Top Tier gas stations

[Avenging Orange]

For me its how well a station is maintained. If they dont replace filters and take care of the pumps, then they obviously dont care. I also notice if they often run out of gas.
I live not half a mile from several fueling hubs. And yes, those trucks stop at the nastiesr convenient store to the shell across the street.

[TX/ZL1]

Originally Posted by NYCamOwner

I've been running Sunoco thinking it was on the Top Tier list, but it is not. I may have to switch to Exxon/Mobile then....
7/11 stores used to sell Citgo years ago, does anyone know what they have now?

Back in the day, I ran nothing but Sunoco......mostly because back then it was the only retailer that consistently had 93 octane. Changed to Mobil and loved it, but since I moved to Texas Mobil is harder to find and She'll is everywhere!! Got no issues at all with Shell.

[SSteven]

93 Shell mostly but has ethanol here in Texas. Sometimes use Sams club 93. Shell helps keep the engine clean.

[pickwithaustin]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

For me its how well a station is maintained. If they dont replace filters and take care of the pumps, then they obviously dont care. I also notice if they often run out of gas.
I live not half a mile from several fueling hubs. And yes, those trucks stop at the nastiesr convenient store to the shell across the street.

BINGO! Smartest reply here.

Even a "top tier" can be the pits sometimes. I gassed up my Blazer at a Shell and drove to the store. From then on, it would not run. Bad gas. I am guessing that I got the bottom of their tank - which I suspect since I recall that when I filled up, some of the pumps were bagged "out of service," so I'm assuming they were running low.

[benji276289]

For those of you who want to fantacize that spending close to or in some cases well over $4.00/gal. for the same gasoline that I am now getting for $3.19/gal. (93 octane), go on and keep fooling yourselves. Even if it were true that the more expensive stations use detergents to keep your engine clean, the effects probably would take years to have any impact on your engines. Most of us don't keep our cars that long. I had a 1998 Crown Vic that I kept for 10 years and 140,000 miles using cheap convenient store gas. Never had an issue with the engine.

[Sheriff Justice]

Originally Posted by NYCamOwner

I've been running Sunoco thinking it was on the Top Tier list, but it is not. I may have to switch to Exxon/Mobile then.

I stopped using Sunoco because it would throw a 'check engine' in my G8 GT. Dealer told me they see it a lot with performance cars that use Sunoco fuel. Switched to Shell or Mobil / Exxon and no issues.

[pickwithaustin]

Originally Posted by benji276289

For those of you who want to fantacize that spending close to or in some cases well over $4.00/gal. for the same gasoline that I am now getting for $3.19/gal. (93 octane), go on and keep fooling yourselves. .

I'm not sure where you live, but where I am the gas stations are all pretty much priced at about the same cost, give or take a few pennies. It's kind of like people who buy their things in a Walmart. Sure, the price on stuff is lower... but the quality is lower also. In the bigger picture, they're not really saving.

I treat every car I own as if I am keeping it forever (even though I rarely do).

[CamaroKevin]

I began running Lukoil in mine, but after running the Citgo, I had a check engine light on due to a misfire. Dealer told me it was from bad gas, and it was right after I went to a Citgo station for the first time that the light came on. I've switched to Shell and haven't had a problem since. Gas isn't just gas at all stations. Definitely a difference in quality.

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

For me its how well a station is maintained. If they dont replace filters and take care of the pumps, then they obviously dont care. I also notice if they often run out of gas.
I live not half a mile from several fueling hubs. And yes, those trucks stop at the nastiesr convenient store to the shell across the street.

the ones you want to stay away from are the ones that frequently have several of their pumps closed. when a gas truck shows up to deliver gas, they first thing they do is take out that long stick, and then stick it in the tank. they aren't checking the level of gas, they're actually checking to see how much water is in the tank. they put a chemical on the end of that measured stick that will change color with water. if there is over a certain amount of water, an inch or inch and a half or something, then they can not deliver gas, and the station has to close the pumps off that tank till the water can be removed. so if you see a station that every so often has 4 or five pumps closed it's most likely because they have an issue with water getting int0 their tanks

['01LS1]

Cannot prove via linked sources that gas is just gas in all stations or if there is a difference.

However, do have a 6.2L in a Sierra that I was very religious in going to stations on the top tier list. Then prices went up one day & the local Meijer grocery store was still 25? cents cheaper & filled up. Water was rolling out of the muffler, not the exhaust tip, the muffler.

Went back to the top tier immediately following.

Though have bought a couple tanks out of the local Sams club, same deal, was cheaper when other places spiked higher & the mpg went up. More importantly, no water rolling out at idle.

Those of you that buy diesel am sure have also noticed a big difference in color. The retailers on the NE side of my town are yellow while the SW is still the clear/green. Some of the same names on the stations, but the bio blend is drastically different along with the mpg.

[kville988]

[kville988]

Originally Posted by jd10013

the ones you want to stay away from are the ones that frequently have several of their pumps closed. when a gas truck shows up to deliver gas, they first thing they do is take out that long stick, and then stick it in the tank. they aren't checking the level of gas, they're actually checking to see how much water is in the tank. they put a chemical on the end of that measured stick that will change color with water. if there is over a certain amount of water, an inch or inch and a half or something, then they can not deliver gas, and the station has to close the pumps off that tank till the water can be removed. so if you see a station that every so often has 4 or five pumps closed it's most likely because they have an issue with water getting int0 their tanks

interesting to know!! I've always wondered about why some pumps were closed and others were open at the same gas station. I thought maybe it was because a customer broke the handle or something maybe is wrong with the credit card machine. idk.

but what if you just so happen to drive around and see shell has 2 pumps closed, then go to chevron and see the same thing? lol

[jd10013]

a pump could be closed for many reasons. sometimes they do break. I'd be more worried about a station that it seems like every time you go there a few of the pumps are always closed. they'll always shut them right away for water issues. if they don't, they could end up with EPA, CPA, and weights and measure climbing up the arse.

but at the end of the day, there are many reasons pumps would be closed.

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by '01LS1

Cannot prove via linked sources that gas is just gas in all stations or if there is a difference.

it may not be the exact same, most areas have access to a couple different wholesalers. but more than likely those wholesalers (who get their gas delivered by pipeline, not truck) are being fed by the same refinery or tank farm.