Gasoline In Texas

[Bill Z]

My question is ‘What is the better gasoline brand in Texas?’ Please allow me to state my observations. In the winter, when you would think our trucks would run best (cold air at sea level), I get a great deal of knock.

I came across a chemical engineer for Shell driving a WRX, so I asked him about gasolines and winter. He said that the gas companies, in the winter, add some sort of butane to the gas so it vaporizes better in cold so the cars start better. This detracts some from fuel performance. Also, the alcohol that is added to the gas (up to 10% here in Houston) reduces the performance due to the slow burn nature of alcohol. In the higher altitudes, gas companies reduce available octanes because they feel that it isn’t needed (they don’t drive boosted vehicles).

1 more thing, one of the TV stations ran an article about how the state runs checks on filling stations that amounts to quantity of gas pumped but no checking is done for quality.

With all of this said, I had been using Exxon gas for the longest time and experienced knock. The other day, I was running out of gas so I stopped in a Valero station and filled up with the same octane rating as the Exxon gas I use to get.

Guess what! No knock! Maybe a fluke. So when that tank was used up, I went back to Exxon and knock, knock…

So, I don’t have to go around and try everyone’s gasolines, I was hoping to get some real life suggestions from the ones that have tried different gasolines recently with good success.

BP
Chevron
Exxon Moble
FaceTrack
Murphy’s
Shamrock
Shell
Texaco
Valero
Others

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

I cant add to this, none of my cars are hooked up to comps right now.

I am curious though ---

 

[Daron]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

Valero has consistantly been good to me, if knock detection is the test. I pretty much only use Valero in my trucks if available.
I was having a hell of a time with a certain Shell provider in Ohio and ended up boycotting them and complaining to the state after switching to BP and having my knock issues go away. I am sure they were selling low octane gas at high octane prices...

 

[Syclone#2960]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

Wow Exxon is all I use...maybe time to switch.

I try to use the busiest gas stations for the freshest gas possible.

 

[Bill Z]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

While visiting Oklahoma, I noticed many filling stations advertising ‘No Alcohol Added’. There seems to be an option in Oklahoma and folks are choosing. Down here in Houston, there doesn’t seem to be that option. All stations have a disclaimer at the pump ‘May contain up to 10% alcohol’. However, the prices are not reduced for the chance there maybe alcohol. What I’m saying is that you don’t know what you are buying.

Do I feel taken advantage of!

Most folks will never know. My wife drives a 1999 Tahoe and it takes 89 Octane with no problems. It will probably run on 87. 99.9% of the cars drivers out there have no idea that they are paying premium prices for crap.

 

[hrodgmc]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

Per GM TSB
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline (Deposits, Fuel Economy, No Start, Power, Performance, Stall Concerns) - U.S. Only #04-06-04-047G - (11/28/2006)


toptiergas.com

Even gm has stated it. Most gas product comes off the same lines but these brands have the most detergents. It not related to octane rating but we know how carbon build up effects these motors.

 

[Bill Z]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

Per GM TSB
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline (Deposits, Fuel Economy, No Start, Power, Performance, Stall Concerns) - U.S. Only #04-06-04-047G - (11/28/2006)


toptiergas.com

Even gm has stated it. Most gas product comes off the same lines but these brands have the most detergents. It not related to octane rating but we know how carbon build up effects these motors.

I have no idea as to what you said here but it looks like it was dated in 2006. It seems to me that I didn't have this much of a knock problem in the winter of 2006. A bunch has happened to the world and gas companies since 2006.

 

[hrodgmc]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

I don't know what has happened to the world that would effect this,but the EPA does most of the CHANGES for gas.

There's two formulations- one for winter and a summer.

Gas is blended with 10% ethanol in most areas..


EPA is about to vote on 15% ethanol in June/July.

ChevronTexaco, QuikTrip, ConocoPhillips, Shell, Entec Stations, and MFA Oil Company are the ONLY APPROVED GM GASOLINES....

 

[Bill Z]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

I don't know what has happened to the world that would effect this,but the EPA does most of the CHANGES for gas.

There's two formulations- one for winter and a summer.

Gas is blended with 10% ethanol in most areas..


EPA is about to vote on 15% ethanol in June/July.

ChevronTexaco, QuikTrip, ConocoPhillips, Shell, Entec Stations, and MFA Oil Company are the ONLY APPROVED GM GASOLINES....

---> What I am hearing you say is that there is no significant differences in major gasoline brands per EPA.

You are also saying that GM has a list of approved gasoline companies that includes all of the major brands.

I hear you also saying that there are more components to gasoline brands than the absence of knock when using them.

However, lets go back to my original observation and question about gasoline brands considering the absence of knock (using knock as a major driving element). I have found some strong evidence that there is a difference using different brands of gasoline (regardless of what the EPA standards imply) here in Texas (may not be every where). Again, there are no quality checks here in Texas on gasoline, just quantity.

It was suggested that the Valero station may have changed to summer gasoline early (or didn't change to winter gasoline at all).

So, I still submit my original question, 'Has anyone else in Texas (or driving through Texas) experienced this and what gasoline brands do you use?'

 

[JAY]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

When I lived down there I used Valero most of the time & occasionally Racetrack. I never had any problems like you've mentioned Bill. I filled up the Syclone & my DD & never experienced any knock issues. Up here in WY the 91 octane doesnt seem to be as potent as it was down there & I always have to add 1 or 2 bottles of octane boost additive to it. I miss the 93 octane they had down there. I never bought Exxon as it was always the most expensive gas around. My in-laws swore by Exxon gas as they were Exxon employees.

 

[TxSy1430]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

I never use Exxon...unless i may be pushing my truck...I use Valero or Murphy's.

 

[Bill Z]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

I think I will try another tank of Valero and then try RaceTrack just to see if the knock stays away.

I have some friends that work for Shell and another one that works for Chevron plus a third that use to work for Exxon. Each one says that their brand is the best. They each had a different reason theirs was the best.

I just want a gas that won’t allow knock when I am under boost with out me having to buy any additional additives. My truck is pretty much stock except the 3 bar MAP and the chip.

 

[laidback292003]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

A stock truck geting detonation that would tell me somthing else could be wrong, where i am we only have 90 octane and my friensds stock ty runs wide open flawlesly

 

[Nitrous]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

I've worked at AMOCO / BP for 20 years now and the Ultimate 93 was the way better gasoline. I have to use Chevron now because we closed our refinery station down and we had some great blenders in our company. When you buy gas these days there's no telling what you're purchasing because the gas stations purchase what's available on the market and just put their name on most of it. I can tell you Amoco or BP Ultimate is clear like water in color so you know it's our Cadillac which other brands are yellow, red, blue gold, etc...........we make an Ultimate 102 octane but I'm not sure if it's available here in the US yet. I won't go into all of the details on gasoline but just because it says Texaco, Chevron, Shell or any other brand at the station doesn't mean you're getting their gasoline.
OCTANE-the first and foremost rule for octane is; only use what your car NEEDS. This means if your car knocks or pings with 87, then move up to 89, then to 92. As many have stated, you are indeed wasting your money with higher octane fuels....unless of course it is needed. Higher octane ratings mean higher flash point. Which translates to less pre-detonation that causes ping and/or knock. Usually this is only required on high performance(read: high compression) engines where the temps and pressures can easily cause pre-detonation. As far as keeping your injectors clean, you wasted money for "premium" gas would be better spent on a can fuel injector cleaner once every 6 months or so. Higher octane gasoline does not clean your engine. The additives (detergents) in the gasoline are responsible for the cleaning. Here's where I plug Amoco products--> Seriously though, Amoco's Ultimate gasoline does go through a proprietary process that removes the PNA's which are basically poly-nuclear-aromatics. These are responsible for the slight yellowish color in gasoline and are ultimately responsible for resid(tar-like) deposits that can accumulate in your injectors, etc. I am not telling you to run out and start buying Amoco-Ultimate, just informing you of the product. When I say Amoco I mean BP. I do have to agree with tuning and maintenance as far as knock retard or ping. Higher octane helps but you can tune for this also.

Good luck

 

[turbodig]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

What others have said here is very true... it's really a crap shoot as to what you're getting, regardless of what it says on the pump. Often, the pipeline terminals pump the same gas, with different additive packages added at the pipeline terminal. Very often 91 at one place will be better than 93 at another... don't necessarily believe the octane number.

Winter blend gas sucks around here. Doesn't get much better 'til April/May.

I've had the best luck with Amoco/BP/Valero/Tesoro. It tends to be more consistent around here.
You kinda need to experiment ( need to run 2 tanks of the same gas through to make sure) to find out what works best.

At least you're aware of it... there's a lot of people putting 93 in thinking they'll be ok.

 

[Bill Z]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

What ever happened in 'Truth in Advertising'? If you want to buy 93 octane and you pay for it, you should expect to get it. Regardless of the brand, you should get what you pay for. If the brand wants to be different, then let them add the cleaners and stuff, don't dink with the octane.

The other side of the coin is that the inspectors that are suppose to protect the public from rip offs are not.

 

[Syclone Rob]

Re: Gasoline In Texas

In Ontario, we have fuel all the way up to ultra 94 from sunoco. But now that I am more aware of this ethanol crap up to 10%.. I have found that buying shell 91 has no ethanol as per their sticker on their pumps. If you buy 87 octane you can get up to 10% ethanol, go to 89 and up to 5% ethanol and 91 v-power as they call it has no ethanol.. I going to finish this tank of 94 then try their 91 and go from there... this ethanol crap is not right when its not consistent.