[Ankarah]

Heard some conflicting opinions on this matter:

One camp says low-cost gas brand such as Costco, Arco, or grocery store ones like Safeway, are of lower quality than major brands such as Chevron or BP, and thus should be avoided.

Yet others believe that they are all the same, so long as we use the appropriate octane gas.

What are your thoughts?

Are there any gas brand you avoid?

[harperium]

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

this is what you want.

[Berzerker]

This discussion has been beaten to death.

The main deciding factor for gas is to make sure it's a brand that is certified Top Tier. That means it has the correct additives and detergents to prevent buildup in the engine. As long as it's Top Tier, brand doesn't matter.

Yes it's objectively better. Yes it's been tested.

Lower cost != lower quality. Costco, specifically is top-tier certified, so use them whenever you have one in the area since they're almost certainly the cheapest option.

Quiktrip is also Top Tier if you have those in your area.

And as an aside "recommending Shell 93" as it's given by BMW is 100% marketing. There's nothing better about Shell's 93 than any other Top Tier-certified brand's 93.

[M52M3]

BMW recommends Shell 93, its written inside the gas tank cover. Thats what I use.

[Ankarah]

Just to embellish, the Porsche service technician told me to avoid Costco gas brand for my Panamera when I took that car in for an engine trouble.

When asked during delivery, the sales supervisor I worked with for my M3 said they were all the same.

So two completely opposite accounts from people I’d assume know what they are talking about, and I am confused!

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

This discussion has been beaten to death.

The main deciding factor for gas is to make sure it's a brand that is certified Top Tier. That means it has the correct additives and detergents to prevent buildup in the engine. As long as it's Top Tier, brand doesn't matter.

Yes it's objectively better. Yes it's been tested.

Lower cost != lower quality. Costco, specifically is top-tier certified, so use them whenever you have one in the area since they're almost certainly the cheapest option.

Quiktrip is also Top Tier if you have those in your area.

And as an aside "recommending Shell 93" as it's given by BMW is 100% marketing. There's nothing better about Shell's 93 than any other Top Tier-certified brand's 93.

I didn't know QuickTrip was top tier.

Is Circle K?

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

I didn't know QuickTrip was top tier.

Is Circle K?

Just make sure it's the right brand. QT and Quiktrip, with the red/white logo, no c in the name. It's a common name so people might be trying to play on it to confuse people.

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/ Here's the list of brands. Circle K is not on the list.

Originally Posted by Ankarah

Just to embellish, the Porsche service technician told me to avoid Costco gas brand for my Panamera when I took that car in for an engine trouble.

When asked during delivery, the sales supervisor I worked with for my M3 said they were all the same.

So two completely opposite accounts from people I’d assume know what they are talking about, and I am confused!

The Porsche person probably did not know they were top tier certified. There's no reason to avoid them.

[Ankarah]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Just make sure it's the right brand. QT and Quiktrip, with the red/white logo, no c in the name. It's a common name so people might be trying to play on it to confuse people.

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/ Here's the list of brands. Circle K is not on the list.



The Porsche person probably did not know they were top tier certified. There's no reason to avoid them.

Thank you for that clarification my friend!

[Mike02z]

Always stick with Top Tier and you’ll be fine.

For me I use 93 octane non-ethanol since my “fun” cars tend to sit for weeks at a time. Likely not needed and not even available in a lot of Geo’s but I do typically get 18-22% better fuel economy with non ethanol.

[mirob]

Originally Posted by harperium

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

this is what you want.

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Just make sure it's the right brand. QT and Quiktrip, with the red/white logo, no c in the name. It's a common name so people might be trying to play on it to confuse people.

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/ Here's the list of brands. Circle K is not on the list.



The Porsche person probably did not know they were top tier certified. There's no reason to avoid them.

Great info, thanks guys!

I've always wondered but never actually asked. I have 93 octane all around me but typically only Valero and Phillips 66. Looks like both are on the list.

[kgelfen360]

Costco highest octane they have (92 in my area) top tier certified.

[Nate.G82]

I like to have peace of mind that my fuel is ethically sourced, so I started producing it from my backyard. Seems to work just fine














(I go to Costco)

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

I didn't know QuickTrip was top tier.

Is Circle K?

Some of the Circle K’s around here use Shell gas. Others will use another brand or their own brand so just depends on the one you are stopping at.

[kjx]

Originally Posted by Ankarah

One camp says low-cost gas brand such as Costco, Arco, or grocery store ones like Safeway, are of lower quality than major brands such as Chevron or BP, and thus should be avoided.

I used to be in the “Use only Shell or Chevron” camp, even though what I should have been in was the “Use only top-tier gas” camp. Top-tier gas is sponsored by BMW amongst other manufacturers: https://www.toptiergas.com/

Costco gas is top-tier gas. I switched to it and have used it near exclusively on 3 BMWs including my M4. I still only use Shell or Chevron if I’m away from my closest Costco.

One thing I’ll say is that Costco has faster fuel pumps than the other stations (depends on your local situation) - you’re done pumping sooner. But if you’re not strategic in when you get to Costco, you’ll spend a lot of time waiting in line. I don’t bother with them in those cases. Time = Money.

[chris3g]

Sunoco recently reintroduced 94 octane around here and is also top-tier. Not going to make any difference on a stock car but tuned i will take any extra octane that i can get.

[G MONEY]

Originally Posted by chris3g

Sunoco recently reintroduced 94 octane around here and is also top-tier. Not going to make any difference on a stock car but tuned i will take any extra octane that i can get.

I’m a Sunoco fan myself

[tatarwj]

Costco gas for us - far left pump is always open at mine and my wife’s!

[StaplesNotepad]

So looking at the top tier gas list basically everyone is on it.

[nosbocaj]

I use Shell mostly because my local station gives good cash back through upside. Otherwise anything top tier is completely fine with me. I'd go to Costco if it was closer.

[CMW33]

Octane is what matters. Gasoline is a commodity and the gas you're getting at Shell, Exxon, Chevron, Costco, etc. is all functionally the same. I can't disprove it but I suspect the Top Tier designation is just branding backed by paid studies.

Basis: I work with downstream energy companies

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by CMW33

Octane is what matters. Gasoline is a commodity and the gas you're getting at Shell, Exxon, Chevron, Costco, etc. is all functionally the same. I can't disprove it but I suspect the Top Tier designation is just branding backed by paid studies.

Basis: I work with downstream energy companies

Correct, it's all sourced from the same batch. You think that every gas brand has it's own refinery? Or it's own pipelines / storage tanks?

Newsflash: it doesn't.

Basically, each company buys gas from a refiner and then adds their additive package. There are minimum standards for additives set by the government, and then there are add-ons above that. The Top Tier - I don't know about it either specifically but also suspect it's mostly marketing.

Moreover you want to buy gas from a station with well maintained equipment (i.e. no leaking tanks with water infiltration) that sells enough gas where it won't get aged (and potentially water contaminated) or have aged tanks that are contributing weird sediment or other nastiness.

Second newsflash: most branded gas stations are not owned by the company on the sign out front. They are generally independent operators with set purchase contracts. Very few corporate owned stores left. Too much environmental liability vs. profit potential.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by CMW33

Octane is what matters. Gasoline is a commodity and the gas you're getting at Shell, Exxon, Chevron, Costco, etc. is all functionally the same. I can't disprove it but I suspect the Top Tier designation is just branding backed by paid studies.

Basis: I work with downstream energy companies

Correct, it's all sourced from the same batch. You think that every gas brand has it's own refinery? Or it's own pipelines / storage tanks?

Newsflash: it doesn't.

Basically, each company buys gas from a refiner and then adds their additive package. There are minimum standards for additives set by the government, and then there are add-ons above that. The Top Tier - I don't know about it either specifically a look around their website suggests it's pretty much marketing driven. I see absolutely nothing regarding actual standards, or claims that it's "better".

https://www.toptiergas.com/consumer-faqs/

Moreover you want to buy gas from a station with well maintained equipment (i.e. no leaking tanks with water infiltration) that sells enough gas where it won't get aged (and potentially water contaminated) or have aged tanks that are contributing weird sediment or other nastiness.

Second newsflash: most branded gas stations are not owned by the company on the sign out front. They are generally independent operators with set purchase contracts. Very few corporate owned stores left. Too much environmental liability vs. profit potential.