[Daeyel]

I see people comparing gas prices at different stations, and the popularity of apps that do this.

I have to ask, is it REALLY worth it? There ARE premium gasolines. And yet people buy the cheapest gas out there. Saving 5 cents a gallon - wooow!

Chevron is THE best gasoline out there. I've heard way too many mechanics say so. My sister drives a 1996 Miata, and the engine is still running smooth as the day she bought it. Chevron only. My car, a 1997 Civic was running rough, but 30 miles of Chevron and it's sounding better already. (I was off Chevron as an experiment)
My brother, ASE certified mechanic, degree in auto body repair (as well as a degree in psychology and a Masters in Social Work) swears Chevron is a superior gasoline.

And I see people drive past it to save 5 cents a gallon.

On a 10 gallon fill up, they saved 50 cents.

Filling up once a week, they save $2 a month. $24 a year.
$240 in 10 years. Contrast that to the price of a new motor. I'll pay 50 cents a week to have a cleaner gasoline keeping my engine clean. It's a great investment.

YMMV, of course, but it does well to consider the maintenance costs we scrimp on.

 

[Cool Hand]

Dude, no offense, but you sound like a chevron stooge who was paid to post that.

 

[show-n-go]

I always heard shell was one of the best, still i think theres not much difference in regular gas station gas, once you get into AV or race fuel then i think theres a bigger spread. I normally just pull in the first place i find when i need fuel, never pay attention to the price posted.

 

[texstephen]

Chevron and Texaco are the same gas . The only diff in most top tier gasoline is additives and the additive in chevron and Texaco is techron which is supposed to be one of the best. All gasolines are under performing because of the ethanol crap in them .

 

[OliverR.]

Most sludge buildup/damage I have seen is from lack of oil changes. Not cheap gas.

Keep the air filter clean, change your oil and your car will go a long time without needing hi dollar gas or "fuel system flushes."

BUT if you buy a new (like 2012 or newer car with direct fuel injection, you will have sludge build up in the intake tract no matter what. Only the new Subaru brz engine has the means to prevent this. As little as 30k miles took out a Chevy DI cylinder head due to gunk build up.

On top of this, a gas station can order their fuel thru any number of delivery companies. So don't believe the hype.

 

[azrancher]

.I have to ask, is it REALLY worth it? There ARE premium gasolines. And yet people buy the cheapest gas out there. Saving 5 cents a gallon - wooow!

Our gasoline, comes thru a pipeline from El Paso TX to Tucson, there is no such thing as Shell gas, or Texaco gas, or Chevron gas. They may put in an additive, or just say they put in an additive. So $24/year, will pay for how many preps?

Rancher

 

[Nomad 2nd]

Our gasoline, comes thru a pipeline from El Paso TX to Tucson, there is no such thing as Shell gas, or Texaco gas, or Chevron gas. They may put in an additive, or just say they put in an additive. So $24/year, will pay for how many preps?

Rancher

Not just that... Bit I've seen more like $0.50/gal between 87 and 91


I had a chip, tuning etc... Started running premium.... Got less than 1/2 MPG improvement.


Kept it up a while.... Went back to 87, with occasional batches of premium if I get bad gas or something.

 

[Mule Skinner]

In my state all of the gas contains ethanol (except a very few places with racing gas and such.) In my town there is no Shell, Chevron, or Texaco.

I usually buy Kwik-Trip because they label it "Top Tier."

 

[sarco2000]

In my state all of the gas contains ethanol (except a very few places with racing gas and such.) In my town there is no Shell, Chevron, or Texaco.

I usually buy Kwik-Trip because they label it "Top Tier."

I was going to say there is no difference in gas between stations - it all comes from the same place I think.

But ethanol makes a difference. For sure you will lose a plenty of mpg using ethanol.

****es me off.

 

[azrancher]

I had a chip, tuning etc... Started running premium.... Got less than 1/2 MPG improvement.

Only if your engine start knocking do you up the octane, my 93 F350 460 (7.5L) will not run well on 87 but does OK on Mid grade, whatever that is.

Rancher

 

[Nomad 2nd]

Only if your engine start knocking do you up the octane, my 93 F350 460 (7.5L) will not run well on 87 but does OK on Mid grade, whatever that is.

Rancher

I was following the instructions of the guy who ripped me off. (he came VERY highly recommended... Me and my buddy had a LONG conversation about that one!)

 

[PalmettoTree]

Gas is gas.

 

[yakergreg]

We have some of the highest gas prices in the nation here, (among other things) I can save 20 cents a gallon by driving a few hundred yards. My truck doesn't have a small tank. So yeah, it's worth it to me.

 

[zephyruswc]

http://www.toptiergas.com/why.html

gas is gas? Do you homework.

 

[azrancher]

http://www.toptiergas.com/why.html

gas is gas? Do you homework.

This is a top tier gas additive ad, nothing more.

It's like adding STP to your oil, sounds like a good idea but STP is only good for pre-oiling re-built engines so you don't break a ring starting it up the first time.

Rancher

 

[heartland]

I buy the cheapest gas. My vehicle has 280,000 miles. No worries.

 

[zephyruswc]

This is a top tier gas additive ad, nothing more.

No, not really. There is a correlation between build up and crap in your system, and using regular gas.

That link, was put up mainly for someone to get a quick look at the subject, not to be the be-all reference on the subject. You can find references from the auto manufacturers who cite top-tier gas as a recommendation after having a number of recalls. GM is one, FOrd has done this as well, you can reswearch for more if you'd like. But I suppose that they would only do this because they get a kick-back, huh???

But if not using it makes you feel better, so be it. It costs not one cent more to use it, but saves you a significant amount more in the long run.

In a site where everyone is paranoid enough to be preparing for something - it is funny that I get crap for posting a recommendation for something that is designed to prevent future catastrophe... huh...

 

[zephyruswc]

What you don't need to do - is go up in octane. Unless your vehicle manual states that you need a higher octane, you get no benefit from burning the fuel that is slightly harder to burn.

"My mechanic said to put it in because it stops it from knocking." You're right - now fix the problem and go back to regular gas.

 

[azrancher]

What you don't need to do - is go up in octane. Unless your vehicle manual states that you need a higher octane, you get no benefit from burning the fuel that is slightly harder to burn.

"My mechanic said to put it in because it stops it from knocking." You're right - now fix the problem and go back to regular gas.

Yeah right, fix the problem with my high compression 460 in my F350, so I should shorten the stroke or mill a bit off the pistons to get a lower compression ratio so I can run "regular" gas.

I hope you don't do automotive work for a living...

Rancher

 

[zephyruswc]

Yeah right, fix the problem with my high compression 460 in my F350, so I should shorten the stroke or mill a bit off the pistons to get a lower compression ratio so I can run "regular" gas.

I hope you don't do automotive work for a living...

Rancher

...and if you have high compression, then you should know that you need higher octane gas: either from the manufacturer, or from your engine builder - genius...

I was a mechanic for many years. How much experience do you have?

I suppose that you could use the argument, I have been running conventional oil for 50 years, and my cars kept running - or - I have 210,000 miles on regular gas and I'm still driving it... But that is no different than sayin, "I smoked cigarettes for 40 years, and I don't have cancer" (never mind then thousands of others that got it.) or "I work in the sun for 10-12 hours a day with my shirt off and I never got no skin cancer..."

Ignorance is bliss, I suppose...