A Difference in Gasoline Brands

[Samson16]

I’m currently running Shell V-Power NiTRO+ because I commute past the Turkey Lake Plaza on the Florida Turnpike twice daily and that’s what they serve. I like using higher volume locations if possible hoping for fresh fuel.

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[gagliano7]

All I run is E85 and I only have one station to choose from. Valero.

 

[JohnTrigger]

All I run is E85 and I only have one station to choose from. Valero.

The F150 owners manual says do not use E85, aka Flex Fuel. It can contain 51-83% ethanol, depending on location/season/etc. Owners manual says don’t use any gas more than 15% ethanol.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

One big fuel depot here in what used to be a refinery and line of tanker trucks for all different brands filling up. Gas is mostly same between stations.
Gasoline is more regulated than the food you eat. ?

Additives are slightly different for the detergents.

https://www3.epa.gov/otaq/fuels1/ffars/web-detrg.htm

 

[fordtruckman2003]

The F150 owners manual says do not use E85, aka Flex Fuel. It can contain 51-83% ethanol, depending on location/season/etc. Owners manual says don’t use any gas more than 15% ethanol.

Depends on the year and motor.

 

[gagliano7]

The F150 owners manual says do not use E85, aka Flex Fuel. It can contain 51-83% ethanol, depending on location/season/etc. Owners manual says don’t use any gas more than 15% ethanol.

My 2023 5.0 is E85 compatible.

 

[JohnTrigger]

I stand corrected about the E85.

 

[Calson]

Every 50,000 miles I put an injector cleaner in the gas tank. Clean injectors helps with fuel economy. In California 100% of the gas is produced in two refineries so where it is sold at retail makes no difference and I go where the price is the lowest.

 

[SonarChief]

Every 50,000 miles I put an injector cleaner in the gas tank. Clean injectors helps with fuel economy. In California 100% of the gas is produced in two refineries so where it is sold at retail makes no difference and I go where the price is the lowest.

Absolutely incorrect. From a study by AAA

“Among brands tested, non-TOP TIER gasolines caused 19 times more engine deposits than TOP TIER brands after just 4,000 miles of simulated driving. Such carbon deposits are known to reduce fuel economy, increase emissions and negatively impact vehicle performance, particularly on newer vehicles.”

Source of Fuel

Common Sources: While gasoline from different stations may come from the same refinery or pipeline, the additives mixed into the fuel can vary significantly. Many refineries produce a base gasoline that is then blended with different additives by the gas station or distributor.

https://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/07/aaa-not-gasoline-created-equal/

 

[Addabob64]

I had always used premium (91-93 depending on station, 10% ethanol in my NTX county) Chevron, Shell and Mobil in the past and got similar fuel mileage on them all in the 20mpg range +/- 1. I had a case where I needed to fill up at a VP Fuels station (93 octane) near my home and immediately noticed about a 2mpg improvement. I have kept running this station's fuel and continued to get the improved mileage. After about a year, I decided to try filling up with a Chevron 93 octane again, and dropped back to 20mpg. I also see this same mileage improvement on our other 2 vehicles, ranging from 2-7mpg (7 is on a Honda Civic, 4 on a Subaru).

Nothing I did was scientific at all. Just fill up and drive the same roads consistently. There are MANY variables, but this fuel seems to work well for my vehicles so we keep using it whenever we can. I have never seen the fuel truck there, so no idea what distributor they use.

 

[Calson]

Absolutely incorrect. From a study by AAA

“Among brands tested, non-TOP TIER gasolines caused 19 times more engine deposits than TOP TIER brands after just 4,000 miles of simulated driving. Such carbon deposits are known to reduce fuel economy, increase emissions and negatively impact vehicle performance, particularly on newer vehicles.”

Source of Fuel

Common Sources: While gasoline from different stations may come from the same refinery or pipeline, the additives mixed into the fuel can vary significantly. Many refineries produce a base gasoline that is then blended with different additives by the gas station or distributor.

https://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/07/aaa-not-gasoline-created-equal/

You need to source AAA and its bogus article from 2016? Why not use common sense?

Do you really think that AAA was able to buy vehicles and tear them down and determine which brands of gas were burned over a period of years?

When there are only a few refineries the retail outlets are not going to change the formulations. One chain of gas stations may add a fuel additive to clean injectors but I can buy a fuel injector cleaning product and treat the vehicle for about $15.

The damage done to vehicle engines was primarily the result of using tetraethellead in gasoline to improve the octane or anti-knock characteristics of the fuel. The GM engines were well aware that this additive would greatly shorten engine life but the head of General Motors knew that the royalties would be very profitable and all manufacturers' engines would be affected and not just the ones from GM.

With the phasing out of leaded gas in the 1970's two things happened. Engine life increased dramatically to the point where getting 200,000 miles on an engine became commonplace, and with a 20 year lag, the crime rates decrease thanks to fewer children suffering brain damage from lead poisoning.

 

[Musky fisher]

Just an FYI that Sam’s club is NOT top tier gas. (but Costco is)

 

[SonarChief]

You need to source AAA and its bogus article from 2016? Why not use common sense?

Do you really think that AAA was able to buy vehicles and tear them down and determine which brands of gas were burned over a period of years?

When there are only a few refineries the retail outlets are not going to change the formulations. One chain of gas stations may add a fuel additive to clean injectors but I can buy a fuel injector cleaning product and treat the vehicle for about $15.

The damage done to vehicle engines was primarily the result of using tetraethellead in gasoline to improve the octane or anti-knock characteristics of the fuel. The GM engines were well aware that this additive would greatly shorten engine life but the head of General Motors knew that the royalties would be very profitable and all manufacturers' engines would be affected and not just the ones from GM.

With the phasing out of leaded gas in the 1970's two things happened. Engine life increased dramatically to the point where getting 200,000 miles on an engine became commonplace, and with a 20 year lag, the crime rates decrease thanks to fewer children suffering brain damage from lead poisoning.

You can offer an opinion that the detergents and additives don’t matter to you. But it is a scientific fact that ONLY top tier gasoline brands consistently meet a minimum standard of these additives. You do as you see fit, saving penny's driving a vehicle that cost more then my first house. My common sense says to listen to multiple sources of scientific study INCLUDING AAA.

https://www.motorverso.com/top-tier-gas-myth/

 

[Henfield]

I stick to top tier brands for my 5.0. I use regular unless I plan on towing when I move up to premium two tanks before I start out. I think there is a subtle but distinct smoothness improvement whenever I use premium. Almost tempting enough to use it on a regular basis.

 

[HammaMan]

Just an FYI that Sam’s club is NOT top tier gas. (but Costco is)

I've seen a couple costco gas loads being loaded and they're running unbranded depot special -- not top tier

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