Any generic gas = rebranded good gas?
 

Anybody have any "insider" info on generic gas that is just as good as the name brand stuff? I recently heard a radio commercial from the company that makes gas for Chreveron and Winners Corner. I'm wondering if Winners Corner gas is just Chrevron gas minus the Chevron name.

All gas is the same gas. Gas isn't shipped from the refineries to particular stations based on brand, it's simply added "to the network"... so Chevron puts 10,000 gallons into a tank one day in New Orleans, then pulls 10,000 gallons out from a tank in Sparks thus "shipping" 10k gallons in a minute.

The only difference between brands is the additives that are added to the gas shortly before it's delivered to a particular brand's gas station. So you might be getting "Chevron" gas at Costco, but it won't have Techron in it. Or Shell gas at Walmart w/o V-Power.

At least, that's how I've had it explained to me before.

Based on TV programs I've seen on the subject, I think you're right, Scott. All gas is basically the same except for the additives, unless it gets contaminated, usually with rain water. So the additives and the particular station make the gas. Based on my experince, I like Chevron and 76 and I don't like Shell. Other than that, I just try to go to busy, newer, stations that offer a seperate hose for each octane.

What I'm asking here is if Winner's Corner has the same additives as Chevron. Also if anybody knows somthing I don't about what brand or station is best, please enlighten me.

Many Winner's Corners are Chevrons... but the ones that are, are clearly marked as such.

My choice for gas goes Chevron, 76, Shell, Sunoco (not that there are many Sunoco's on the west coast).

Here is an interesting Chemists thought on brands, additives, etc..

http://vettenet.org/octane.html

Interesting. I guess I'll just keep buying the name brand stuff. I've been using Chevron for days since I can't find any 76 stations that have 3 hoses/pump. I may just have to switch to somthing else for 5000 miles like he suggests.

Chevron's 91 octane keeps my car happy. In order to feel comfortable going to one of the cheaper places, I'd have to know without any shadow of a doubt that I was getting the same quality gas. Otherwise, it's not worth the pennies saved.

i like chevron because they have their own tankers, and their own pipelines(according to a tv show). some of the contaminates that can be found in gas can include kerosene, diesel, or anything else that gets transported in a tanker truck. for example today a tanker will carry kerosene, and tomorrow that same tanker will deliver gasolene to your favorite gas station. and chevron delivers chevron.

Why are you running premium? Trust me, you don't need it, just keep going to the brand name stations if that makes you happy.

What Kevin said. I've tried running 91 octane in my NA 2.5 (that even has a slight compression bump) and the only difference I see is worse mileage. Seriously, I get a noticable 2-3mpg improvement on 87 vs 91.

Maybe I made it up in my head, but 91 just seems to feel a little better. When I fill up today I'll try 89 again, to see what happens. . .

OK, this is a gross oversimplification/generalization, but...

Typicaly, you want to run the lowest octane you can that allows the most timing advance without detonation.

On a low compression NA engine, especially at altitude, this is most often 87.

If your owners manual says to use 87, using 91 is most likely to deminish performance.

Octane is basically, the amount of fire retardent in the gas. And you want the minimum amount possible to eliminate knocking.

Chevron, Shell, Texaco, 76. From the inside, the additives added to the fuel in these stations are really the best you'll find. Funny thing is, they are ALL Techron, and the other stations have simply paid Chevron to use their additive under a different name.

Scott's first post was VERY correct.

That explanation helps. :) Owner's manual says to use at least 89.

I put 89 in it this afternoon, and I can't really tell the difference, so I must have imagined the difference that 91 seemed to make.

Another positive - gas went down another $0.05 today!

It actually says to use 89? No footnotes about harsh conditions or anything like that? Sucks, that's totally not worth 4 hp. :(

The STI manual says 92 min. Classic!

Does it specify 92 on which scale? Is that RON, MON, or AKI-PON-[(RON+MON)/2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

It's the scale that comes out to 91 on CA gas. Sucks for you STi owners. (Although above 3500-4000 feet it's a total non-issue.)

Ok, I must be going nuts. I just checked the PDF manual that Subaru has online, and it says 87 or higher. I was sure that the one in my glove box says 89, but I guess not.

Me = OMGWTF INSANO :~:

I'm pretty sure my manual specifies 87. I tried using 89 for a while when I first bought my car and got worse mileage, so I went back to 87.

I do not know. I just remember reading 92 minimum and thought "great not even an option in California".

the owners manual for my 2005 STI says you should use 93 or Higher octane. but it also says that above 1500 feet 91 is okay.

so basically all gas in the same state are the same, But does each state does have different additive requirements right ? IIRC California used to require MTBE , but in 1999 now stations that have MTBE have to be labeled as such. and IIRC Tahoe won't allow that in any gas , (so i'de guess all tahoe stations get a different blend, and/or only use the nevada side blend, but i'm guessing )

I do know they all have signs saying they are MTBE Free .

Should i try to only fill up on the NV side ? or fill up on the Cali side ? There's 2 stations on the cali side that have 1 nozzle per octane, where as on the NV side its 1 nozzle for all 3 octane ratings.

91 is "okay" at sea level too, you just lose a little bit of power and knock protection. Car won't blow up without mechanical issues though.

Nope. There's more to gas than octane, but even that typically differes from state to state.

California "banned" MTBE after being the only state requiring its use as an oxygenate because it turned out it was doing less good for the air than harm to groundwater. It's not in any fuel now, and Tahoe stations got it when it was.

It's the same formulation, only changes for altitude. So if you fill up above 3000' or so you're good to go. Personally, I think the seperate nozzle thing is overrated.

cool i'll go cheapest 91 for a while then ;)

Yeah mine requires 100 octane, dam that 11:1 compression ratio. If i'm racing i'll use 91 with an octane booster, or mix some 91 and 110 together.