Are you guys aware that Honda recommends only using "Top Tier" gas in their cars? Same goes for Toyota, BMW and GM. It has to do with the amount of detergent additives. Here's an excerpt from Car and Driver magazine.
"Gasoline is gasoline whether you're in Florida or California, right? Wrong. There are different concentrations of elements like sulfur, for example, that change the chemical composition of a batch of gasoline. Since it's not known what causes these deposits, gasoline retailers can't be penalized for selling defective fuel. So to keep the deposits from forming in the engines, you need detergents added to the fuel. But how do you know which brands have the right kinds of detergents and additives to keep your injectors clean? Until recently, that was a tough question to answer, but in 2004, representatives from BMW, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota got together to specify what makes a good fuel. They called their agreed-on standard "Top Tier" and published it for the various gasoline retailers to voluntarily meet. So far, eight companies currently sell gas that meets the Top Tier standard."
If you want to see the entire article, go to
I just checked with the service manager at my local Honda dealer. He was definite in his endorsement of using only Top-Tier gas.
There are some who don't think much of this "top tier" designation, but if the auto manufacturers are recommending this, I'll listen to the experts. Times have changed, and so I guess has the old notion that "all gas is the same".