Here's the question. I've been buying Co-op (Independent) gas for about 4 years, and enjoying the discount by being a member. A 70 dollar a year rebate seems good. However, last week I bought 25 bucks worth of gas from Chevron, and I swear it went as long as 40 or more from the Co-op.

So I asked an experienced Chevron dude if their gas was better, while buying more, and (no wai!) he said yes. Thing is, I think he's right. So I'm doing some testing. I only run the lowest octane, 87.

Probably not news to most of you, but the independents get raw gas, while the big companies have ad agencies that add 'Tecron' and other shots of corporate goodness to their junk. The thing is, some of this may not be b.s...?

If my beastly Interceptor runs cleaner and gets better mileage, I don't has no need for rebates and line ups at the Co-op.

Bottom line: Is Brand™ name with additives better?

click to view

didnt we just discuss this in vadder's thread about a service question?

and weren't you a part of that very thread?

again, transmix: http://www.innovat...hures/Transmix.pdf

OK you werent in it but certainly you must have seen it. yes, gasoline offered by independents is by and large inferior to name retailer gasoline, to answer your question.

Its all about gasoline quality and how your engine runs on said tank of gas. Engine runs well and has adequate power, itll require less right foot. Bad gas, struggling engine, more right foot.

Google "top-tier gasoline." I try to only run Shell or Chevron, every one of my vehicles runs better and gets more miles per gallon compared to crap gas.

Thanks all for the great advice and links. This and learning that Fram oil filters are shite have been good things learned on Car Talk.

here in quebec all the co-op's spike thier gas with ethanol (they claim to encourage thier farmer members) my car goes half as far on one of thier tanks

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! here in quebec all the co-op's spike thier gas with ethanol (they claim to encourage thier farmer members) my car goes half as far on one of thier tanks

HALF as far?
come on..... be real

I'm wondering if some of these issues now on some of the engines I noticed are due to the ethanol mixture not exactly mixed right...

With a gallon of xtra mart gas I filled up (half tank) of 89 at mobil station ... acceleration problems went away for a few days

Filled up again (another half tank) at Shell with 87 ... hello acceleration lag.


Guess my car now demands mid-grade AND name brand.

(Apparently mobil isn't on the top tier (middle of the road in comparison to cheapo depot?) but I think octane may have more to do with my car)

More gas guzzling to commence.

in my old beater 93 Lumina, i didn't give a shit what I ran in it because it couldn't go very far anyway... it leaked gas and transmission fluid badly, so why run good stuff. With the 98 Lumina, I started off running citgo 87 octane and my mileage was just sucky. As an experiment, i filled up with 87 and logged my mileage per 15.5 gallons. I think i got something like 24mpg/maybe 280-300miles out of the tank in mixed driving (it was a little V6 in a 3800lb Lumina). I then filled up with 93 octane Sunoco and ran... my mileage as a bit better, 35mpg mixed driving. The Monte Carlo, as it had the same drivetrain as the Lumina, also ran 93. The Beretta, ditto.

I was reading either on the W-body or BerettaStuff forum that the GM 3100 V6 loves the higher octane, especially when they get miles on the odometer. I don't know. I do know that the cars seem to run better, get better mileage and the oil isn't nasty when it comes out of the engine.

The Cobalt requires 91+ because of the supercharger, or at least that what is says in the owners manual in bright flashing BOLD lettering.

I just switched from 87 @ Ultramar to 89 @ PetroCanada. I've noticed a far better acceleration and with me tearing around now having some fun, I'm still getting around 600k/tank.

I primarily did it to reduce valve ticking.

Posted by atomx I just switched from 87 @ Ultramar to 89 @ PetroCanada. I've noticed a far better acceleration and with me tearing around now having some fun, I'm still getting around 600k/tank. I primarily did it to reduce valve ticking.

im just wondering if ultramar in NS sources its fuel from irving or from the ultramar refinery in levis, i know in montreal ultramars fuel is sourced at petro can. i know petro can in new brunswick for a long time sold gas from the ultramar refinery in levis

Not sure.

I just found my petro card, so I can now get points when I buy there.