Are there any studies or data to suggest one Top Tier fuel is better than another?

None. It all comes down to the brand's fuel additives.
Not even that.

TT permits the same base SAE/ASTM gasoline as anyone else uses,
stipulates a minimum of 8% motor grade ethanol,
and then lists TT minimums of all the approved EPA detergent packages.

So basically all one has to do is use the TT specified quantity of detergent. And pay TT for the privilege of using their signage. Or use the TT quantity of detergent anyway, not use TT signs, and not pay TT. Is rumored Texaco/Chevron, Shell, and possibly others, do not pay TT but are permitted to use the signage. I rarely see TT signage at these stations because the whole point of TT is to convince you that Costco gasoline is as good as Shell.
 
Some providers may go beyond that minimum, probably for marketing purposes.
Yes and provide their customers with extra benefits.
Always gets me that vague claims of more additives are assumed to be better even though there are no details of what the additives are and why. More, more! Surely there’s a point of diminishing returns returns or when it can be counterproductive.
 
The video is 13 years old , hopefully applies to current additive amounts . Go to 2:42 for 87 additive levels and 3:08 for 93 higher levels . Includes SHELL , BP , EXXON , SPEEDWAY , CITGO , MOBIL and a few others .

 
Always gets me that vague claims of more additives are assumed to be better even though there are no details of what the additives are and why. More, more! Surely there’s a point of diminishing returns returns or when it can be counterproductive.
They posted an article in their monthly magazine about the new additive pkg. and also had placards on their pumps for awhile. You have to be a Costco member to know what's going on with their products. The general public has no idea.
 
The video is 13 years old , hopefully applies to current additive amounts . Go to 2:42 for 87 additive levels and 3:08 for 93 higher levels . Includes SHELL , BP , EXXON , SPEEDWAY , CITGO , MOBIL and a few others .


Well at least they can claim “our gas leaves 3x the residue of the other guys”.
 
Well at least they can claim “our gas leaves 3x the residue of the other guys”.

It's dissolved in the gasoline and gets burned and/or vaporized where it goes out the tailpipe.

That it stays behind when the fuel completely evaporates has nothing to do with its effectiveness as a detergent additive.
 
It's dissolved in the gasoline and gets burned and/or vaporized where it goes out the tailpipe.

That it stays behind when the fuel completely evaporates has nothing to do with its effectiveness as a detergent additive.
I agree that using residue level as a measure of detergent effectiveness is almost silly.

Removal or inhibition of deposition is the only result worth measuring.
 
Don't have a definitive answer to this question but I do know that my '19 Camry's 301 hp 2GR-FKS V6 has had zero issues with QuikTrip fuel and I often see Georgia State Patrol Chargers filling up there.
 
I agree that using residue level as a measure of detergent effectiveness is almost silly.

Removal or inhibition of deposition is the only result worth measuring.

I think the rationale is that which doesn't evaporate is the additive package minus whatever additive solvent also evaporates. But that could be a lot of stuff, as well as there being detergent components that can evaporate. There are additives that have no detergent properties like dyes, stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, etc.

Weight/mass of additives probably doesn't mean much. I know with the allergy meds I take, I use a 60 mg dose of the active ingredient. But there are similar meds where the dose is 5 or 10 mg of active ingredient that supposedly lasts twice as long.
 
Nothing in that report addresses the question in the OP of differences within TT certified fuels.
Yes there is. It, as OP was inquiring about, shows that there are differences between TT fuels. For example, page 17 shows that whatever TT fuel #5 produces over 7x more deposits than TT fuel #6.

Downside to these types of reports, they aren’t going to take the risk listing brand names because they are afraid of being sued. But yes, it shows that there can and are differences.
 
I'm trying to search the forums and can't find any suggestions that this is the case.

I'm lucky that most stations in my area are Top Tier. But I also have access to Costco, about 10-12 minutes away. I'm wondering if it's better to go to a Chevron vs Sinclair vs Costco. Just wondering if anyone has actually studied this, or if it's all dogma.

I haven't researched this for about 10 years but yes, there are differences. TT establishes the minimum you "know" they have but many brands go above and beyond TT and it varies by grade.

From 10 years ago it went along these lines
87 octane (from highest level to TT for products in my area)
1) costco
2) Philips 66/conoco/sunoco
3) BP/amoco
4) QuikTrip

91 Octane
1) Costco/BP/Amoco/Shell
2) Phillips 66/conoco/sunoco
3) QT

They used to market based on "minimum federal requirements" and I think TT was typically 2x the federal minimum additive levels. Costco was 5x for all grades. BP and Shell were 5x for premium. Philips66/conco were like 3x for all grades. QuikTrip only ever guarantees meeting TopTier minimum but QT sells a lot of gas and having known fresh gas counts for a lot.
 
Here is some updated info now that I went and looked again:
- Top Tier = 2.5x federal minimum
- Conoco/philips66/sunoco = 3.25x federal min for all grades Conoco
- Costco = 5x federal minimum https://www.costco.com/fuel-promise.html
- BP/Amoco = no longer specific levels provided but clearly says premium has more detergents than lower grades. BP also claims 10x "better cleaning" than federal minimum requirements. I doubt that means 10x the detergent levels.
- Shell = 6x federal min (Premium) no claims about 87 octane so I would assume it is just TT levels
- QuickTrip = Top Tier minimums.
 
Here is some updated info now that I went and looked again:
- Top Tier = 2.5x federal minimum
- Conoco/philips66/sunoco = 3.25x federal min for all grades Conoco
- Costco = 5x federal minimum https://www.costco.com/fuel-promise.html
- BP/Amoco = no longer specific levels provided but clearly says premium has more detergents than lower grades. BP also claims 10x "better cleaning" than federal minimum requirements. I doubt that means 10x the detergent levels.
- Shell = 6x federal min (Premium) no claims about 87 octane so I would assume it is just TT levels
- QuickTrip = Top Tier minimums.

I don't really buy that it necessarily has to scale like that. It's all about whether or not a particular additive meets the requirements at a specific concentration. Obviously Phillips 66 seems to think that 2.5x the EPA minimum for their particular additive will pass the Top Tier test requirements. But theoretically a different additive can "scale" differently. Like one additive where 2x will do that. Or 3x for a different one. Or possibly even an additive where no amount will meet the testing requirement.

I saw some federal regulation that states that additives (outside of oxygenates) can't be more than 1% by volume. But something like an aftermarket additive can easily be more than 1% when used as directed. I remember a 20 oz bottle of Chevron Pro-Gard that was mostly some sort of carrier solvent. But that solvent was mostly stuff that would already be in pump fuel.
 
I haven't researched this for about 10 years but yes, there are differences. TT establishes the minimum you "know" they have but many brands go above and beyond TT and it varies by grade.

From 10 years ago it went along these lines
87 octane (from highest level to TT for products in my area)
1) costco
2) Philips 66/conoco/sunoco
3) BP/amoco
4) QuikTrip

91 Octane
1) Costco/BP/Amoco/Shell
2) Phillips 66/conoco/sunoco
3) QT

They used to market based on "minimum federal requirements" and I think TT was typically 2x the federal minimum additive levels. Costco was 5x for all grades. BP and Shell were 5x for premium. Philips66/conco were like 3x for all grades. QuikTrip only ever guarantees meeting TopTier minimum but QT sells a lot of gas and having known fresh gas counts for a lot.
Thanks. I didn't really believe all the people saying "it's all the same." Makes no sense. Just like not at all API SP oils meeting that spec are the same.
 
Well shoot QT is my normal go to as they are everywhere here. At least there’s lots of Chevrons in ATL. Guess I’ll keep my eyes peeled for Shell too..
 
Costco's gas is one of the best you can buy. They have more cleaning additive than other TT's. They recently started using a new additive package formulated for DI engines. Plus they receive several tankers a day so the gas is fresh. They add their additives on site so they can control what goes in. These things are what gives me the opinion that one can't buy better gas. Not to mention price.
^^^ This.

Let's also note that the additives they use are their own and, as you said, are added on site. Each station has separate tanks for their additive package and it's metered into the fuel. They use the same package for regular and premium, so there's no need to spend extra $$$ to get a better additive package.
 
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