Top Tier Gasloline -- what good does it do?

[jimbo]

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?

[JustMike]

So one reason is that I got hooked was for consistently better mileage. I see at least 1 or sometime 2 MPG more from Shell V-Power then I got using the no name stuff. A tank full when I was stuck and could not find a Shell station dropped the mileage. So that is why I'm sticking with it. Also found a station not far from home that charges the same price if not a penny or two below the Valaro that is right around the corner.

[Jeff Donald]

What is the price difference between regular ARCO and Chevron? Is it 15¢ to 25¢ a gallon difference? Here in Tampa regular non Top Tier gas is the same price as regular Top Tier gas. Generic non Top Tier regular gas is about $3.95 and Chevron regular is $3.99 to $4.05 a gallon.

[Small Dealer]

Here is some recent information GM sent to dealerships:

SUBJECT: TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline (Deposits, Fuel Economy, No Start, Power, Performance, Stall Concerns) - U.S. Only - (Jun 24, 2008) Models: 2009 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Trucks (including Saturn) (U.S. Only) 2003-2009 HUMMER H2 (U.S. Only) 2006-2009 HUMMER H3 (U.S. Only) 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X (U.S. Only) A new class of fuel called TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is appearing at retail stations of some fuel marketers. This gasoline meets detergency standards developed by six automotive companies. All vehicles will benefit from using TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline over gasoline containing the "Lowest Additive Concentration" set by the EPA. Those vehicles that have experienced deposit related concerns may especially benefit from the use of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. (1) Intake valve: 10,000 miles with TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline (2) Intake valve: 10,000 miles with Legal Minimum additive Gasoline Brands That Currently Meet TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline Standards As of November 15, 2006, all grades of the following gasoline brands meet the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline Standards: • Chevron • Chevron-Canada • QuikTrip • Conoco • Phillips 66 • 76 • Shell • Shell-Canada • Entec Stations located in the greater Montgomery, Alabama area. • MFA Oil Company located throughout Missouri. • Kwik Trip, Inc. in Minnesota and Wisconsin and Kwik Star convenience stores in Iowa. • The Somerset Refinery, Inc. at Somerset Oil stations in Kentucky. • Aloha Petroleum • Tri-Par Oil Company • Turkey Hill Minit Markets • Texaco • Petro-Canada • Sunoco-Canada What is TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline? TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is a new class of gasoline with enhanced detergency. It meets new, voluntary deposit control standards developed by six automotive companies that exceed the detergent requirements imposed by the EPA. Where Can TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline Be Purchased? The TOP TIER program began on May 3, 2004 and many fuel marketers have joined the program and have introduced TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. This is a voluntary program and not all fuel marketers will offer this product. Once fuel marketers make public announcements, they will appear on a list of brands that meet the TOP TIER standards. Where Can I find the Latest Information on TOP TIER Fuel and Retailers? On the web, please visit Top Tier Gasoline for additional information and updated retailer lists. Who developed TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standards? TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standards were developed by six automotive companies: Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen. Why was TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline developed? TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline was developed to increase the level of detergent additive in gasoline. The EPA requires that all gasoline sold in the U.S. contain a detergent additive. However, the requirement is minimal and in many cases, is not sufficient to keep engines clean. In order to meet TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standards, a higher level of detergent is needed than what is required by the EPA. Also, TOP TIER was developed to give fuel marketers the opportunity to differentiate their product. Why did the six automotive companies join together to develop TOP TIER? All six corporations recognized the benefits to both the vehicle and the consumer. Also, joining together emphasized that low detergency is an issue of concern to several automotive companies. What are the benefits of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline? TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline will help keep engines cleaner than gasoline containing the "Lowest Additive Concentration" set by the EPA. Clean engines help provide optimal fuel economy and performance and reduced emissions. Also, use of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline will help reduce deposit related concerns.

[solli4me]

This excerpt was written by a corvette club when gas was $3.40 a gllon.

Some owners claim to have seen articles saying that Chevrolet recommends only Shell or maybe, one or two other brands. Actually, Shell is only one of 12 (or 17 depending on who’s list you use) TOP-TIER gasoline retailers. Non TOP-TIER gasoline does not have any harmful ingredients for your fuel system; it’s just that it contains only the EPA recommended levels of detergent. TOP-TIER retailers use more than the recommended amount of detergent in their gas. Higher detergent levels can prevent the fuel sensor contacts from corroding which can prevent erroneous fuel indications. However, if you have an issue with your fuel indication system, you can also buy detergents to correct this sort of issue promptly. Techron (used in Chevron and Texaco gasoline) is just one brand of these readily available additive detergents. Or, if you must be true-blue GM, read this: “When Top Tier fuels are not available, consider a bottle of GM Fuel System treatment PLUS, P/N# 88861011 (in Canada, # 88861012), at oil change time which will remove intake system and injector deposits. GM does not recommend any other fuel system cleaner.

[MSG_McKee]

• Entec Stations located in the greater Montgomery, Alabama area.

I'm lucky that we have Entec stations near by and they usually are the cheapest here (and a top tier to boot!) I have 3 within ~5 miles of my house here in Montgomery.

[JRinKY]

Top-tier and non-top-tier are within 2-3 cents at most around here, and usually they are the same price. No reason not to use the top-tier.

[RadioChris]

FYI: If you're driving a GXP, you CAN'T get fuel deposits on your valves. since no fuel passes through them. You have Direct Injection, the fuel is injected directly into the cylinders, only air goes through the valves.