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

[johngalt]

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

I've never seen it advertised either. If it is a major company - Shell, BP, Exxon, Philips 66, etc. it is Top Tier. If it is your local kwik-e-mart, than it might not be.

A list is published here:

Licensed Brands | Top Tier Gas

I've never seen a price difference of more than $.05, usually it is the same. I would have to go out of my way to find a gas station that ISN'T on the list.

It isn't about octane, or being green, or snake oil, etc. It is about taking some preventative measures to keep your injectors clean and your engine running better.

 

[kwselke]

Another good reason to ride the bus.

 

[rwsmith]

I don't think I'm familiar....

Top Tier includes 87 Octane (regular) as well as the higher octanes. The Top Tier is defined by additives, not by grades.

When you say "Top Tier Gas" is that something specific. I think maybe I don't know what ya'll are talking about.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Refined gasoline travels from refinery to terminal via pipeline.
From terminal to truck.
From truck to gas station.

The terminal is where the addition of detergents occur.

 

[pawngal]

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.

I believe those pumps are marked for special use/motorcycles, off-road and such. Or some you have to ask about it.

 

[5Wire]

When you say "Top Tier Gas" is that something specific. I think maybe I don't know what ya'll are talking about.

You're correct, you don't know what's being discussed. Read the thread, maybe you'll find out that Top Tier™ indicates fuels meeting specific standards conducive to promote better performance from engines using Direct Gasoline Injection technologies.

...it's all about someone saying their product is better than the other guy's product...even though it came out of the same pipe...it's called marketing...P.T. Barnum called it something else...

Nonsense posting, but a fine display of ignorance in spite of all the explanatory materials in the thread.

The additives that make top tier are not in any pipeline. That's why they're called additives. And it's not marketing to claim "better than the other guy's," it's a way of saying, these fuels—from 47 different brands as of this date— will help your engine perform as designed.

 

[REM 3200]

You can lead a horse to water...

 

[CustomChevyGuy]

I don't use "Top Tier gas" but I do run mid grade, 89 Octane or higher gas in my 03 Silverado. If memory serves, it was getting about 12mpg city, and maybe 15mpg highway. (I have the numbers stored somewhere)

Shortly after I purchased the truck I got a custom tune, which vastly improved the mpg. Around the city I usually avg just under 20mpg, with my last tank avg being ~19.6 mpg. On the highway I usually get just under 28mpg, my last trip was ~ 27.7mpg.

The tune was $350, if I remember correctly. The truck had about 90k miles on it when I purchased the tune. It currently has 226K and counting.. so it was more then paid for itself multile times over!

 

[Old TexMex]

So lemme get this straight. What you really asking is "do you buy major brand gasolene or a brand that may (or may not) be top tier?" since major brands all have this additive, and....I haven't seen any pump designated as "top tier".
Can you tell me how to make certain that the gasolene at any particular pump has the additives that qualify that product as "top tier" other than at that website which lists many major brands, and can you guarentee that website information is accurate?
Yes, I've read the entire thread. No, I'm not an idiot, so don't bother making insulting replies.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Me two!
I want to know when and if it's really Top Tier.
The oil companies usually never hesitate to claim - advertise all kinds of 'advancements- advantages ' relating to their products.
Why are they so reluctant to verify this feature to the buying public?

 

[rwsmith]

As amazing as it is, it seems that many of here.......

....have never seen or heard of 'Top Tier' gas. I was under the impression it was like 'top shelf' liquor, or gas grades but I was told that wasn't it. So please ignore any comments made by me.

 

[pawngal]

I have seen "Top Tier" on gas pumps, not sure what stations tho.
This link From Kwik Trip's website might make it a little clearer to you guys that seem to have trouble comprehending what it is.
Kwik Trip, Inc. - Fuel
If a woman can understand what it is all about hmmmmm........???

 

[Skeet 028]

Kwik Trip, Inc. - Fuel
If a woman can understand what it is all about hmmmmm........???

Yeah but you are a much younger woman!!
As I stated before I've never seen the term at any gas station.....I get it that it is for newer types of fuel injected engines... and that it is a gasoline with certain additives. Just because we may have never seen the term or have never really thought about something like top tier doesn't mean we are as dumb as one poster back a way intimated. For the most part it means very little to anyone not into the car scene. I guess I must have missed the big advertising campaign during the leftist news reporting!... or even on Fox news. LOL

 

[Biggfoot44]

I get it about modern engines and detergent. But alas, I periodically use fuel injector cleaner anyway.

And I'm calling bogus on the claim that all grades of gas in the listed brands are Top Tier. In the two brands of which I use semi-occasionally, the pumps are blatently marked with only the premium having super duper detergent package.

On the other topic which creeped into the thread, I was shocked to actually find some non-ethonol gasoine. (35 miles, a state line and $6 toll away). I filled up out of the shear novelty of it. At .45 per gallon higher price it doesn't make economic sense to use in in typical highway driven vehicles. I suspect it will mainly be used in boats and small engines.

 

[Gamecock]

Go to a small engine repair shop in your area, and ask where you can get ethanol free gasoline. They'll know.

 

[Jim1392]

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

I'm on my third one. They are great cars. The first one I had I had 120,000 trouble free miles on it when I gave it to my son when he was in college. He drove it all through college and when he graduated. He had about 180,000 miles on it with nothing but oil changes and tires when he sold it.

 

[loknload]

If you are talking top tier as in brand, yes I use Sunoco, Mobil, Exxon. They all have their additives.
For octane I use what the car calls for 87 for my Caddy, 89 for my Chrysler 300, 87 for my Vette and 89 for my Motorhome.
So far to date I've never had a fuel problem!

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

So lemme get this straight. What you really asking is "do you buy major brand gasolene or a brand that may (or may not) be top tier?" since major brands all have this additive, and....I haven't seen any pump designated as "top tier".
Can you tell me how to make certain that the gasolene at any particular pump has the additives that qualify that product as "top tier" other than at that website which lists many major brands, and can you guarentee that website information is accurate?

Seems like a logical question to me... Who knows the answer?

It's obvious that operators are interested in differentiating themselves from their competitors with their own brand of detergent gas such as BP's "Invigorate" or Chevron's "Techron". They certainly aren't bashful about advertising their brand. But I can't remember seeing "Top Tier" being prominently advertised if at all, which apparently both the aforementioned meet the Top Tier standard. You'd think it would at least be an advertising footnote such as the Underwriters Laboratories "UL" package markings.

The recent AAA test of Top Tier has been getting press, which I'm guessing is what spurred the OP. AAA says non-Top Tier gasolines result in up to 19 times more fuel deposits.

I've never paid much attention to it, but looking at the list of TT sellers that's been the majority of fuel I've been using... just never cared to know.

 

[Bill Bates]

In my area I fill up at mostly Chevron stations. There is one I pass going back and forth to work that tends to be one of the least expensive stations in the county. When traveling I still try to fill up with Chevron with Techron.

I have a very good friend that runs a mechanic shop. We met years ago through the Utah Miata club. Years ago he worked as a mechanic for a BMW dealer. He said they would get people in the shop with BMW that complained about lose of gas milage and that were running roughly. They serviced the cars by pouring a bottle of Techron or STP Complete Fuel System Cleaner in the tank. Then they would let them idle behind the shop for a few hours. That took care of the issues.

The additive packages in your fuel do make a difference.

Even though my 2008 Toyota FJ says premium fuel only, I run regular. The FJ has a knock sensor and at the altitudes I drive running Premium is a waste of money. Of course the regular I put in the tank is a top tier fuel.

 

[pawngal]

Yeah but you are a much younger woman!!

As I stated before I've never seen the term at any gas station.....I get it that it is for newer types of fuel injected engines... and that it is a gasoline with certain additives. Just because we may have never seen the term or have never really thought about something like top tier doesn't mean we are as dumb as one poster back a way intimated. For the most part it means very little to anyone not into the car scene. I guess I must have missed the big advertising campaign during the leftist news reporting!... or even on Fox news. LOL

Thanks for the compliment, but I doubt it!

I've been a car buff since the 60's. Have owned everything from British sports cars to a 1 ton diesel pickup. I don't seek out Top Tier but have seen it on gas pumps. Mainly because depending on what I'm driving I have to look at the pump to make sure I get the right grade (octane/ethanol/no ethanol) for what I'm driving.