but once I got it cleaned out and new gas in she purred like the Beast she is. But I don't blame the station for that, I think I should have known better than to get gas immediately after a flood. Looking back, hindsight is always 20/20
I can't believe you have stations near one another with "only" 7-8 cents difference. Around here, every station in town, including the grocery store gas station, has the SAME price. The next town over (7-8 miles away) may have gas 2-5 cents cheaper or more expensive but there are usually no differences either way more than that anywhere in Northeast Ohio. I have to drive about 80 miles to see any appreciable price difference in price from my home town stations. That includes "name brand/top tier" stations like Shell, Marathon or BP and second tier stations, like Speedway. Interestingly enough, there was an article in the paper here that said the price for gas in this area is determined by the largest distributor in the state which is Speedway. Everyone else sets their prices after Speedway sets theirs.
Is there any coercion for sellers to conform to this standardized price, or retribution against those who don't conform? If so, then they are running an illegal price fixing cartel.
Usually Costco early in the morning when there are no lines or week day when everyone is at work. The USA close by is usually only 2 cents more but I get 3% cashback on Costco gas purchases so it pays for me even if there is a little line. I fill the truck there as well or at Pearson fuels when I'm getting E85. Going to be towing a friends race truck to Willow Springs at the end of the month, might fill a barrel with ethanol free 93 and see how the Prius likes it when I get home.
Well, I'm not privy to any inside information but no one seems to be blowing the whistle. And no one seems inclined to start any gas wars either.
Out here, on other things, the pricing patterns alone have been taken as evidence of illegal collusion.
Alright there really isn't an ethanol-free station that's convenient (or it's for private ind. only I guess) but anyway if I have to be stuck with E-10 fuel, what do you folks recommend to, like, keep my engine running, or to prevent parts from failing, or whatever could happen if I use E-10 all the time?
Had 250K on my last car and gave it to my son who still drives it. Only used the food store regular they gave me points for! Never an issue.