Top Tier gas....Do you use it?

[the ringo kid]

I can get Tier across town cheaper than my local station.

I don't go far usually but when I do I fill up with the good stuff.

My friend was a tanker driver and used to call the stuff you found at most discount stations "brand". Maybe I'm confused. I can't call him to ask, He passed about 4 years ago shortly after retirement.

Ill be seeing my BiL tomorrow and ill ask him. Pat is a supervisor of some kind and works at Valero-been doing this work for at least 40 years.

 

[Mainsail]

I run used motor oil and trans fluid through mine.

 

[the ringo kid]

I drive a Honda Civic so regular is good enough for me.

I love Honda Civics-those things can practically run on muddy water for gas they are so good.

 

[the ringo kid]

I'm totally amazed at the number of posts in this thread claiming (and demonstrating) ignorance of Top Tier™, what it is and what it is intended to do. It has NOTHING to do with octane ratings—regular to premium, nothing to do with cost per gallon (mostly, anyway), and no relation to any beverages, internal locks, MIM parts, or plastic frames.

There are at least three links in this thread that clearly direct to a primary source explaining what Top Tier™ gasolines are intended to assure: the adherence to standards that most facilitate clean burning of fuels and the minimization of deposits in critical areas, all yielding better performance, mileage, engine life.

Don't want those improvements? Don't use those gasolines.

Here in my immediate area-Top Tier DOES have a large price radius--from .20 to 40 cents per gallon. We have around a dozen or so refineries here-so we SHOULD be the cheapest in the nation but are not because aformer president had or helped pass a law on it. Something too do with states that have no refineries-or few refineries so the price diff from area to area in theory and in practice-isnt much.

 

[coltle6920]

If we have TTG here I have never seen a reference to it. Not saying they never have or had it just never noticed..but I use diesel as much as gasoline. Gonna change on that soon as I am putting the 2002 F-250 up for sale. Just don't use it that much. Do they have TT diesel? We have treated diesel here.... for cold weather that is

Can't find anything about TTG for diesel engines.Diesel fuel has it's own issues which you should read up on.The main reply that most people say is to buy the fuel from a place that gets a lot of traffic for diesel fuel such as a truck stop.

Do a Google search for "top tier gas for diesel engines" and you'll find a lot of articles (and Forums) from people with actual hands-on experience.

 

[StakeOut]

Consider using Ethanol-free gasoline in various octane ratings.

Do you have a Pure gas station in your locale or unbranded Ethanol-free gas?

 

[walkin jack]

Tell her the same thing when she wants new shoes, clothes or a purse?

Well, I don't think so, scooter. But I'll have her give you a call and YOU can tell her.

 

[zonker5]

...marketing hype...gasoline arrives at it's destination mostly by pipeline...that pipeline serves various wholesale distributors who claim to add their own brand of snake oil...but the base stock all came out of the same pipe...

The base gasoline is the same, it's the additives that make the difference.

Kinda like chili, the base hamburger is the same but it's the spices that make one cooks better than an others.

 

[the ringo kid]

Well, I don't think so, scooter. But I'll have her give you a call and YOU can tell her.

Ill have to pose as Wayne or Fred-because I DONT want to get on her bad side because I do wish to enjoy that brandy-soaked cake she promised me for Christmas.

 

[the ringo kid]

...marketing hype...gasoline arrives at it's destination mostly by pipeline...that pipeline serves various wholesale distributors who claim to add their own brand of snake oil...but the base stock all came out of the same pipe...

United States Pipelines map - Crude Oil (petroleum) pipelines - Natural Gas pipelines - Products pipelines

Somehwat true., From pipeline to gas truck, to gas stations-which is where a good chunk of price comes from. Here though, its from refinery to truck to gas stations.

 

[Road Rat]

Huh? Did you even look at the list of stations? Top Tier has nothing to do with Ethanol or not.
Nearly all stations in Iowa you have the choice of 10% Ethanol or non-Ethanol
Some stations OFFER E85, even fewer have blender pumps.

Minnesota requires all gas to contain 10% Ethanol, Iowa does not.

Yes mam I looked at the list.

Twas a joke on my politicians about CORN - try to get rid of Ethanol and watch them, and the farmers, SCREAM.

I buy gas where ever I happen to be shopping. "Additives" have been used in gasoline fuel advertisement as far back as I can remember - 1940's, and they certainly keep the internal engine cleaner (too bad they don't keep the external portions clean)!!

It appears that Top Tier has more to do with "green" than "clean".

 

[GUNs and JEEPS]

My F-150 is 12 years old with almost 99K miles on it and it still runs like it did the day I drove it off the lot with 11 miles on it. I may need it some day but I don't so far.

I don't think I'll ever buy another one though. I can't wear it out and I would like a new truck. Miss Pam says "What's wrong with the one you have now. I can't come up with a thing.

Umm...ya know how the women change things because of the COLOR?....after this long (12 years) that should work for a new truck!!....but that means a different color..

 

[THE PILGRIM]

How do you know its Top Tier?
Are the pumps marked?
Or do you do it by brand Name?
Possibly voodoo or black magic?

 

[GUNs and JEEPS]

I drive Jeeps...and have since the early '90s. I like that the owners manual "suggest" 87 octane.

I have tried the "better" fuel...and had catalytic convertor issues....a retired mechanic suggested going back to the 87 octane...4 Jeeps later still no issues...I have had as many as three at one time. We still have two Jeeps...the retired mechanic?...yeah that was my Father...he is 88 years old now.

 

[jdh]

According to my owner's manual, I'm only supposed to use diesel.

As do three of my four road vehicles.

That little green badge next to the Cruze name plate says CTD on it for Clean Turbo Diesel. The other has a Cummins badge on it.

Bet most of y'all didn't even know Chevrolet had a diesel option in cars.

 

[5Wire]

Never researched gasoline. Never had cars that required any special or specific gasoline. I also never researched the oil that goes in my car or a host of other things not car related. I put gas in and the car goes. Really is all I'm interested in. My last car had no problems going over 300k on whatever tier.

Around here we have a lot of Sunoco and Lukoil which dont seem to be on the list. Some Exon, only one Citgo that I can think of, a few Valero but no where near me and usually in the ghettos for some reason. I fill up at wherever and haven't had issues since 1997

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...and that kept you from reading the thread and chasing links to understand?

Top Tier is meant to serve new engine technology. If your 300K engines didn't have that technology, Top Tier wouldn't have hurt them. Just might have extended their lives a bit.

 

[Arik]

...and that kept you from reading the thread and chasing links to understand?

Top Tier is meant to serve new engine technology. If your 300K engines didn't have that technology, Top Tier wouldn't have hurt them. Just might have extended their lives a bit.

It didn't keep me from anything. This thread is a day old. I didn't know that tier thing existed till yesterday.

I get what it's for but I never had to change an engine or do any maintenance aside for the usual timing belt, plugs, water pump....I got over 300k and I sold the car. I might have kept it a little longer but I got a great deal on another car. The car before that was a lease but before that they were all high mileage used cars that never gave me any serious mechanical trouble. Been driving since 97 and seems to me like it's a none issue. It may matter if I get a performance car one day but I don't think my Corolla is going to turn into one anytime soon

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[kwselke]

Does one really ever know what's in those underground storage tanks along with the gasoline? I got a bad batch of Texaco at a Texaco station back in the 1980s. It cost over $1,200 to get my favorite 280 ZX fixed, and Texaco paid for the repairs. Not sure if it was "Top Tier" gas, but it was 87 octane unleaded detergent gas. Good thing I paid with a credit card and kept an auto log. I knew exactly where and when I got the bad gas and there was no argument about who should pay for the repairs. Ever wonder about three grades of gas that all use the same straw?

 

[CoMF]

So far, I've seen no proof of any sort of licensing arrangement in place to ensure what you're getting at the pump is "Top Tier." Just independent testing to certify the stuff is what it says it is.

NONE of the stations in my area, including the ones on "the list" advertise their gasoline as "Top Tier." No signs, no stickers on the pump, nothing.

Short of "following the pipeline" (pun intended), there's NO way of knowing what the heck's going into your gas tank.

This is all starting to feel like a Slick 50 infomercial... So tell ya what, it's your money. Spend it on what you want.

As for me, I'm going to keep feeding my Subaru flat four 2.5l with the stuff from Sheetz. I bought my Legacy brand spanking new in 2015, and haven't noticed any loss in performance from the day I drove it off the lot; I doubt I ever will.

Thanks for the discussion. Gave me lots to think about. I'm out.

 

[johngalt]

Huh? Did you even look at the list of stations? Top Tier has nothing to do with Ethanol or not.
Nearly all stations in Iowa you have the choice of 10% Ethanol or non-Ethanol
Some stations OFFER E85, even fewer have blender pumps.

Minnesota requires all gas to contain 10% Ethanol, Iowa does not.

According to pure-gas.org, Minnesota has lots of ethanol free gas stations, as does Wisconsin. Lots of lakes means lots of boats, which means lots of people who don't want ethanol in their gas.