which is one the best for gas stations ???
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Considering most of the gasoline in many station "brands" comes from the same supplies/refineries, there isn't going to be a whole heck of a lot of difference in the fuel between the stations you pass along the way. If the place looks like a dump, I'd stay away, but in general, trying to stick with a particular "brand" isn't going to buy you much, pardon the expression.
I buy from Costco, Shell, BP and Wawa as they have the best prices in the area I mostly buy gas from. (largely over the NJ line from here...today it was $3.29 at Wawa in Flemmington vs about $3.70 here in PA just over the river)
I buy from Costco, Shell, BP and Wawa as they have the best prices in the area I mostly buy gas from. (largely over the NJ line from here...today it was $3.29 at Wawa in Flemmington vs about $3.70 here in PA just over the river)
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The only thing I avoid is buying gas when a tanker is filling the underground tanks. Maybe it's an old wives tale, but since water is heavier than gas, I believe if there's any water, or other sludge on the bottom of the underground tank, it could be stirred up with the gas when the storage tank is being filled.
Almost all the stations in my area are supplied by the same refinery, and I've been told the ones that aren't get their gas delivered from one other refinery. So I doubt there is much difference. In over 40 years I've only had trouble with one tank of gas mucking up my fuel system, and it was from one of the supposed "premium" gas retailers, and that was 30 years ago. I pump where I can save money.
Almost all the stations in my area are supplied by the same refinery, and I've been told the ones that aren't get their gas delivered from one other refinery. So I doubt there is much difference. In over 40 years I've only had trouble with one tank of gas mucking up my fuel system, and it was from one of the supposed "premium" gas retailers, and that was 30 years ago. I pump where I can save money.
While it's true that the gasoline all comes from the same basic refineries, their detergent additives are different. Don't you guys think there is a difference there?
Was meant as a joke... Just like I'm a French model!And I absolutely believe everything I read on the internet!!
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I doubt it matters in any meaningful way..."they all" claim their formula is the best. I sometimes wonder if there is any difference in the actual additives...
+1
But I avoid 1-off no brand Mom and Pop stops (they usually are not the cheapest either).
My Wife gets Stop & Shop points for Shell Gas. I think we got $1.90 off per gallon once. we frequently get close to $1.00 off. We try to fill both cars if she racks up a good chunk of points.
We saved $50.00 on one fill up (both cars) once.
35 Gallon max.
The Top Tier program if you read the FAQ is for all gas grades for that particular brand/service station and what level of detergents they have. The list is a nice guide to go by but where I live the only Top Tier station around is Shell so it's not always easy finding a Top Tier station. Also the program costs money to be spent by the gas providers on certain level of detergent additives and then performing tests so not all stations may go through with it but the gas may be just as good or near Top Tier status.
Some rule of thumbs to go by I have read (feel free to correct if I'm wrong) -
Lower the ethanol content the better the gas should last/perform.
Higher octane over most vehicles recommended level isn't needed unless you notice a performance difference. Now some vehicles will adjust engine performance based on the octane, check your owners manual.
As others said stay away from gas stations that look run down, tanker truck is actively refilling the tanks, or the gas price is too good to be true.
Do a google search and see if there are any complaints about gas quality for particular brand/stations in your area.
Some rule of thumbs to go by I have read (feel free to correct if I'm wrong) -
Lower the ethanol content the better the gas should last/perform.
Higher octane over most vehicles recommended level isn't needed unless you notice a performance difference. Now some vehicles will adjust engine performance based on the octane, check your owners manual.
As others said stay away from gas stations that look run down, tanker truck is actively refilling the tanks, or the gas price is too good to be true.
Do a google search and see if there are any complaints about gas quality for particular brand/stations in your area.
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And I absolutely believe everything I read on the internet!!
I know, just agreeing with you.
Say....if you're really a French model, how 'bout PM'ing me your phone number! That makes no sense. Where do you think the gas is being pulled from? Do you think the gas in the tank of your car is only coming from the top?
Look at the construction of of a gas station well, each one drains to a middle system. They also have sensors that are checked during inspection (Each pump will have a "last checked" date), therefore would monitor fuel ratio.
Most gas (especially independent), comes from a local well. A lot of BP and Shell, contract with them. They speculate on the price and set up long term contracts.
Now here comes FACTS: Science journal conducted a review in 2008; to determine if gas prices should have reached $4.50 in 2008. Where the gas was coming from. Many Republicans and Democrats would have you believe most of our gas (North America) comes from the middle east. However, it's from Canada.
The best gas station for you is the closes one to home or work or on your route, because it all comes from the same place. Go to Erie Penn (Warren Penn) . Which is surrounded by Oil refineries. All the gas in that region comes from them. The additives are just a gimmick.
The easiest way to reach the science information is to go to a local university (they have contacts with resources centers). Pull the data from there.
Interesting long read. Not Me I found this online.
"I HAVE OWNED VIRTUALLY ALL BRANDS OF STATIONS AND HERE IS MY EXPERIENCE
First of all let me say that i am not a mechanic or car buff. I have however owned Chevron, Shell, Valero, Exxon and Independent (no name) gas stations and still own several. First of all let me say that someone made a comment about Shell or another owning the land so they control what can go into their tanks. That is absolutely false!! When a gas station owner signs a "fuel agreement" with a major company, you can only receive fuel from that company and not just anyone. If you did, that is illegal. You must and can only receive that fuel that you are contracted to receive. So that statement or comment is absolutely not true and not a factor.
Second, the only additive that has been SCIENTIFICALLY proven to reduce build up and lower emissions is TECHRON by chevron. I know the following is not scientific however i cant tell you how many hundreds of times i had people come in to my store (when i was a Chevron) and swear that their car got 5-10% and even higher gas mileage compared to Arco or unbranded (includes grocery stores, Costco, Walmart, etc) and much better performance as well. Generally speaking all generic gas is the same however i will tell you that in at least CA they are allowed to add "fillers" to their generic gas (basically adding impurities to decrease the percent of pure gas).
I (like an idiot) let my wife convince me that we get over a dollar per gallon off Safeway gas because we shop there for our grocery (i think they give like 30 or 50 cents of per gallon for every $100 one spends in the store). So we had a bunch of "gas credits" saved up and for like 3 or 4 tanks, we both put in only Safeway gas and here is our experience. My wife's car dropped from average gas mileage of 20 to high 16's and my brand new car (4 months old) dropped from average of 27 down to 22!! That is not an exaggeration it was actually a hair worse than that. When i took my car in to the dealer (who is very reputable in our city, they are number on in either CA or Northern CA) the service manger told me he had another customer a month earlier complaining of the same thing but also noticed a huge drop off in performance (thinking back i realized my did as well). The manger dipped the guys tank and stated that his Spectrometer (or whatever device he used to check purity of gas) showed that the gas was only 76% pure and had "fillers" of 24%. He then took the same device and dipped his tank (he only uses Chevron) because the client was skeptical and low and behold the device jumped up to 100%!!
That all i needed to hear. I told my wife that i don't care if Safeway is giving gas away (well maybe if its free , I will only use Chevron in both of our cars period. Think about it, why would the major auto companies go thru the hassel and cost of shipping gas from over 500 miles away (from Michigan to Kentucky where many of the new car testing is done regarding EPA stuff and more) since the 1970's if there is no difference in gas. They have Shell, 76, Exxon, BP in Kentucky and yet they only use and want Chevron. They are the true experts and not I.
Another quick item to think about. Chevron is the same price as the other majors here and only Arco and Independents are about 5% cheapest at the most (usually only 2-3%) however if your mileage drops from 30 to say 27 that is a 10% drop in mileage so that is actually costing you more money to buy the cheaper gas and that does not even take into account all the other benefits of Techron on most likely reducing mechanical/maintenance costs down the road.
That is all i need to know. Anyway the choice is yours. Hope that helped someone"
sonny1130 18 months ago
"I HAVE OWNED VIRTUALLY ALL BRANDS OF STATIONS AND HERE IS MY EXPERIENCE
First of all let me say that i am not a mechanic or car buff. I have however owned Chevron, Shell, Valero, Exxon and Independent (no name) gas stations and still own several. First of all let me say that someone made a comment about Shell or another owning the land so they control what can go into their tanks. That is absolutely false!! When a gas station owner signs a "fuel agreement" with a major company, you can only receive fuel from that company and not just anyone. If you did, that is illegal. You must and can only receive that fuel that you are contracted to receive. So that statement or comment is absolutely not true and not a factor.
Second, the only additive that has been SCIENTIFICALLY proven to reduce build up and lower emissions is TECHRON by chevron. I know the following is not scientific however i cant tell you how many hundreds of times i had people come in to my store (when i was a Chevron) and swear that their car got 5-10% and even higher gas mileage compared to Arco or unbranded (includes grocery stores, Costco, Walmart, etc) and much better performance as well. Generally speaking all generic gas is the same however i will tell you that in at least CA they are allowed to add "fillers" to their generic gas (basically adding impurities to decrease the percent of pure gas).
I (like an idiot) let my wife convince me that we get over a dollar per gallon off Safeway gas because we shop there for our grocery (i think they give like 30 or 50 cents of per gallon for every $100 one spends in the store). So we had a bunch of "gas credits" saved up and for like 3 or 4 tanks, we both put in only Safeway gas and here is our experience. My wife's car dropped from average gas mileage of 20 to high 16's and my brand new car (4 months old) dropped from average of 27 down to 22!! That is not an exaggeration it was actually a hair worse than that. When i took my car in to the dealer (who is very reputable in our city, they are number on in either CA or Northern CA) the service manger told me he had another customer a month earlier complaining of the same thing but also noticed a huge drop off in performance (thinking back i realized my did as well). The manger dipped the guys tank and stated that his Spectrometer (or whatever device he used to check purity of gas) showed that the gas was only 76% pure and had "fillers" of 24%. He then took the same device and dipped his tank (he only uses Chevron) because the client was skeptical and low and behold the device jumped up to 100%!!
That all i needed to hear. I told my wife that i don't care if Safeway is giving gas away (well maybe if its free
, I will only use Chevron in both of our cars period. Think about it, why would the major auto companies go thru the hassel and cost of shipping gas from over 500 miles away (from Michigan to Kentucky where many of the new car testing is done regarding EPA stuff and more) since the 1970's if there is no difference in gas. They have Shell, 76, Exxon, BP in Kentucky and yet they only use and want Chevron. They are the true experts and not I. Another quick item to think about. Chevron is the same price as the other majors here and only Arco and Independents are about 5% cheapest at the most (usually only 2-3%) however if your mileage drops from 30 to say 27 that is a 10% drop in mileage so that is actually costing you more money to buy the cheaper gas and that does not even take into account all the other benefits of Techron on most likely reducing mechanical/maintenance costs down the road.
That is all i need to know. Anyway the choice is yours. Hope that helped someone"
sonny1130 18 months ago
A lot of things have been "proven" on the internet.
Chupacabra, Choking Doberman, Intelligent Life Believing the Internet, and similar unscientific proofs.
Although all gas stations in any given area usually buy their base from the same refinery distribution depots, they do add cruft as it heads to the station and the brands do add different cruft--which they may also buy from the same refiner.
BMW used to have a listing of brands that met their needs for better gas due to crappy engine design. Probably still do.
Is Sunoco 260 widely available anywhere any more? It used to be the one fuel hopped up rat motors and wedge or hemi could run decently.
THANK YOU!
I could not remember the name of the brands that worked with BMW and a few other makers to create gas additives that helped with dirtying up the engine--particularly on vehicles with direct high pressure injection.
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