Anyone interested in an experiment?

[Wheelin98TJ]

Anecdotal evidence based on 1-2mpg observed difference is hardly a reason to waste money on more expensive fuel stations. It would have to be a blind test before it could even begin to hold water. Have your spouse randomly fill up the truck and not tell you where they went and see what the results are.

My commute is 100+ miles every day using an identical route, and after 14k miles I've realized I can make radical shifts in my fuel economy. I can go from 15mpg to 20mpg depending on minor throttle inputs. I don't mean going from super aggressive to hyper miling it. I'm talking about getting up to and maintaining 70mph. My wife and I drive a lot and minute changes to throttle response while maintaining speed up a 2% grade can affect mpg. A slight headwind can affect mpg. Following traffic vs being out in the open affects mpg.

1.) Using 91 octane in the Jeep, or any vehicle not programmed to advance timing, is worthless. People get it in their head that premium means better but for fuel it does not. The 3.6 does not advance timing and is setup for 87. Anecdotal evidence from people with misconceptions about terminology don't change this fact. If you put 91 octane in the Jeep 3.6 you are wrong. Period. End of story. There's a reason it says to use 87 and the manual states no added benefit to using 91. If anything you're slightly hurting performance since the higher octane requires advanced timing to get the full benefit.

2.) Fuel stations are audited and the fuel comes from the same sources. The additive packages won't affect gas mileage to the point it can be noticed. There's no "bad gas" and only misconceptions combined with ill informed driver bias that leads to incorrect statements made of forums. This isn't the 1970s where tanks were in disrepair, stations screwed with the fuel to save money, etc.

3.) Manually calculating fuel economy isn't extremely accurate either. Most people go off when the pump clicks off which isn't an exact science. Using this method will instantly invalidate minor differences in calculated fuel economy. Just because it feels like more work, and validates the user's preconceived biases doesn't mean it's scientific.

Not all fuel stations are audited.

There is no statewide fuel quality testing in Ohio.

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[dfwxjer]

Nothing is added at the station. It's all done at the refinery.

They sometimes dump unbranded gas in to tanks at branded gas stations.

They sometimes dump branded gas in to tanks at unbranded stations.

I don't sweat where I'm getting my gas. Never noticed a difference.

I agree I don't sweat where I'm getting gas, but I can say places like Costco have their own additive tanks on site.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I agree I don't sweat where I'm getting gas, but I can say places like Costco have their own additive tanks on site.

You are correct, Costco does add their own at the station. Forgot about them.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I always fuel up at Sam's Club, unless I'm traveling, and then it's Flying J, Pilot, Sam's Club, or Costco. I don't notice any difference, and always fill with 87 octane. I've put on 25k miles over the last two years, and have not yet had any issues with knocking or performance. All the gas in the valley comes from the same distribution center, and comes in on a pipeline from California. My local Sam's Club gets at least one tanker a day. Since the prices went up, there is usually always a long line (8 double sided pumps) since they are at least 30 cents per gallon cheaper than any of the surrounding stations.

 

[Caspien]

As a few others have pointed out, the difference with gas is based more on the individual station and their storage tanks, than the base fuel (or even additives).

I remember watching a video about this either on top gear, or discovery channel about a decade or so back.. heck, it may have been myth busters that did it.. I can't even remember.



~ Casp

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I always fuel up at Sam's Club, unless I'm traveling, and then it's Flying J, Pilot, Sam's Club, or Costco. I don't notice any difference, and always fill with 87 octane. I've put on 25k miles over the last two years, and have not yet had any issues with knocking or performance. All the gas in the valley comes from the same distribution center, and comes in on a pipeline from California. My local Sam's Club gets at least one tanker a day. Since the prices went up, there is usually always a long line (8 double sided pumps) since they are at least 30 cents per gallon cheaper than any of the surrounding stations.

Pilot? That place is a ripoff around here.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Pilot? That place is a ripoff around here.

The one that is close by here is at the freeway exit. They are high priced. I use them when traveling if I can't find a Flying J. When I had my Ford Diesel (about 20 years ago), they were okay and I would fuel up there since there were no other diesel stations closer.

 

[cmak0]

I don’t think there are any name brand stations around me, I always put low octane in my Jeep and it has run consistently fine for 5 years.
Many times, the same tanker that shows up to the off brand stations is the same that delivers to the name brands, so I don’t believe there is much difference these days.

 

[Trickster]

I dont think the provider matters nearly as much as what time of day you buy gas. The colder the weather, the more dense the gas. So if you fill up at peak heat in the afternoon, your MPGs will be less.

Really?
Our gas stations tanks are underground, so I doubt the ambient temperature makes much of a difference. But…..cooler ambient temperatures make the engine run better than a hot day.

 

[Trickster]

I stay away from discount gas stations, tankers filling up the underground tanks when I fuel and old gas stations with old storage tanks. Top Tier only in all my rides. Plus a can of Seafoam twice a year.

 

[sdtkeld]

I’ve attached a map of the refineries, pipelines and terminals. Feel free to visit your local terminal and see whose tanker pulls up. Probably a better question is how often the station changes their pump filters and cleans the sediment out of their tanks…not a cheap operation.
https://www.eia.gov/state/maps.php?v=Petroleum

Also, the gasoline pipeline was expanded in earnest during WWII as Uboats couldn’t sink the pipeline and it was cheaper more efficient.

 

[Dryfly24]

Here where I live in Socal, most (if not all) of the local gas stations (Chevron, Shell, Arco, Valero, Costco, Seven Eleven, etc.) get their gas trucked in from the same local "tank farm" (a distribution center). The only thing I can think each gas station/brand does is add their own additives (like detergents). I've never experienced any difference in performance, mileage, or need to flush my fuel system for any car I've owned. One thing that I have heard is that some gas stations may not be as attentive about water/moisture in their tanks, which wouldn't be the fault of the distribution source but maintenance of the station itself. I'm not certain if there are any municipal oversight for fuel quality (like weights & measures for fuel pump accuracy).

I'm curious what you you find with different gas stations. Keep us posted.

My buddy’s girlfriend was an executive for one of the big name fuel refineries. She said it’s all the same shit.

Same with octane by the way. Unless your engine is designed to burn it, higher octane doesn’t do shit for your motor. But that’s a whole other can of worms that guys get all bent about…

They guy who came up with the marketing strategy of calling higher octane gas “Premium” was a genius. It’s got a bunch of folks thinking it really is better.

 

[Demetrius]

My buddy’s girlfriend was an executive for one of the big name fuel refineries. She said it’s all the same shit.

Same with octane by the way. Unless your engine is designed to burn it, higher often doesn’t do shit for your motor. But that’s a whole other can of worms that guys get all bent about…

Costco advertises via logo on pumps that their gasoline is "top tier" with detergent gasoline additives at the correct concentration. I haven't the faintest idea who provides their gas but I don't think they own any refineries. Costco (like Sears, J.C, Pennies etc.) doesn't make anything. I've used it for years and have seen no difference in performance from branded fuel.

 

[dfwxjer]

I’m a big fan of Costco gas too

because it’s so much cheaper

 

[Gladman]

Likely there is no difference in mpg for gasoline.
Maybe a little bit for diesel based on additives and consideration for summer/winter fuel.

However, the 1 spec diesel owners should pay attention to is Lubricity. It is expressed as a number in commercial fuel usually varying from 450 (best) to 560 (worst). So the lower the # the better lubrication the diesel fuel provides the fuel system components. You need to search online each fuel supplier specs to see what they offer.

The best I can find here has a 460 rating which is good protection for injectors, pumps, etc.

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