Are all Gasoline Brands the
Same?
Reed (CTSVETT)
As researched on the internet
Exec Summary
• According to gasoline distributors, all gas is
almost identical: it is a commodity and traded as
such
• Difference is in the additives that different
manufacturers put in the gas
• Additives (or detergents) help keep the injectors/
intakes/ valves clean
• Level or station quality is also an issue
• Cheaper gas usually means cheaper additive
and less ability to keep your fuel system clean
All Gas IS the same!
• The distribution of Gas occurs on a mass scale through
national pipelines.
• All gas flows through common pipelines in the US to the
distributors.
• All of this gas must meet the minimum Federal gas
quality requirement
• In most cases, various brands actually are pumped from
the same distributor
• “Base gas is a freely traded commodity that must meet
certain government specifications. It flows through
common pipelines into commingled storage tanks”
Gas DOES differ by region
• For emissions reason, there is a different
formulation of “base” gas by region.
But it is different
• Gas Differs in the additives that are put into the
gasoline.
• At the point of distribution (where the gas flows
into the truck) different brands add different
additives
– Techron, Cleantech, etc
– At a rate of “measured squirt” to 40 gallons
• “The major brands spend R-and-D money on
patented additives, which they add to the basic
gas”
What do the additives do
• Chevron- Techron (most expensive additive)
– “keeps combustion chambers free of deposits while
"some of" its competitors' additives will increase these
deposits”
• Additives are patented formulations of chemicals
intended to keep Valves, Intakes, and Injectors
clean
– Prevent build-up of varnish
– Keep car operating as designed
• Goal of additives “forming less deposits when
the gasoline burns, for better mileage,
performance and exhaust emissions”
What the additives are:
• octane-enhancing additives ( improve octane ratings )
• anti-oxidants ( inhibit gum formation, improve stability )
• metal deactivators ( inhibit gum formation, improve
stability )
• deposit modifiers ( reduce deposits, spark-plug fouling
and preignition )
• surfactants ( prevent icing, improve vaporisation, inhibit
deposits, reduce NOx emissions )
• freezing point depressants ( prevent icing )
• corrosion inhibitors ( prevent gasoline corroding storage
tanks )
• dyes ( product colour for safety or regulatory purposes ).
Clogged injectors based on type of
injectors
• Early Bosch style most prone to clogging
– Used until 1989
• In 1989 GM introduced the “Multec” injector
– Ball style spray valve
– Less prone to clogging
• Injector has very small orifice
– Very little residue can clog injectors
• Goal is to keep orifice clean and promote “Cone
shaped” spray pattern for best combustion
What happens if the injector is
Clogged
• When injector is clogged, Gas tends to
“stream” versus “Spray”
• This causes the combustion to be less
efficient
– Loss of fuel economy
– Poor performance (stuttering/loss of
acceleration)
• Goal is a “Cone shaped Spray” for
maximum efficiency
How to keep injectors Clean
• Using fuel tank additives (one bottle/tank)
– Expensive
– Harsh on other parts of the engine
• Ritual Cleaning of injectors
– Very expensive (requires removing the injector from the car and
cleaning)
• New Injectors
– Up to $100 each (x the number of cylinders you have: example:
$800 + labor for a V8)
• Using Fuel additives (techron, etc) that promote cleaning
injectors.
– Usually a few cents more per gallon
– Continually clean the system
– No extra effort
Quality of Pumping Station also an
Issue
• When gas is dispensed at pump, it is run
through filters
• Some stations use single filters others use
double
• The more filtration the better because it
removes impurities from the fuel before it
enters your car
• Cheaper stations do not change the filter
as often or use single filtration
Which stations Cheat on you?
• Some stations also cheat
– Sell you 87/89 instead of 91
– Improperly charge in contradiction to what the price is marked
• Survey paramters:
– 875 stations surveyed out of population of over 10,000 stations
– Mixed branded (Exxon, Mobil, Chevron,etc) versus independent stations
• Results of survey:
– Branded stations have a .4% higher overall compliance
– Independent stations had a .47% higher chance of charging you more
than marked
– Independent’s had a 10% higher storage tank violation- leads to dirtier
gasoline
• Bottom Line: DON’T USE INDEPENTENTS!
Source: Department of measurement standards: California
So, why not Arco?
• “Most suppliers of quality Gasolines will
formulate similar additives into their
products, and cheaper product lines are
less likely to have such additives added”
• This means
Cheaper gas: cheaper additive
Summary
• This does not mean spend more on gas, it
merely explains why Arco/wal-mart/etc (cheaper
brands of gas) causes engine problems later in
the cars life or can cause engine issues
• However, if you plan to clean your fuel system
often or are willing to pay later, use the cheap
gas now.
• Personally: I would rather spend a few cents
more a gallon now, than deal with expensive
problems later down the road!
• Bottom line: YOU DECIDE!!!
References
• What Arco Says (marketing at its finest)
– http://www.arco.com/gas/faqs.html
• What Chevron has to say:
– http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuels/techrongas/faq.shtml
• The nitty gritty of Gaoline Composition
– http://www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline-faq/part2/preamble.html
• The Dept of Measures Survey
– http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/dms/pdfs/P-01-2.pdf
• Articles:
– http://www.jsonline.com/wheels/peak/feb03/119491.asp?format=print
– http://www.nctimes.com/news/2001/20011223/61014.html
• What damage it causes from Yahoo Auto Repair
– http://autos.yahoo.com/repair/results/ques076.html