At the pump pay less or pay more

Is the brand of any importance?

[henry0]

I am trying to figure if pumping gas from a more expensive gas station bearing one of those internationally known brand name is a better gas for your Dollars versus cheaper gas from any unknown local gas station.

<edit> I am concerned by gas in the USA </edit>

[lawman]

I pump Top Tier Gas [toptiergas.com]. I use 93 octane (R+M/2) and prefer Shell V-Power, which claims to have 5 times the amount of detergents as recommended by EPA.

[henry0]

I had that feeling as my engine seems to run better with
93 from a well known brand, but could have been pure psychological marketing effect!

[lawman]

Use the octane the car mfgr recommends. My car requires high octane fuel.

[ken_b]

Use the octane the car mfgr recommends. My car requires high octane fuel.

So does my lawn mower. :)

[tangor]

High octane will burn in lower performance engines but the high performance engine SUFFERS with low octane. The low performance engine will never get all there is out of the higher octane and the high performance engine can't develop enough pressure.

Most times there's little benefit to using an octane higher than the mfg recommendation. Additionally, most filling stations have two, at most three storage tanks... one high octane, one low octane and if they offer a median rating, it is usually a pump-based MIX between high/low storage tanks.

[henry0]

Interesting facts regarding the median rating.
I knew about the benefits or no benefits from using high octane.
About the advantages of using a well known and more expensive brand (my original Q) lawman said:

"prefer Shell V-Power, which claims to have 5 times the amount of detergents as recommended by EPA"

[J_RaD]

a car that does not require 93 might actually get worse MPG when burning 93 as the motor doesn't burn 100% of the fuel charge.

so any idea that your car runs better or has more pep on 93 is purely in your mind.

[lawman]

>> So does my lawn mower.

I gotta get me one of those. Which brand/model is it?

[ken_b]

I gotta get me one of those. Which brand/model is it?

Toro. The dealer was adamant that I use only Premium, ethanol free gas.

I suspect it is the ethanol that is the issue, but not sure.

[phranque]

we drive 2 vehicles and the small displacement turbo specifies high octane fuel.
i can tell instantly if someone (not mentioning names) has refueled it with low octane.
it suffers in performance and fuel efficiency with low octane.
the normally aspirated v8 specifies low octane fuel and there is no noticeable or measurable difference in mileage or performance between fuels so high octane in that vehicle is pretty much burning money.
the worst part isn't remembering which fuel - it's remembering which side of the pump.

regarding the brand name vs "no-name" - the fuel is delivered from the same refineries, but the brand names may include their proprietary additives while the no-names get the cheapest available which often means whatever is left sloshing around the bottom of the tank.

i've also noticed locally that the no-names are less likely to secure their wifi since that's where credit card numbers are typically stolen (after swiping at the pump.)

[henry0]

i've also noticed locally that the no-names are less likely to secure their wifi since that's where credit card numbers are typically stolen (after swiping at the pump.)

A new law should make it mandatory!
Never thought about it, I should try to connect to such a wifi and check it out by myself

Actually every WebmasterWorld members should do that and report.
Hey, we might be on something!

[Marshall]

If you want to get gasoline at a better price, shop at a store that offers fuel perks. I am doing some remodeling and average paying nine cents a gallon. I buy gift cards for the home improvement place at the grocery store I use and get .10 off per gallon for every $50 spent. At times they run promotions and you can double that. You are going to spend the money anyway, might as well get some benefit from it. I know not all areas have this, but it is a great to save.

Marshall

[Hoople]

The ethanol 'issue' has to do with synthetic fuel line sealing materials (O-rings and gaskets).

There are other small motored items that have a similar issue with ethanol. Small railway speeders (1-2 man inspection vehicles) have engines and fuel systems (under operator's seat) that experience seal failures.

[J_RaD]

I can't find anything that doesn't have atleast 10% eth dumped in it around me

:-(

[Automan Empire]

+1 on top tier gas. One visit to my repair shop costs more than a year's savings on "cheap" gas. I just had a guy spend a whole day in the waiting room trying to pass the emissions test. After two rounds of adjustment and repair and still failing the test, insisting he never uses anything but high octane [toptier brand], I asked him again about the gas. He got on the phone then said his wife had driven the car the day before (Only time in 5 years, yeah sure) and put [cheapbrand gas] in. Without opening the hood again, sent him to fill up on [toptier] gas and retested and it passed the emissions test by a good margin.

As for what octane to choose, it depends on the car. Later model vehicles can adjust themselves to the octane given. If you use too low an octane in a performance vehicle, performance will suffer, and it may or may not cause long-term problems. On the other side of the coin, using a higher octane than necessary offers no advantage, other than a pure placebo sense of giving your car a treat.

The owner's manual tells what octane the car requires. Be advised that there are three types of octane rating; Motor, research, and the average of the two, which is what is displayed on USA pumps. If the manual specifies an octane that you can't find, it's probably a different rating method, so take that into account.

[incrediBILL]

My dad used to run a gas station and unless you know FOR A FACT what's being pumped into the local gas station, it's most likely the same generic truck dumping the same gasoline in every local gas station. What that means is the discount brands often sell the same exact same thing that the more expensive gas station down the street also sells.

Shell has a branded truck, so you can see they are delivering their own brand, so that's an exception. You obviously have no clue where Shell actually loaded that truck, but you can be pretty sure it's most likely their brand unless their local refinery is offline for whatever reason.

I always buy the cheapest, gas is gas, my engines run just fine, my mileage has never been impacted that I can tell and I monitor my MPG like a hawk.

FYI, the old wives tale about people "watering down" gasoline is bunk. Ever put water in gas? They don't mix whatsoever. The only time you ever run a risk of "watered down" gas, which I actually saw happen during the gas crisis in the 70s, is when the tank runs low and the natural condensation from inside the tank, which is floating on top of the gasoline, gets siphoned out. You'll know real quick if this ever happens to your car, it's not pretty LOL!