Gasoline Preferences

[carnut169]

Curious if anyone uses or avoids any particular brands of gas. My mechanic told me to use Chevron whenever possible as they do not use alchol in the gas and Techron was great. I look for Chevron, but am often forced to use other brands and tend to look for BP, Amaco, Texaco and other major brand names. I won't use Pilot, Quick Serve, Citgo, and the smaller brand names or discount stations even though I realize this is probably silly. I also look for newer stations (cleaner tanks) and busy stations (fresh gas). I have also been told to avoid filling up when you see the gas truck as it will stir up the junk at the bottom of the tanks and you end up clogging your fuel filter or worse.
Any thoughts?

[atlporsche]

I put my first tank of chevron in the subaru this weekend, and I'm convinced it works better...of course I could be WANTING to feel it.

Ready for another mountain drive??? i just got new KYB's in the scooby...there's NO bounce anymore..

sjd

[Dantilla]

The P-car gets Chevron, the Chevy truck gets about anything but ARCO.

[masraum]

I use Chevron (got a gas card to make it easier). If I get stuck then I look for another major brand.

[JavaBrewer]

Generally whatever's cheapest. Usually fill up at Costco but have used ARCO (AM/PM) on occasion. Chevron, 76, and Shell only when away and prices competitive.

[Oldporsche]

I buy it from a locally owned gas only stop. It's called appropriately U-Pump. It's fresh, it's located approximately 5 miles from its pipeline station. The U-Pump is located where it gets a lot of traffic. Across from a high-school, public library, governmental plaza, with city and county offices.

It is consistantly the cheapest.

I have never gotton a bad tank of gas or diesel there.

Good luck,
David Duffield

[RoninLB]

Hey Sean...you might find some good info in an old post/do a search..maybe a year ago...to my understanding most companies use the same base stock..then they add their formula when loading up the delivery truck..so a high test has more additives and less base stock in it than low test/less gas milage..also the color additives is what screws up plugs, I believe...and one day I was w/a Chevron sta owner who started talking about the Chevron tech who comes to test tanks for quality control..the owner said the itty bitty amount of techron barely registeres on the tech's meter...which is good enough for Chevron..................Ron

[jluetjen]

My car (9.9:1 2.0S pistons) seems happy enough with Texeco's 93 octane or Mobil's 93 octane. The best stuff is Sunoco's 94 octane when I bother to go out of my way for it.

- John

[MBAtarga]

For the Porsche, I have used Chevron only - except for the Atlanta Pelican's mtn drive we just had a few weeks ago. I was low and bought from the Texaco next door to the Waffle House when we ate breakfast.

When 911 shopping early last year, I talked to Don, the previous owner of mm86911's car. He shared his experiences with Chevron gas, particularly the techron additive. Based on his experience of rebuilding engines (racing and other) he sold me.

[RoninLB]

yeah, I use Chevron when I'm west..and Amoco and Sunoco when east...I just did 18k on a big ride and have not pulled the plugs yet..I'll post a pic of the plugs when I do..............Ron

[sammyg2]

Yup, doesn't matter who sells it, the gas could have been refined anywhere. The additives are the only real difference, with one possible exception:
I will not run Arco gas (BP-Amoco now) in a high performance engine.

I can't say why and back it up with facts, it is just that 've had some bad experiences over the years with pinging. May have to do with a higher percentage of reformed or cracked gasoline feedstocks (less stable over time) or maybe I'm full of it. Either way that's what I think. I do know that Arco has some different refining technology (most majors do, others use patented Fluor or API technology).

[gaijinda]

I use Sunoco 94, but the stuff stinks!

I will not put off brand gas in my lawnmower!

[Superman]

I use Chevron almost exclusively, and have heard it recommended by a large number of car professionals over many years. In my 2-wheeler days, I noticed some real differences between gasolines. In those days, as today, Union 76 was good gas too, but the stuff that seemed to run the smoothest was Conoco.

[Jgordon]

I'm surprised no one's said anything about Gulf, seeing their history with the car. I've actually used anything as long as it's 92 or higher, and a major brand, busy station. I do feel like I should use Gulf though. I'll keep a lookout for the other brands that have been mentioned here.

Jared

[Amac]

Chevron also, most engin builders say use chevron.
If I can't find chevron, shell is my next choice.
I use sunoco and VT racing fuels, both are good.
Can't get sunoco at the pump here. can't say.

[Jim Sims]

Pemex 80 Jim

[ebrownson]

Carnut:

I look for Chevron, but am often forced to use other brands and tend to look for BP, Amaco, Texaco and other major brand names. I won't use Pilot, Quick Serve, Citgo, and the smaller brand names or discount stations even though I realize this is probably silly. I also look for newer stations (cleaner tanks) and busy stations (fresh gas). I have also been told to avoid filling up when you see the gas truck as it will stir up the junk at the bottom of the tanks and you end up clogging your fuel filter or worse.

Your rationale above is a good one. Gasoline is a personal preference, however if you stick to the majors you will be OK. In Atlanta, all the gasoline consumed is the same except for the additives (detergents and dyes). All of the gasoline (87 and 93 octane) flows through the same pipelines (two) to all of the terminals in Doraville. The gas is offloaded at specific times in order to deliver the proper octane "slug" of gas coming through. The 87 octane is followed by the 93 octane gas. There is no physical separation between the two fuels and some mixing does occur. So each terminal is getting the same "base" gasoline. They store the separate octane fuels in separate large aboveground tanks and then usually mix in the additives as the trucks are getting filled for transportation.

Looking for busy stations is a good idea. High volume means fresh gasoline. If there is a tanker truck at the station, do not fill up there because there is considerable mixing when the fuel is dropped into the underground tanks. There is about a twelve foot elevation drop in a standard 10,000 gallon UST. The problem with the mixing isn't necessarily the dirt and debris because all dispensers have pretty good filters. The problem is the water that is at the bottom of the tank. Most tanks have some water in them. Comes from the termials and the trucks and is basically caused by condensation. Some stations have special filters that have membranes that shut the pump down if there is water in the fuel. I don't know if all of them do though. I know Exxon uses them. I've had to go to some Exxon stations in the Atlanta area to measure the water in the bottom of the tanks because the pumps kept on "tripping" the filters. Usually happens in the winter months.

I personally use BP (Amoco gas) 93 octane. I have used Chevron as a second choice as well. I don't know if I can tell the difference in the two brands. Of course I always put in a can of Techron prior to every oil change to clean the plumbing.

Hope this helps.

Eric
83SC

[rs911t]

Sunoco 94 octane.

Greg

[Leland Pate]

Chevron with Techron only for the Porsche.
Anything with anything for the truck.

[Jim Richards]

Sunoco 94 octane.

Amaco or Chevron in a pinch...