1. What gas do you find the best?
2. Your reasoning
3. Proof (if any)

You missed one.. can you guess which one???

here's a hint...
official fuel of NASCAR..
"Spirit of ...."

Sunoco is the new offical fuel of NASCAR according to....
http://nascar.about.com/b/a/018219.htm

76 used to be as you may recall those large orange balls.

I've found no noticeable difference between the major brands as far as power and economy are concerned, so I primarily use Exxon because There's one conveniently located near our house
I can use my Speedpass
Every time I fill up, I'm generating a few pennies towards my niece's college education via Upromise
They also sell Krispy Kreme donuts :tasty:
However, I'll occasionally put a tankfull of Texaco through it, because I believe the marketing hype about Techron.

Originally posted by eccles
I've found no noticeable difference between the major brands as far as power and economy are concerned, so I primarily use Exxon because There's one conveniently located near our house
I can use my Speedpass
Every time I fill up, I'm generating a few pennies towards my niece's college education via Upromise
They also sell Krispy Kreme donuts :tasty:
However, I'll occasionally put a tankfull of Texaco through it, because I believe the marketing hype about Techron.

rofl- those are pretty much the exact same reasons I use it eccles- that and our local exxons have a rewards program where for every $50 I spend I get a free soda, and every $200 gets me a free carwash. But I'm starting to actually notice the gas money in Upromise. It's all the premium I put in the car, I guess. I do skip the Krispy Kremes, though, since the local one where they actually make the darn things is 5 minutes away. Just can't beat the just-out-of-the-oven KK's.

I had to vote Shell because it's the only one in your list that I use and then only on the rare occasions that I fuel with Optimax. Normally I use Tesco (a British supermarket) because it's slightly less expensive...

what about unocal 76?

You left out the one I use -- whoever is cheapest.

I like shell

but I like ones that have smokes and redbulls because I'm additced to both

I usually use Mobil just because it's convenient, but I will also use sunoco, or exxon.

I gave up on Texaco because it caused severe knocking (on 91 octane super) in my both my '67 Alfa and my '72 mercedes. This was a real disappointment because I liked the people who owned the station, but the fuel was causing overheating, stumbling and other issues. Oh well.

For the last 7-8 years I've noticed no difference in any of my cars regarding "brand" of gas. After a little research I found that all gas has to have the same amount of detergentn additives, by law.

I tried just about every brand I could find and found no difference in MPG or power. I've never had any problems with carbon build-up (mainly because I stick to revving all my cars high on occasion, moreso with the 8), dirty fuel injectors or any other fuel related maladies.

Knowing a couple of people who work for BP, they admit that all gas companies buy their fuel from the same markets and that all refineries sell on the "spot market" to any company willing to pay for it.

Techron is a "brand" of detergent additive. It complies with the gov't standards as a detergent additive, just like any other detergent additive....they just happen to put a name on theirs.

So what does all this mean? Bottom line, gov't regs assure that gas quality is the same, no matter what brand you buy. They all have the same quality/level of additives. Some states require "winterized" gas, some don't. Those that do, have the same additives for winterization since there are only a finite number of refineries that all gas companies buy their gas from.

The difference in price, if there is any, from station to station goes to pay for marketing. Shell and Sunoco tend to price there gas higher around my 'burg. Sunoco does offer a higher priced, higher rated octane, but I've never seen a difference to justify using their top octane. I won't buy from either of them anymore because they are the first stations to raise their prices when any news breaks that there might/maybe/perhaps be someone in the Middle East who sneezes the wrong way. Shell and Sunoco are the first ones to go on a "price gouging" spree, too.

For those who think it's OPEC that props up gas prices, think again. The refineries are owned by the big oil companies. They set the price that all the stations buy from. If you don't think there is collusion among the gas companies, just look at the price of gas...in any neighborhood...the same (except for Shell and Sunoco). Go to a neighborhood 10 miles away, there's as much as a dime/gallon differene. Why? Because of the collusion extends to the different company owned stations in any given neighborhood.

Buy the cheapest gas you can find....it's from the shell, Sun or BP refineries anyway.

Isn't Amoco BP now?

That's where I usually go - they're the only ones around here that have 92 octane that I know of.

Originally posted by blizz81
Isn't Amoco BP now?

That's where I usually go - they're the only ones around here that have 92 octane that I know of.

yeah it is

you missed sheetz (love their chili dogz)

and cosco gas (its cheap)

ExxonMobile and 76 give me the best mileage.

Never Shell!!!

I've logged mileage a lot, pretty much all the 96,000 miles I put on my Firebird, and found that.. Shell and those no-name brands always give inferior mileage.

Here on California Central Coast, we have "RottenRobbie" [sp?] which will charge $1.80 when Brands charge $2.00

- 10% cheaper gas
- 10% less mpg

I rather buy the expensive brand gas (except Shell, which did bad on my Firebird, haven't tried Shell in the RX-8)

It is WRONG to say all gas has the same.. some have MTBE which is somehow bad but in theory it would increase fuel efficiency, a co-worker from the oil industry explained me. Note that I get best mpg with 76 gas which happens to be the only one without MTBE.
(???)

Originally posted by ptiemann

It is WRONG to say all gas has the same.. some have MTBE which is somehow bad but in theory it would increase fuel efficiency, a co-worker from the oil industry explained me. Note that I get best mpg with 76 gas which happens to be the only one without MTBE.
(???)

I thought the owner's manual said something about never using gas that contains methanol (at any percentage) or ethanol (at above 10%). 76 (which I love) uses ethanol but I'm not sure about the percentage. Anybody know?

- VoodooKhan

I find that surprising to say the least. I've tried Exxon, 76, and Arco. On a full tank I get 25mpg, or barely 300 miles before refueling my '98 Corolla.

I switched to Shell, pump in the same 12 (+/-.3gal) gallons (on a 13.2gal tank), and now the mileage goes up to 325-350.

Believe me, my driving techniques aren't conducive to save gas either. Jackrabbit every green. At least 80mph on the freeway... sometimes to 95 (top speed is barely 105).

I guess it just depends. Shell and Chevron around here is just $.02 more/gal for all octanes compared to Arco anyway.

Shell - there's a garage close by.

Do you guys have costcos with cheap gas? They are CHEAP!

btw, exxon and mobile are the same company, so I figured they probably use the same gas?

I like the shell....the crappers are clean and they usually have decent coffee......but if it's time for a slurpee and a hot dog after hitting the beach, I hit 7-11(citgo) every time.

whatever is closest when orange light comes on

Originally posted by Voodookhan
I thought the owner's manual said something about never using gas that contains methanol (at any percentage) or ethanol (at above 10%). 76 (which I love) uses ethanol but I'm not sure about the percentage. Anybody know?

- VoodooKhan

The manual does say precisely this, but I have no idea about the answer. I tried posting a thread about it in the tech section, but noone was interested. I was also wondering who, if anyone, uses methanol. I had a volvo injection system eaten for breakfast by that trash when I was a kid eg: years ago.

Oh well, probably never get an answer, and it probably doesn't really matter anyway.

-H

im pretty strictly union 76, but will settle for others except for Arco. jesus balls it took me 30% more gas drive the same distance on arco gas than on 76 gas.

I think arco adds water in their gas:D

Originally posted by Squidward
btw, exxon and mobile are the same company, so I figured they probably use the same gas?

yes, they are the same formulation for the last 2-3 years now.


Back in my oil lab days, Amoco actually always burned the cleanest by a significant amount. I personally use whatever is the cheapest/closest - lately its been Texaco

For this car - Amoco (BP now) is what I look for. It's tasted a few other brands however, especially on trips.

My best mpg - by a slight margin - was Murphy gas (on a trip). Go figure...

Up until now, I've stuck to "the cheaper, the better". Still do with my other cars.

Shell is verbotten. I dispise how they jack their prices first, when given the chance.

Originally posted by mikeb
whatever is closest when orange light comes on

So you use my gas station. How come I never see you there? :D

I'll got out of my way not to use Shell. They are always the most expensive and are always the first (and sometimes only) stations that are ready and willing to do some price gouging. I don't understand how they have any customers at all.

Jeez. And all this time, I was wondering if it was just me that has a problem with Shell. This is not the typical topic of even idle conversation, so I never really talked about this with anyone.

Interesting!

The sorry thing is when you go by one, there are always customers filling it up. Mindlessly - permanently. I think.

racerx....shell probably does more advertising than any other station I'm aware of. That might explain why they have customers. For example, if it weren't for advertising do you think Chia Pets would be a product?

From my understanding, all Shell stations are company owned, so they're more apt to practice coordinated price fixing/gouging in all there stores.

There's still a belief that somehow Shell gives a driver "something more". That's a belief that I find "bunk" whether I'm driving something high performance (like my rx8) or the most mundane car (like my Honda Civic).

Oh! Holy smokes! 31.15% obviously disagree with us. I just noticed! :o

This is sort of interesting to me. Shell seems to me to have a very limited market saturation in the North East where I am. You get more exxons, mobils, sunocos than anything else, then it kind of goes down to texaco, amoco, BP, Hess then shell. Are Shells high on the list of stations that you see where you are or are people searching these things out? Just curious.

Typical gas stations: 76, BP, Citgo, Shell, Hess, Amoco (starting to see their signs being changed to BP presently), Texaco, Exxon, Racetrac, Speedway, Circle K, Pit Stop, IGA, Smile ( :) ).

Not hardly any Mobil or Sonoco. I can't even think of where any are around here.

(Does Gulf still exist?)

Howyadoin, by the way? Allentown is my hometown...

Oh, I'm OK. I take it things are OK down there in South Carolina. Don't know if you have any family or anything up here any more, but PA is currently experiencing its wettest year ever, which is getting a little irritating, and may be another killer snowy year, therefore new snow tires and wheels for the 8.

I'm not sure Gulf still exists 'round here in PA. I used to use a Gulf station regularly, but the corporation wanted an astronomical amount of money for ground rent (the owners told me what it was compared to the texaco that they also own), so these people got out of the contract. The station has been abandoned for about two years now. It looks to me as if Gulf are either getting into the realestate management business ( eg: leasing to other forms of reatailers than gas stations), or they are divesting of their retail arm, at least around here, but whatever they are doing they are still preparing to make a move by forcing more retailers out of their contracts. So, in answer to your question I'm not sure if they still really exist here. There are still a couple operating, but they seem to be on the wain.

Interesting to me that there are no Mobils. Their market saturation here is very large. I have also noticed amocos becoming Brit. Petrol. I guess that it's a better brand name.

Have a better one -

H

i like the gas stations name in IA when i was still in school, Kum n' Go. LOL I still laugh everytimes i think about it. :D

Originally posted by pyrospawn
i like the gas stations name in IA when i was still in school, Kum n' Go. LOL I still laugh everytimes i think about it. :D LOL!!

Gives "Fill 'er up" a whole new meaning. :D

Snow tires & wheels, yeah... Another of my many reasons why I moved south..;)

76

I used to use Amoco. But now I use Sunoco because they have the 4% back when you use their credit card at the station. I first got turned onto it when I went to atlantic city in NJ. My last car really liked it on the trip back - very responsive. We'll see how my new RX-8 likes it now.

Just been reading the threads, about the manuals recommendation about ethanol and methanol, and want to assure you that no 'major' oil company would use methanol in its gas. It is not considered to be a viable blending component.

Ethanol is O.K. as it says, up to 10%. More is not TOO bad, but it's expensive, so it is not going to happen! Mostly added to pacify farm and grain lobbyists, it has little to do with reducing pollution. It is only marginally good at reducing one particular pollutant - 'ozone', which can cause a rare kind of smog.

Much more common is the cheaper MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether). Congress tried to specify alcohol in fuel, but the oil companies use this stuff instead - so the alcohol/farm/grain lobby is pissed off, and the consumer still has crappy low-power gas, and no-one is happy....(be careful what you wish for, you may get it!)

MTBE is implicated in ground water/well pollution, but the real problem is old leaky gas tanks putting gasoline into the water - MTBE showing up is just a symptom.....(it is even nasty to work with, it smells like cats piss (don't ask!) and is almost imposible to put out if it catches fire - water and foams just mix with it and spread the fire!)

Back to the main point, you should not run across any gas containing Methanol, unless you are buying your fuel from the "Albanian State Fuels Authority"!!
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doc

You see Shell just about on every corner in OH...and right across the street will be a BP (Amoco). While BP isn't the "price gouger" Shell is, they aren't the cheapest either.

Plenty of Mobil gas around the Midwest, too. They are usually tied in with a chain of "mini-marts" called United Dairy Farmers.

Plenty of "Speedways" (Marathon gas or Ashland OIL, which is headquartered in KY).

I can't remember the last time I saw a Gulf Station or Union 76.

See Sunoco around some places.

I still use Costco gas mainly (sometimes as much as a dime to 15 cents cheaper/gal than BP and/or Shell). I see Mobil and Marathon tankers regularly re-filling their underground tanks. I've seen Marathon tankers at Krogers, too.

Among the cheapest are places called "Swifty".

Originally posted by Doctorr


Back to the main point, you should not run across any gas containing Methanol, unless you are buying your fuel from the "Albanian State Fuels Authority"!!
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doc

Hey Doctorr -

Thanks so much for the response. I was hoping that someone from the industry would give me an idea of what was going on. I have spent a certain amount of time looking at MTBE from the environmental perspective, and generally everyone is in agreement that the chemical is just a palliative to the agriculture industry. As for Methanol, one of the reasons that I posted my questions about it is that in the late eighties I had a volvo injection system eaten for breakfast by it, and I really wanted to make sure that the stuff was out of the industry chemical lexicon. Glad to hear it, and thanks very much - H