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Where I live, there are only 3 gas companys that supply all of the fuel to our area. SHELL, Sunoco and BP are the only ones. All of the "No Name" gas stations get all of the gas from any of the 3. The gas is delivered in a "unmarked" tanker truck.
Our Shell and Chevron are usually about the same. Several yrs ago read an article about a independent lab that tested many kinds of gas for everything there is to test. Chevron on top, followed by Shell. Then on down the line to the cheap discount stations. I usually put Shell in just because they sell a gas gift card that knocks 3 cents a gal off if you use it. Never had a gas related prob with either one. I hear my buddies talk about clogged fuel injectors, and converters, sticking valves, etc etc etc., and its always the same story.... they buy the cheapest gas they can find. You know the old story, "You get what you pay for", or as Fram used to say, "Pay me now, or pay me later".
In an earlier response to this thread, I mentioned that Shell was a "Tier 1" gas but that is the wrong terminology. "Top Tier" gasolines are approved (by GM, BMW, Honda, and Toyota) because the suppliers have agreed to meet these high detergent standards across all grades of gas.
Here is the list of Top Tier gas suppliers. Shell is one, and as the previous poster mentioned, Chevron is there as well. The only one of these brands commonly available in the Detroit area is Shell, so I try to use that:
I have long been a user of Amoco and BP gasoline and have never had a gas-related problem. In my early 70's drag racing days, I had the best luck with Shell.
Wow.
I'm surprised BP is not on the list. My truck actually did better with BP than Shell.
I wonder if when Amoco changed over to BP they lost some quality.
hate to tell you this guys, but we owned a gas station and when conversing with the fuel delivery driver on many occasions, he told me it all comes from the same tanks in the distribution center...he picks up no lead from one tank, and drives it to Shell, then BP, then Sunoco etc etc....according to him, the brand names are just marketing BS. I have ever since bought from whomever has the lowest price and have never noticed ANY performance difference, be it name brand or corner grocery, or Walmart's gas!
Big-Red is 100% correct on this. The driver is supposed to dump a chemical package into the tank along with the fuel load to make up the "special sauce" one brand offers over another. More often then not, the driver dumps his fuel load and doesn't add a chemical package.
All of you who believe in the top tier gas and the rest of that horse sheet are being fooled by some marketing professionals who clearly know how to do their jobs.
If you don't believe us, go talk with fuel tanker drivers and station owners. You'll learn that we're not making this stuff up.
I can understand where you guys are coming from SVT and Big Red...but I know from personnel experience about 2 brands in particular
1. BP - absolute crap.
Truck didn't run right for 3-4 tanks after I used their gas. Lost at least 2 mpg during that time period. And it wasn't just a 1 time occurance. I thought maybe I'd gotten unlucky and it'd had some water or something.
Gave them another try at another station and the same results
2. Chevron - good stuff
used it for my Mustang...the 91 octane. Mustang had a noticeable difference in power vs the other local gas stations
can't claim any HP #'s though. I drove it like I stole it. in a 1 month time period, I burned off a set of tires
Some of the stuff may be marketing Bull*****...but sometimes it isn't.
My last 1000m trip was on Chevron, the next will be with Shell. Been using S lately because of the gas card they sell which knocks a few cents off each gallon. I used to pay first, but now with the card, I dont have to go in. We have to pay then pump in this burg.
A few of you mentioned a gas card Shell sells to save you a few cents per gallon. Is it available everywhere? Our Shell only sells the gift cards, and they are issued only for the amount on the card; no cents off. Could you elaborate????
A few of you mentioned a gas card Shell sells to save you a few cents per gallon. Is it available everywhere? Our Shell only sells the gift cards, and they are issued only for the amount on the card; no cents off. Could you elaborate????
It's just like a Wal-mart card. If you use it at a Murphy's gas station, you get 3 cents off a gallon. With Shell, you use it at Shell, you get 3 cents off a gallon. It's a pre paid card. Not a gas credit card. You will not get a monthly bill.
Truck didn't run right for 3-4 tanks after I used their gas. Lost at least 2 mpg during that time period. And it wasn't just a 1 time occurance. I thought maybe I'd gotten unlucky and it'd had some water or something.
Gave them another try at another station and the same results
I've had similar experiences with BP gas in the past and just won't use them to save a few cents per gallon.
Anymore I've been using gas from Safeway. There's a station not too far from my house and their prices are usually about 10 cents per gallon cheaper, plus if I use my Safeway card I get another discount. Last time I filled up I paid 55 cents less per gallon than at the 76 station across the street. I'm guessing they get their gas from whatever local refinery is near here. The truck runs just fine on it.
I use either Shell or Chevron, whoever happens to be cheaper at the moment I need to fill up. Never had any issues with Chevron, but about 20yrs ago Shell always left some funny looking deposits on my sparkplugs. Seems not to be an issue these days.
Why don't you guys get a AAA Visa card or Chase credit card that gives 5% cashback discount on gas purchases? You're not bound to any one brand.
87 Shell Gas is running about $2.35/gal here locally. 5% off is about $0.12 off per gallon.
When gas was almost $5/gal here a couple years ago, that was almost $0.25 discount per gallon. Cashback adds up real quickly especially given how much the truck drinks.
Just pay off your balance at the end of the month in full and you're WAY ahead of the game.
I worked at a gas station for a little bit when I was younger. You'll be surprised that a lot of the "no name" stations use the same gas but charge different amounts. Watch and see who actually delivers the fuel. Most of the time it's a delivery company.
Yep, and the last tank of Shell I got made my truck run like @ss for a couple of weeks until I got rid of it, refilled and ran some Techron through it.
i got a first hand solution to this situation i used to haul fuel...worked at a truck stop that had there own fuel tankers when we went to nustar to get gas or diesel it all comes out of the same tank...around were i am from we have caseys, holiday, shell, mobil, super america,and bp wich i hauled and other small gas stations...all it comes down to is who the gas station has a contract through to buy gas or diesel...i swipe a card and punch in a certain code so that on the paper work it says that i have bp gas or diesel... the only difference that i know is the additive that they put in the fuel the bp gas we didnt put any additive in it the diesel we put 4 1/2 gallons to 8000 gallons