Does brand of gas matter?
Record Breaker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,115
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From: St. Louis, Missouri
RE: Does brand of gas matter?
ORIGINAL: Silver Eagle
The gasoline blends change from day to day, all gasoline is pretty much the same thanks to Uncle Sams regulations. You can take any one brand of gasoline and in any one given day there blend can change many times. it all depends on what product is available at that time to add into the gasoline. It's never the same. If you by shell today it will be a little different on the next shipment. The best time to get gasoline is late at night or early morning ,never buy it in the middle of the day. You will get more for your dollars if you listen to what I said.
The gasoline blends change from day to day, all gasoline is pretty much the same thanks to Uncle Sams regulations. You can take any one brand of gasoline and in any one given day there blend can change many times. it all depends on what product is available at that time to add into the gasoline. It's never the same. If you by shell today it will be a little different on the next shipment. The best time to get gasoline is late at night or early morning ,never buy it in the middle of the day. You will get more for your dollars if you listen to what I said.
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,192
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From:
RE: Does brand of gas matter?
The whole more gas/less gas thing is due to density. The colder it is, the more dense it is. More density = more fuel for you. How much validity and how much more fuel actually adds up is questionable. Am I gonna notice another 0.010 gallons of gas? Prolly not. Just get gas at a busy store and don't buy gas after they have just filled thier tanks. Stirs up all the crap at the bottom. I don't think I've ever had a problem with gasoline from any store. Depends on whose cheaper/more convenient.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: New Castle Delaware
RE: Does brand of gas matter?
The reason you should buy your gasoline is, when it is cooler the gasoline compresses so that you get more to the gallon...Try this, buy a gallon of gas in the early morning put it in a plastic bottle ,fill it to the top. put something under it to catch the over flow. go back in the afternoon,and see how much came out. The refinery tempeture of Gasoline is 93 degree's .When they make it they don't cool it. If the station operator gets his fuel in the morning he gets more then at the higher afternoon temp.Why do suppose people chill there fuels for racing. They can get more per volumn the not chilling it.
Rookie
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 73
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From:
RE: Does brand of gas matter?
Having worked in the oil biz I have my 2 cents to add:
SHORT answer: very little difference by brand.
Long Answer:All gas in the US pipeline is "fungible". That is a fancy word for Generic. If Shell puts in a barrel of crude in TX, Shell will not get its same barrel out in MI.
The crude from the refinery, through the fractionating towers and into the pipeline is BY DEFINITION, the same. The octane is determined during the thermal cracking, by the length of the resultant hydrocarbon chain. This results in regular, Mid-level, and premium.
The point where ANY difference in comes in is when additives are added at "the Rack". (Where the trucks come to fill up from the storage tanks.)
CHEMICALLY, there are very few types of additives and their formulations are basically the same. Each company elects to put different additives into their mix:
* octane-enhancing additives (improve octane ratings)
* anti-oxidants (inhibit gum formation, improve stability)
* metal deactivators (inhibit gum formation, improve stability)
* deposit modifiers (reduce deposits, spark-plug fouling and preignition)
* surfactants (prevent icing, improve vaporization, inhibit deposits,
reduce NOx emissions)
* freezing point depressants (prevent icing)
* corrosion inhibitors (prevent gasoline corroding storage tanks)
* dyes (product colour for safety or regulatory purposes)
So, the primary difference is in the marketing. That's why brands concentrate on "put a Tiger in your Tank", etc.
Aside from all that chemistry, in my opinion, premium octane fuel is the way to go, due to the higher octane it generally burns with less "gunk". Any gasoline will work in your ride but some are more sensitive to the additives.
So, if you know your car is well-tuned, and in good condition, but the driveability is pathetic on the correct octane, try another brand. Remember that the composition will change with the season, so if you lose driveability, try yet another brand. As various Clean Air Act changes are introduced over the next few years, gasoline will continue to change.
Hope this clears a few things up.
SHORT answer: very little difference by brand.
Long Answer:All gas in the US pipeline is "fungible". That is a fancy word for Generic. If Shell puts in a barrel of crude in TX, Shell will not get its same barrel out in MI.
The crude from the refinery, through the fractionating towers and into the pipeline is BY DEFINITION, the same. The octane is determined during the thermal cracking, by the length of the resultant hydrocarbon chain. This results in regular, Mid-level, and premium.
The point where ANY difference in comes in is when additives are added at "the Rack". (Where the trucks come to fill up from the storage tanks.)
CHEMICALLY, there are very few types of additives and their formulations are basically the same. Each company elects to put different additives into their mix:
* octane-enhancing additives (improve octane ratings)
* anti-oxidants (inhibit gum formation, improve stability)
* metal deactivators (inhibit gum formation, improve stability)
* deposit modifiers (reduce deposits, spark-plug fouling and preignition)
* surfactants (prevent icing, improve vaporization, inhibit deposits,
reduce NOx emissions)
* freezing point depressants (prevent icing)
* corrosion inhibitors (prevent gasoline corroding storage tanks)
* dyes (product colour for safety or regulatory purposes)
So, the primary difference is in the marketing. That's why brands concentrate on "put a Tiger in your Tank", etc.
Aside from all that chemistry, in my opinion, premium octane fuel is the way to go, due to the higher octane it generally burns with less "gunk". Any gasoline will work in your ride but some are more sensitive to the additives.
So, if you know your car is well-tuned, and in good condition, but the driveability is pathetic on the correct octane, try another brand. Remember that the composition will change with the season, so if you lose driveability, try yet another brand. As various Clean Air Act changes are introduced over the next few years, gasoline will continue to change.
Hope this clears a few things up.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: New Castle Delaware
RE: Does brand of gas matter?
If at all possible try to get formulated gas instead of oxygenated gasoline it runs better and you get better mileage. Oxygenated fuels are sold in the big city areas less mileage .. out in the pine lands it's refromulated. Cool gas cost you the same but you get more per volume.If you ever see Crown gasoline ,try it you will be surprised. We can't get it in our area any more. My tips for the day.