dodgerblue

Hey All:

I just got a new TL recently and am due for my 1st fuel-up soon, so just wondering which brand of 91+ octane gas everyone uses. I'm in So Cal.

I've searched for past threads about this topic and several people were saying Chevron w/ Techron gas is best since it has a high level of detergents and additives to help keep the fuel injector clean, or something to that extent. BTW, is Chevron premium gas 93 octane? I believe Chevron is slightly more expensive compared to others because of this - I could be wrong.

I live near a Unocal 76 gas station and have used their premium gas religiously in the past for my other cars, so I'm wondering if I should make a switch for my TL.

Any advice or recommendation from all you seasoned TL owners out there would be greatly appreciated. Cheers all!

havokgroup

I use Shell. I used the same Shell brand for the last 7 years.

GaleForce

Exxon/Mobil.

nuttyirishman

You got it right Chevron with Techron! Nothing else quite compares. It s the only thing in my TL.

Road Rage

My research indicates that Chevron Premium has maintained the most consistent detergent quantity and quality over the last 10 years. Mfrs have been dropping effective levels for years, and most are not adequate. While there are standards set by govt agencies at the Federal and State levels, they are never checked and enforced. I searched and could not find one instance of a company being cited for non-compliance.

When Detroit companies bring their cars to be be sniff tested by the Feds, they use Chevron fuel. Since it is not provided free to them, that should tell something.

Shell is making a big deal these days about its detergent levels, but to my mind they are just reinforcing what I stated about the dismal state of detergency - they have "4X" what others are using? Well, that is like being being King Turd in a pile of crapola. Having 4X practically nothings has far less meaning than it might a[ppear to the untutored ear.

In the old days with my Corvettes, I use Amoco when it was the only lead-free in town that did not expose my cars to valve seat damage. Now that is it s BP Amoco, I have no idea what it is, so I will use it if I have to, but will not seek it out anymore.

Since all gas is sourced from the same pipelines, the additives put in by the distributors/resellers obviously will vary quite a bit. This is why I recommend a quality fuel system cleaner be used quarterly. There is a "RR Journal" posted opn which ones actually are good. So I would have no trouble with someone using gas from Sheetz, for example, as long as some sort of routine cleaning is done.

Finally, I do recommend buying fuel from a well known mfr and a station that has been in business for a while during seasonal changeovers. This will help avoid driveability problems as different seasonal formulations work thrugh the system. If you lay your car up for the winter, try to get "Fall" fuel into it, or burn up whatever is in it in the Spring. Winter fuel in Summer can lead to burps.

SSMTL04

Mobil

dcarlinf1

Shell V-Power & Chevron w/Techron. Both within 1 mile of my house. Mostly Chevron these days.

NFLblitze1

nothin but AMMOCO or what you now call BP...always premium..always..

1995hoo

I use whatever is convenient when I need fuel, as long as it is not a no-name brand. Most often I wind up getting Shell because there is a convenient Shell that is not overpriced located along my commute. Otherwise, Mobil or Exxon are probably my most frequent.

KawBoy

Amoco.

fpique

Chevron

HondaOnly

Amoco/BP. Shell gave me rotten egg smell on my Accord so I decided never to go back there.

Treblig

Shell/BP

TL2k5

MOBIL

Threxx

You are correct, but to my knowledge Chevron really doesn't exist in the Detroit area for even within a several hundred mile radius.

They truck it in for the testing.

Which should tell you something.

Anyway... IMO, Chevron Techron is the best out there overall in terms of keeping your motor clean. But Amoco/BP is the best out there for just flat out pure clean gasoline. So in other words, if you're the type to using additives and cleaners consistantly, then Amoco/BP is probably the better choice, but if you prefer to just let the gas take care of that stuff for you and only use additives as needed, then Techron is great stuff, as is their fuel system cleaner in a bottle.

And if you bought a used car that has any fuel system or carbon build up issues (which is very likely unless the owner before you was meticulous about things and didn't just get the oil and air filter changed as specified and call it a day), then Techron is an excellent way to slowly but surely clean things up inside.

terse

i like 76 cause it makes my car feel awesome.. chevron's okay, but i use shell cause I have a shell card..

quake97

Sunoco

Snowwolfe

91 is 91. Most of the fuel stations all buy from the same refinery. I would buy any brand of 91. The cheaper the better.

eazyc10

Whichever gas station is closest when I need to fill up.

Typically is a PDQ (regional chain) or BP

Threxx

Correct and incorrect. They buy from the same refinery almost always. But the additive packages they add are vastly different from brand to brand, and there are also small differences in quality of filtration after the gas leaves the refinery.

Run gas straight from the refinery with no cleaning or octane boosting additives and your car would not be running for very long (or very well for that matter).

Also it's very well documented that crappy brands of gas and/or privately owned stations that are not well controlled by corporate offices are much more likely to have bad gas (selling gas that is too old or has an excessive amount of water in it or does not actually meet the advertised octane). So you can definitely imagine how quality and quantity of additives could be different as well.

insmanblue

Costco gas because they do not have the winterized fuel. Also Costco gas is really BP gas but cheaper (at least in my area).

TL MaN 05 WdP

mobil

Repecat

There's nothing wrong with using Union 76 Premium or Chevron. I use Union because the station is convenient, and when on trips I will generally go to Union or Chevron stations. Additionally, I will throw in a can of Techron (not the Pro-Guard stuff) every 5000 miles. Seems to work for me.

GRich4u

In So Cal I would say go with Cheveron or 76. Keep in mind a few things. Cheveron with Techron is good at cleaning the engine. the draw back is not as good on horsepower. 76 was "create" for performance engines.. I dont know how "performance wise" our engines are, but I do know on my motorcycle that takes 91, I get better gas mileage than other stations Ive tried. So I think I will be using 76 in the car as well.

Snowwolfe

91 octane is 91 octane. I fail to see why a refinery would put in an octane boast? I also own a newer model Corvette and I have never once noticed a difference in performance based upon where I purchased gas. Water in gas will just sink to the botom of your tank and not cause any problems. It is good recommended maintence to toss in a can of "heet" every couple of months or so to remove the water.

JetJock

Sunoco