Somebody school me in how gas is really different from one brand to another.
It seems to be pretty much accepted that various gas stations in a given area all get their gasoline from one of maybe a couple different distribution facilities. I know there is one nearby where I live. There are also Valero, BP, Sunoco, Shell, Marathon, Speedway, and other smaller gas stations in my area. Sometimes, a particular station will be bought and turned into a completely different company brand overnight. Should I believe that there is also a completely different brand of gasoline in those tanks from what was in them prior to the change?
Am I really to expect that the gasoline I get out of a Shell gas station pump is going to be completely different from the gasoline I get out of a BP pump? You'll see on television commercials all of these scientist's in lab coats analyzing Shell gasoline to make sure it is meeting their high standards, and compromised of their unique "V-Power" formulations. Turn the channel and you'll see an ad for BP (or any other name brand) with the same thing going on. Consumers are led to believe that each different brand is its' own unique product.
If I am to assume that raw gasoline in a given area is all the same product, only differing at the last minute prior to being loaded into the tankers when the unique additives are added, am I also to believe that there is one blend of additives for Shell, one blend of additives for BP, one blend of additives for Marathon, etc, etc, etc? Am I really supposed to accept that the lone distribution center in my area has different "workstations" for each and every brand in the area? Is each facility occupied by scientists from all the different gas companies, all analyzing their own formulas at their own individual workstations?
{The specific brand is irrelevant, so don't think I'm trying to pick on any company specifically. I'm just citing those that are in my area. You can replace/add companies depending upon what's near you.}
With all this being said, I have to wonder if Top Tier gas ratings really mean anything. Think about it - if all of the actual gasoline comes from the same place, and only a different blend of additives is added at the last second, we would then have to fall back to believing that each company has their own unique formulation available at each and every facility. Unless someone knows otherwise, I suspect that a BP station (Top Tier) may very well be giving me the same product gasoline as a Marathon (not Top Tier) station located down the street.
I am almost 100% convinced that you should buy the cheapest priced gasoline you can find, with the only criteria being that you select at least the octane recommended for your car. Obviously there are a lot of junk gas stations out there in terms of upkeep and condition of the pumps. But as long as you select a station that you know to be in good condition and reputable, I am having a hard time believing there is any difference at all from one gas station pump to the other.
Am I wrong in all this?
II
It seems to be pretty much accepted that various gas stations in a given area all get their gasoline from one of maybe a couple different distribution facilities. I know there is one nearby where I live. There are also Valero, BP, Sunoco, Shell, Marathon, Speedway, and other smaller gas stations in my area. Sometimes, a particular station will be bought and turned into a completely different company brand overnight. Should I believe that there is also a completely different brand of gasoline in those tanks from what was in them prior to the change?
Am I really to expect that the gasoline I get out of a Shell gas station pump is going to be completely different from the gasoline I get out of a BP pump? You'll see on television commercials all of these scientist's in lab coats analyzing Shell gasoline to make sure it is meeting their high standards, and compromised of their unique "V-Power" formulations. Turn the channel and you'll see an ad for BP (or any other name brand) with the same thing going on. Consumers are led to believe that each different brand is its' own unique product.
If I am to assume that raw gasoline in a given area is all the same product, only differing at the last minute prior to being loaded into the tankers when the unique additives are added, am I also to believe that there is one blend of additives for Shell, one blend of additives for BP, one blend of additives for Marathon, etc, etc, etc? Am I really supposed to accept that the lone distribution center in my area has different "workstations" for each and every brand in the area? Is each facility occupied by scientists from all the different gas companies, all analyzing their own formulas at their own individual workstations?
{The specific brand is irrelevant, so don't think I'm trying to pick on any company specifically. I'm just citing those that are in my area. You can replace/add companies depending upon what's near you.}
With all this being said, I have to wonder if Top Tier gas ratings really mean anything. Think about it - if all of the actual gasoline comes from the same place, and only a different blend of additives is added at the last second, we would then have to fall back to believing that each company has their own unique formulation available at each and every facility. Unless someone knows otherwise, I suspect that a BP station (Top Tier) may very well be giving me the same product gasoline as a Marathon (not Top Tier) station located down the street.
I am almost 100% convinced that you should buy the cheapest priced gasoline you can find, with the only criteria being that you select at least the octane recommended for your car. Obviously there are a lot of junk gas stations out there in terms of upkeep and condition of the pumps. But as long as you select a station that you know to be in good condition and reputable, I am having a hard time believing there is any difference at all from one gas station pump to the other.
Am I wrong in all this?
II
