Is all gasoline the same?

[cgarr]

I use the marathon type premium fuel in our plane, each barrel we buy I check the ethanol percent, I am running around 7 to 8% all fuel lines and carb is setup for ethanol but like to keep it as low as possible.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Gogar

You're not on the ethanol teat are you? That would be so un-Sammy.

Guess who's getting tax incentives, low-interest or zero interest loans, and big ole grant money to grow them slimy green bugs? Someone's gotta do it.

I just design the equipment and tell em how to keep it running. And back up to my paycheck

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Oh sure... the one time I want your opinion you pull out on me!

Ironically ARCO has started advertising some new fancy additive(s)... I also see they are listed as 'top tier' (whatever that means).

ARCO is also 50 cents cheaper a gallon than the premium brands... so I will give it a try.

Top tier is real.

Top Tier Gas

[M.D. Holloway]

New guy on the block...FAME Sammy...


(sell out!) JK

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by pcardude

It's all the same dudes. Some has ethanol some doesn't. Some is diesel some isn't.

It all has ethanol unless it says its doesn't and I still don't believe it! All diesel has bio-diesel (FAME) in it up to 5% is allowed. Heck E10 can have up to 15% ethanol in it!

[rnln]

When I was young, I used ARCO because it's cheaper. Each time taking the fuel filter off, I pour it out on my hand and always found that it's very dirty. After switching to Shell, I have not seen it's that dirty any more.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

New guy on the block...FAME Sammy...


(sell out!) JK

Who you callin Ester?

[rusnak]

I don't disagree with Sammy, but to clarify, Arco gas is still BP from Madera/ Chowchilla up the Canadian border. Tesoro supplies Arco gas for the rest of central and southern California. Ask me how I know. On the other hand, don't ask me how I know, I just heard from a little birdie.

Arco gas is fine, just run a tank of Techron or BG 44K a few times per year or before your scheduled oil change.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Top tier is real.

Top Tier Gas

Didn't they pay the automakers for that designation? I'm hoping some Ralph Nader lawyer schmuck doesn't shoot that down and create a class, you know?

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I don't disagree with Sammy, but to clarify, Arco gas is still BP from Madera/ Chowchilla up the Canadian border. Tesoro supplies Arco gas for the rest of central and southern California. Ask me how I know. On the other hand, don't ask me how I know, I just heard from a little birdie.

Arco gas is fine, just run a tank of Techron or BG 44K a few times per year or before your scheduled oil change.

Where is this magical place you call Madera/ Chowchilla?
I usually get scared and turn back when I get to Fresno.
AND FOR GOOD REASON!



OK, How do you know?
Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to ask that.

I thought Tesoro got all the arco stations, guess BP kept some for themselves?
IIRC their closest refinery is in Washingtoooon, Cherry Point.

That's a long way to ship gas. I wouldn't be surprised if they bought some from the bay area.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by rnln

When I was young, I used ARCO because it's cheaper. Each time taking the fuel filter off, I pour it out on my hand and always found that it's very dirty. After switching to Shell, I have not seen it's that dirty any more.

Proves my point. Back in the day, the quality would vary from one station to the next because of dirt and water in the tanks.

And now for something completely different.
Remember that if you have DFI then the cleaners in the gas won't do squat for your valves.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Didn't they pay the automakers for that designation? I'm hoping some Ralph Nader lawyer schmuck doesn't shoot that down and create a class, you know?

It's more of an additive advertising program. It's real, but still kinda ......

TOP TIER™ Detergent Gasoline Program FAQ’s

How do I become a TOP TIER™ gasoline marketer?
There are a few steps involved and they are outlined below.

Step 1: Contact the Center for Quality Assurance (email TopTier@CenterForQA.com) to obtain the forms and information for becoming a TOP TIER™ Licensee.

Step 2: Contact your fuel supply terminal to inquire about available TOP TIER™ detergency formulations and from which additive company. If your terminal does not supply TOP TIER™ Detergency Gasoline, contact CQA to arrange an approved additive company to work with your terminal.

Step 3: Contact the additive company to obtain the additive treat rates and performance testing data for the TOP TIER™ Detergent Gasoline package at your terminal.

Step 4: Complete and sign the TOP TIER™ license agreement, which includes verification of your exact detergency package type and treat rate for use at your service stations.

Step 5: Obtain gasoline containing your exact detergency package type and treat rate from terminals supplying your service stations.

Step 6: Display the TOP TIER™ logo at your service stations.

Congratulations! You are now a certified TOP TIER™ Licensee.

How is the detergency validated to TOP TIER™ Performance Standards?
The detergency package is validated at an independent ISO 17025 certified laboratory by the additive company to the TOP TIER™ Performance Standards (see below).
Once the detergency package is validated, the treat rates and performance testing data can be supplied to a fuel marketer for the license agreement. The fuel supply terminal will then supply gasoline with the agreed detergent and treat rate.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Where is this magical place you call Madera/ Chowchilla?
I usually get scared and turn back when I get to Fresno.
AND FOR GOOD REASON!



OK, How do you know?
Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to ask that.

I thought Tesoro got all the arco stations, guess BP kept some for themselves?
IIRC their closest refinery is in Washingtoooon, Cherry Point.

That's a long way to ship gas. I wouldn't be surprised if they bought some from the bay area.

I'm told Cherry Point also, but I don't believe it either.

BP kept AM PM, but licenses it to Tesoro for So Calif.

Tesoro owns Arco brand now, along with Carson/ LA terminal, as you know.

So if you go to an Am Pm in so calif, you're buying Tesoro gas. If you're in No. Calif, you're buying BP fuel.

[JavaBrewer]

ARCO gives me gas. I like that.

[masraum]

I lived about a mile from a Chevron station for years. I'd heard a lot of good about Chevron and Techron, so I went to that gas station pretty religiously (it helped that it was super convenient). At some point after several years, I noticed that my vehicle was pinging. I changed to a different vehicle and then rarely noticed any pinging. I then switch to a third vehicle, and noticed that vehicle started pinging. I was running low on gas and had to full up at a super-cheap gas station like racetrack or something like that. It was, at least, a new station. That's when I noticed that my car stopped pinging when I filled up with the gas from another station. I'm sure Chevron is good gas, but I stopped using that particular station. I don't know if they had crappy tanks full of water or they weren't dispensing 93 octane or what, but I never went back.

I'm using a Chevron again, but mostly just because it's the most convenient station for me. This one doesn't seem to be causing any issues.

I figure the quality of the tanks and station is more important than the additives.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Decades ago, gas was different at some stations because the cheapo owners had tanks that leaked. Dirt and water = bad gas. The EPA put a stop to that.

The amount of Techron in Chevron gas is MINUSCULE. Buy a bottle of Techron before each oil change as follows: Put the Techron in a half tank. Run it down as low as you can. Fill the tank to full and run it down again. Refill the tank and do your oil change.

Shell markets their gas as having nitrogen. Oooh. Aaah.
News flash: the air your car burns in 78% nitrogen.

Gasoline brand marketing is just that: marketing.

From what I gather the Nitrogen they are referring to is contained in the PolyEtherAmine (PEA) they add which is, if I understand correctly, generic Techron.