Top Tier Gas
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No such thing. It all comes from the same place. Just kidding. There has been endless debate throughout the internets over the years. Opinions and objective data vary widely, and have actually changed over the years. I run Shell FWIW because I have one on each corner of the intersection.
‘13 WDT A6 sedan, headers, intake, two booster seats in the back.
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I cannot find anywhere saying it must be tier, but from my experience going between top tier Costco, and a local Fred Meyer (Kroger), that is not labeled top tier, I have seen zero difference in performance, mpg, or anything else (premium at each). That said, it would take a lot for me to get premium at an ARCO or the likes.
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I used to only use top tier gas. However a few weeks ago I noticed a small sticker on the corner of the gas pump that said something to the effect of due to supply chain shortages this fuel may or may not be top tier. LOL WTF. Now I just use the grocery store gas.
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My concern with stations is how clean is the station. I figure a station that doesn't have a clean store/parking/fueling areas are more apt to possibly have contaminants in the under ground tanks or maintenance done for filters for the pumps.
I agree. The detergents and other additives in top tier gas helps to keep the fuel system and valves cleaner over the long run. I used to add Lucas fuel additive to my V1 tank once a month or so until my tuner noticed unusual deposits on my spark plugs when changing them out. He said consistent use of top tier gas was all that was needed to keep things clean.
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426 Posts
Walmart, Sams and BJ's does not sell top tier. Costco is top tier.
I had 2 oxygen sensors fail in a new under 5,000 mile Buick GS a few years ago. I mostly used BJ's gas at the time. Dealer stated poor fuel could have caused the failure. No problems after using top tier.
I had 2 oxygen sensors fail in a new under 5,000 mile Buick GS a few years ago. I mostly used BJ's gas at the time. Dealer stated poor fuel could have caused the failure. No problems after using top tier.
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There are a limited number of gasoline distribution pipelines in the US and for the most part they're all shared by all the oil companies. As a result, they all refine their fuels to the same standards and the raw distillation is pretty much undifferentiated by supplier. A huge amount of mixing can't be avoided when each supplier adds their product to what's being pumped down the pipe. At the regional distribution site, when the fuel gets loaded in to a tanker truck for the "last mile" to the gas stations, each oil company adds in their own mixture of additives to brand the fuel that'll be going in to their trucks for their stations and your tank.
You can't be sure of what additives if any are included in the "no name" products, but because the raw fuel is coming from the same pipeline as Mobil and Shell and BP, as far as octane rating it's going to be the same base stock as the name brand stuff...
That being said, I'm immediately suspicious of anything advertised as "top tier" or "grade A" or whatever. I'd be more inclined to buy from a no-name distributor if they called themselves "decent gas, cheap"...
You can't be sure of what additives if any are included in the "no name" products, but because the raw fuel is coming from the same pipeline as Mobil and Shell and BP, as far as octane rating it's going to be the same base stock as the name brand stuff...
That being said, I'm immediately suspicious of anything advertised as "top tier" or "grade A" or whatever. I'd be more inclined to buy from a no-name distributor if they called themselves "decent gas, cheap"...
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63 Posts
Top tier fuel just has a specific minimum amount of detergent additives in it (above EPA min standards) to help keep the engine cleaner (e.g. injectors, valves, etc.). You can run any premium with no short term effects. Longer term you may end up with more carbon build up on some engine components than if you were using top tier.
Here's a website that gets into all the details.
toptiergas.com
There's also a link in there showing all the top tier stations if that interests you.
Here's a website that gets into all the details.
Why TOP TIER™
toptiergas.com
There's also a link in there showing all the top tier stations if that interests you.
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63 Posts
True. Gasoline in bulk from any /all refineries meets API specifications. Then before delivery to a gas station, each brand of station has its own additive package that is added either meets Top Tier specification or does not.
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So this makes me wonder...what or whom is "TopTier"? Shell vs Marathon vs Wawa vs Mobil?
Most of Mobil stations around me make glad that I carry in Condition 0
Most of Mobil stations around me make glad that I carry in Condition 0
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63 Posts
Not sure I understand the question. If I understand correctly, the requirements to meet "top tier" were developed by a group of auto manufacturers.
If you are asking which brands of fuel, then look here:
TOP TIER™ Gasoline Brands
www.toptiergas.com
‘13 WDT A6 sedan, headers, intake, two booster seats in the back.
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Probably the best quality, hard to argue that. And I used to only get my gas there. Used to. With the way they have their prices, though, I would rather fill up at Costco while adding some Lucas Octane Booster, then hold my finger up as I drive past a Chevron.
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Costco is top tier also. see website I linked above or for anyone that doesn't want to click a link here is the list as of 3/16/2022 for USA:
Licensed Retail Brands |
| 76 |
| ARCO |
| Aloha |
| Beacon |
| Breakaway |
| CITGO |
| Cenex |
| Chevron |
| Conoco |
| Costco Wholesale |
| CountryMark |
| CountryMark PLUS |
| Diamond Shamrock |
| Express Mart |
| Exxon |
| Fast Fuel |
| GetGo |
| HFN - Hawaii Fueling Network |
| Harmons Fuel Stop |
| Hele |
| Holiday |
| Kirkland Signature Gasoline |
| Kwik Star |
| Kwik Trip |
| Marathon |
| Meijer |
| Meijer Express |
| Metro Petro |
| Mobil |
| Ohana Fuels |
| Phillips 66 |
| QT |
| QuikTrip |
| Ranger |
| Ranger Fuel |
| Ranger Mustang |
| Ranger Stallion |
| Ranger Thoroughbred |
| Reeders |
| Road Ranger |
| Rutter's |
| Shamrock |
| Shell |
| Simonson Station Stores |
| Sinclair |
| Sunoco |
| Texaco |
| Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery |
| Valero |
| Value America |
| WOW |
| Win Win |
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