Question about gas stations

All gas sold in the United States is held to minimum standards that trump most other countries around the world. Most of the additives and detergent in "name brand" gas is all hype anyways.

Most of the independent gas distributors just bid on oil futures and take the lowest bidder, so its all the same gas usually anyways.

If its cheaper, go for it...and if you really feel bad, every fifth tank, dump in some sort of fuel additive (as long as it doesn't have chlorine).

 

Interesting question. Here is some information I found in articles from Googling. Even the opinions among pundits slightly differ. There's an admission that the base fuel is the same, but there is dispute about the significance of additives.

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http://www.detnews.com/2003/commuting/0307/14/c06-210720.htm

* "Is there a quality difference between the premium grade fuel I purchase at any of the various gas stations in the area, and the fuel that is sold at my warehouse club? The gas available at Costco or Sam's Club can be 15 to 20 cents less per gallon than the local Mobil, Shell, etc.

"My guess is that all (most?) fuel comes from the same refineries, so that there probably is not a difference. What do you think?"

-- Amy Erjavac

Amy, your guess is correct: There really aren't any major differences in the gasolines offered at your local station or at Costco, no matter what the oil companies might say. Ever see those gasoline storage tanks alongside I-75 Downriver? They're filled with generic gasoline.

Then tankers from the various oil companies pull up and fill up. The difference comes when each oil company adds it's own "special" additives, which they claim will make the fuel burn cleaner, hotter or whatever. The main difference in gasoline is the octane rating. The higher the octane level, the less chance for premature ignition, which is also known as knocking.

The vast majority of today's cars run just fine on regular (83 octane) gasoline, but some higher-end vehicles, such as Cadillac, Corvette or Mercedes Benz, do require premium gas that comes in at about 91 octane.

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http://www.indystar.com/articles/0/230691-8540-P.html

10. Buy the cheapest brand of gasoline -- it's all the same anyway.

10. FALSE -- Several sources insist that all gasolines are not alike. Main differences are detergent level (generally, the more the better, which keeps your car or truck's fuel/air-intake system clean) and volatility (better brands of gasoline simply are more explosive, producing more energy to drive your car or truck). See lincolnsonline.com/article99.html for a nontechnical discourse on why detergent levels and volatility matter.

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http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/6onyourside/4308417/detail.html

Does it matter where you purchase your gasoline, and does buying high-octane fuel give you better gas mileage?

With fuel prices rising almost daily, experts say it's important to separate the facts from the myths.

In her latest outing, WDSU NewsChannel 6 consumer reporter Stephanie Boswell found regular unleaded as high as $2.05 a gallon and as low as $1.99.

With such a variety of fuel prices to choose from, why do some consumers pay the higher price? Because some believe fuel at the big name gas stations is better.

Randy Trailor teaches motor vehicle technology at Delgado Community College. He said whether you buy from Shell or Spur, the fuel at local gas stations comes from the same refinery.

"The only difference is some of the additives they're putting in the fuel," Trailor said. "It comes from the same hole in the ground at the refinery where it was processed."

What about the octane level? There's a widespread perception that the higher the octane level you put in the car, the better its performance. Trailor said that's a myth.

"All the octane rating is is an anti-knock additive that they rate it as taking away engine ping and a little rattling noise, and does it burn even enough," Trailor said.

Another interesting fact is that now that gasoline prices have reached the $2 mark, some stations are running out of the number two for their outdoor signs.

 

BTW, here's a portion of the lincolnsonline.com article cited above.

http://lincolnsonline.com/article99.html

AREN'T ALL GASOLINES THE SAME?

"If all gasolines are the same, what difference does it make what particular brand of gas I use?"

Well, all gasolines are not the same, and the brand of gasoline that you use in your vehicle can make a startling difference in all aspects of your engine's performance. Gasoline volatility is determined at the refinery and is directly related to the distilling process. Specifically, the larger the percentage of the gasoline that is distilled below 100º C, the more volatile the gas will be. The lower the volatility of the gas, the longer it takes your engine to warm up, thus creating more engine wear and tear. Unfortunately, the volatility ratings of gasolines are not listed anywhere on the gas pumps, but through experimentation you can find a gasoline that is well-suited for your car.

WHAT ABOUT NON-BRANDED GASOLINES?

There are plenty of places where gasoline is sold and the brand name of the gas in not displayed anywhere on the location. There can be a couple different reasons for this.

Maybe the gas is being sold by one of the larger 'wholesale' clubs. They do not necessarily get their supply of gasoline from the same source each time they replenish their bulk supply. Therefore, one tanker-full of gasoline could possibly be a high quality fuel with a high volatility rate, and include a nice, robust additive/detergent package, and the next tanker could be delivering a lower quality fuel, with a lower volatility rate and maybe a lesser additive package. Since these types of places do not usually advertise any specifics about the gasoline they sell, there is no standard that they can be held to. Or at the minimum, a very low standard. On the other hand, there are several chain-stores that sell gasoline under their own brand name. Even though it may say it on the pump, there is really no such thing as '7-11' brand gasoline. Most convenience stores do not operate refineries, obviously, so they must buy their gasoline stocks from another source. The same conditions apply here, for the gasoline is not typically advertised with any specific performance or additive package, so it is really just a big crapshoot as to the quality you are getting.

STICK WITH BRAND NAMES

A well known branded gasoline will usually cost a few cents more per gallon than the cheap-o place down the street, but is there a valid reason for this higher price, or is it just the gasoline company making extra money?

Most of the well-known branded gasolines will list somewhere on their pumps the benefits of using their particular brand of gas. And it isn't always just advertising rhetoric, either. The major gas marketers most often have a sophisticated detergent/additive package installed, as well as having a uniformly higher volatility rate. This is good news for your engine, indeed.

ARE DETERGENTS REALLY NECESSARY?

Absolutely! A gasoline with a proven fuel-system cleaning additive (detergent) is a must. The detergent effectiveness can be seen and measured in fewer deposits in the carburetor and fuel system.

The upper cylinder area of the engine also benefits. Eliminate deposits and you eliminate one source of wear and tear on your big-dollar performance motor. Sensitive areas for deposit formation are carburetors, throttle bodies, the carburetor idle/progression circuits, PCV valves, and EGR systems. Deposit build-up on any of these areas can have a substantial effect on your air/fuel ratio, and therefore fuel economy, overall engine performance, and emissions. Of course, anything that can have those kind of effects will also lead to increased engine wear and tear. The gasoline that you use should definitely have a fuel system cleaner in it.

 

Don't know if this is a coincidence, but I always use Mobil, Texaco, or Shell.

A few years ago, I was stuck and had to use come local 7-11 type gas station. Well, I made it home alright, but that car wouldn't start the next day. Ended up getting it towed and had the fuel system flushed and replaced.

I sold it the next day I get it back. So if anyone bought a used 97 Nissan Altima black with tan leather int and have fuel system issues....sorry!

 

Apparently, Gas Stations are claimiing that people are now getting their gas, and driving away. And it has apparently become quite rampant. So they are complaining about lost revenue. I guess this has become a national problem.

I understand, and I believe them, but that is a fixable problem. Make them pay first you idiots.

 

In the rare event that I pay cash for my gas, I'll go elsewhere if they make me pay first.

It's an inconvenience to me. I want to leave with a full tank of gas, so I can't tell how much it'll be before hand.

Install cameras and report the license plate to the authorities.

 

Please. Having first-hand experience with this - do you REALLY think the police care about gasoline drive-offs? That doesn't help.

That's why the pay first thing is usually there... but, sadly, you may notice that if you "look trustworthy" and just pull the lever to start pumping, you'll often get a pass.

If you can't tell how much it will be, you overpay. Drop a $40 (used to be $20, sigh) and then get your change.

And who in the world still goes in c-stores??? Man, I always use a credit card at the pump anyway...

 

In the rare event that I want to pay for gas with cash, I don't want to make two trips inside the store. That is a waste of time for me. Like the other poster, I will drive to another store if it is pre-pay and I'm not using my debit card.

 

I always use the cheap stuff - HEB, WalMart - never had a problem in 12 years of driving.

 

so then what is the difference between exxon/mobil, texaco/shell, and chevron?