I have been using only Chevron gas in my truck mainly for the benifits of techron. I have heard that this " Dom P." of gas is the best you can get as far as quality and consistency. In our handbook from the dealer warns against ethanol gas-- is methanol the same or a derivitive of ethanol? 76 gas stations in California have methanol in their gas, and that is why I am staying away from 76. What do you use? Does it matter?

I stay away from Arco and Shell, too. What's the deal with gas?

 

methanol is a light volatile flammableand poisonous liquid alcohol or (CH3OH) used especially as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethyl alcohol and in the synthesis of other chemicals .............

ethanol is a colorless and volatile flammable liquid or (C2H5OH)that is the intoxicating agent in liquors and is also used as a solvent; called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol..........

they are different......

 

Gas is Gas!

Gasoline becomes distinguishable at the pipeline terminals when additives are mixed into the fuel before it is loaded onto tanker trucks. The additives are detergents, designed to keep modern fuel injector systems clean inside auto engines.

 

which is why it is pointless to buy all these $10-$20 fuel injector and fuel system cleaners....

 

from what i understand (and have read in my owner's manual) methanol is pretty much a no-no. ethanol is fine if composition is 10% or less. i guess methanol can raise havoc with your fuel system components...

 

There has been a lot of bad press up here in Canada for Shell gas. First, they had octane value issues and now their gas is causing fuel pump failures in Chrysler products. Seems the gas gums up the fuel pumps and the fuel level senders. So far, it doesn't affect Fords.

If you buy cheap gas the additive package may be different - so gas is not necessarily gas.

Ian

 

The fact of the matter is that the unbranded stations don't have refineries, so they have to get their gasoline from the majors.

Overall prices would be lower if more consumers avoided the majors.

There are always going to be "horror" stories like Ian mentioned, but for the most part, gasoline quality is regulated and monitored, hence it all must meet very stringent minimum standards.

 

I was told by a friend in the oil business that most brands of gasoline come from the exact same refineries. The additives are added to the gas after it is already in the truck that delivers it to the gas stations. He said the biggest difference between different brands of gasolines is how well the individual stations maintain there filters in there gas pumps itself. Basically, the way it was explained to me is there is a filter in the pump itself that filters the gas as it is being pumped into your tank. Once these filters become clogged, there is a bypass valve that allows the pump to continue to work and operate, however once the filter is clogged and the bypass valve is being used, you are basically pumping unfiltered gas into your truck which could lead to more 'trash' being pumped into your tank and clogging up your fuel filter quicker. Generally, the problem with clogged filters in the pump is more of a problem at the higher volume gas stations such as RaceTrack, QT, Diamond Shamrock, Stop and Go, etc, that have much more gas being pumped through them then the 'average' gas station. IF the higher volume gas stations would replace the filters in the pumps more often it would not be a problem.

Again, this is just what I was told, so I can't say it's fact, but it did atleast make sense to me.

 

I've never had a fuel related problem using branded gasoline. Many of my friends who frequent unbranded stations, can't say the same thing. Clogged injectors, water, you name it, they've had it. Use a good brand of gasoline, like Texaco, and save yourself some money.

 

Some good info here
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...asoline+texaco

 

There are differences. Maybe you have noticed that your truck has beter idling or better performance when using 87 from one station over another.

The Shell situation in Canada was actually not a case of cheap gas. It was actually an additive that ended up being a bad thing. I heard of a class action lawsuit because they did not warn their customers that the additive was affecting the fuel pump.

 

Nascar uses Shell.

 

Not sure about the rest of the country but in the northern Ca bay area it all comes from the same refineries.
I have used the cheap stuff since day one in my F 99,150 never had any problems.
Arco, Beacon it all burns just fine. But hey its your money.
Oil company love you brand sensitive guys . ;-)

 

According to the NASCAR Official sponsors page Union 76 is the official fuel of NASCAR.

Regarding the earlier link I posted at the time that was an active thread I was using Exxon and Clark gasoline. I switched to Citgo after reading that and within a couple tank fulls I was seeing increased miles per tank. Not claiming huge gains, about 10 miles per tank. Been using it exclusivly ever since and averaging 350 to 380 miles per tank running to the low fuel light.

Jeff

 

According to Mike from Superchips, gasolines do vary in additives as well as what he termed "energy content". I'm assuming this term might refer to BTU's (British thermal units). Anyway according to mike, Amoco and Texaco (as well as a couple other brands I can't remember) do give more energy on a gallon per gallon basis, and he recommends these brands for people who use the superchip. I believe he is correct about gasolines do vary.