I have been looking at the AAA app on my phone looking for top tier gas stations that I travel by. This app shows the top tier logo on stations that sell top tier. Some stations I see do not have the logo but are Marathon gas stations. The app just has their convenience store name. If it is a Marathon or any other name on the top tier list, are they required to be selling top tier? I've also noticed a lot of these stations around are not displaying the logo on the pumps.
Top tier or not?
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Gas is gas. Truth is,you never know what these stations are using.
Makes one wonder when you see a tanker truck at an Exxon station and then cross the street to a small mom and pop's no name station.
Depends on the car. My DI car I definitely use top tier only, my PI beater, not really.
As far as I know they add the additives at the station, so doesn't matter which truck goes where.
As far as I know they add the additives at the station, so doesn't matter which truck goes where.
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Rat407
Makes one wonder when you see a tanker truck at an Exxon station and then cross the street to a small mom and pop's no name station.
This has been discussed to death.
Makes one wonder when you see a tanker truck at an Exxon station and then cross the street to a small mom and pop's no name station.
This has been discussed to death.
Originally Posted by Rat407
Makes one wonder when you see a tanker truck at an Exxon station and then cross the street to a small mom and pop's no name station.
There could be a a different load. I've never heard of that before. Nearly all deliveries are to a single gas station. TiredTrucker can explain how deliveries are supposed to be made. The fuel itself is primarily commodity fuel where independents and name brands tap into exactly the same fuel, but then specify "branded" detergent packages or a "generic" that meets EPA requirements.
Makes one wonder when you see a tanker truck at an Exxon station and then cross the street to a small mom and pop's no name station.
There could be a a different load. I've never heard of that before. Nearly all deliveries are to a single gas station. TiredTrucker can explain how deliveries are supposed to be made. The fuel itself is primarily commodity fuel where independents and name brands tap into exactly the same fuel, but then specify "branded" detergent packages or a "generic" that meets EPA requirements.
Originally Posted by aquariuscsm
Gas is gas. Truth is,you never know what these stations are using.
This ^^^^^^^^^^^^
Think about it. Let's say you filled up at a, "Top Tier" gas station, and 30 miles down the road your car takes a dump. And after the mechanic towed it in and fixed it, he told you your tank was full of garbage gas. What can you actually do about it? It's an all but unenforceable, "guarantee". You would be extremely lucky to get your money back on the gas. And that would only happen if you had a receipt, (and who even gets, let alone keeps those every time they fill up?), along with a big argument with the manager.
Unless you have some way to check what's in their tanks, along with where it's coming from, (which you don't), you have absolutely no way of knowing what you are pumping into your vehicle. Let alone it's "quality". I think what's far more important is the age of the station, along with it's tanks. And how much volume of fuel they sell. Stick with newer stations that pump a high volume of fuel. I think you have a much better chance of getting good fuel that way. Rather than by looking for some nebulous sign or emblem that gives you a totally unenforceable, pie in the sky, "guarantee".
While none of what I just mentioned is a guarantee either, it can't help but improve your odds. It's a bit like how people always used to look for those little "AAA" oval signs when they were looking for a motel when they were traveling. It was supposed to more or less help assure, that if the joint was, "AAA Approved", it was a better, cleaner place. The fact is, (or rather was), it had little effect in guaranteeing you a nice room. Roaches don't read signs. More often than not, all it "guaranteed" was a slightly higher price. I put this whole "Top Tier" thing into much the same category.
Is it better to have it than not? Perhaps, but I wouldn't live or die by it. It's more of an excuse to charge a couple of cents more a gallon, and get away with it if someone questions the price.... "Oh, but our gas is, "Top Tier!"
Gas is gas. Truth is,you never know what these stations are using.
This ^^^^^^^^^^^^
Think about it. Let's say you filled up at a, "Top Tier" gas station, and 30 miles down the road your car takes a dump. And after the mechanic towed it in and fixed it, he told you your tank was full of garbage gas. What can you actually do about it? It's an all but unenforceable, "guarantee". You would be extremely lucky to get your money back on the gas. And that would only happen if you had a receipt, (and who even gets, let alone keeps those every time they fill up?), along with a big argument with the manager.
Unless you have some way to check what's in their tanks, along with where it's coming from, (which you don't), you have absolutely no way of knowing what you are pumping into your vehicle. Let alone it's "quality". I think what's far more important is the age of the station, along with it's tanks. And how much volume of fuel they sell. Stick with newer stations that pump a high volume of fuel. I think you have a much better chance of getting good fuel that way. Rather than by looking for some nebulous sign or emblem that gives you a totally unenforceable, pie in the sky, "guarantee".
While none of what I just mentioned is a guarantee either, it can't help but improve your odds. It's a bit like how people always used to look for those little "AAA" oval signs when they were looking for a motel when they were traveling. It was supposed to more or less help assure, that if the joint was, "AAA Approved", it was a better, cleaner place. The fact is, (or rather was), it had little effect in guaranteeing you a nice room. Roaches don't read signs. More often than not, all it "guaranteed" was a slightly higher price. I put this whole "Top Tier" thing into much the same category.
Is it better to have it than not? Perhaps, but I wouldn't live or die by it. It's more of an excuse to charge a couple of cents more a gallon, and get away with it if someone questions the price.... "Oh, but our gas is, "Top Tier!"
+1
I ran the cheapest I could find for several decades with no problems other than apparent dirty injectors; used a fuel injector cleaner about every 6 mo and problem solved. My brother (station owner) then convinced me a few years ago to run only top tier. After I switched I had no problems but still need to use a cleaner about every 6 mo to maintain the acceleration capabilities in both my cars. Really no benefit to top tier that i can see. I now use whatever is cheapest.
I ran the cheapest I could find for several decades with no problems other than apparent dirty injectors; used a fuel injector cleaner about every 6 mo and problem solved. My brother (station owner) then convinced me a few years ago to run only top tier. After I switched I had no problems but still need to use a cleaner about every 6 mo to maintain the acceleration capabilities in both my cars. Really no benefit to top tier that i can see. I now use whatever is cheapest.
Around here if you stuck to Mobil/Exxon and Shell I think you could be assured of getting TT gas all the time. Too much riding on their franchise to dump in a load of cheap gas.
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Originally Posted by Donald
Around here if you stuck to Mobil/Exxon and Shell I think you could be assured of getting TT gas all the time. Too much riding on their franchise to dump in a load of cheap gas.
Cheapest here is Exxon and Sunoco … the guy with Exxon said they get tested by a QAQC guy … have not asked at Sunoco but think it's good fuel …
Around here if you stuck to Mobil/Exxon and Shell I think you could be assured of getting TT gas all the time. Too much riding on their franchise to dump in a load of cheap gas.
Cheapest here is Exxon and Sunoco … the guy with Exxon said they get tested by a QAQC guy … have not asked at Sunoco but think it's good fuel …
Quote
Gas is gas. Truth is,you never know what these stations are using.
While anything's possible I suppose, around here TT gas, ie., gas from stations listed in TT directory, costs the same or less than non listed. Also, don't have to go out the way to find it. So there's no downside to using TT gas. My two favorites now a QuikTrip/QT, and BP because for the latter I know earn gas points monthly at grocery store with purchases, last time 40 cents off a gallon.
As for topic, I would say that only the actual fuel company name on the convenience store pumps themselves or station signage would be the determining factor. At least that's how I view it. Not having the TT logo on the pumps wouldn't bother me.
Gas is gas. Truth is,you never know what these stations are using.
While anything's possible I suppose, around here TT gas, ie., gas from stations listed in TT directory, costs the same or less than non listed. Also, don't have to go out the way to find it. So there's no downside to using TT gas. My two favorites now a QuikTrip/QT, and BP because for the latter I know earn gas points monthly at grocery store with purchases, last time 40 cents off a gallon.
As for topic, I would say that only the actual fuel company name on the convenience store pumps themselves or station signage would be the determining factor. At least that's how I view it. Not having the TT logo on the pumps wouldn't bother me.
Whether you get the additives the various Gas statiions promote or not, some DI autos call for it in the owners manual. My Kia does. As said above, the cost per gal is usually about the same.
I try to stick to TT if at all possible, usually Costco. Most St. Louis area retailers are TT : QT, Conoco-Phillips, Mobil. QT sometimes gets left off the TT list, maybe somebody forgot to send in the check. Circle K stations have recently self-branded, dumping Shell. Could swear I had earlier seen them on the list, but not last time I checked. Therefore I buy soda at Circle K, but no more gas. I think it's important with D.I. engines.
IIRC- Marathon was TT but not Speedway. None around here, so I don't always keep up.
I guess a truck with leftover gas could sell TT to a non-TT station, but I think major retailers are pretty fussy about cheating--Top Tier means Top Tier. A local franchiser of Mobil was caught dealing without the proper additives and it hit the newspapers (back when there were such things)-- he's now rebranded to ZX (Zephyr-JD Streett, the former blender of STP oil about a decade ago).
IIRC- Marathon was TT but not Speedway. None around here, so I don't always keep up.
I guess a truck with leftover gas could sell TT to a non-TT station, but I think major retailers are pretty fussy about cheating--Top Tier means Top Tier. A local franchiser of Mobil was caught dealing without the proper additives and it hit the newspapers (back when there were such things)-- he's now rebranded to ZX (Zephyr-JD Streett, the former blender of STP oil about a decade ago).
All gasoline has a minimum EPA spec's requirement of injector cleaner. The top tier stations add some extra cleaner, enough to avoid having to use any additional injector cleaner if used on a regular basis. The underlying fuel is all the same. In many areas you will see the same tanker truck delivering to multiple stations of different brands.
In our area Costco is always 10-50c/gal cheaper, and top tier, so we go there most of the time.
In our area Costco is always 10-50c/gal cheaper, and top tier, so we go there most of the time.
Originally Posted by billt460
Unless you have some way to check what's in their tanks, along with where it's coming from, (which you don't), you have absolutely no way of knowing what you are pumping into your vehicle. Let alone it's "quality". I think what's far more important is the age of the station, along with it's tanks. And how much volume of fuel they sell. Stick with newer stations that pump a high volume of fuel. I think you have a much better chance of getting good fuel that way. Rather than by looking for some nebulous sign or emblem that gives you a totally unenforceable, pie in the sky, "guarantee".
The fuel terminals and pipeline operators that run most fuel terminals aren't going to stand for that. They're perfectly willing to distribute commodity fuel (which is the vast majority of base fuel) and ethanol with a generic minimum spec detergent additive to independents. But I can't imagine that they would allow a delivery of fuel to a franchised Chevron station that doesn't use the Chevron-specified additive. The stations certainly would be risking their expensive franchise agreements by trying to bypass those agreements that require them to get fuel brokered by the refiner or distributor and to use the "branded" additive.
At least in my state there's the ability to audit fuel at any step in refining/distribution/retail. Not sure what they could do about detergent additives, but they could certainly test for contamination with water or crud. There can also be random tests for octane rating.
Unless you have some way to check what's in their tanks, along with where it's coming from, (which you don't), you have absolutely no way of knowing what you are pumping into your vehicle. Let alone it's "quality". I think what's far more important is the age of the station, along with it's tanks. And how much volume of fuel they sell. Stick with newer stations that pump a high volume of fuel. I think you have a much better chance of getting good fuel that way. Rather than by looking for some nebulous sign or emblem that gives you a totally unenforceable, pie in the sky, "guarantee".
The fuel terminals and pipeline operators that run most fuel terminals aren't going to stand for that. They're perfectly willing to distribute commodity fuel (which is the vast majority of base fuel) and ethanol with a generic minimum spec detergent additive to independents. But I can't imagine that they would allow a delivery of fuel to a franchised Chevron station that doesn't use the Chevron-specified additive. The stations certainly would be risking their expensive franchise agreements by trying to bypass those agreements that require them to get fuel brokered by the refiner or distributor and to use the "branded" additive.
At least in my state there's the ability to audit fuel at any step in refining/distribution/retail. Not sure what they could do about detergent additives, but they could certainly test for contamination with water or crud. There can also be random tests for octane rating.
Originally Posted by NO2
All gasoline has a minimum EPA spec's requirement of injector cleaner. The top tier stations add some extra cleaner, enough to avoid having to use any additional injector cleaner if used on a regular basis. The underlying fuel is all the same. In many areas you will see the same tanker truck delivering to multiple stations of different brands.
In our area Costco is always 10-50c/gal cheaper, and top tier, so we go there most of the time.
I was under the impression that TopTier meant the cleaner chemicals were already in the tanker trunk, and for good mixing, you would think the stations would not have the responsibility to put it in.
.... Sam's Club might not be using top tier though. I was getting gas there, and the tanker truck driver was filling the underground tanks, so I asked him if it was TopTier. He had no idea what I was talking about. Can't believe how clueless that driver-filler guy was, and he wasn't a young pup either, so his excuse is unknown. I think it was some off-brand, cheapest bid gasoline for the discount warehouse cheapskate store.
All gasoline has a minimum EPA spec's requirement of injector cleaner. The top tier stations add some extra cleaner, enough to avoid having to use any additional injector cleaner if used on a regular basis. The underlying fuel is all the same. In many areas you will see the same tanker truck delivering to multiple stations of different brands.
In our area Costco is always 10-50c/gal cheaper, and top tier, so we go there most of the time.
I was under the impression that TopTier meant the cleaner chemicals were already in the tanker trunk, and for good mixing, you would think the stations would not have the responsibility to put it in.
.... Sam's Club might not be using top tier though. I was getting gas there, and the tanker truck driver was filling the underground tanks, so I asked him if it was TopTier. He had no idea what I was talking about. Can't believe how clueless that driver-filler guy was, and he wasn't a young pup either, so his excuse is unknown. I think it was some off-brand, cheapest bid gasoline for the discount warehouse cheapskate store.
Originally Posted by NO2
All gasoline has a minimum EPA spec's requirement of injector cleaner. The top tier stations add some extra cleaner, enough to avoid having to use any additional injector cleaner if used on a regular basis. The underlying fuel is all the same. In many areas you will see the same tanker truck delivering to multiple stations of different brands.
In our area Costco is always 10-50c/gal cheaper, and top tier, so we go there most of the time.
Not necessarily all the same, but as a commodity it has to meet certain standards. Then it most likely goes through a pipeline where all these commodity fuels are mixed together. There are always small differences, but not necessarily ones that can be controlled economically by the refiner.
All gasoline has a minimum EPA spec's requirement of injector cleaner. The top tier stations add some extra cleaner, enough to avoid having to use any additional injector cleaner if used on a regular basis. The underlying fuel is all the same. In many areas you will see the same tanker truck delivering to multiple stations of different brands.
In our area Costco is always 10-50c/gal cheaper, and top tier, so we go there most of the time.
Not necessarily all the same, but as a commodity it has to meet certain standards. Then it most likely goes through a pipeline where all these commodity fuels are mixed together. There are always small differences, but not necessarily ones that can be controlled economically by the refiner.
Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
Originally Posted by NO2
All gasoline has a minimum EPA spec's requirement of injector cleaner. The top tier stations add some extra cleaner, enough to avoid having to use any additional injector cleaner if used on a regular basis. The underlying fuel is all the same. In many areas you will see the same tanker truck delivering to multiple stations of different brands.
In our area Costco is always 10-50c/gal cheaper, and top tier, so we go there most of the time.
I was under the impression that TopTier meant the cleaner chemicals were already in the tanker trunk, and for good mixing, you would think the stations would not have the responsibility to put it in.
.... Sam's Club might not be using top tier though. I was getting gas there, and the tanker truck driver was filling the underground tanks, so I asked him if it was TopTier. He had no idea what I was talking about. Can't believe how clueless that driver-filler guy was, and he wasn't a young pup either, so his excuse is unknown. I think it was some off-brand, cheapest bid gasoline for the discount warehouse cheapskate store.
Costco adds detergent at the station, everyone else at the truck. Sam's/Walmart/Murphy is not Top Tier. I could swear that I had previously checked Circle K and it was on TT list, but not last time I looked. I've avoided asking any counter attendant about it, 'cause I'm sure I'd just get the proverbial "duh", Too old for that frustration. If they'd put a soda fountain out at the pump, I'd never go into a c-store (except to pee).
Originally Posted by NO2
All gasoline has a minimum EPA spec's requirement of injector cleaner. The top tier stations add some extra cleaner, enough to avoid having to use any additional injector cleaner if used on a regular basis. The underlying fuel is all the same. In many areas you will see the same tanker truck delivering to multiple stations of different brands.
In our area Costco is always 10-50c/gal cheaper, and top tier, so we go there most of the time.
I was under the impression that TopTier meant the cleaner chemicals were already in the tanker trunk, and for good mixing, you would think the stations would not have the responsibility to put it in.
.... Sam's Club might not be using top tier though. I was getting gas there, and the tanker truck driver was filling the underground tanks, so I asked him if it was TopTier. He had no idea what I was talking about. Can't believe how clueless that driver-filler guy was, and he wasn't a young pup either, so his excuse is unknown. I think it was some off-brand, cheapest bid gasoline for the discount warehouse cheapskate store.
Costco adds detergent at the station, everyone else at the truck. Sam's/Walmart/Murphy is not Top Tier. I could swear that I had previously checked Circle K and it was on TT list, but not last time I looked. I've avoided asking any counter attendant about it, 'cause I'm sure I'd just get the proverbial "duh", Too old for that frustration. If they'd put a soda fountain out at the pump, I'd never go into a c-store (except to pee).
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