Gas is gas? Ok. I can buy that...up to a point. And yes, I am aware that Brand "X," "Y," and "Z" tanker trucks all fill up at the same terminal from whomever's refinery is the closest or the cheapest on any given day. Gas is gas, and all the same at THAT particular refinery for that particular crude oil run. And, yup...at the very end of their tanking up an additive package is usually/supposed to be added to their tanks, and yeah, no doubt sometimes stuff doesn't get added at all or in some wrong amounts. etc., and so on.
That having been said, check out Chevron.com and toptiergas.com about gasoline and gasoline additives. Then ask yourself why BMW, General Motors, Honda and Toyota would give a red rat's rump about the gas you put in your car?! I know! It's all one big giant conspiracy among the biggies to maximize profits for the companies that make the top tier gas and the car companies! OR maybe these two sites have something...like knowing that when the EPA set the "minimum" detergency standards for the US gasoline market many companies that exceeded that minimum reduced their additive packages to cut costs. Maybe a lot of major brand gas is crappie?
Maybe, just maybe BMW, General Motors, Honda and Toyota got tired of catching the rap for drivability and warranty repairs for the Pi** poor gas we've ended up with, and decided to through their support to the fuel producers who would put some real stuff in their fuels. The EPA described only a minimum level of additives,which is what just about all government bodies do is to set minimums. (For those who are willing to accept government minimums, let alone this one for fuel, please send me the balance of your paychecks above the minimum wage, so that we can level out the argument.) No doubt these automakers have their own reasons and motives to promote top tier gasolines, and maybe this is one time that I can benefit directly from that too. This top tier gasoline issue has been going on for a few years now...and guess what? Only a handful of gasoline producers have jumped on that bandwagon. I wonder if they know and think that we don't know there is a difference, or even care if there is? After all, if their just meet-the-minimum detergency gas fouls your injectors how are you going to prove it? Would we even suspect that what we pump into our fuel tank could be causing some problems?
I've never been more amazed than with friends and relatives that will pay 50K+ for their latest hot wheels car and then fill up with the cheapest no-name, stale gas they can find...and then have issues with fuel injectors, etc., and then blame the car! Go figure! The cost difference around here (where we have tons of refineries all up and down the MS. River) between El Cheapo gas, and a top tier fuel like Chevron, Shell, etc., is pennies per gallon, or from less than $1 to $1.50 per tankfull on average. Money is money too. And like the guy said: "you can pay me now, or you can pay me later, but you WILL pay me!" IMO, this is another perspective. Your milage will vary.