2006-08-28 13:05:08 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
No, it has to meet the same standards as the big stations. It may not have all the fancy additives as the others, but octane is octane.
2006-08-28 13:08:46 · answer #1 · answered by Jerry L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are driving a beater and don't plan to keep it more than another year or two, no-name gas is fine. But the additives in automaker-certified "Top Tier" gasolines will keep deposits from gradually building up inside the engine, which over time can hurt power, mileage, emissions and even sometimes make the engine start needing higher octane gas to keep from knocking. Does it make a measurable difference? Well, automakers have for years trucked a certain big-oil brand Top Tier gasoline into Michigan (where it's not usually sold) just to use for the EPA testing on their new cars. You can read about Tier 1 gasoline brands here-- many are the name brands but a few are smaller brands. www.toptiergas.com
2006-08-28 20:36:14 · answer #2 · answered by David M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends what you drive. If you drive a high-performance car, I would definitely stay away from those stations. If you drive a truck, SUV, or mid or low-class car, I wouldn't worry about it. I have a Toyota Supra and a Lexus IS300 and I wouldn't dream of putting that crappy gas in either one of my cars, I have made that mistake, and you CAN tell a HUGE difference. Plus I am picky when it comes to my cars, and would like them to last forever. That is the main difference in gas, better gas is better for the long-term of the car. Shitty gas will take its toll over time.
2006-08-28 20:14:35 · answer #3 · answered by allknowing 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES it is bad. True that fuel is fuel, but name-brand companies acutally have added detergents in the fuel to help keep the fuel systems clean. If know of a friend with a beater that has had crappy gas run through it, drop the tank and have a looksie at all the deposits of crap and gunk. Then drop the tank of a similarly aged car that has had name-brand fuel and you should notice very few deposits.
Also, running a higher octane fuel to "clean out the system" is total BS. Run the fuel that the manufacturer suggests, otherwise you are asking for trouble. The manufacturer didn't spend millions of dollars in development on emissions control systems and ignition systems just to have them messed up by running the wrong fuel.
If you wan't to clean the fuel system, invest in a bottle of Chevron Techron or Lucas fuel additives.
2006-08-28 20:24:19 · answer #4 · answered by Alibi 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If it is, we're all in alot of trouble. Most no-name gas stations get their gas from the same refineries that the major brands do. Try running a higher octain tank through every so often to clean it out.
2006-08-28 20:09:24 · answer #5 · answered by Tamara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, just check the octane level that your car needs in the owners manual and get gas that has that much octane. I look for the best price
2006-08-28 23:28:00 · answer #6 · answered by austin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋