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Does It Matter Where You Get Gas?

The Difference Between Brands of Gas






Gas is expensive, so you want to get the best bang for your buck, but you don't want to hurt your car. So, it's important to know whether there is a significant difference between brands of gas, what the differences mean, and whether cheap gas can hurt your car. The quick answer is it's generally fine to use the cheapest gas you can get. However, there are differences between brands of gas and there are consequences from using cheap gas.



All Gas Is the Same (Up to a Point)
If you ever get the chance to see a pipeline carrying petroleum, you'll see it bears logos from multiple companies. Once the petroleum gets to the refinery, it is made into gasoline. Oil tankers carry this gas to different companies, so the gasoline part of gas is the same. However, each company is required by law to put additives in the fuel. The composition, quantity, and quality of the additives is proprietary. All gas contains additives, but they aren't created equal. Does it matter? Yes and No.



Additives Can Matter
While most of gas consists of gasoline, it also contains additives, and usually ethanol. The additives include detergents, which help prevent fuel injector clogs and deposits from forming in the engine. The chemicals are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are required by law. Whether your gas comes from Arco or Exxon, it contains detergent, but cheaper gas tends to contain the minimum amount of additives. Mobil, for example, claims to contain twice the amount of additives compared with generic gas (ie. cheap gas) . Studies have shown regular and discount gas both meet octane and detergent criteria and offer correct seasonal formulations. For the most part, the difference between the fuels is that buying discount gas can save you a lot of money at the pump.

However, gas with more additives does a better job at preventing engine wear. If you're driving a rental car or aren't planning on keeping a vehicle long enough that engine performance is a priority, you'll likely consider the more expensive additives a waste of money. If you're looking to maximize your engine's performance and keep it in peak condition as long as possible, you'll probably choose to spend a bit more to get the best fuel for your car that's available. These would be what are called the "Top Tier" fuels and they are clearly marked at the pump at Exxon, Shell, Mobil, Chevron, and other stations. Another option is to buy generic gas (ie. cheap gas) and then add fuel injector cleaner yourself. You'll get the benefits of added detergents while saving money over premium brand gas.




Ethanol in Gas

Aside from the difference in the amount and formulation of additives, another big difference between cheap gas and name brand gas has to do with ethanol. Modern automobiles are sophisticated machines, capable of compensating for fuel variations, but increasing the amount of ethanol in gas results in lower fuel economy. If you buy gas containing a lot of ethanol, you won't make it as far between fill-ups, so you may not actually be saving yourself money at the pump. Arco calculates fuel economy is 2-4% lower for their ethanol-containing fuels, for example.

It's hard to avoid ethanol, since even Top Tier fuels almost always contain 10% ethanol. However, some fuels now contain 15% ethanol or more. Check your vehicle handbook, since some manufacturers actually warn against using this fuel, as it's potentially damaging for high compression engines. It's possible to buy ethanol-free gas, but increasingly difficult. Its presence, however, is more likely to affect your fuel line than the amount and type of additives in your gas.



The Bottom Line
For just about everyone, cheap gas means more money in your pocket and little to no chance of harm to your vehicle. If you drive a car where minute difference in fuel formulation matter, you knew this from the outset. You can still pick up a bargain every now and then, but would do better to stick to the gas your baby likes for regular fill-ups.

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Will getting gas from different stations mess up my car?


Sources ... https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestio...s_mess_up/


1 vài điểm cho mình suy nghĩ 


- My understanding is different Gas Stations have different formulas— though they are somewhat similar as the fuel industry is heavily regulated. They are designed to mix with fuels from other stations, so this should be nothing to worry about.

- Actually, going to different stations for gas is a good idea. Most all major brands (chevron, shell, mobil, etc) have additives in the gas that help keep your engine clean. By going to different stations, you get different additives.

- No, getting gas from different gas stations will not hurt your car at all.

- Going to different stations doesn't matter, but you should try your best not to mix up the types of fuel. It doesn't matter terribly much, but you still shouldn't do it.

- All gas is the same. The difference in some brands from others is the additives. Mixing gas from different station shouldn't matter. There are rules about that.

- The Top Tier detergent package is good to have, and a lot of the brands have it... Beyond that, the brands are largely equivalent.

When you have a choice in the matter, you want to choose a station that moves a lot of fuel, so that it hasn't been sitting in the tanks for an eternity. You also want to avoid stations that have a tanker at them right when you need to fill up. Any crap that is hanging out in the tank will have been mixed in by the act of filling the tank and it takes time for the mix to separate back out.

- Another note on top tier fuels would be that the detergents help keep your injectors from clogging and they keep carbon buildup down which will increase the life of injectors, piston rings, and maintain good head flow = better mpg.

Also, if you can find a station that does not blend their fuels (e.g. no 10% Ethanol stickers on the pump) you'll get a little better mpg because the energy content of the fuel is slightly higher.

- My old chemistry professor holds multiple PhD's in organic and inorganic chemistry and worked in the fuel additives industry for 27 years. He swears up and down that Shell makes the highest quality gasoline due to their additives. I don't know if it's true, but he was a nice guy, so I trust him.


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Vân thường hay đổ xăng ở nhiều trạm khác nhau , thuận trạm nào thì đổ trạm đó , xăng nếu rẽ (dĩ nhiên là brand name - nhưng đổ Regular là đủ good rồi , ngoại trừ nếu xe mình đòi hỏi mình phải đổ Premium) thì cứ tắp vào làm đầy bình xăng ... My favorite là Shell 

Vân khuyên các bạn nên để MINIMUM LÀ NỮA BÌNH XĂNG ... đừng để thấp quá . chances là sẻ gặp nhiều phức tạp (tỉ dụ như xăng lên giá, mình tiếc chưa muốn đổ xăng , cứ chạy tới lúc xăng hết bình thì nằm dọc đường   ... hay bình xăng ở dưới có nhiều cặn bả , mình chạy tới mức thấp , thì cặn bả trong bình xăng sẽ vào máy có thể làm hư hõng máy  :bomb4: )


Măc dù đổ brand name, nhưng thỉnh thoảng Vân cũng châm chai này vào bình xăng , để clean Fuel Injectors , tiết kiệm xăng không bị phung phí thôi , chứ không có hại gì cả


  

[tuyetvan]

In many cars that require higher octane fuel (typically European and/or turbocharged engines), top tier is indeed recommended and, in some cases, required. This is not to say these cars won't run on regular super or premium unleaded (keep in mind, top tier has nothing to do with octane rating), but for OPTIMAL results and particularly long term longevity, they need top tier.


What is top tier? Top tier is simply a name given to premium fuels that contain additional additives and detergents right from the pump that help the fuel burn cleaner and resist carbon buildup (the byproduct of internal combustion). Engines with direct injection are particularly sensitive to this, and therefore require top tier usually.

Now, if your engine is NOT turbocharged, direct injected, or European (loosely speaking, not all Euro engines recommend it), it's unlikely top tier fuel will pose any advantage over typical cheap fuel (you'll notice, top tier fuel is usually about 20 cents more a gallon on average than regular fuel of the same octane).

There will be some people that will swear up and down that top tier is best for any engine, and I can't speak for their experiences, but from all the research I've done on the matter, this is likely nothing more than a placebo effect.

EDIT: It probably bears mentioning, since we're on the subject of fuel additives, you also want to keep an eye on whether or not your fuel has ethanol in it. The majority of fuel (assuming you're in the U.S. anyway) is what's known as E-10-E-15. This basically means, the gasoline may contain up to that designated percentage of ethanol(the number is the max ethanol percentage).

Why does this matter? Ethanol, while indeed a renewable and cleaner fuel, does not contain the same energy by volume as gasoline. This means your engine will not get as many miles per gallon of fuel on an ethanol blend vs pure gasoline. And the differences can be significant. E-85 for example (85% ethanol), will get you about 33% less fuel economy than "E-0" gasoline.

And additionally, if your engine isn't designed for it, excessive ethanol in the fuel can damage fuel systems and seals etc. Always make sure your vehicle is capable of safely burning any fuel you intend to use.



https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/6...u_buy_gas/

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