Top Tier Gasoline

[GNRick]

Anybody hear of it? Supposed to have more additives than non top tier gas. This website has a list of stations that sell it. http://www.toptiergas.com/

 

[pkschul]

Daily driver is a 2011 Hyundai (I know, I know)... anyway, I'd always fill it with Sunoco or at the no name discount station where the gas is always 15 cents cheaper per gallon. After a few fill ups the car would start running like crap. A couple bottles of fuel injector cleaner and it would run a little better.
A buddy told me all about the "top tier" thing so I decided to try it. Not really a fan of going with Exxon or BP for ethical reasons, but man the car runs a lot better now. No need for fuel injector cleaners which pretty much negated the savings of the cheaper gas anyway.
The theory is that in 90s everyone was using plenty of deposit forming detergents in their fuels, but the greedy oil companies started using less detergents. The automakers took notice and struck a deal with a few companies to make the "top tier" collaboration ensuring that they would use appropriate levels of detergents for modern engines.

Now it made a difference in my 2.0 liter engine in my Hyundai, but no noticeable difference in my 2005 Dodge Caravan 3.8. That turd will run on anything. I would definitely suggest going with a top tier regardless.

 

[GNRick]

I usually buy gas at Schucks, a grocery store chain based in St. Louis. I get .05 off per gallon for every $25 I spend on groceries. Pretty good deal. I emailed them this morning to see if they are in the top tier program. They aren't listed on the website as a participator. If they aren't in it, maybe they will join, since their motto is 'The Friendliest Store in Town"

 

[EVIL]

My Harley would always run and sound different with certain gasolines.

I found that when I used Cumberlandfarms 93 octane that the bike ran and sound way better.

After finding this thread I just emailed them to see if they are a top tier gas company.

The difference in performance was very noticeable.

D

 

[MCH86GN]

Interesting thread. I have a Marathon station that I usually go to, not sure if they are a top tier gas company, but one day I was almost out of gas and I when to a BP station and put $30 in and I'll be damned if my car didn't run better. I would assume Shell is in top tier. I bought some gas from them during the Telegraph cruise and I didn't notice any difference in my car over the BP gas, however, I did notice a difference in the price per gallon. About 20 cents more at Shell.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...4yDvMoIJ5oTiseGaA&sig2=6JKZ070s2CGJg3OOhj2qfQ

 

[pkschul]

Shell, BP, Mobil, Exxon, Citgo... those are the 5 that I have memorized. I avoid Sunoco like the plague now.

 

[pkschul]

USACanadaPuerto Rico
76 StationsChevron CanadaPuma Energy Caribe, LLC
Aloha PetroleumCO-OPShell
ARCOEsso
BPPetro-Canada
ChevronShell Canada
ConocoTempo
Costco Wholesale
CountryMark
Entec Stations
Express Convenience Centers
Exxon
Hawaii Fueling Network (HFN)
Holiday Stationstores
Kwik Trip / Kwik Star
MFA Oil Co.
Mobil
Ohana Fuels
Phillips 66
Quik Trip
Road Ranger
Scheirl Oil
Shell
SuperAmerica
Texaco
Tri-Par Oil Co.


Nice to see Costco on here. I'll have to remember that.

Hmmm... Citgo isn't on the list. I could swear it was. I wonder if they lost the designation?

 

[trixdout]

The costco by me is no where near top tier. On numerous occasions, car has ran like shit using their fuel (any grade). My parents have the same opinion. Plus doesn't help their lines are ridiculously long (very cheap prices compared to all other gas stations).

 

[cruzn57]

I think your a victim of placebo additives, in that you THINK it is better , cause you paid more for it.
I have a friend who is a Shell development engineer. I asked him this very question,
he said " save your money"
unless you can watch the fuel come from the tank farm,( and know what your observing) there a very good chance
the fuel you get came from "who knows where!" local dealers DO NOT add anything, if they tell you they do, its to late for you, there is no hope!
watch the unmarked tankers fill from the tank farms, then deliver to almost EVERYONE!
I will admit some station monitor water content better then others, and that will make a big difference!

 

[earlbrown]

I buy gas where ever it's cheapest. Granted it's always at places that can sell out their tanks in a reasonable amount of time. The only time I ever skip a station is when I see the tanker truck physically filling the underground tanks. I like all the crud and moisture to be nicely settled and dormant when I get gas.


On high mileage beater cars it's never a bad idea to dump a gallon of paint thinner in a 1/4 tank (with a replacement fuel filter on hand) once in a while. With gas as high as it is, and extra 1MPG can pay for a $20 can of Xylene/Toluene pretty quickly.

 

[regan j]

Earl, you get the freshest gas when the truck just filled the tank!!! I have never filled when I saw the truck connected to the tanks just for the reason you said.

 

[87geeinn]

We have "top tier" here in Hawaii. Car runs no different than when I was back home in FL. I usually use the Aloha (listed above) gas station but have tried all different stations' fuels and saw absolutely no difference.

 

[EVIL]

I received a reply from Cumberlandfarms. It is pasted below.

D

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lee Metaxas <LMetaxas@cumberlandfarms.com>
Sep 18 (2 days ago)

Thanks for the email...

To answer your question: No it is not rated “Top Tier” gasoline.

It does however, meet the federal standards mandated by the EPA.


Regards,

Lee.

Lee Metaxas

Lead Pricing Analyst/Retail Petroleum Department

100 Crossing Boulevard

Framingham, MA 01702

Tel: 508-270-1595

Email: lmetaxas@cumberlandfarms.com

Website: www.cumberlandfarms.com