Gasoline quality ?

[Stealth128_imp]

Okay I run Shell gas in my CB I have noticed a big difference between stations with the way the fuel performs and the mileage I get. It's 87 octane. My question is does anyone else notice. Any difference with same brand different station?

Thanks,

[flynrider]

Okay I run Shell gas in my CB I have noticed a big difference between stations with the way the fuel performs and the mileage I get. It's 87 octane. My question is does anyone else notice. Any difference with same brand different station?

Thanks,

Not sure how they handle it in Tampa, but here in PHX the base gasoline product is a commodity. Each brand gets their gasoline from the same source (a couple of big pipelines coming in from the east and west). The only real difference between brands in our market are the additive packages, which mostly have to do with fuel system cleaning.

The only time I noticed a difference in brands was one particular station near my work that had a chronic problem with water getting in their storage tanks. Beyond that, I can't tell any difference.

[Randy B]

Okay I run Shell gas in my CB I have noticed a big difference between stations with the way the fuel performs and the mileage I get. It's 87 octane. My question is does anyone else notice. Any difference with same brand different station?

Thanks,

Not sure how they handle it in Tampa, but here in PHX the base gasoline product is a commodity. Each brand gets their gasoline from the same source (a couple of big pipelines coming in from the east and west). The only real difference between brands in our market are the additive packages, which mostly have to do with fuel system cleaning.

The only time I noticed a difference in brands was one particular station near my work that had a chronic problem with water getting in their storage tanks. Beyond that, I can't tell any difference.

Not sure how they handle it in Tampa, but here in PHX the base gasoline product is a commodity. Each brand gets their gasoline from the same source (a couple of big pipelines coming in from the east and west). The only real difference between brands in our market are the additive packages, which mostly have to do with fuel system cleaning.

The only time I noticed a difference in brands was one particular station near my work that had a chronic problem with water getting in their storage tanks. Beyond that, I can't tell any difference.
This is how it works pretty much everywhere. Do you have any idea how expensive it would be to refine 65 different blends and qualities of gasoline? They refine the base fuel and then each company pulls from that stock and put in their own additives and for CA they have their own added additives for it supposedly to burn cleaner, but if you asked me all it does it drop the fuel economy. So not only do I have to pay more for my fuel, but I get to use more of it on top of everything....fun.

[emptysea]

Have not noticed a difference between Shell stations and that's the brand I go to most often.

[The Spaceman_imp]

You might find this interesting:

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

Its an independently produced list of retailers who have met a standard of quality. It includes brands you might not have expected...not just the national names.

BTW: its not about gas not on the list being "bad," its about the additive packages that are added to the base gas from these retailers being "better."

[emptysea]

^ I did find this interesting. Thanks for the link

[Stealth128_imp]

Thanks very interesting! That really breaks it down. Also when I think about it due to the fact that it has rained here just about everyday I mean huge down pour along with a some flooding in certain areas every day since June I may be dealing with
moisture to some extent?

[Gumby 1100_imp]

I think that the ethanol content can make a big difference from station to station and may have more of an effect than the differences between what one station and another call 87 octane. Higher ethanol content results in more water absorption and the potential for phase separation.

I was buying Canadian Shell Bronze (87 Octane) to avoid ethanol, but, as it turns out, only Shell V-Power 91 has no ethanol in Canada (and there is no point using 91 octane in this bike since higher octane than it requires is more likely to cause plug fouling and decel popping).

In Canada some stations have as much as 15% ethanol, so I've been trying to keep it down to 10%.

[redbirds_imp]

I have not noticed any differences using the 87 octane 10% ethanol fuel in my area. I have noted a slight increase in mileage when I have used the non-ethanol 87 fuel.

Good link Spaceman, thanks.

[Houtman_imp]

I always use 93 , mostly from Shell but also BP and Exxon.
Hopefully more cleaning additives and less ethanol, all my bikes and other power equipment run perfectly.