gas question

[ChuckH]

Just wondering about everyone's preference or insight for using a particular brand of gasoline.  I have been using Chevron for years, not really sure why.  Maybe its because its the only gas card I have.  An outboard mechanic recently told me that he would not recommend using Chevron because of the additives they put it will hurt the oil pumps(cause deterioration of the diaphram).  He recommended Exxon, Mobile, or Shell.  My Father in law has always said that every time he used Chevron in his car it ran bad.  Would drain the tank, use Exxon etc and have no problems.  My brother in law who is biased, (works for Shell) said he would use other gas besides Shell but not Chevron.  I have used Chevron for years and never really noticed any problems in my vehicles or boat.  Anyone have any insight as to the differences in brands and is there really a big enough difference in the major brands to use one over the other.

[GF7PE]

always use mobil.  We dont have chevron where I live

[RyanbabZ71]

mobil.

 

I would use chevron if they were around here.  On my summer travels last yr all i used was chevron (in NC area) and i got close to 20 mpg.  Around he i cant get over 16 highway

[Tucson_02Silverado]

I"ve been using Chevron for over 20 years.  Not exclusively of course, maybe 30 tanks worth in that 20 years of other gas brands due to miscalculating distance and what was left in the tank.  But even those times it was major brand like Mobil, Texaco, Shell, Exxon (ARCO...never tried but if you're really hungry the hotdogs are pretty tasty at the AM/PM's).  The vast majority of refined depots is the exact same gasoline base from a refinery.  Next to those tanks are bunches of smaller tanks based upon the number of majors are labeling gasoline in that area.  In the smaller tanks are the additives of a particular label that is measuredd flow mixed with the "generic" base gasoline into the labeled tanker.  Thus you can also have fraud by a single or chain of gas stations that say selling 76 gasoline when infact a generic contractor tanker is delivering just the base gasoline with none of 76's additives and charges you for it.  If the station says they are selling a labels gasoline, then a same labeled tanker must fill that station.......at least in Arizona that's the case.

 

No problems at all that I could relate to gas.  I never really seen any varnish build up on the carbs (cars past) and on the 88 GTA the injectors never needed cleaning, always flowbenched full pattern stock volume even across all 8  the three times they we're pulled to inspect at 40K mile intervals.

 

Oil pump problems?????????????

If gasoline is destroying your oil pump diaphragm would mean that you have problems going on for the oil to be saturated with gasoline.  Basic PVC valve bad and not venting what little unspent fuel and gases there are normally in the crankcase.  More serious is that bad combustion in one or more cylinders major amount of unspent fuel and/or ring failure.

[lrymal]

I use Shell or Chevron.  Chevron (formerly GULF), uses Techron additive which is well-respected.  Several years ago, Gulf really added some weird stuff and I didn't care for it.  It would leave an orange film on the carb.  

 

But today, Chevron and Shell just seems to be more consistant for my truck's mileage. They both advertise regular use of their products will help the injectors.

 

Beware of the back-alley convenience store pumps.  Unless they advertise it, more than likely their gasoline has little or no additives that could help the injectors.

 

My worst experience with gasoline was with Diamond Shamrock.  They ended up paying several in the community for some voodoo stuff they blended with the gasoline causing some weird deposits.  The initial bill paid by them to me was about $700.00 and they paid for a 100,000 mile warranty on my motor.  I hardly had to do a thing to get all of this.  Whatever it was, they had a fit over it.

 

I haven't been to Diamond Shamrock since.

[tmf6902]

I use exxon or moble....which ever one is around.....

[TROYROBO]

i burn everything from everyone--------been this way ever since i started driving--24+ yrs -------never had any major problems other than a little better gas mpg with a few brands and sometimes a little worse with others--my 2 cts :thumb:  :thumb:

[k1500chevy97]

I use Conoco gasoline most the time .

I am friends with the owner of a local distributing company that sells conoco and the farm has been getting all of our fuel , oil and lubricants from that same company since his dad started it about 40 yrs ago .

 

Sometimes when on a trip I will fill up with a different brand but Im not that far away most the time

[SilveradoWV]

Like 80% of WVs gas comes from Marathon in KY no matter what the sign is, exxon, shell, chevron. Since I am in the southern part of the state I know I am in that 80%. Not sure how they do it, if the additives like techron go in at the station tanks or there is a big tank at Marathon that gets techron or if its even in there at all. I get my gas wherever its the cheapest. Usually Optima (wal-mart) or Kroger, never had a problem out of either one!

[ToeJam]

Nothing but Chevron.

[ChuckH]

Thanks for all the responses.  I kinda figured all the major brands were pretty similar with slight differences in additives.  I guess most of the problems people run into are maybe contamination at local stations and then blame it on that brand.  Its cool to see everyones preferences.  I think I might get a Shell card just to have another option.  There seems to be only a few Chevrons when i vacation in Gulf Shores Ala.