Is Shell Premium Considered Best Cleaning Gasoline?

[ammolab]

It has possibly the best cleaning 87 octane but Shell 93 has more cleaning power than Costco 93 does.

Says who, Shell? Costco already meats Top Tier + requirements.

Shell?

 

[wemay]

If you're running any Top Tier, you shouldn't need to add anything else.

 

[Patman]

Says who, Shell? Costco already meats Top Tier + requirements.

Shell?

According to the Shell website they have 6x the amount of detergents required by law in their V Power premium. They don’t mention the amount in their 87 but the FAQ does say that their V Power premium contains the highest amount of detergents of all of their grades. Costco’s website says that all grades of their fuel contain 5 times the required amount of detergents.

 

[Patman]

If you're running any Top Tier, you shouldn't need to add anything else.

That’s my belief too. I’ve never used any fuel additives in either of my cars.

 

[k1xv]

I only buy gasoline certified Kosher for Passover.

 

[Olds394]

Just trying to determine if there are any ingredients in Shell V Power that other Top Tier gas + Techron or Regane couldn’t accomplish ? In my area we have top tier ARCO , Union 76 , Marathon , Exxon , Chevron and Shell.

V Power has a friction modifier, along with Mobil.

 

[mojoe]

Shell V Power contains 6 times the required amount of detergents but they don’t say what their 87 octane contains but it does have less.

Costco says that its gas contains 5 times the required amount of detergents in all of its grades. So if you want to run 87 octane and get a high level of detergents that’s where to go.

Also, my local Costco is super busy, so I know the gas is always fresh. Supposedly, they keep their tanks maintained and clean as well. I know the pumps and whole fueling area is always spotless. I've been running Exxon lately because of the add-pack and the fact that it's super convenient and I can get a .10/gallon discount using my WalMart card. It's a very busy station as well, but I'm not super confident they keep their tanks maintained. I feel pretty good about using either, but I am going to try to utilize the Costco option as much as possible.

 

[y_p_w]

I have always wondered if the additive that is used in Top Tier gas could have an unfavorable reaction with Fuel additives by other manufactures. Ex: While adding Techron may be additive when used with Exxon gas could it reduce the effectiveness of Shell Nitro+. I really have no idea but if all these additive companies have proprietary chemistry can we predict what will happen when combined with others. We could be buying expensive gas and adding expensive cleaners to find one neutralizes the other.

Nobody really knows. Costco has that system where they just get a generic EPA min dose of whatever is available at the fuel depot, which is a requirement to transport fuel to the station. Then it’s a chaser of their proprietary additive at Costco. So that’s clearly a cocktail of whatever, unless that generic is also their proprietary additive.

I suspect they don’t cancel each other out.

 

[ammolab]

According to the Shell website they have 6x the amount of detergents required by law in their V Power premium. They don’t mention the amount in their 87 but the FAQ does say that their V Power premium contains the highest amount of detergents of all of their grades. Costco’s website says that all grades of their fuel contain 5 times the required amount of detergents.

6x is more than 5x for sure. Is more than 5x better, or just more? For the difference in price, Shell over Costco, I am more than good stopping at the Costco pump every time. Even if I have to wait in line.

 

[Patman]

6x is more than 5x for sure. Is more than 5x better, or just more? For the difference in price, Shell over Costco, I am more than good stopping at the Costco pump every time. Even if I have to wait in line.

That’s what I’m thinking as well. Maybe once you get to a certain point (say 4x the requirement) that anything more isn’t really necessary. If Costco sold 93 octane up here I would have no problem making that my gas of choice for my Corvette. But the premium at our Costco is only 91 octane I have used it in the Vette in the past but it was tuned to run on 93 so I’m losing a few horsepower when I run 91 octane. So these days it mostly gets Shell 93, occasionally it gets Esso or Mobil 93 and once in a blue moon I’ll use Petro Canada’s Ultra 94

 

[ATex7239]

I use the Shell because 1) it’s Top Tier 2) the Toyota seems to dilute less with it 3) it’s 10 cents off a gallon with Shell rewards and 4) the ExxonMobil stations around here always have broken down pumps.

 

[CDNozzle]

I combine Shell rewards + Kroger (King Soopers) Fuel Points + 5% creditcard cashback here in Colorado to reduce the reg-premium price spread.

 

[Patman]

Shell and Air Miles used to give me 7 cents per liter discount on premium and they also had so many deals that I managed to get $230 in free gas last year. This year they don’t offer the discount anymore and they stopped the monthly deals with the bonus Air Miles. So buying Shell gas this year is going to be a lot more expensive than the past two years Hopefully they will ramp up the deals in the spring and summer

 

[JavierH19]

The only 87 octane car i've driven that has a noticeable difference in driving feel is the mitsubishi outlander sport. My old trucks don't respond to the higher octane likely because the computer is more conservative and doesn't actively try to push timing and keeps it in its range no matter what's in it. But the mitsu computer seems to push it and see what it can do and it drives nicer and at a lower rpm since it's easy enough for a cvt to do.

 

[SevenBizzos]

I parlay the $.10 Fuel Rewards and $.20 Car Wash Discount on the V-Power. This past fall I could get an additional $.15 off on Sundays because of NFL games.
The 2.7's run well on it.

 

[perkz]

Costco has the best cleaning Gasoline ️.

Costco uses UltraZol 9888 (a Lubrizol product) in their Kirkland Signature Clean Power gasoline, injected automatically at a rate of 3.25 gallons per 8,700-gallon tanker load via automated batch controllers

 

[Legs4Arms]

That’s what I’m thinking as well. Maybe once you get to a certain point (say 4x the requirement) that anything more isn’t really necessary. If Costco sold 93 octane up here I would have no problem making that my gas of choice for my Corvette. But the premium at our Costco is only 91 octane I have used it in the Vette in the past but it was tuned to run on 93 so I’m losing a few horsepower when I run 91 octane. So these days it mostly gets Shell 93, occasionally it gets Esso or Mobil 93 and once in a blue moon I’ll use Petro Canada’s Ultra 94

Don't you have any Chevron stations in the Toronto area?

 

[perkz]

Nobody really knows. Costco has that system where they just get a generic EPA min dose of whatever is available at the fuel depot, which is a requirement to transport fuel to the station. Then it’s a chaser of their proprietary additive at Costco. So that’s clearly a cocktail of whatever, unless that generic is also their proprietary additive.

I suspect they don’t cancel each other out.

Costco stations are unique, as far as I know, as they have equipment that injects the Lubrizol product at the station. Here is what Brave AI reports:
"UltraZol 9888 is a proprietary gasoline detergent additive manufactured by Lubrizol and used by Costco in its Kirkland Signature Clean Power gasoline. It is specifically formulated to exceed EPA minimum detergent requirements, with reports indicating it contains 5 times the minimum detergent levels mandated by the EPA.

• The additive is not listed on the EPA's official register of certified detergent additives, though it is registered with the EPA under the name Kirkland Signature Clean Power.
• It is blended at Costco locations via an automated system at a rate of approximately 3.25 gallons per 8,700-gallon tanker load, ensuring consistent, high-dose treatment.
• UltraZol 9888 is known for its high concentration and viscosity, making it thicker than typical retail fuel additives.
• It is not used by other brands; Costco uses a proprietary formulation made exclusively for them by Lubrizol.
• The additive is dosed on-site, typically during fuel delivery, and is not added at fuel terminals like many other brands.
• It is designed to clean and maintain fuel injectors and intake valves, helping prevent deposits and maintain engine performance over time.

The formulation is a trade secret, with limited public details on exact chemical composition, though it is known to contain polyether amines (PEA) and other hydrocarbon-based detergent components. The additive is active and valid under Canadian claim registration (Claim #3418669), with an exemption expiry date of April 12, 2026."

 

[GSCJR]

Don't you have any Chevron stations in the Toronto area?

Negative

 

[y_p_w]

Costco stations are unique, as far as I know, as they have equipment that injects the Lubrizol product at the station. Here is what Brave AI reports:
"UltraZol 9888 is a proprietary gasoline detergent additive manufactured by Lubrizol and used by Costco in its Kirkland Signature Clean Power gasoline. It is specifically formulated to exceed EPA minimum detergent requirements, with reports indicating it contains 5 times the minimum detergent levels mandated by the EPA.

• The additive is not listed on the EPA's official register of certified detergent additives, though it is registered with the EPA under the name Kirkland Signature Clean Power.
• It is blended at Costco locations via an automated system at a rate of approximately 3.25 gallons per 8,700-gallon tanker load, ensuring consistent, high-dose treatment.
• UltraZol 9888 is known for its high concentration and viscosity, making it thicker than typical retail fuel additives.
• It is not used by other brands; Costco uses a proprietary formulation made exclusively for them by Lubrizol.
• The additive is dosed on-site, typically during fuel delivery, and is not added at fuel terminals like many other brands.
• It is designed to clean and maintain fuel injectors and intake valves, helping prevent deposits and maintain engine performance over time.

The formulation is a trade secret, with limited public details on exact chemical composition, though it is known to contain polyether amines (PEA) and other hydrocarbon-based detergent components. The additive is active and valid under Canadian claim registration (Claim #3418669), with an exemption expiry date of April 12, 2026."

I don’t know about relying on an AI chatbot. I know there have been assorted presentations mentioning “UltraZol 9888”. But the EPA does have a “Lubrizol 9888” listed.