Originally Posted By: SHOZ
Originally Posted By: nascarnation
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
I've never used any fuel system cleaner, and only ever run E10. I also don't buy into the "top tier" nonsense, and I haven't had a fuel system issue in more than 40 years in any vehicle.
Top tier is real, they have more detergent additives, and have to certify the conformity by regular testing.
It helps for me that top tier is also pretty much always the cheapest gas I can buy, at Costco.
If the additives are added when the tanker is loaded who and when do they do the testing?
I know a link was provided, but it's done by the additive company and the test results are used by the retailer. It's not much different than small time motor oil sellers that may just piggyback on additive company test results by mixing with a standardized base oil blend.
It doesn't specifically test the fuel, but an additive that's certified by the seller as being used in the required quantities. The additive may not be made specifically for the retailer, although a many are. Chevron develops its own. Costco had Lubrizol make one just for them called Lubrizol 9888. Many are made by big chemical companies like BASF, Alton, or Lubrizol. There are a few small companies that make detergent for retail fuel. If it's a pump fuel additive, there's an "FR" in the "Certified Detergent" column.
https://www3.epa.gov/otaq/fuels1/ffars/web-
A lot of the big names have nothing. Shell, Exxon, and Mobil list nothing, so they must be buying from someone else despite stuff like Shell's ads showing their chemists working on fuel additives. Shell and ExxonMobil have a joint venture (Infineum) but they don't list a certified detergent additive any more.
There's little incentive for cheating. The fuel terminals aren't going to allow it.