Is the Chevron gas THAT much better?
- Thread starter Chris142
- Start date
Does it come with electrolytes?
Gasoline is a fungible commodity and the vast majority of what makes fuel work is the base fuel. The fuel itself meets a commodity standard. That doesn't mean it's always the same just because it meets the standard, but it's not as if there's some intentional level of control where one refinery will maximize or minimize the characteristics like energy content, octane rating, etc for a particular grade of fuel.
In terms of refining, I'm pretty sure Chevron doesn't make any better fuel than Valero or XOM. Again - not that level of control and what's the incentive when they're just selling a commodity? It's mostly just pushed into a pipeline where they probably lose track of where it came from other than it's a particular commodity grade. Pipeline companies have no problem blending supplies of the same commodity grade from different refineries. And as much as there's this belief that many companies are vertically integrated where it's all one company controlling the product from the drilling platform to the gas pump, there's going to be horse trading of crude oil and finished base fuel - especially based on logistics.
But the additive may make a difference. Primarily the level of additive, although I suppose there could be some bulk additives where it's going to hit a wall where it's not any more effective at higher concentration. But I'm sure it's not costing them 50 cents more per gallon compared to the gas station across the street. They're paying for marketing and/or charging a premium.
I wasn't too particular about fuel brand or even perceived detergent level. I do remember a place that sold Red Line SI-1 for less than $3.50 per bottle for over a decade and a half. I have no idea how they managed to avoid raiding their prices. If I had a fuel I thought might just have EPA minimums, I would often just dump a small amount in even though they no longer had a maintenance dose listed on the label.
In terms of refining, I'm pretty sure Chevron doesn't make any better fuel than Valero or XOM. Again - not that level of control and what's the incentive when they're just selling a commodity? It's mostly just pushed into a pipeline where they probably lose track of where it came from other than it's a particular commodity grade. Pipeline companies have no problem blending supplies of the same commodity grade from different refineries. And as much as there's this belief that many companies are vertically integrated where it's all one company controlling the product from the drilling platform to the gas pump, there's going to be horse trading of crude oil and finished base fuel - especially based on logistics.
But the additive may make a difference. Primarily the level of additive, although I suppose there could be some bulk additives where it's going to hit a wall where it's not any more effective at higher concentration. But I'm sure it's not costing them 50 cents more per gallon compared to the gas station across the street. They're paying for marketing and/or charging a premium.
I wasn't too particular about fuel brand or even perceived detergent level. I do remember a place that sold Red Line SI-1 for less than $3.50 per bottle for over a decade and a half. I have no idea how they managed to avoid raiding their prices. If I had a fuel I thought might just have EPA minimums, I would often just dump a small amount in even though they no longer had a maintenance dose listed on the label.
I use RaceTrac gas plus a bottle of Techron once a year, maybe twice per year if lots of miles.
For everybody using Shell gas if you have AAA there is a rewards program.
https://discounts.aaa.com/automotive/fuel-rewards-program-shell
https://discounts.aaa.com/automotive/fuel-rewards-program-shell
Infineum doesn't make a bulk detergent additive any more. I remember an older list where they had a single detergent additive. I wouldn't know who makes it for them, but it legally has to be listed here:
https://www3.epa.gov/otaq/fuels1/ffars/web-detrg.htm
They have gasoline additives, but they're for other purposes.
https://www3.epa.gov/otaq/fuels1/ffars/web-gas.htm
INFINEUM USA
1900 East Linden Avenue
Linden, NJ 07036
(908) 474-3701
John Wise
Additive Name Certified Detergent Fuel Type
ECA 7955 (Paramins) G
Infineum C9945 G
Infineum V385 G
Paraflow 385 (Paramins) G
Parapol 450 G
Most of these seem to be pour point depressents, which I wasn't aware was needed in gasoline. The last one is apparently some kind of detergent, but not a bulk additive.
I don't think that's the case. Even Chevron shuts down refineries for maintenance or after unplanned events. For the following list, Marathon is now a renewable fuels processing facility.
Northern California: (Bay Area Air Quality Management District)
Chevron (Richmond)
PBF Energy (Martinez)
Phillips 66 (Rodeo)
Marathon Petroleum (Martinez)
Valero (Benicia)
But again fuel is a commodity. Maybe not identical in every way, but close enough that it's sold interchangeably.
Sadly we don't have Shell Gasoline in our area. We use either Sunoco or Mobil fuels. The prices are the same as Speedway and other non top tier fuels.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
Recently I have used a lot of Phillips 66 TT 93 octane in the motorcycle. No issues. I'll buy the 87 octane for the truck also when I have no fuel saver cents off from Hy-Vee..
I buy at 76 here because its TT. I used to buy from that store specifically because it was family run and had been here forever. He sold and retired I guess. Now run by someone else -not as good.
I use TT but I won't pay more for it. Well maybe 2 cents, but thats about it.
The only thing TT does that the others do not is a) more detergent, and PEA is the only detergent I know of that has any testing, so you can just buy Techron or whatever if you need, and b) prohibits the use of organometallic additives, like MMT. While I do not thing its banned, my research indicates that almost nowhere in the USA has this in Gasoline anymore.
So don't pay a bunch more for TT. The best gas is the busiest station with the newest tanks.
The only thing TT does that the others do not is a) more detergent, and PEA is the only detergent I know of that has any testing, so you can just buy Techron or whatever if you need, and b) prohibits the use of organometallic additives, like MMT. While I do not thing its banned, my research indicates that almost nowhere in the USA has this in Gasoline anymore.
So don't pay a bunch more for TT. The best gas is the busiest station with the newest tanks.
I use Chevron, Texaco, Quick Trip, and occasionally Kroger. I realize Kroger isn’t top tier. Each one I named near me is high volume and I haven’t experienced any fuel related problems with either of them. I do add Stabil 360 to the OPE fuel can and a bottle of Techron in the vehicles every 5k miles or once a year.
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It depends on how much you value Techron vs other name-brand additives like XOM's Synergy and Shell's V-Power.
I say that b/c I think all grades of Chevron gas get the same amount of Techron (please correct me on this), so with Chevron 93 you're literally only getting an octane boost rather than more helpful additives. This contrasts XOM gas where there's an appreciable amount more in the 93-oct Synergy Supreme+.
If I knew which of V-Power, Techron, and Synergy themselves were better, and I also knew the concentrations of them added to pipeline gas @ the terminal, the answer would be a lot clearer.
XOM started a pretty good marketing campaign for SS+ 4-5 years ago and are still running some TV commercials, and they claim it has Friction Modifiers. I think V-Power does too? I've never seen anywhere that domestic Techron has friction modifiers (except some research shows [foreign] Caltex Techron has FMs).
The base gas is the same since all of big oil trades it to one another, so the only variables then are the proprietary additive and station freshness.
I say that b/c I think all grades of Chevron gas get the same amount of Techron (please correct me on this), so with Chevron 93 you're literally only getting an octane boost rather than more helpful additives. This contrasts XOM gas where there's an appreciable amount more in the 93-oct Synergy Supreme+.
If I knew which of V-Power, Techron, and Synergy themselves were better, and I also knew the concentrations of them added to pipeline gas @ the terminal, the answer would be a lot clearer.
XOM started a pretty good marketing campaign for SS+ 4-5 years ago and are still running some TV commercials, and they claim it has Friction Modifiers. I think V-Power does too? I've never seen anywhere that domestic Techron has friction modifiers (except some research shows [foreign] Caltex Techron has FMs).
The base gas is the same since all of big oil trades it to one another, so the only variables then are the proprietary additive and station freshness.
I used to buy my gas at Costco when going to the store. Now, unless you get there an hour before the store opens, there are 12 or more cars in every line. Even worse, the gas station is just inside a main entrance, so cars back up into the street, and you can't get in or out of that entrance. Just a huge mess every day. Sometimes the cars back up into the parking lot aisles, so people can't get out. Yes, much cheaper, but not worth the zoo anymore.
Not sure about the gas, but Chevron tends to have better quality station like newer cleaner pump, better bathroom, better lighting, etc. I'm sure their additives are top tier and likely PEA based, not sure if better or significantly better than other top tier PEA additives though.
I personally treat Chevron and Shell the same way, and would only pay a premium using their gas on one of my car but not my beater.
I personally treat Chevron and Shell the same way, and would only pay a premium using their gas on one of my car but not my beater.
Chevron developed PEA, so they should know a thing or two about it. One would hope, anyway.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
What people fail to get is that major oil company R&D teams formulate and test the additive package regardless of who they buy chemicals from …
This cocktail is added at loading in most cases …
Anyone recall these adds (they are one of the players):
This cocktail is added at loading in most cases …
Anyone recall these adds (they are one of the players):
In my experience, it's been totally dependent on the automobile. I've had cars that would willingly digest any swill available. I've also had cars that could be finicky without a steady diet of Chevron or least a bottle of Techron once a year.
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