12/2 Is there a big difference in quality of gas sold between brand name and
generic gas stations?
\_ Not enough to pay extra for it.
\_ Supposedly not, but my car runs like crap when I put cheap gas
in it. I prefer Chevron if given a choice. I go out of my way
to avoid Arco/BP if I can help it and I never buy true generic
gas (like Costco or Thrifty or whatever). Next time you buy
something at the grocery store compare the ingredients in the name
brand with those in generic brand. Sometimes they are identical,
though not usually. Once in while the generic is actually superior.
Most of the time the generic is inferior. Why would you assume
any differently about any other product, including gas?
\_ So, are you saying that he bas sold at BP brabded gas stations
is not as good as say Shell?
\_ It seems not based on how my car runs. YMMV.
\_ You can STFW, but gas stations are all basically supplied the
same gas (you can't really build a budget oil refinery),
with the difference being the proprietary additives.
\_ Yes, and the additives make a difference. So, too, might
storage (lots of gunk in the tank) or other variables.
\_ Well, now, that's not so clear. But you certainly hope
they do if you're willing to pay for them.
\_ I go by what my manufacturer (BMW) recommends:
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
Notice BP and Exxon are not recommended. If you do
research you will see Chevron (who holds a lot of
patents for this stuff) and Shell (supposedly just
released a new product) recommended over and over
again. I also read that the EPA uses Chevron for
its tests, going so far as to bring it in especially
from Kentucky because it's not sold in Ohio.
\_ Who operates this web site?
\_ The gas companies who are members.
\_ That speaks for its credibility.
\_ Huh? The gas companies that choose to meet
the standards set by certain auto
makers call themselves "Top Tier".
Companies may meet the standards and
not participate or they can choose not
to meet the standards. Participation is
voluntary, but that doesn't mean the
standards and participants are not credible.
\_ Is there more background behind this
certification? A website run by
Denny, Jim (ynnedj@aol.com) seems
slightly less than professional.
\_ Why? Do you know him?
If you look at the address of the
registered company (National
Products Group in Tulsa, OK) you
will see it is QuikTrip.
\_ AOL is so early 90s and screams
one-man job, and incompetent
one-man job at that. I don't see
how you connect QuikTrip to this
outfit, nor why I should consider
QuikTrip to be an unbiased source.
\_ Look at the postal address. Who
said QuikTrip needs to be
unbised? I don't understand
your skepticism. A few
automakers joined together
and came up with some
standards. Gas companies
(including QuikTrip) can
choose to meet them or not
in a self-certifying process
that does involve random
3rd party testing. Exxon
claims they meet the standard
but they don't want the hassle
of certifying. That's fine,
so they aren't on the list.
The companies that *are* on
the list meet the automakers'
standards. Other ones may or
may not. What are you
concerned about here?!
\_ It think there's a few issues.
1) use of alcohol in the gas: most stations now use up to
10% ethanol, but some don't (e.g. I think Chevron often
doesn't). Ethanol gives you worse mileage and runs worse.
\_ I thought the ethanol percent was mandated by law?
\_ I don't know, I guess maybe it will be. Which is
FUCKING STUPID of course. Fuck US agribusiness
subsidies.
2) turnover. sometimes low-priced popular gas stations are
actually better because the gas doesn't sit around as
long when they sell more than the expensive place across
the street.
3) proprietary additives, which I can't really comment on
(Techron, blah blah) |
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