cmh1991

I haven't seen a thread regarding the difference between the gasolines brands offered in the US. With that said, I was wondering what gas is best for our cars? Shell, Chevron, Mobil, Costco, 76, etc.

I know gas is gas, but do the additives these gasoline companies claim to help keep the engine cleaner actually work?

KenH

Chevron with Techron is what I have always understood to be the best and is what I run whenever I can.

phister

i use Exxon, Chevron, or Shell

LILBENZ230

Chevron..

speed7

I prefer T-Rex gas... its hot tempered and feisty.


Since you're in LA. Use Chevron if you can. However Mobile, 76, and Shell are pretty much all the same. I did have an 83 jaguar XJS that was temperamental with Shell and Chevron worked perfectly in it.. However its a V12 Jag so it was temperamental at birth.

TexFinn

http://www.toptiergas.com/index.html

sammydragon3

shell v power 100% of the time. and i use it 100% of the time

i honestly can tell the difference.

BP would make my fuel gauge say empty (shell corrected that with a couple of gallons) which means BP gas is has more of this certain metal forgot which one

Mobile decreased my performance

Crna Mechka

+1

I've tried Chevron, Mobil 1, and finally Shell V-Power. Shell beats all, especially the stuff they have out in Montreal. Man that stuff made my baby run like a rocket.

speed7

I'll have to play around with the gas here in MA.

However in California (where I just moved from) they are limited to 91 octane fuel due to the additives California requires. I do see a difference between the gas I get now vs what I got a few months ago. The car feels better.. but I'm also running 93 octane.

So while you're all preaching the gas you like in other states / country's remember.. California is its own special case.. which is sad.

Also interesting note about the top tier gas. Pretty much all of the major brands I see are in that.

TexFinn

Exactly! Although there might be slight variances in different batches of fuel, it is usually just butt dyno talking on these things and I'm sure we all know how accurate that is.

And no, I am not employed in the oil/gas industry, nor do I have an education in that field, so what do I know... I just read stuff on teh interwebnets.

kirax2

here we go again.....

edgarinho10

Indeed. The additives are the only variances.

grane

I use Shell 93 exclusively in the AMG and the GLK350 4M.

If you market at Stop and Shop - everywhere in MA and NE - get a Rewards Card. For every $100 you spend you get $0.10 off per gallon at both Shell and the captive GS that are at many S&S markets. S&S isn't Whole Foods but it is a higher quality chain.

Around the holidays I saved $0.60 cents on a gallon of Shell 93. And there was a Techron sale going on. Blind hog finds an acorn.

Eat well and drive!

Gilgorm

This topic of differing brands is talked about all the time on BMW boards. The vast majority use Shell Premium V-Power.

speed7

Hey thanks for the head up! I'll be sure to do this!

LILBENZ230

I used all these brands in GA with my 2005 and no single brand made any real difference in how the car performed. Whatsoever.

grane

And if you pay for your food at S&S with certain AMEX credit cards you get 3x AMEX points unless AMEX stopped that program ...

robnyc

Been using only Shell and very few times Exxon/Mobil in my 2 previous cars when I wasn't around a shell. But after using Shell for a few months on my MB, I was curious to see how Costco that was now admitted to TopTierGas category would perform. So the last 3 tank refills I've used Costco it is cheaper but its a bit out of my way. Performance loss is noticeable a bit, better MPG? can't really say.

Current test are Shell (my preference), Costco (just finished testing) and now BP.
I never had any issues with my high mileage, salvage, cars using Shell V-Power!

Alswag

Petro-Canada Ultra94 exclusively. Nothing else.

C230 Sport Coup

Shell without a doubt, then 76 and Chevron. Shell is the only thing they run in Ferrari's.
All the gas is 91 in Cali but my car leaps off the line with
top tier gas vs. generic which tend to hesitate when you push the pedal.
Also with Shell if I put the pedal about 1/2 way down it downshifts and goes!
It definitely generates more power.

I do notice that the generic stuff runs pretty good after running the top tier stuff,
but then it drops off. So I guess the additives in the top tier stuff
help your injectors and valves stay clean only to get gummed up by the cheap stuff over time.

I friend of mine used to commute to Monterey every day about 70 miles each way and noticed he had to fill the tank more frequently with cheap gas in his Hemi Chrysler 300.

cmh1991

I agree, I think Shell and Chevron are better in my opinion; however, recently I've been using Costco gas after they were awarded "Top Tier" back in March of this year. I definitely noticed a difference in throttle response, but not so much gas mileage. Gas mileage is pretty much constant given that I drive pretty much the same before and after switching over to Costco. With a difference of $.20 for premium I guess I'll sacrifice the performance for fuel savings. I just hope that Costco keeps the engine components clean like the Shell V-power gas. After a few fill ups of Costco I fill up with Shell.

robnyc

I've always used Shell, until my last 3 fillups I noticed Costco was definitely 10-20 cents cheaper but the lack of power was very noticeable! I didn't notice no MPG improvement at all so now I am testing BP since their reward cards give yo 10 cents off per gallon (a certain amount of gallons) then it drops to 5 cents. Will test BP for 3 fillups as well and then debate between Shell. I also have Shell savers card where I save 2-5 cents off per gallon and when the Shell racer driver wins I get an email to fillup on a certain day to save 22 cents =)