Gas Stations

[Jordanbutter]

Ok I live in CO, better yet Colorado Springs, pretty much the best gas I can get is 91 so I was wondering if there is any real difference in gas stations. I mean does Shell have better 91 than Diamond Shamrok or so.

 

[4BangR-x]

Yes, places do have a higher quality Octane rating then others. I dont know which ones are actually the best, but I do believe that consumer reports had a survey out awhile ago.

It has to do with the percentage of ethanol for the most part.

 

[Jordanbutter]

Well I mean I know there are higher octain I'm talkin about within 91 octain is there a 91 that is better than other 91's.

 

[4BangR-x]

yea I just worded it wrong, what I mean is that there is higher quality 91 then others due to ethanol percentage.

 

[keymaster]

Every gas station in the country (for the most part) uses a 10% ethanol blend, so it doesn't have anything to do with that. Personally, I buy what's cheapest. I have yet, in my life, to get a "bad tank of gas".

 

[4BangR-x]

I know we had an Amoco in our town awhile back, it went out of buisness, and they had no ethanol in their gas. I found a nice link incase anyones up for reading...

http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/pdf/AboutRFA/Gasoline.pdf

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

I know a man who has been working at/delivering for a refinery and distributor for many years. He swears that every gas station gets the same stuff. It's possible that a few stations use additives after the fact, but the actual gas is the same.

 

[deadlyforce]

The Sheetz up here "waters" down their gas, and it's horrible. When I used to buy their premium, because it was cheaper, I felt like I was running on regular when going up hills/pushing the car in general.
I've tried Exxon/Mobil, BP/Shell, and Citgo, and by far my vote (just from experience and personal preference) is with BP/Shell.

 

[solo92s10]

another thing to look out for i that you arent getting gas right after it is delivered. When the truck is pumping the gas into the holding tank it stirs up dirt and anything off the bottom of the tank.

 

[wret]

Different brands often come from the refinery but one might have an additive package that is better than another for a particular engine. The real difference is at the retail level. I don't know who's ripping off who, but many times the "premium" is not. I tend to frequent the same station until I detect a grade swap, then I'll shift my loyalties to another station.

 

[Dasamary]

Buying below 91 octace can give your car knock and the car will retard the timing in your engine causing you to lose power. Now I have read that Shell and BP and other name brand companies actually add more detergents to help keep your fuel system running clean. I have no idea if that actually helps or not. I always reccomend buying some Fuel Injector cleaner and putting it in a few times a year.