Not sure if you guys care much about this part of maintenance or not, but I'd like to eek out every mile of life from my current car. I've been using Safeway gas over the last few years. I switched from Costco gas because one of my previous cars sems to have run better on Safeway gas versus Costco gas. And since I've always bought premium, I thought I was gettting top tier gas. I was wrong, I'm switching on my fill up to Costco, Checron, Shell or even...ARCO. I never thought I'd ever say Arco. The YT video is below and the fuel report is attached.

 

What is the message you want your readers to take away from the attachment and video?

 

TopTier fuel really is beneficial...

 

Arco is part of Marathon Oil which also owns USA and Speedway branded stations.

Edit: I guess 7-11 recently purchased Speedway from Marathon in 2021.

 

This is interesting because in some markets - like where I live - all the gasoline comes from one refinery via a pipeline. The only difference is additives or anything that happens to it during delivery or storage at a station.

 

TopTier fuel is all about the additive and detergent packages. Otherwise fuel is fuel.

 

I got into a conversation with a fuel delivery truck driver sometime back around 2010. He told me that the bottom 2 tiers of gas was all the same and that premium was the only different gas. I believed him, and operated under that assumption since that conversation. My routine has consisted of primarily Safeway or Fred Meyer gas, with a Shell or Chevron gas fill up every couple months, and Techron fuel additive a few times per year. I thought I was giving my car the best...Wrong

 

Honestly if you are using the Techrom additive a few times a year, you are probably doing as well as you would be if you were using TopTier fuel

 

 

So Streamliner, do you use Top Tier electricity???

 

Not yet, but hopefully soon.

 

Costco fuel and all should be good. That fuel is good enough, and reasonably priced

 

https://www.toptiergas.com/?gad_sour...92pL7X-rX08-pR

Just run top tier gas and a bottle or two of Techron every oil change interval and you should be good.
I don’t understand why people rather save a few dollars for tank to pay hundreds of dollars for poor fuel related issues down the road, but to each their own.

 

Since we're talking about fuel, found this quite interesting:

 

Interestingly, I work for a convenience store chain, who isn’t on the Top Tier list, but we sell and deliver our gasoline to companies that are on that list 🤷🏻‍♂️

I’ve worked in/out and around the retail and logistics part of the oil industry for more than 20 years, and as @Tom in Austin said, it all gets pulled out of the same tanks, just different ‘jollup’ (additives) being added at the racks @SW20S . But, there are not as many additives available at the racks, as there are companies hauling fuel out of each terminal…

 

Top Tier is just part of marketing, brands subscribe, submit their samples for testing, and get their fancy stickers to affix to each pump. There was a good explanation somewhere (I think bobistheoilguy) about a number of companies such as BP/Amoco that exceed Top Tier specs but aren't paying to be on the list. Essentially, I purchase from the big brands and don't worry about it.

Its just like toothpaste and toothbrushes that meet or exceed standards, write a fat check to the ADA to use their ADA accepted seal. If you don't then you cant use it.. and kevin mccalister steals it from the pharmacy.

 

I only ruun Costco gas now as I don't drive much and it runs great. My old 300ZX, 05' Nissan Xterra and my 16' S550 all run equally great on this gas. I use additive occasionaly, I used to buy Techron when Costco sold the 6 pack but now will use a few different ones about ever other tank (including fuel stablizer in Z that I don't drive much)

 

Was using Kroger premium but switched to Sunoco few years back. I am not sure about the quality difference but sunoco surely smells great especially when I stomp on it

 

Y’all realize a refinery produces raw gasoline that is wholesaled to diversified retailers Costco, Walmart, Texaco, Exxon, Chevron, etc who then blend their proprietary additives for the retail market. It’s definitely not apples and apples. Spam or prime rib? For a few extra pennies your motor will love you.

Chevrons published additives:

Chevron Products
Additive Name Certified Detergent Fuel Type Exxal 10
G, D N-butanol
G OFA 425BH
G, D OGA 286S
G OGA 287
G OGA 293
G OGA 293 C
G OGA 293A
G OGA 293HF
G OGA 295
G OGA 296
G OGA 296HF
G OGA 298
G OGA 299A
G OGA 299HF
G OGA 318
G OGA 402 (CARB-based Certification) FR G OGA 402 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 402DC (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 402E (CARB-based Certification) FR G OGA 402E (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 402K (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 402W (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 412DC (CARB-based Certification) FR G OGA 412DC (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 472
G OGA 472 S
G, D OGA 496
G OGA 499
G OGA 504M (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 522 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 574
G OGA 599 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 602 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 602W (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 605 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 60505
G, D OGA 60510
G OGA 60524
G OGA 60527
G OGA 60530
G OGA 60540
G OGA 72003 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72004
G OGA 72007 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72010
G OGA 72012
G OGA 72015 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72040 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72042 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72045
G OGA 72046
G OGA 72305 (CARB-based Certification) FR G OGA 72305 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72306 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72308 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72309 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72311 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72317 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72331
G OGA 72340 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 72400
G OGA 72401
G OGA 72420
G OGA 72481
G OGA 72602
G, D OGA 72605
G OGA 72608
G OGA 72611 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA 76010
G OGA 78300
G, D OGA 78800
G OGA-72500
G, D OGA-72501
G OGA-76000
G OGA® 72041 (National Generic Certification) FR G OGA® 72043 (National Generic Certification) FR G OLOA 19034
G, D OLOA 19104
G, D OLOA 19106
G OLOA 2504 B
G OLOA 2505M
G OLOA 2508 N
G, D OLOA 2509H
G, D OLOA 2509N
G OLOA 2509P
G, D Oronite D-TECT 66622
G POBA
G, D PRO-GARD Clean-Up
G, D PRO-GARD Emission Control
G PRO-GARD Fuel Injector Cleaner
G PRO-GARD Fuel Injector Cleaner Plus
G PRO-GARD Octane Plus
G, D PRO-GARD Octane Treat
G, D PRO-GARD Stay Clean
G PRO-GARD Truck & RV Clean-Up
G SSY-2000 (National Generic Certification) FR G TFA 4706
G TFA-4715
G TFA-4715D
G TFA-4724
G, D TFA-4724K
G TFA-4803 (National Generic Certification) FR G TFA-4803I
G TFA-4952K (National Generic Certification) FR G TFA-5003
G TFA-5010
G TFA-5100
G
Additive Name Certified Detergent Fuel Type AC/Delco Fuel System Treatment Plus
G ACDelco Fuel System Treatment
G ACDelco Fuel System Treatment Plus
G Ban-Ice (Chevron U.S.A.)
G, D BMW Fuel System Cleaner Plus
G BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus
G Chevron 72040 Bulk Gasoline Additive (National Generic Certification) FR G Chevron Pro-Gard Fuel Injector Cleaner Plus Intake Valve Cleaner
G Chevron Pro-Gard Clean-Up
G Chevron Pro-Gard Gas Treatment
G Chevron Pro-Guard Carb & Choke Cleaner
G Chevron Professional Fuel System Treatment
G Chevron PURESCAPE™ Performance Optimizer
G Chevron Techron Concentrate Gasoline Additive
G Chrysler MOPAR Fuel Injector Cleaner Plus
G Chrysler MOPAR® Fuel Injector Cleaner +
G Denatured Fuel Ethanol (Chevron U.S.A.)
G ETBE
G GM Fuel System Treatment
G GM Fuel System Treatment Plus
G GM Goodwrench PFI Gasoline Detergent
G Hyundai Fuel System Cleaner Plus
G Kleer-Flo Injecto Wash
G MINI Crud-B-Gone
G MINI Fuel System Cleaner Plus
G Mopar Fuel Injector Cleaner (Chrysler)
G MTBE (Chevron)
G Nissan Fuel System Cleaner
G OEM Concentrate Fuel System Cleaner HF
G OEM EFI Cleaner HF
G OEM Fuel System Cleaner HF
G OEM Fuel System Cleaner Plus HF
G Port Fuel Injector Gasoline Detergent
G PRO-GARD® Fuel Injector Cleaner
G SAAB Injector Cleaner
G Saturn Port Fuel Injector Gasoline Detergent
G TAME
G Techron Gasoline Additive (National Generic Certification) FR G TECHRON® Concentrate Plus
G TECHRON® Fuel Injector Cleaner
G Techron® High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner
G Toyota EFI Injector Cleaner [HF] - Taiwan
Prime rib.

 

Costco is TopTier

 

It’s true that some non Top Tier branded gas stations may carry the same gas from a tanker that just filled up a Chevron gas station, but that’s not always the case. It’s a hit or miss. But all Top Tier gas stations would carry gas that meets the Top Tier standards.

 

May I ask what brand of fuel you most often used on your W222?

 

My educated opinion is Costco. He strongly suggests that 3 posts prior.

 

I run Costco gas most of the time as they are just down the road from me in Issaquah, WA. Most gas in the PNW comes down from AK and then via the refineries in Anacortes. Mine seems to run fine.

 

Nice and LONG tread !
I always fill 93 whatever I find it !