Generic vs. Name brand - Gasoline
 

Hey guys, I was wondering if there was a difference between name brand gas and generic. I heard name brand gas adds special detergents that clean and protect your engine. I usually use name brand, because i heard that rumour. Does anyone here know the lowdown on gas?

Thanks

The family mechanic told my dad that it doesn't matter what brand of gas you buy, as long as you go to a station that gets a fair amount of business. If you go somewhere that doesn't sell much gas, you're likely to get sediment mixed in (or something like that, I don't remember the exact reasoning). It's the same reason you shouldn't buy gas when you see the delivery truck there filling up the resevoirs, because it stirs up all the sediment, which can gum up your engine.

Gas is expensive. I buy Murphy USA. gg walmart gas @ 3 cents off the advertised price!

AFAIK, my dad has always bought cheap gas for all of our vehicles. Our family vehicles have been going and going and going~

There was a segment on this topic on the news a few days ago. The news team took gas samples from brand name stations and generic gas from a individually owned station.

The tests show that the gas 99.9% the same. The only difference is between the two is the brand name has more cleaners in it to clean your engine as you drive.

The generic gas is slightly cheaper anyway, so that is what I go with.

It doesn't matter and I just fill up at whatever station seems the least crowded regardless of cost.

Here in winnipeg, there is gas stations called Husky. Most people I know that drive, whenever they fill up at Husky gas stations, their vehicle has problems. I guess thats because its a gas station that gets less business. Therefore the gas sits there longer, and older gas is less combustible and bad for engines.

I saw that as well, which made me ask the question actually. How reputable is it though?

Husky uses an ethanol blend in their gasoline, so the majority of the problems that people are having in their vehicles is the fuel lines being flushed out and the fuel filters being clogged (which can seriously impede your acceleration). A lot of the regular unleaded gas doesn't have a great octane level to begin with, and because any water still mixed within the gas separates over time (with only new gas going into the reservoir tanks), some stations can end up pumping a fair bit of water in their lines. Sediment isn't as big a deal if you keep a good record of replacing your fuel filters.

Name brand and generic gas is no big deal. Compare your octane ratings and prices and your set.

I think this is one of the rare instances where it doesn't really matter if it's name-brand or not, it's essentially the same stuff you're getting.

The only time I'd worry about it is if I got a really expensive car (like an Enzo Ferrari, like one that Eddie Griffin crashed not too long ago lol), that required the higher octane gas.

Other than that, how well you keep up with maintenance on your car will probably affect how well it runs more than what kind of gas you use anyway. So just get your gas wherever it's the cheapest.

gas at Superstore ownz =D

I normally go for name brand, unless i'm desperate on money and it's getting too expensive at any name brand place. I'm usually up for Shell, since my dad prefers that gas.

I would have to agree. Because gas is so expensive these days (especially where I live... $1.16 for a damn litre), I look for gas stations that offer discounts. Superstore offers the 7.5 cents of per litre deal, which is just made in to a coupon that can be used for grocery purchaces. As for brand names? They all have their special ingredients, like Chevron with Techron, so it's all up to you which one you think will serve your car the best.

Chevron w/ Techron is where it's at. It's mine and my buddies gas station of choice. Always love having a fuel injector cleaner pumped in with my gas.

I have a friend who's a chemical engineer and he would explain to me that most gas is the same regionally since the majority comes from the same refinery. The special stuff (IE: Chevron with Techron) is just a marketing ploy and doesn't do much to help your car.

At least that's what I gathered from his explaination. When he starts on his chemE talks, my eyes glaze over and I think of what I'm eating for dinner.

Even though I've read a few ppl say the additives don't make a difference, I actually heard, that, yes, they don't make a difference in term of fuel consumption and their effect on the environment, but they DO harm the engine (and its various parts) in the long run...

Not sure how true that is though...

Funnily enough, over here Tesco have the highest quality high-octane petrol you can get and it's cheaper than everyone else. Shell Optimax is generally 3p a litre more expensive but has an octane content of 98.4 to Tesco Super's 99. I think petrol is one of the few instances where a brand name doesn't mean better quality.

Whatever happened to just stopping at the first place you see?

Gas is gas. It explodes in your car no matter where you get it from. If you are searching around for cheaper gas, you're probably burning more gas than you get in savings. And even if you do find that cheap gas, you save, what, 70 cents per ten gallons? Whoopie! 70 cents of savings a week!

Arco for example sells the worst gas in our region. 76, Chevron, and Shell all sell the same stuff also Shell charges 10 - 20 cents more per gallon than everyone else o_O I usually go to Chevron or 76 (which ever is cheaper at the time).

Also if you are REALLY concerned about cleaning the inside of your engine try using a spray bottle to mist some water into the intake. The water will steam clean the inside of the combustion chamber and remove all that built up deposits that your additives are supposed to keep away but actually contribute to.

Are you sure Gumby? That sounds really ridiculous. And wouldn't gasoline and ethanol and etc. have trace amounts of water anyways?

Quik-Trip FTW

I usually goto name brand stations just because where I live, two of them are right across the street from each other and are always trying to get more business by lowering their gas prices by 1-2 cents. Then the next day, the other one lowers it more then the other, etc, etc.....good times