well, I've finally seen $3.01/gallon REGULAR gas...
03-05-11, 10:35 AM
#168
Lexus Fanatic
BTW, I'd like to caution everyone here that, although it is your money and you can spend it as you like, as I have stated in the past, I still don't recommend using cut-rate gas brands as a way of beating high prices. Better methods, IMO, are simply driving in a more economical manner, cleaning out excess or unneeded weight from the car, combining trips when possible, and making sure that tire pressures are correct.
There is a reason why cut-rate brands are cheaper...and it's not ust marketing. Even if the octane level is OK to prevent pinging, cheaper, off-brands generally don't have good detergent additives in them to keep things clean, so you may save a small amount at the pumps, but you are also allowing gum, carbon, and other waste-products to accumulate in the fuel-system, injectors, and engine parts. So, then, you negate any savings you may have at the pump with increased fuel-system maintenance/cleaning, even of it is just dumping in cans of BG-44K fuel-system cleaner.
Most major-name-brand fuels have good (or at least decent) additives in them to help keep things clean. In general, Shell and Chevron are the two best for detergent additives....the Techroline used in Chevron fuel, for instance, is recommended by many auto engineers.
And you don't necessarily have to pay more for good fuel, either. In my area, the Giant grocery-store chain has a program where, with grocery-shopping, you acccumulate points on your bonus cards and get a discount of anywhere from 10 to 40 cents a gallon at Shell stations. I'm sure there are similiar programs in other parts of the country, too.
There is a reason why cut-rate brands are cheaper...and it's not ust marketing. Even if the octane level is OK to prevent pinging, cheaper, off-brands generally don't have good detergent additives in them to keep things clean, so you may save a small amount at the pumps, but you are also allowing gum, carbon, and other waste-products to accumulate in the fuel-system, injectors, and engine parts. So, then, you negate any savings you may have at the pump with increased fuel-system maintenance/cleaning, even of it is just dumping in cans of BG-44K fuel-system cleaner.
Most major-name-brand fuels have good (or at least decent) additives in them to help keep things clean. In general, Shell and Chevron are the two best for detergent additives....the Techroline used in Chevron fuel, for instance, is recommended by many auto engineers.
And you don't necessarily have to pay more for good fuel, either. In my area, the Giant grocery-store chain has a program where, with grocery-shopping, you acccumulate points on your bonus cards and get a discount of anywhere from 10 to 40 cents a gallon at Shell stations. I'm sure there are similiar programs in other parts of the country, too.
03-05-11, 11:44 AM
#169
Pole Position
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lake Country, WI
Posts: 2,794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
03-05-11, 01:29 PM
#172
Lexus Champion
03-05-11, 03:19 PM
#173
Gas prices hurt again
I usually take the prices in stride and tighten down to make the trips more efficient. Today I was supposed to sign a few mats for some upcoming pictures. Calculating the cost of fuel for this simple run it was 
there was no way I wanted to spend ~$7 to get to the framers shop and back. <sigh>
there was no way I wanted to spend ~$7 to get to the framers shop and back. <sigh>
03-05-11, 04:00 PM
#175
Dysfunctional Veteran
WOWWWWW. ya'll, I think I might be feeling this one bad this go-round. Gas went up FOURTEEN CENTS IN 3 HOURS today. from 3.44/gal to 3.58 in literally, one shot. I drove past a gas station at noon, it said 3.44. I drove past the EXACT same gas station at 3pm, it said $3.58. WTF, FML and every other online acronym that fits. That smarts a little bit.
Laugh...this is coming...
Laugh...this is coming...
Last edited by ArmyofOne; 03-05-11 at 04:26 PM.
03-05-11, 05:18 PM
#176
Lexus Test Driver
03-05-11, 10:24 PM
#178
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
03-06-11, 07:11 AM
#180
I disagree with MMarshall on some level.
The problem is more complex.
Franchised gas stations are notorious for selling regular gasoline as premium. Since our cars adjust whatever fuel is available many people don't notice this.
So to ensure you are actually getting premium, it is more important to have a gas station that you trust. Studies have shown that major corporate owned gas stations like Walmart, Kroger, are much more honest whereas independent shell station owners may free-ride on their reputation and cheat customers.
We don't have any corporate owned stations here, so I tend to fill my car at a Shell station owned by the local BMW dealer. Since the BMW dealer isn't likely to fill their cars with regular, its fair to assume their pumps actually pump premium.
The problem is more complex.
Franchised gas stations are notorious for selling regular gasoline as premium. Since our cars adjust whatever fuel is available many people don't notice this.
So to ensure you are actually getting premium, it is more important to have a gas station that you trust. Studies have shown that major corporate owned gas stations like Walmart, Kroger, are much more honest whereas independent shell station owners may free-ride on their reputation and cheat customers.
We don't have any corporate owned stations here, so I tend to fill my car at a Shell station owned by the local BMW dealer. Since the BMW dealer isn't likely to fill their cars with regular, its fair to assume their pumps actually pump premium.