Top Tier Gas or cheap gas? Arco? chevron? Costco? Shell?

swathdiver · June 24, 2020

16 minutes ago, Nanotech Environmental said:

I don't see how you come to the conclusion that Chevron is giving you better performance, going by these stats. It appears to me that you've used racetrac for all your city driving on hot days with high AC usage, Mobil for your city driving on cooler days. Chevron for moderate days with almost no AC and mostly highway & Sunoco doing both. Nothing in these stats says Chevron is giving you better performance.

AC is Alcohol Content and the A/C runs 24/7/363 when we're in the truck. While I made reference to Chevron delivering superior performance this chart's purpose was to show how much each fuel cost to burn per mile (CPM). A whole different picture emerges when we see the effect Alcohol Content has on "gas mileage":

Nanotech Environmental · June 25, 2020

On 6/24/2020 at 10:03 AM, swathdiver said:

AC is Alcohol Content and the A/C runs 24/7/363 when we're in the truck. While I made reference to Chevron delivering superior performance this chart's purpose was to show how much each fuel cost to burn per mile (CPM). A whole different picture emerges when we see the effect Alcohol Content has on "gas mileage":

Fair enough- However, there is still a clear issue with the MPH average. There's more city driving vs hwy on some brands, which is skewing your results. The only way to get an honest result in what you're trying to achieve, is to drive the same routes with different brands a bunch of times, over a long period of time & accurately record #'s each time.
Even so, the CPM number shows that you're just not getting the overall 'performance' advantage with the expensive Chevron & Mobil, vs the cheaper Racetrac and Sunoco brands.

swathdiver · June 26, 2020

9 hours ago, Nanotech Environmental said:

Fair enough- However, there is still a clear issue with the MPH average. There's more city driving vs hwy on some brands, which is skewing your results. The only way to get an honest result in what you're trying to achieve, is to drive the same routes with different brands a bunch of times, over a long period of time & accurately record #'s each time.
Even so, the CPM number shows that you're just not getting the overall 'performance' advantage with the expensive Chevron & Mobil, vs the cheaper Racetrac and Sunoco brands.

That's correct, the trips to Racetrac were almost exclusively for E85 while Sunoco has included high test and E85 but mostly blended mixes of fuel by now which are less expensive and deliver a higher an alcohol content that the engine likes.

Have also made those runs as you describe, from 35 to 80 MPH in 5 MPH increments with Mobil's 93 and Sunoco's E85 at 71% and 80%. On the master data sets, I have pulled the data out as you suggest, comparing similar MPH numbers and seeing what those delivered. Chevron delivers higher MPG but costs more to burn. Also, there is still a difference between two 40 mph runs, one is near constant while another was faster with more idle time. Another year or so of data should flatten those averages out.

Do you do any such data logging?

Nanotech Environmental · June 28, 2020

On 6/25/2020 at 8:19 PM, swathdiver said:

Do you do any such data logging?

No. Haven't the patience for that.

swathdiver · June 28, 2020

5 hours ago, Nanotech Environmental said:

No. Haven't the patience for that.

Doesn't take too long, I keep a memo pad in the truck and write everything down after filling up and then transfer it to the spreadsheet later. I'll be creating some blank logs as we'll be adding two more trucks to the stables soon, I can send one over if you want, they're in Excel.

Nanotech Environmental · June 28, 2020

13 hours ago, swathdiver said:

Doesn't take too long, I keep a memo pad in the truck and write everything down after filling up and then transfer it to the spreadsheet later. I'll be creating some blank logs as we'll be adding two more trucks to the stables soon, I can send one over if you want, they're in Excel.

Thanks for the offer, but no. Even if I were to gather a ton of data, I know what the outcome is likely to be, so I'll save myself the effort.

UGADawgs · June 28, 2020

The only data I keep track of is how much I spend. #daveramsey

topgear1224 · June 29, 2020

On one of my old (1992 Acura legend, rated for 93 octane in Japan) running 91 octane Chevron vs. Shell Shell got one MPG better.

On a modern vehicle is not going to matter that much. They have high-speed computers that control everything.

I do always suggest top tier gasoline just because it's available everywhere and if your station doesn't sell top tier gasoline that's also likely going to be the same station the has the original underground tanks from 40 years ago.

I prefer zero ethanol because in my experience the engines run smoother. though this hasn't really been a problem since about 2010. VVT pretty much solved it.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

bg1988 · July 18, 2020

On 5/25/2020 at 5:48 PM, Colossus said:

Top tier fuels use better detergents/additives in their gasoline which is better for your vehicle. Ethanol or not. But my choice for gasoline would be Chevron (because of the techron in their fuel) Costco, Phillips 66/Conoco, Shell.

Diesel- no such thing as top tier Diesel, but the major brands do run their own additives in them just like gasoline though more suited for Diesel, including anti-gelling stuff, lubricity stuff and such. I've noticed the best performance running Sinclair/Maverik, Phillips 66/Conoco, and then Shell. No Chevrons around here otherwise I'd give them a shot.

chevron has techron D for iesel so yeah you can get TOP tier iesel fuel sorry my button does not work sometimes

i have light weight tires 31 pounds ea on the drive wheels less mass to rotate (the more mass= rotational drag, the more drag it has/ more fuel it uses )

also the tires are pumped to 44psi that by it self is worth 10% gain in MPG for free

Edited July 18, 2020 by bg1988

Wintersun · July 18, 2020

The gasoline is coming out of the same refineries and all I watch for is if it is an ethanol blend as this reduces availble power and fuel economy by 15% or more. Only Exxon is using ethanol in my state so one more reason to go elsewhere. There are three gas stations within 15 miles of my house and I buy from whichever station has the lowest price posted. No point in burning a gallon or more of gas in order to save a few cents per gallon at the pump.

Every 40K miles I add a fuel injector cleaner to the tank for my gas powered cars and that does help with fuel economy. Dirty injectors make for a coarser spray and less complete combustion.

40 years ago there were second tier refineries and one could save a good deal at their retail outlets. Those days are long gone and everything else is marketing hype. It is like thinking that Crest is better than Colgate for toothpaste.

Cpl_Punishment · July 18, 2020

4 minutes ago, Wintersun said:

The gasoline is coming out of the same refineries and all I watch for is if it is an ethanol blend as this reduces availble power and fuel economy by 15% or more. Only Exxon is using ethanol in my state so one more reason to go elsewhere. There are three gas stations within 15 miles of my house and I buy from whichever station has the lowest price posted. No point in burning a gallon or more of gas in order to save a few cents per gallon at the pump.

Every 40K miles I add a fuel injector cleaner to the tank for my gas powered cars and that does help with fuel economy. Dirty injectors make for a coarser spray and less complete combustion.

40 years ago there were second tier refineries and one could save a good deal at their retail outlets. Those days are long gone and everything else is marketing hype. It is like thinking that Crest is better than Colgate for toothpaste.

But Crest is better. Colgate uses some type of cheap fluoride that no dental specialist has ever heard of. Source: my dental hygienist wife.

JimCost2014 · July 18, 2020

14 hours ago, bg1988 said:

chevron has techron D for iesel so yeah you can get TOP tier iesel fuel sorry my button does not work sometimes

i have light weight tires 31 pounds ea on the drive wheels less mass to rotate (the more mass= rotational drag, the more drag it has/ more fuel it uses )

also the tires are pumped to 44psi that by it self is worth 10% gain in MPG for free

I like your reply, reminds me of the puzzles you find under beer caps, sorry to hear about your "D" button

Dunn · July 19, 2020

1 hour ago, Cpl_Punishment said:

But Crest is better. Colgate uses some type of cheap fluoride that no dental specialist has ever heard of. Source: my dental hygienist wife.

their stuff probably comes from same refineries as well, lol.....cant believe marketing and ads just because they say so

at some point you just go off experience and things learned after 1/2 century on the planet.....should be smooth sailing from here on out, lol

Edited July 19, 2020 by Dunn

Cpl_Punishment · July 19, 2020

41 minutes ago, Dunn said:

their stuff probably comes from same refineries as well, lol.....cant believe marketing and ads just because they say so

at some point you just go off experience and things learned after 1/2 century on the planet.....should be smooth sailing from here on out, lol

Actually, this was based on my wife looking at the list of ingredients on the toothpaste I used to use and saying "I've never heard of that type of fluoride." But I get your point.

greco2003 · July 20, 2020

It all comes from the same refineries but when it gets to the station the proprietary blend of detergents are added as its pumped in the tanks at the station. Personally I fill up at Kroger, or shell depending on who I have points for for a better deal.