What gas station do you go to fill up?

[Abdoman]

In Oklahoma we don't have Exxon, Mobile or Sunoco. We have two refinerys and most of the gas comes from the same place, regardless of brand (at least in OK). I have a good friend that drives a fuel transport. He ships a lot of Conoco. His suggestion - go to a gas station that you know keeps the filters changed regularly. Most of the high volume gas stations do a good job. I stay away from the mom & pop shops for fuel and hit Sam's regularly.

 

[samlee4444]

My friend's dad is a oil chemist at Chevron and told me something interesting. All forms of fuel start from some type of crude. Car oil, lighter fluid, car gasonline etc. The refineries fliter out the different fuels by creating layers. Of course you'll never get a pure layer, so you'll get "dirty" fuels. The higher up the layer the fuel is in that layer, the "cleaner" it will be. Well, with car fuels apparently there are different layers as wells. Chevron uses the top portion of the car fuel layer and then sells the bottom layer to Arco. That's why Arco is so much cheaper most of the time.

Point of the story, Chevron yes, Arco no.

 

[andreyiv]

Interesting, very interesting. Did he say what other stations are bad or does he only know about Chevron business?

 

[ODDferkOUT]

It's been between Chevron and Exxon for me. However, my car runs a lot smoother on Chevron gas.

 

[CosmosBlack]

Hess and Sam's club most of the time for me. If out of the way, I'd look for a clean and busy station. I never really gave brands a thought, after hearing people tell me gasoline are all basically the same. After listening to all you guys, perhaps I should switch brands for a while and experiment a little.

 

[VANCE]

BP OR SHELL

 

[///M SPEED]

76 Unleaded Racing Gasoline (100-octane) for my baby only! [joke] Ha, I use Chevron mainly, sometime 76 and Shell, but mostly Chevron.

Seriously, my father and his brothers use to use 76 Unleaded Racing Gas in his muscle cars they use to build. You can still find it at some rare locals. This is the pimp of all gas. Once you use this stuff you/your car will never want to go back.

 

[Tweet227]

I only use Mobil. Tried Shell once and had cylinder failure on that tank. Maybe an odd coincidence, maybe not. Have there ever been any write ups on all of the gas stations?!?

 

[Heezyo2o]

Shell mostly and costco more so when prices go up, but perfectly happy with costco gas. Use to go primarily to Chevron, just happens shell is closer at the time being. They just happen to start building a chevron across the street from the shell I go to, but will probably stick with shell. I'd also be just as happy with 76 or texaco if they are still around. I use mobil every now and then, but believe them to be in the lower tier.

By the way this one time I filled up at a chevron, and the first light I came to a stop at, the car shook rather violently. I contribute it bad gas and would gladly go back to chevron.

 

[DrPierceMD]

I use Esso in Germany. 98 octane. Just because I get a military discount.

 

[mikev]

I use shell in England. Optimax is the highest octane and actually cleans AND stops gunk build up on the cylinders. they tested it against regular 95 unleaded (optimax is 97) in an audi TT and found it gave an extra 10Hp on the dyno!!! Besides what do you expect from a fuel developed with ferrari and used in there F1 cars EXACTLY the same as at the pump!!

 

[Delgreco13]

I mostly use in this order BP or MOBIL or on occassions EXXON.

 

[Big Daddy]

I read a chemists article on the internet (I will try and find it) that said that all gasolines are the same at the terminal and come from the same storage tanks. It is when they are pumped into the truck for transport that the additives are added and that is the only difference. Other than the condition of the tanks in the ground at the individual stations, the additives make the difference in gasoline quality and octane. It was a very interesting report and dispelled some of my prior beliefs.

 

[///M SPEED]

I read a chemists article on the internet (I will try and find it) that said that all gasolines are the same at the terminal and come from the same storage tanks. It is when they are pumped into the truck for transport that the additives are added and that is the only difference. Other than the condition of the tanks in the ground at the individual stations, the additives make the difference in gasoline quality and octane. It was a very interesting report and dispelled some of my prior beliefs.

Big Daddy, you’re absolutely correct. My good friends’ dad works at the Tacoma Tide Flats where the gasoline is removed from the tankers. The gasoline is all the same at the terminal. The gas stations picks up the gas from there add their brands certain additives. He is one lucky SOB, because his dad gets free gas. The only thing is it is before any additives and he will usually put in some bought off the store shelves (STP, etc...).

 

[AndrewBall]

hmm i wish i could go to a gas station to fill up my car, i wish my local gas stations carried race fuel

 

[Big Daddy]

I still have not found the original article, instead I have found tons about the same topic. It seems I am getting an education on gas. Apparently there is a minimum government standard and all gas gets this basic additive. Then as the gas is sold from this "community" storage tank each brand adds their additives, if any. I also read that some "Plus" (middle grade) gas is a mixture of both premium and regular.

 

[AndrewBall]

i noticed before i rebuilt my engine, that some places the fuel really doesnt seem to vary at all from 89-93, i only can notice a difference in sunoco 94, which was definately a higher octane fuel then the rest, which all seemed the same wether it be 89 or 93 or 92 or something all seemed the same

 

[andreyiv]

I read somewhere that the US 94 octane gas (the one offered at sunnoco only) is the equvivalent to the European 99 octane gas. Someone also told me that if you add one glass of kerosene or something like that to a full tank, you get a lot more performance. Don't know if any of what I said is try but that is what I read/heard.

 

[AndrewBall]

kerosene? never heard of trying that before. all i know is once i used sunoco's 94 gas i stopped using everything else, i got the same gas milage yet alot more performance out of it, now i run Sunoco GT fuel which is still at an old station not far from my house but i have to ask for it and they unlock the pump cause some people are arent real smart and will try to fill thier Civic SPC (Slow Piece of Crap) up with it and find they might need engine work in a few months

 

[andreyiv]

I don't remember what it is exactly but now kerosene does sound weird. It could be alcohol, I'll ask my dad (he remembers it, I think) when he gets home if I don't forget to do so.