Costco gas
11-02-2011, 11:57 PM
#26
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11-03-2011, 12:34 AM
#29
Obviously octane booster works because you find giant drums of the stuff at some performance shops.
11-03-2011, 07:43 AM
#30
Commercially available Octane boosters are a waste of money. If you read the bottle on them, they'll tell you that it raises the octane in your tank by "4-7 points". Then when you read the back of the bottle it deines 1 'point' as being 1/10 of the R+M Octane rating. So you would need two bottles of this crap at $5 each to go from 91 to 92 Octane. A waste of money if you ask me.
11-03-2011, 02:58 PM
#31
Commercially available Octane boosters are a waste of money. If you read the bottle on them, they'll tell you that it raises the octane in your tank by "4-7 points". Then when you read the back of the bottle it deines 1 'point' as being 1/10 of the R+M Octane rating. So you would need two bottles of this crap at $5 each to go from 91 to 92 Octane. A waste of money if you ask me.
http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0...ted/index.html
The charts at the bottom hold the results.
The ratio of octane booster to pump gas is .8 fl oz to 1 gallon of 91 octane gas. And one bottle of octane booster is 12 fl oz.
Last edited by SonnyakaPig; 11-03-2011 at 03:00 PM.
11-03-2011, 03:13 PM
#32
I haven't tried octane booster for fear of it turning the spark plugs orange. I hear it's not a big deal if the spark plugs change color, but I just don't want to do it.
Obviously octane booster works because you find giant drums of the stuff at some performance shops.
Obviously octane booster works because you find giant drums of the stuff at some performance shops.
11-03-2011, 03:16 PM
#33
IIRC the pink/orange color is a hallmark of MMT-based octane boosters. I've tried this type before in my M3 and when I pulled the plugs one look was all it took...that was the last time I have used an octane booster. I always wondered what other deposits were being left in the combustion chamber. IMO one is far better off just blending in a few gallons of 100 octane gas.
11-03-2011, 04:20 PM
#37
11-03-2011, 04:43 PM
#38
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2009 C63, 2000 Nissan Maxima
Even 87 octane in my dd 2000 nissan maxima has seen better mpg
11-03-2011, 07:31 PM
#40
11-03-2011, 07:39 PM
#41
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Why wouldn't Costco gas be considered top tier when they are purchasing their gasoline from top tier producers? They buy from whoever is cheapest. Cheapest in price doesn't necessarily mean cheap quality.
11-03-2011, 07:44 PM
#42
Costco is extremely demanding. If industry-standard products are 12% meat Costco might ask you for 18% meat. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest that they hold their gasoline suppliers to top-tier standards. They have that kind of purchasing power and they use that clout all the time in search of higher quality.
11-03-2011, 08:31 PM
#43
Costco is extremely demanding. If industry-standard products are 12% meat Costco might ask you for 18% meat. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest that they hold their gasoline suppliers to top-tier standards. They have that kind of purchasing power and they use that clout all the time in search of higher quality.
Top Tier gas is all about the fuel additive. Costco's suppliers simply put a different additive into their own gasoline than they do Costco's.
11-03-2011, 08:50 PM
#44
And you know this how? I say BS.
Last edited by bhamg; 11-03-2011 at 08:58 PM.
11-04-2011, 01:07 AM
#45
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Thread Starter
Let me point out that I (your friendly op) am questioning possible ping due to lower octane available in California. Top tier or not, if 156 p31 pings on California premium (91), that is a problem for the health of this engine.
I of course wondered if this might be due to the quality of the gas my local Costco sells versus other brands available here.
I am sure if this is a true ping issue, even a low tier 95 octane will eliminate the ping.
I of course wondered if this might be due to the quality of the gas my local Costco sells versus other brands available here.
I am sure if this is a true ping issue, even a low tier 95 octane will eliminate the ping.
11-04-2011, 01:19 AM
#46
MBWorld Fanatic!
I've been using 76 for a while now since they advertise they don't add ethanol/methanol. I know shell and chevron, at least here in WA, are mixing up to 10% ethanol/methanol.
11-04-2011, 09:49 PM
#47
Those are my credentials, what are yours to make you so sure I'm wrong.
Costco gas IS a brand. If you claim its not, then what brand does Costco sell? It certainly is not the brand of their supplier as they are not licensed to use those brands, and are selling different fuel than is sold at the majors' own branded stations.
11-06-2011, 06:26 PM
#48
I work in the industry, for a major gasoline producer, in the department that wholesales to other gasoline retailers. In a previous role I worked closely with our product quality guys and am very familiar with fuel additive treat rates.
Those are my credentials, what are yours to make you so sure I'm wrong.
Costco gas IS a brand. If you claim its not, then what brand does Costco sell? It certainly is not the brand of their supplier as they are not licensed to use those brands, and are selling different fuel than is sold at the majors' own branded stations.
Those are my credentials, what are yours to make you so sure I'm wrong.
Costco gas IS a brand. If you claim its not, then what brand does Costco sell? It certainly is not the brand of their supplier as they are not licensed to use those brands, and are selling different fuel than is sold at the majors' own branded stations.
11-06-2011, 09:38 PM
#49
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2009 C63, 2000 Nissan Maxima
Just filled up at costco... I was talking with the attendant while I was there and he said that 80% of the 87 octane was from conoco phillips, 90% of the 91 from exxon, and sometimes from Valero... And that they add the 10% of ethanol at the station... He also said that he isn't aware of any other additives, there's no "v power" or "techron" type additives.... So until there's more clarity I won't be filling up the C at costco anymore... that's looking to be a 15-20 cent /gallon difference at the moment
11-07-2011, 07:48 AM
#50
Yeah, and I invented gasoline. It's the Internet, I can say what I want. So, you have specific information relating to Costco? If so I'm not seeing it here. But tell you what, I went to B-school with a friend whose brother is a Costco VP. I'll try to find out one thing - whether Cosctco's gas is Top Tier if they buy it from a producer whose own labeled brand of gasoline is Top Tier...I'll revive this thread when/if I find out.
I don't benefit either way. I haven't advertised for any particular brand of gasoline. I just want the group to be aware that there IS a difference in quality between the majors and the 'others'. As I said, if you're not keeping your car for long, save your money and buy cheaper gas, because valve deposits won't have time to build up and affect performance. For me, I'd rather spend a few extra bucks a year so that my car will run better, longer.
