So I know quite a few people are very picky as to where their gas comes from. I for one believe gas is gas, and ill get it anywhere as long as the station doesnt look dingy. So is top tier gas really all that special? Am I missing out on something, where should I get my gas then.

 

From my experience gas doesn't differ station to station locally. I know different states have different regulations on how much ethanol and other additives can be in the gas. For example I get 3-4mpg more when I get gas in Wisconsin. That's the only good thing ive found in Wisconsin btw. lol Im sure a member in the gas and oil industry might know some secrets. My guess would be that all the stations get their gas from the exact same place.

 

gas is gas. It all comes from the same place pretty much. Unless you are talking octane wise then it is 91+ for my Monte.

 

Octane aside, to me gas is gas. I filled up with gas from a top tier station this tank, have to see I it makes any difference.

 

I dont think gas is gas. I notice significant differences when I fill up at Arco compared to my normal Shell fill up. It has a lot to do with filtering and purity.

 

Keep in mind, regardless of the pump you get the gas (BP, Sheetz, Marathon, Chevron, etc), I believe there are only a couple actual gasoline suppliers (that drill it and refine it and sell it to the companies you pump it from).

From what I do understand, some vendors opt to put more ethanol mix with the gas then others.

Ethanol will alter (negatively) MPG slightly. It burns cleaner but it does not burn as good as gasoline. So the idea of "top tier" gasoline would be buying gas with the least or no ethanol mix.

 

supposedly top tier gas has more detergents and junk to keep down on sludge and what not.


Top Tier Gasoline

 

around here I think the same company supplies most all the stations so as long as i get 91 with no ethanol I am fine...I also get a consistent mpg in the LS4 no matter where it comes from.

 

"Top Tier" is a marketing term. The detergent company is called Top Tier Detergents.

A gas station must apply and prove that they are using a specific combination of additives in their fuel every year in order to be on the Top Tier list.

One of the testing guidelines for Top Tier gasoline is based on GM Intake Valves. So if you do want a little peace of mind, the Top Tier detergent based stations should help.

Yes, gas is gas, however each company does treat their gas differently.

I usually fill up at name-brand places that I know have high volume.

 

Ha, I did not realize "Top Tier" was a brand! my bad!

BTW - (somewhat unrelated) - I've used gas with no issues from the Flying J before. When I went to the 2012 GM Nats, before heading home, filled up on what I thought was crazy cheap gas at the Flyin J across from our hotel. Learned WHY it was so crazy cheap, we got HORRIBLE MPG! When I filled up back home, MPG was fine, so it had to be that tank from that Flying J. Needless to say, I didn't get gas there in 2013....