Hey Canucks - Petro Canada Fuel Discussion

[OVERKILL]

I used Petro-Canada heavily because of the $0.03/L discount through RBC. When you are buying premium, every cent counts, LOL! I also periodically load up a $0.10/L Fuel Savings Reward card for a stint (1,000L) and enjoy a $0.13/L discount for the duration. I am presently using Costco gas because of the Cash Back with their Mastercard and the fact they are cheaper, even including the discount.

I notice zero difference in performance between Costco, Petro-Canada, Esso or Shell, which are the only stations I use. I currently buy my diesel for the truck at Petro-Canada (Costco doesn't have diesel here) and take advantage of those aforementioned savings.

 

[StevieC]

Thanks

 

[Broo]

I don't fill up at Petro Canada only because around here they are always first to up their prices.

I doubt their fuel is any better or worse than others. If my employer paid for my fuel and specified which brand to use, I'd be happy to use it, whichever it is.

 

[StevieC]

I can use another brand but would need to expense it which would be a lot of receipts by the end of the month instead of using the corporate card that bills them directly. That and I'm not sure they would be happy paying $0.04/liter more because I went off program but I could make a case that the car doesn't seem to run right on Petro Canada if that were the case.

I'm sure it will be fine with Petro Canada because millions of drivers use it without reported issues. I was just trying to zero in on the best sort of thing. In my mind that is Shell but I can't prove it actually is over the vehicles lifespan or anything.

 

[Garak]

I agree that it should be just fine. Like I said, I had many vehicles that liked it fine, including the old Audi, the Town Car, the Lightning, the old F-150. Just the G37 is picky.

 

[StevieC]

I think I will just regularly dose with a quality PEA based fuel system cleaner more often then I was doing. I mean after all my fuel cost is covered so to add a bottle of magic sauce once an a while isn't going to break the bank.
Amsoil P.I. has been stellar where I have used it both with verifying with my boroscope, and with the partially clogged injector I cleaned in the beater Neon we used to have. Yes the bottle of P.I. was worth more than the Neon, especially with it's classic Chrysler flaking paint of the early 1990's.

 

[Garak]

I think that's a suitable strategy. Also, keep an eye on CT's Regane sales, which are increasingly less frequent, unfortunately. Walmart has some of the Regane line, too, at a not bad price, assuming your local ones stock it. One of the local Walmarts here, at least, has a much reduced automotive section. I can't speak for the others, yet.

 

[StevieC]

We have 3 Walmarts within short driving distance and all of them have virtually no auto section any longer. They used to have a really nice selection of oils, additives, other fluids, filters etc. and now it has been cut down to one line of shelving no bigger than maybe 15ft total. It used to be 3 complete rows. Now I have to go to over priced CTC for stuff.

 

[Garak]

The one thing I can give the one WM credit for is that it kept a couple good Regane PEA cleaners, while getting rid of some cruft. The oil selection is a bit iffy, though, to say the least, but that was often the case. Years ago, it was better, but now, not so great.

 

[StevieC]

I wish we had the rebates and less expensive jugs of oil I can find in Buffalo. (40 minutes from me)

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted by StevieC
I wish we had the rebates and less expensive jugs of oil I can find in Buffalo. (40 minutes from me)


I'm 60 minutes from the border and I have bought most of my oil in the past 5 or 6 years from Buffalo (well, technically Niagara Falls, but I call it Buffalo too)

The trip more than pays for itself with the money I save by filling up my tank down there and buying a few things from Walmart that are cheaper than here (I bring a cooler bag to stock up on the $1.77 per gallon milk and chocolate milk!) Walmarts in the US have a much bigger auto section than the ones up here!

 

[StevieC]

When I travel to the U.S. for work I always fly out of Niagara airport so I can do a little shopping on the way back with my duty allowance. Then there are my folks always running to Boston to see my brother so they make the Harbor Freight runs for me with the van, and then I get stuff shipped to my brother and he brings it up when he comes across. I will also shop in Michigan when I'm in Windsor for work. I stay on the U.S. side for the duty allowance and my work likes it because the hotels are a good price even with the exchange. It would just be nice to have it at our retailers here though...

 

[Patman]

I love flying out of Niagara Falls airport! (I assume you're talking about the smaller one, not Buffalo International) We have flown to Florida from that airport about 4 or 5 times now, I love how they only have one or two flights a day out of there, and they are never at the same time so anytime you fly out of there the other people on your flight are the only ones in the entire airport, making the entire process so much quicker than flying out of a huge airport.

We also do a little shopping there during those trips

 

[StevieC]

Sorry I did mean Buffalo International. I call it Niagara all the time in error.

I also usually hit Cheesecake Factory on the way back. Gotta get my fix, although I hear we have one at Yorkdale now.

 

[Garak]

Yes, that's the unfortunate part. The Walmart I checked had two of the Regane ones, the newer ones, the expensive One-N-Done and the other All in One or whatever it's called, in the newer packaging. Realistically, CT and Walmart could get rid of a pile of silly additives and still maintain a stock of decent, useful ones. I haven't seen CT have their 50% off on Regane for ages, but I haven't been checking as much lately. Partsource had a sale a while back, but the closest Partsource didn't carry the darned product in the first place, which really didn't help.

 

[StevieC]

Exactly... Amazon.ca is actually a decent source for additives depending on what you are looking for and I'm a prime member so it's usually here next day free of charge with no minimum.

 

[Garak]

That's not so bad. I get jobber price on Red Line SI-1 and even the AC Delco product, so I do have alternatives, too.

 

[StevieC]

That reminds me... I have about 10 bottles of SI-1 downstairs in my stash that I got on clearance. I guess I should use it up.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted by StevieC
Originally Posted by Garak
Originally Posted by StevieC
Petro Canada states that their Premium has more detergents in it. They even allude to it on the pump buttons showing more Beakers as you go up in octane.

Now you remind me, I remember. It's been a while since I bought gas at one.

As I mentioned, only the G didn't like it.


All the pumps around these parts say "Contains up to 10% ethanol." Whether they carry 94 or just up to 91.

I have tested the 91 from the local Petro-Can station I use and there is no ethanol in the 91 octane.

 

[StevieC]

I've got a tank of premium (91) in there right now and the fuel economy is already moving slightly. It sat pegged on 10.6L / 100km (22.1 MPG) with mixed city/highway driving and now it has moved to 10.3L / 100 KM (22.8 MPG) in the last couple of days. I was near empty (low fuel light on) when I filled it and there was 87 in there before.

I doubt it will move much further but the driving pattern has been relatively the same the last couple of days as well.

What I'm getting at is that I think maybe it's due to the lack of ethanol but it could also be the higher octane changing the timing. (Knock sensor equipped)