Make Sure You Fill Up With Top-Tier Gas

Whaddya know: 76 (Now Conoco-Philips 76) is on their list, so I already do.

I try to use Citgo, Venezuelan gasoline, instead of the Mid-eastern stuff.

Or what comes from the evil empire north of our boarder.

Around here, upstate NY, the gas all comes off the same truck. There's only one road, & Mobil, Citgo, FasTrack all get the same gas from the same depot, gas stations - convenience stores - marinas - snowmobile shops - all get the same stuff.

Rob

It may look the same to you since the delivery truck is "the same," but the contents are different. Typically, the gas (plus ethanol if you live in a reformulated fuel zone) and additives are combined as the gas is racked into the tanker truck. So while the truck might always say "Mystic" or "Island Transportation" or whatever, the gasoline formulation is changed depending on which station is receiving the delivery. I notice a lot of times the cheap bottom feeder stations that buy fuel from wherever it's cheaper that week usually end up with Getty or Sunoco "unbranded" product.

Cheers,

Yeah right. I only switched from Exxon to Chevron cuz I moved. I used the same Exxon station from when I started driving at 14 until 3 years ago when I moved South several miles. The only trouble I had was when I first moved I used Albertsons for a while. Yeah I know, bite me. The Moostang started getting cold natured in the winter. So I found the Chevron close by.

Same thing here, it is all made at the Exxon refinery North of town. However, there is a magical building with bays that have the names of all the different companies. It goes in raw gas and comes out with the secret additive package from each individual company. So there IS a difference.

I always try to buy at the cheapest place, regardless of brand, but occasionally, if say I'm stuck without gas on a long road trip, I'll have to fill up at a Chevron or an Exxon. The off-brands are often much cheaper. I've never had a problem with a bad fill up in 40+ years of driving. Albertson's is the cheapest within 60 miles, and my F150 runs exactly the same on Albertson's gas as on any other.

Gasoline is a standard commodity. If you're paying a premium, you're a sucker.

at 18 Jul 2005, rw [rw56_to_the snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net] wrote in news:42db4ea5$0$22321$ snipped-for-privacy@news.newshosting.com:

Yes and no. Gasoline indeed is standard, but it's the additives that distinguish the brands. Neither my Mustang nor my wife's Geo runs well on either the local Racetrack or Murphy gas. Symptoms are lack of zip during acceleration as well as crappier gas mileage. Using 76 gives excellent zip but lower gas mileage as well but this is due to their formulation. Both vehicles run superb on Citgo and Chevron. Since all 5 above stations are pretty close to eachother prices generally only differ 1 to 2 pennies a gallon. In my opinion definately worth to go Citgo or Chevron. Especially as that way I save the fuel/injector cleaner bottle every 3000 or so miles. Used to have to do that running the cheapest gas. Haven't had a need for it now that our vehicles run Chevron & Citgo gas about 95% of the time.

One warning though, at least down here in Florida. If you see the truck restocking a station, avoid getting gas there at that time as that seems to stir up the sediment in the tanks which gets in your tank and can cause problems with cloggin up the injectors..