With gas prices so high, everybody is looking to save anywhere they can.
I've been filling my Silverado with cheap ARCO gas for the past 8 years. I consistenly pay 15 to 25 cents per gallon less than going with premiuim brands. Some here recommend using Top Tier gasoline, like Chevron or Texaco. The only thing higher gasoline detergent can affect is the fuel injectors.
After 8 years and 85,000 miles I have had no problems with the injectors after a steady diet of ARCO non-Top Tier gas with a occassional fillups from Top Tier retailers when I couldn't find an ARCO or I was on a road trip. I can't remember if I've ever had the dealership service the injectors. Probably...
So is top tier gas really worth it? I'm hoping to hear reasons why those of you who swear by Top Tier gas think it is worth buying.
Lets look at the cost premium to use Top Tier gas over ARCO...
100,000 miles x (1 gallon/ 15 miles) x ($0.20/gallon) = $1,300
Can I really expect to have $1,300 in repairs to injectors? I've only known a few people to ever have problems with them and it didn't seem gas related, but defective parts or design.
By contrast, I swear by synthetic oil. Lets see what my cost premium is over dino oil.
100,000 miles x (oil change/4000 miles) x (6 quarts/oil change) x ($4 premium/quart) = $600
Spending an extra $600 to protect my engine from throwing a rod is worth it to me. Paying $1,300 to avoid a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in the gas tank every couple of years isn't. A lot of people don't even know thier car has a fuel filter. I think a simple fuel filter change would do far more for those who never change their fuel filters than wasting $0.20 a gallon over the entire life cycle of the car.
So, is Top Tier gas really worth it? I can't see it.
$2,000 over the life of your Solstice is not a major difference in the $60,000 to $80,000 you spend on purchase , gasoline, insurance, maintenance, tires and repair but it strikes me as a poor value. Why bother?
