Union 76 ethyl was the best in our cast iron hemi 300 engines with two 4 bl carbs. Other brands, not so good.

quote:

Originally posted by ontmark:
The only thing different between branded gasoline and non-branded gasoline is the amount of the additive (detergent) injected into the gasoline while it is being loaded into the delivery truck.

Top tier is also a higher detergent gasoline and meets the same percentage as the branded fuel.

Sometimes true, but the super majors have their own proprietary additives and some of the majors do too. For example, here are some patented super major gasoline additives:

ExxonMobil has their Synergy at Exxon, Mobil, and Esso stations. They claim it's 2 different detergents.

Chevron has their Techron at their Chevron and Texaco stations.

Shell has their V-Power Nitro+ Premium gasoline and their Nitrogen Enriched.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
No facts here. I grew up always only buying gas from Exxon or Chevron. Now I buy gas from HEB (Texas grocery store chain) for usually 30 cents cheaper per gallon. I have been doing this for 20 years and noticed zero difference from when I bought gas at brand name locations.

Odd. I live equidistant from a HEB (1.98), Chevron (2.09), Shell (2.05), and Exxon (1.99). Prices from GasBuddy.

Top tier for me because they're the same price around here.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
No facts here. I grew up always only buying gas from Exxon or Chevron. Now I buy gas from HEB (Texas grocery store chain) for usually 30 cents cheaper per gallon. I have been doing this for 20 years and noticed zero difference from when I bought gas at brand name locations.

Odd. I live equidistant from a HEB (1.98), Chevron (2.09), Shell (2.05), and Exxon (1.99). Prices from GasBuddy.

Brand name gasolines are all over the places, depending on locations. Check houstongasprices.com. Shell right at my neighborhood is 1.93. Try to find that price at Memorial City, or the airport, or around the Med Center.

I can't tell the difference.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Top tier for me because they're the same price around here.

But what does top tier really consist of? There is no actual measurement of what top tier really means aside from being a marketing saying. For example chevron with techron could have one drop of techron per gallon, nobody really knows.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

But what does top tier really consist of? There is no actual measurement of what top tier really means aside from being a marketing saying. For example chevron with techron could have one drop of techron per gallon, nobody really knows.

Go back and read some of TatorTodd's posts in this thread. Click on the links. Top Tier is actually a laboratory measurable standard for additives.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
No facts here. I grew up always only buying gas from Exxon or Chevron. Now I buy gas from HEB (Texas grocery store chain) for usually 30 cents cheaper per gallon. I have been doing this for 20 years and noticed zero difference from when I bought gas at brand name locations.

Odd. I live equidistant from a HEB (1.98), Chevron (2.09), Shell (2.05), and Exxon (1.99). Prices from GasBuddy.

I also found it odd that the HEB I shop at is $1.98 and another HEH only a few miles away is $2.05. Most other gas stations are around $2.20.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I can't tell the difference.

Of course not. You're not a valve guide.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by ontmark:
The only thing different between branded gasoline and non-branded gasoline is the amount of the additive (detergent) injected into the gasoline while it is being loaded into the delivery truck.

Top tier is also a higher detergent gasoline and meets the same percentage as the branded fuel.

Sometimes true, but the super majors have their own proprietary additives and some of the majors do too. For example, here are some patented super major gasoline additives:

ExxonMobil has their Synergy at Exxon, Mobil, and Esso stations. They claim it's 2 different detergents.

Chevron has their Techron at their Chevron and Texaco stations.

Shell has their V-Power Nitro+ Premium gasoline and their Nitrogen Enriched.

I buy most of the gas for my truck at Costco as I go there once a week. The rest of my family gets their gas at Wawa. When I try to find out if it is top tier, the web site says this:

Wawa Fuel
Cash or Credit, Same Low Price
Wawa is committed to providing our customers with a guarantee on the quality of our fuel, as well as fair, honest pricing — a guarantee that virtually no other retailer in our market can offer.
To stand behind our guarantee, we provide only the best fuel from major domestic refineries and offer quality protection that's second to none. Here's how we keep our fuel clean, safe, and quality controlled, both for our customers and the environment:

Our fuel contains detergent cleansing additives to help clean your engine as you drive, thereby helping to reduce emissions.
Our fuel is formulated to meet or exceed the most stringent EPA and auto manufacturer standards for quality.
We quality test on-site with state-of-the-art systems and equipment to deliver, store and dispense our fuel.

Tatortodd, having been in the business, would you consider this top tier or just a feel good line that they tell their customers?

WaWa not on the toptier list. But WinWin is :-)

quote:

Originally posted by SBrooks:
WaWa not on the toptier list. But WinWin is :-)

That's why I aske because I didn't see it on the list. It is only in a few states and I wonder how many stations or volume do you need before making the list?

Probably harder for a small dealer to make the list due to cost. They have to pay enough to buy the specific types of additives that toptier wants them to use. And then apply to toptier for recognition (not sure what that costs).

Maybe they are using great additives - and just don't want to spend the money to get a top tier sticker...

quote:

Tatortodd, having been in the business, would you consider this top tier or just a feel good line that they tell their customers?

their name isn’t on the list so they’re not top-tier.

The last line about quality testing gasoline sounds good but the devil is in the details. They don’t list any and I have no additional knowledge. For example, is it a quality dept or store manager pulling samples from station’s tanks and testing, are they pulling samples on delivery trucks and testing, at what frequency is testing, and which ASTM tests are being run?

Not saying they’re good or bad just saying there aren’t details.

Western refinery trucks are the only ones I regularly see delivering gas. I see Western refinery trucks at name brand stations and the generic stations. I think all the gas stations out here sell the stuff, name brand or not.

quote:

Originally posted by Greymann:
Western refinery trucks are the only ones I regularly see delivering gas. I see Western refinery trucks at name brand stations and the generic stations. I think all the gas stations out here sell the stuff, name brand or not.

Tatortodd has already explained the basics, but I thought I’d chime in.

Background: used to work downstream at a major (one mentioned in this thread).

Gasoline is a commodity. You can buy it, sell it, ship it, store it etc, and it is roughly the same (seasonal mixes aside, and ignoring regional RBOB and CBOB as well as CARBOB). I’m sure your eyes glazed over, that was just for the pedantic types.

Gas at your local station is delivered from your local terminal, where there are large tanks that hold gasoline. The tanker truck will fill up from the large tanks, and then proceed to smaller tanks where it will add the additive package. Each brand will have a separate tank with the additive, (Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, etc), and the tankers individual compartments are filled with the appropriate Top Tier (or generic, if such is required) additive.

Note: Fuel tankers have multiple, and separate tanks. Generally, up to 6 tanks; that means I can have both generic gasoline with a standard additive, Chevron with Techron in another tank, and BP Invigorate in others. It’s not all one big sloshing tank...

Apologies for the Chinese sketch, it’s all I could find that showed a cross section:

How do I figure out if Costco gas will yield the same or better results as Chevron gas (which I currently use almost exclusively)?

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I can't tell the difference.

The top tier stuff has a sweeter taste, but simultaneously crisp finish. The generics have a more bitter/dry flavor with an oaky finish to it with a hint of nuttiness.

It easier to discern if you have a small palate cleanser between samples.