Does it matter what gas station you get your premium gasoline from? Shell, Exxon, Chevron, etc.

 

I think all the big names are fine. I have heard that it's better to go to one that is frequently used though, since the premium fuel might not be used as much in an out-of-the-way station and could get stale (if that's possible).

 

I have to say ever since I started to just fill up at Shell or BP, my car 02 xj8 125K miles has been driving better. I used to get the restricted performance light all the time, now that hasn't happened since.

 

BP with invigorate is the best gas for your car. Believe it or not some Car manuals ( newer mustangs ) actually reccomend BP gas for the car.

Plus its a JAG, its only proper you put British Petro in it.

 

Nearly three decades ago, I had a carbureted Mercury that had lots of problems. I rebuilt the carb 5 times and replaced it twice in two years time. As a poor student, I bought gas wherever it was cheapest. Then as a junior in college I started getting stuff in the mail begging me to apply for credit cards and I went for an Exxon card. After I started buying nothing but Exxon, I never had another problem with that Mercury. I owned it another six years trouble free.

Late 90s, an outboard motor mechanic advised me to buy only Chevron for an old boat that I'd just bought and brought in for a tune. Bad gas is the number one problem with outboard motors because of infrequent use. He read in a trade publication where some tests were run and Chevron's additives were best at keeping gas fresh the longest. So I got a Chevron card too. Contrary to what everyone say's about boat ownership, I had eight years of trouble-free boating on Chevron gas and sold the darned thing for a profit. (I also towed in a few fellow fishermen whose boats wouldn't start.)

After my bargain gas experiences as a teenager tho, I am a big proponent of changing fuel filters in your vehicles. I had installed a sediment bowl on that old Mercury and watched it fill up with crud almost monthly. But I doubt it had as much to do with the source of the gasoline as the ratty old bargain gas stations I was buying from. All these stations have underground tanks, some having been in the ground probably for decades, leaking, corroding, etc. I imagine they're supposed to have filters too, probably changed every so many thousand gallons but how can we be sure the station owner follows that schedule or hasn't just taken the filters out altogether? Besides looking for Exxon or Chevron, I buy my gas at stations where everything above ground looks like its fairly new and in good shape.

 

exxon and bp are my preference, I always get the highest octane they have even if it is not required by the machinery I am fueling up

 

No- all gasoline comes from one or two refineries regardless of which brand name is on the pump. The additives may vary a little but no one has yet found any tangible difference.

Flame suit on, fire away.

 

I agree with many of these posts, BP (Amoco) fuels are the best. Shell is also pretty good. 91 octane w/o ethanol is better than 93 octane with ethanol too. Expect 1mpg improvement with a 0% ethanol fuel.

 

Do you guys have Shell V Power? marked improvement on performance running this fuel, just so happens it's Formula One's fuel supplier....

 

Yes, I get the Shell V Power all the time. I still sort of like the Chevron with Techron too.

 

I think I'll stick to the Shell V Power. Its a new 7-11/Shell station and it's even close to home. Plus I'm a huge F1 fan...ALONSO & PEREZ!!! Sure with Jaguar would get back into F1.

 

If I had a BP close by I would def use that...

 

i think Shell V power is the way to go

 

I use Mobil here in South Florida -- why? Because there's a station close to my house and I've never had an issue.

 

I work in oil refineries across the U.S... There are 149 refineries here. Oil & then later refined gasoline is sent via pipeline across the U.S (overly simplified). The gasoline you buy may not even be refined by the same company who sticker is on the pump(again over simplified). Most all additives are introduced later. Almost all are marketing ploys to gain "brand loyalty". If you think your car runs better on "invigorate" or "v-power" they have are successful.

 

Thank you for posting this. Despite the credibility and accuracy of your first hand knowledge, the myths about one gas being superior to another will continue nonetheless.

 

I filled up at a Shell station in Castle Rock, CO,
and definitely contaminated the fuel system.

Car runs ok, but is getting less than 20mpg at
any speed. event 74mph. Before filling up there,
it was at 23.5mpg at this speed.

This is my new XJR (2003, 93k) I refer to, but
I filled up my XJ Sport in the same station once
and instantly saw a loss of gas mileage over
5-10 tanks of fuel.

 

That has always been my gut feeling.

I've always wondered if GM owns Shell or maybe Ford is Exxon. If the car companies aren't the gas companies it would be like Gillette making razors and not selling the blades.

 

Funny you should mention. I have a blade preference too. In my experience one out of every ten pack of Gillette was dull right outta the box. I've been using Merkur blades for the last 20+ years. Very sharp product. They come individually wrapped in wax paper.