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Old 08-20-2014, 10:40 AM   #1
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Top Tier Gasoline

Pays to read one's owners manual. GM recommends using gasoline advertised as Top Tier Detergent Gasoline.

Since 1995 most gasoline marketers have reduced by up to 50% the amount of detergent additive. This can lead to deposits on critical engine parts. Seven of the world's top automakers, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Audi recognize that the current EPA minimum detergent requirements do not go far enough to ensure optimal engine performance.

Visit toptiergas.com if you want a list of Top Tier Retailers in US/Canada.
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Old 08-20-2014, 01:46 PM   #2
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I'll just note that gasoline not labeled as "Top Tier" may more than meet the requirements of Top Tier. Participation in the program by fuel suppliers requires that they meet various requirements and pay a fee.

Despite the limitations of the program, I think that the Top Tier label on fuel can be a useful indication of some fuel characteristics. It's not useful enough that I actually look for it or care that neither of my usual sources (Costco and Husky/Mohawk) are Top Tier participants (which I didn't check until today).

Although written nearly like an advertisement and suspiciously positive about the Top Tier program, the corresponding Wikipedia page is a useful summary.
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Old 08-20-2014, 01:52 PM   #3
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Every time I get top tier I end up drunk….
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Old 08-20-2014, 02:07 PM   #4
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It's not useful enough that I actually look for it or care that neither of my usual sources (Costco and Husky/Mohawk) are Top Tier participants (which I didn't check until today).
Apparently Costco gas is considered Top Tier:

http://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-gasoline.html
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Old 08-20-2014, 02:15 PM   #5
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Never mind, I was confused with top shelf….
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Old 08-20-2014, 02:17 PM   #6
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I do know that in the shop we didn't have much issue with clogged injectors for alot of years and in the last few it has become more of a issue. Perhaps the oil companies could provide us with a better product for the excessive price they charge us for their product.
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Old 08-20-2014, 02:46 PM   #7
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Apparently Costco gas is considered Top Tier:

http://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-gasoline.html
Interesting, and a good find.
I had just scanned the retailer list on the Top Tier site, and Costco was not there.

The explanation: Costco.com (the U.S. site) shows the Top Tier qualification, and Costco Wholesale is listed as a Top Tier retailer in the "USA" column; however, Costco Canada provides no information about gasoline (other than the operating hours of the stations), and Costco is not listed as a Top Tier retailer in the "Canada" column. The supplier of fuel to Costco may be entirely different in each country (or even in each province), and qualification for Top Tier depends on the additive type and quantity that the retailer chooses to purchase, which can be different for every station if they want.

Oh, so close... but I guess I'm not getting Top Tier gasoline after all.
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Old 08-20-2014, 03:34 PM   #8
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Or maybe they refuse to participate in the "pay to play" group. Would be surprised if Costco Canada gasoline didn't meet the standards.
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Old 08-20-2014, 05:05 PM   #9
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I do know that in the shop we didn't have much issue with clogged injectors for alot of years and in the last few it has become more of a issue. Perhaps the oil companies could provide us with a better product for the excessive price they charge us for their product.
Or maybe they could stop diluting it with corn!
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Old 08-20-2014, 05:09 PM   #10
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The Costco in Courtenay, BC, just did an extensive excavation next to their gas bar to install a tank to hold gasoline detergent and a system for mixing it with their two grades of gas. Next time I'm in there, I'll ask them what exactly they did, and whether the upgrade is happening at all their gas stations in Canada. (Unless another of the Canucks on this forum beats me to it).
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Old 08-20-2014, 06:02 PM   #11
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The Costco in Courtenay, BC, just did an extensive excavation next to their gas bar to install a tank to hold gasoline detergent and a system for mixing it with their two grades of gas.
That's bizarre. Normally, the additives are mixed into the gas as it is loaded into the tanker truck... there's no need to handle the base fuel and the additives separately all the way to the station. Maybe Costco made some weird deal for base fuel from one source and additives from another.

Come to think of it, the Sherwood Park Costco also recently had construction in the tank area, although the station is quite new. Hmmm....
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Old 08-20-2014, 06:21 PM   #12
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The Costco in Courtenay, BC, just did an extensive excavation next to their gas bar to install a tank to hold gasoline detergent and a system for mixing it with their two grades of gas. Next time I'm in there, I'll ask them what exactly they did, and whether the upgrade is happening at all their gas stations in Canada. (Unless another of the Canucks on this forum beats me to it).
Our local US Costco did the same thing a few years ago, I was told it was so they could mix in their own additives too.
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Old 08-20-2014, 07:36 PM   #13
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Apparently Costco gas is considered Top Tier:

http://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-gasoline.html

I was just getting ready to say the same about Costco gas. I love that place!
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Old 08-20-2014, 08:11 PM   #14
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Our local US Costco did the same thing a few years ago, I was told it was so they could mix in their own additives too.
Yeah, I've heard that before. There would be 2 large tanks and a smaller tank for the additive. The pumps are set up to mix from each tank in the right proportion. If you buy the high octane, the mix would be from the high tank and the additive tank. If you buy low octane, then the low tank and the additive tank. Alot of people don't know that "mid-grade" gas is not shipped as mid-grade, but is simply a mixture of high octane and lower octane - and it's mixed at the pump.
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Old 07-22-2020, 09:34 AM   #15
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July 2020 United States Top Tier Stations

Anyone interested, here is a current list of the Top Tier Stations in the United States
76
ARCO
Aloha
Amoco
BP
Beacon
Break Time C Stores
Breakaway
CITGO
Cenex
Chevron
Conoco
Costco Wholesale
CountryMark
CountryMark PLUS
Diamond Shamrock
Express Mart
Exxon
Fast Fuel
HFN – Hawaii Fueling Network
Harmons Fuel Stop
Hele
Holiday
Irving Oil
Kirkland Signature Gasoline
Kwik Star
Kwik Trip
MFA Oil
Marathon
Metro Petro
Mobil
Ohana Fuels
Phillips 66
QT
QuikTrip
Ranger
Ranger Fuel
Ranger Mustang
Ranger Stallion
Ranger Thoroughbred
Reeder’s
Road Ranger
Rutter’s
Shamrock
Shell
Simonson Station Stores
Sinclair
Texaco
Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery
Valero
Value America
WOW
Win Win
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Old 07-22-2020, 09:44 AM   #16
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Oh, man, and I get my gas at Smith's.
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Old 07-22-2020, 09:52 AM   #17
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I’ve tried several different fuel brands to find out which ones my vehicles run the best on. Costco, Pilot , and QT station are the ones my truck performs the best on same with our Outback. Won’t touch Chevron period.
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Old 07-22-2020, 10:20 AM   #18
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Gas

We live in Sw Florida and we have a 2018Expedition with a3.5 eco boost engine we usually get 18-20 mpg with Costco gas and over 25mpg at 65 mph
Towing up to Illinois we got 14-15 mpg coming up from Florida with a 21 escape
Now that we are in Manteno Illinois we are getting about 15-16 mpg around town the gas here is terrible it definitely has 10% Ethanol .this has happened for the last 2 years So gas is definitely different in the Farm belt JimW
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Old 07-22-2020, 10:36 AM   #19
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I’ve tried several different fuel brands to find out which ones my vehicles run the best on. Costco, Pilot , and QT station are the ones my truck performs the best on same with our Outback. Won’t touch Chevron period.
I think Chevron advertised better MPG with their gas. I filled once with Chevron and that tank was notably better mileage, BUT just one tank isn't the way to measure. I watched for Chevron on the balance of that trip, but didn't find any more Chevron stations. I forgot about using Chevron after that trip.

I would like to try again and run about 5 tanks through to get a more accurate average.

I have a 5.0 TA pulled by a 2015 F150 3.5 EB 4X2. We try to avoid interstates and usually drive around 62 mph, one trip last year I averaged out 13 tanks for an average of 13.9 mpg. We do not travel light. Most of that trip was hitched with some of the miles just the truck.
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Old 07-22-2020, 12:10 PM   #20
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A relative who worked at one of the top tier refineries told me years ago that the trick is every other tank should be top tier. (One of the top detergent gasolines.) And another chemist told me avoid independents as they can get away with faking octane numbers as they are unlikely to get checked like the big brands are, so they might buy low quality stuff and relabel it,
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