Which Gas is better? By Brand?

Question

I'm wondering which gasoline is the better gasoline, hoping someone in that field of expertise could explain?

Shell
Exxon
Arco
Chevron
Unocal 76

??

Answer 1

It all starts as basically the same product. The same truck that takes to shell also goes to the other stations, and vice-versa. The difference between brands are the chemicals that are added at the tank when they fill it.

That being said, Sunoco has the lowest sulfur, whereas Exxon has the highest. Sunoco gas is also ethanol enhanced for lower emissions. In some older cars the ethanol makes for problems, and will eat up certain seals. So it's a gamble either way.

As long as you are buying in your area, it will be formulated for your conditions, so find one you're happy with and use it.

Answer 2

Since all gasoline is refined to a uniform set of standards there is basically no difference in gasolines. One company may use X for an additive for a certain purpose, another may use Y, but it all comes out of the pump the same. There are some cut rate stations to be aware of (Bell and Curt's if they are still in existence). Just stick with the major brands.

Answer 3

The gas itself is essentially the exact same thing providing that you have the same "octane rating". Like has been posted by another, it often comes from a single refinery in the area. What makes the difference is what is done when the trucks are being loaded at the dock. Big refiners sell gas to competitors in most locations based on location, etc. Exxon in Baton Rouge for example has many brands that fill up at their refinery along with the Exxon trucks from the very same docks. How this is different though is that onsite they store the special "additives" that each different brand uses in their fuel. These "additives" which vary in quality and quantity depending on brand are mixed at the nozzle of the dock as the fuel is going straight into the tanker truck. Depending on who they are delivering to. After all once you "distill" the crude oil to a certain octane level of gasoline, that is what it is and little difference it even among different grades of crude oil used. The crude oil used simply determines how "much" of a product they can get from a certain quantity and how easy it is to refine. This is why the price of oil in crude oil form is never exactly the same around the globe. It depends of the quality of the crude being sold. The "refined" product though has no appreciable difference at all. Just the additives. Chevron uses Techron, which is their own patented combination of additives. Each major brand has similar. Use what you find runs better in y our car. Just like oil. It is the additives that makes the oils different. My diesel Chevy truck will burn oil between changes if I use Shell Rotella in it, but burns essentially no oil between changes with Chevron Delo. This is simply my trucks results though because other folks have either opposite results or the same with either oil. Truckers with big rigs love both, but use which one does best in their truck. Gas varies the same.

Answer 4

If you want to know about quality gasoline, look for Top Tier gas - http://www.toptiergas.com/

Its partially marketing, but there is merit to the site's content - all gas meets minimum US standards, but some gas is indeed better. Shell is a really good station, but you can also see the complete list for North American retailers: http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

QuikTrip
Chevron
Conoco
Phillips
76
Shell
Entec Stations
MFA Oil Company
Kwik Trip/Kwik Star
The Somerset Refinery, Inc.
Chevron-Canada
Aloha Petroleum
Tri-Par Oil Company
Shell-Canada
Texaco
Petro-Canada

Also, fwiw, Citgo is Venezuelan gas courtesy of Hugo Chavez - many people avoid Citgo gas now because of his Anti-American stance, but the gas is generally cheaper.

Answer 5

i'd say shell, because of two reasons: 1. they are ferrari's official gasoline sponsor, and as we all know ferrari's are the ****!
2. i believe they are the largest gasoline supplier in the world

Answer 6

I always fuel up my car from shell. they have excellant service and their quality is unquestionable.

Answer 7

There is no difference, it all comes along the same pipline.

Answer 8

did u try de new brand VALERO there really good, and there cheap too...

Answer 9

PIZZA HUT PIZZA AND MILLER BEER... MY WIFE SAYS THEY DON'T STINK LIKE THE CICIS PIZZA AND MILLER BEER DOES...OH AND I BY MY BEER AT THE SHELL STATION

Answer 10

shell baby LOL!