Originally Posted By: kschachn
Where do you get shoddy fuel? I'm not being combative, I just don't know what people mean when they say "I got bad fuel" or something.
My experience is similar to Clevy's. And, one of my businesses do some consulting with the oil companies here. In any event, yes, the base fuel often comes from the same source. But, the additive packages are decidedly different, and some stations are doing some strange things.
Some put no more additives in than they have to (and probably less than they have to). That has caused Clevy pinging issues, and done the same with taxis in the past. I've had problems with Petro-Canada's winter fuel as of late, so I guess I'm going to have to avoid their winter fuel, at the very least. In that regard, I've learned a valuable lesson about Top Tier fuel and E0. Neither of those designations mean they're not doing something very obnoxious when they switch to winter fuel. Here's a hint for you all. E0 means no ethanol. It doesn't speak to methanol content!
I've had good luck with Esso, contrary to Clevy's historical experience; he does note it's getting better. We've both had bad luck with Husky/Mohawk stuff, but that seems to depend on the age of the fuel.
When I do use Husky fuel, I stick to the truck stop because it is very high traffic. The worst batch of fuel I ever experienced was the 94 octane from the closest Husky to my house. I put it in the old Audi and the thing barely ran. And no, it wasn't diesel in the gas tank, either. I don't know if their ethanol was contaminated with a slug of water, or what, but it was an experience I never wish to repeat.
I also prefer stations that are newer, as in having newer tanks, and that have some decent traffic. My bad Husky experience involved a station with older tanks and much less traffic. So, problems aren't unexpected.