Do you stick with gas station brands or do you just go for the cheapest option?
Posted by cofi52@reddit | driving | View on Reddit | 212 comments
Apologies in advance if this is the wrong sub to post this in
Do you go to different gas stations based on what is the cheapest or do you stick with the same gas station or gas station brand every single time? Are there gas station brands that are better than others?
I have this Gas Buddy app that shows what is the cheapest gas near me and in a situation where its simply a routine refuel and not a dire situation, do most people just look up the cheapest gas around them and go there or do they go to the same one every time?
I read a lot about how to fill up gas and stuff like that but I couldn't find much about this type of topic.
Pup111290@reddit
I get 12mpg and have a 42 gallon gas tank, I go for the cheapest fuel in the area
Pup111290@reddit
So nobody else has to click my profile đ
CanadianDadbod@reddit
12 ainât bad for big block.
Pup111290@reddit
It would be decent for a big block, unfortunately it's just a 350 (5.7) small block đ
Best_Market4204@reddit
Father and law has the same car lol. Clean as a whistle & runs like a beast but man he sure does bitch about the gas every time i see him.
Pup111290@reddit
Fueling it up sucks, but you can't beat the comfort, reliability, and practicality of it
UnKossef@reddit
False.
Prius with a trailer hitch. /J
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
Pruises are nowhere near as comfortable as an American full size anything pre 2000s
UnKossef@reddit
Oh American cars from the 90s were very well known for their build quality, comfort, and reliability.
Well known for being horrible on all counts.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
You're delusional. What do you even consider comfortable? If your car doesn't have you sinking into the seats like a lazy boy chair, it's not comfortable. Ive never ridden in a prius that does that. It's like sitting in a shitty gaming chair, or a plastic chair at a kids soccer game. Not exactly what most people consider comfortable
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
How the hell are you only getting 12 with that? I have a cadillac with a bigger engine and I get 26mpg
Pup111290@reddit
Gearing and weight. Plus the extras and bigger tires definitely don't help. But I think they are only rated at 11 city 15 highway
TJNel@reddit
Be cheaper to sell it and buy a more modern fuel efficient vehicle.
QuinceDaPence@reddit
One can be fixed with some bailing twine and a stern talking to, and the other takes a C/S degree and throws a tantrum if an O2 sensor reads wrong.
Pup111290@reddit
Maybe, but to me it's worth the poor fuel mileage. It's comfortable, reliable, super cheap to maintain, and very practical for my needs
billindere@reddit
Shouldnât have clicked on that profile.
Best_Market4204@reddit
LOOOL
patches710@reddit
Fuck you for making me curious
ThirdSunRising@reddit
It does have trucks in it tho đââď¸
billindere@reddit
Thatâs why I clicked lol. âOh I wonder what he drivesâ
goodat_badat@reddit
I almost always go to Arco because itâs the cheapest in my area but usually I go to whatever gas station is on the way home from where I am
kannagms@reddit
There are certain places i avoid because of issues others have had with them.
Walmart gas stations are pretty cheap, but my former coworkers boyfriend filled their car up there and something happened and it fucked their car up (Idk all the details, it's been a few years). Best to stay away, imo.
I pretty much only ever go to Sheetz for gas, and it's because I'll end up saving a lot of money lol. I have the sheetz credit card and the rewards card, so I usually get 10 cents off regardless. But I also go to Sheetz a lot. I normally stop every day before work to grab drinks for the day, get points with the rewards and credit cards. For lunch, I normally get my usual sandwich at a nearby Cafe, but if I switch it up, I'll usually grab something at sheetz, which is just more points.
Plus the app sometimes has additional things like "buy this and earn 15 cents off fuel", and while I don't go out of my way to get whatever it is, it's usually something I'd buy anyways. Like buy 2 monsters, earn 15 cents off fuel. Like cool ok, was gonna do that anyways.
To be perfectly honest, i haven't spent more than 2.50/gallon in years. I only use my points for gas, never for a free drink or cookie or anything. I currently have 1400 points, which is 48 cents off, + 10 cents off with my cards. I also have an additional 40 cents off from the buy this earn xx cents off thing (it was 2 family size bag of doritos, and my brother used my rewards card buying it for a party).
So 98 cents off the gallon, and the nearest sheetz to me is currently 3.19/gallon. So I'll pay 2.21/gallon when I fill up.
(I also get not the plus gas or whatever, I just get what my mechanic told me I should get, which is the cheaper option)
domrosiak123@reddit
I go to Costco every time
LiquidTacoFest@reddit
Same, but I'll use additives as I heard the costco gas doesn't have them.
Organic_Trouble4350@reddit
You heard wrong. Costco gas is "Top Tier", Google it.
LiquidTacoFest@reddit
That's a Shell Oil term, and only on their premium gas line.
3amGreenCoffee@reddit
That's false. Top Tier is a standard for gasoline additives sponsored by the major auto manufacturers. It includes many different brands, and it applies to all octane levels, not just premium.
https://www.toptiergas.com/
LiquidTacoFest@reddit
Thanks for that. My local costco down the hill is NOT listed there.
3amGreenCoffee@reddit
Yes it is.
LiquidTacoFest@reddit
Nope, not mine. This is indicative that not all Costco's meet top tier, as they all have different suppliers.
3amGreenCoffee@reddit
All Costco stores are Top Tier. The entire brand is certified.
If you don't believe it, who cares. Don't buy your gas there.
LiquidTacoFest@reddit
Mine is not listed on that site. Please re-read. I use an additive/cleaner anyway.
3amGreenCoffee@reddit
I read what you said. You're simply wrong again. Their database does not list every single location with Top Tier gas, because listing individual locations is optional. There's no reason for Costco to do that when their entire brand is certified.
LiquidTacoFest@reddit
Mine is not listed on that site. Please re-read. I use an additive/cleaner anyway.
Krimsonkreationz@reddit
âTop tierâ is not just shell, but they are on the list.
HawaiianSteak@reddit
Isn't that some top tier marketing term? I'm gonna google after work.
ClickKlockTickTock@reddit
Costco is definitely comparable to chevron.. texaco is the only brand that beats both afaik
domrosiak123@reddit
Not sure what additives youâre talking about, Costco is top tier
Entire-Flower1259@reddit
I do, too. The savings over other places is well worth the yearly fee. Plus you can get good food and random items there. Iâve also noticed that location matters. The closest Costco to my work is cheaper than the one near my home.
Sh4wnSm1th@reddit
Only buy top tier gas, fuel is all the same, but the additives are what you want. TTG has 5x amount of additives for cleaning your engine. If TTG isn't near enough to you, buy from the busiest station, as that means there is high turnover of gas.
taxeydriver@reddit
I only buy Top Tier Gas.
Chizuru_San@reddit
This. When I was young, I would always go for the cheapest things. Now that I have grown up, I usually choose things that work well without problems, even if they cost a little more than I can afford. Is regular "non-Top Tier gas" going to hurt the car or the fuel filter? I donât knowâmaybe it will, or maybe it wonât. But all I know is that Top Tier gas isnât going to hurt the car because of its fuel quality and it may only cost about $0.10 more per gallon
Ferowin@reddit
Consumer Reports did a test and it showed that top tier fuel reduced engine deposits and cleaned out dirty valves and cylinders. It actually does work.
Unable-Bedroom4905@reddit
That is correct. The 0.1%of additives does make a diff in fuel economy. But you dont always need top tier. I.e. you cant clean something thats already clean. So i do normal fuel most of the time. Only once or twice a year i fill a whole tank of shell vpower to clean the deposits.
TheTightEnd@reddit
Not even Top Tier gas detergents are that effective. A dedicated cleaner, like Techron, should be used occasionally.
Unable-Bedroom4905@reddit
You do you.
ibringthehotpockets@reddit
âCleaning something thatâs already cleanâ is called prevention. I thought similar to you before, but I donât think buying 93 octane twice a year will clean your engine as if youâve been buying it the whole time. I could totally be wrong but Iâm pretty sure thatâs not true. How would you be confirming this without tearing your car apart and inspecting the cylinders?
The one thing that 93 octane gas was definitively proven to not do is raise fuel economy (and if they do, it is a negligible amount) Even though thatâs the biggest advertisement for it. There are so so many articles testing this myth and they all come back with a MPG that was +/- like 10% of the cars original MPG. Unless you have a track and extremely precise ways to brake and accelerate, you canât really prove this yourself. The extra dollar or 80 cents or 50 cents or whatever the price is for the super gas near you would not outweigh the negligible mileage difference in any car. The cleaning? Maybe. Still most manufacturers today recommend standard octane with the standard additives but those reasons are beyond me
ClickKlockTickTock@reddit
Top tier is not correlated to octane at all.
In fact in order to be a top tier gas station, all octanes need to have the same number of additives mixed in. So buying premium will do nothing for a car that isn't built for it.
All octane does is resist pre-detonation, which isn't going to be an issue unless A. Your car was built for a high octane. B. You have small hotspots that barely cause predetonation with regular octane. Or C. You're running a tune.
My E60 requires premium fuel but can use regular in an emergency. I average 22mpg on my daily drive using cruise control with premium. On that same drive (30+ minutes) with cruise control, I get 18mpg at best with regular octane. Use what your manual recommends, except with most fords. The premium tunes on fords are made for performance and not economy. They can use the 0-60 times of premium, but use the estimated gas cost per year of regular fuel. Little deceiving either way.
You can inspect cylinders without tearing the engine apart as well. Spark plug tubes and endoscope cameras.
Unable-Bedroom4905@reddit
I can confirm this because i worked in O&G before. The mpg improvment comes from a cleaner engine, not from the octane number.
prairiepanda@reddit
Anecdotal, but my cat code (P0420) only triggers when I use non-top-tier gas.
ClickKlockTickTock@reddit
Likely have a very slight misfire. Either your car was designed with premium strictly in mind, it has a tune you're unaware of, or there's something slightly wrong with the engine. Usually its a hot spot issue from carbon buildup.
prairiepanda@reddit
Ha, it's an Accord. Definitely not built for premium. I'd expect a misfire to trigger a misfire code, though. I think it's just old and dirty. There are no emissions requirements where I live, so I'm not too concerned about the cat.
Part of me wishes someone would steal it so my insurance will buy me a new one, but the occasional check engine light is only a minor annoyance. If it starts impacting fuel economy then maybe I'll do something about it.
ponyo_impact@reddit
Gas all comes from the same 3 major companies. The brands like Shell and Mobil just add an additive to it. Thats all your paying for
its 99% the same shit. Go ahead and buy Sunoco Super 94 if it makes you feel better
HawaiianSteak@reddit
Where and when are the additives added? I've seen different brand gas delivery trucks load up from gas at the same fuel terminal/tank farm.
ClickKlockTickTock@reddit
This depends on the brand. Some brands have the additives mixed at the factory, and loaded directly onto the fuel truck.
Some brands have a seperate storage tank that injects additives as the fuel truck is filling up the main storage tanks. If its top tier, premium & regular get the same additives (except for the octane determining one). If its not top-tier, brands can change the amount of additives in each mix of octanes.
Some more brands mix it as you pump it, meaning the additives don't ever get added until you start pumping, and it gets added somewhere between the pump and your car.
So the answer is: it varies.
ClickKlockTickTock@reddit
The additives are what matters lmfao. Nobody is saying one brand has a "better" chemical form of petroleum. You're just parroting a talking point without understanding the nuances. It's like saying 90% of any given product is water, and all they're doing is adding stuff to it.
Yes, we know lmfao. Basic ingredients are basic and fundamental to the product.
Except some brands also use more or less ethanol, some brands use a different additive to raise octane, giving a higher yield of petrol or less depending on what octane booster or additves they use, each with varying potency. Varying the potential energy of the gasoline, and therefore the economy and power, even if octane rating stays the same. E85 Fuel would be the econobox fuel of choice if all that mattered was octane.
Everything added together only accounts for +-5% mpg yield due to how close together the different additives used are in terms of efficiency, but they wouldn't be adding additives at all if it didn't help the engine out. I've personally seen the effects of using cheap as dirt gas and using top tier brands. One engine has no carbon buildup at 250k, the other is misfiring at 90k.
robomassacre@reddit
Consumer Reports is not an objective source of info, they are paid by the companies they promote. I thought this was common knowledge.
BLINGMW@reddit
If thereâs a source for this claim, please share.
ClickKlockTickTock@reddit
Source: i made that shit up
Alternatively: I read it on reddit once
Organic_Trouble4350@reddit
Wrong on both points.
Competitive_March753@reddit
They aren't paid by any company
ClickKlockTickTock@reddit
Yessir. Everytime I've gotten a car, I shove a small camera down the spark plug shoots and those pistons always have some buildup on em, but when I run exclusively top tier I've found it really whittles away after 30,000 miles or so of that treatment to practically new. If it's bad enough, I usually run some intake seafoam through it, and that usually jumpstarts the whole procedure super well. I've eliminated knocking from "hot spots" just by doin seafoam and using costco/Chevron gas.
But yes, my anecdote corroborates their findings. I also drive all my vehicles fairly hard if you believe in the rumor of italian tune ups.
HawaiianSteak@reddit
Almost exclusively used ARCO for the first 372k miles of my 504k mile 30 year old car. I don't know if they had good stuff added in. My fuel economy and dyno tested power was pretty much the same no matter what gas brand or octane I used (minimum for my car is 86).
whereisyourwaifunow@reddit
i did something similar with things like toilet paper. i used to get the cheapest 2-ply available, but i often would fold them because they're thin, or use more squares because they're not very absorbent. switched to a "standard" brand and i think the higher cost per square is somewhat made up for with the reduced usage of squares
elangomatt@reddit
Same, I figure it probably doesn't make much of a difference but just in case it does I get the Top Tier gas. I bought my car new about 3 years ago and have only filled up with non-Top Tier at most a dozen times mostly when travelling. In my area the majority of gas station's aren't Top Tier gas but it isn't too far out of the way to get to one. Technically I guess I do have a station a couple blocks from my house but their prices are consistently higher so I don't usually go there.
Electricl-Mood@reddit
U buy marketing and cents cheaper
thodges314@reddit
Literally almost every brand is Top Tier. Look at a list of stations that carry it. All the radio ads for random shitty gas stations advertise their fuel is Top Tier. And then people are like, "I only get Jeremy's Podunk Gas cuz it's Top Tier in my engine!"
KRed75@reddit
The list of companies with top tier certification is only a fraction of the gas stations out there. Most of the others just use the government mandated additive packages.
There is one big company not on the list, BP.  They have their own additive packages that is just as good as if not better than top tier. Â
thodges314@reddit
https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/
When I first saw this list, I couldn't find any gas stations that I knew of that were not on that list.
I see you're right about BP.
There used to be a gas station in my area where I used to live called Road Ranger. They had all these radio ads extolling how they had top tier gasoline. So I decided to find out exactly what top-tier meant. When I found out what it meant, and that just about every gas station in my area had fuel with that designation, I became visibly annoyed whatever I saw someone buying into the advertising and saying they only used Road Ranger because it had top tier gas.
Later I saw/heard other more discount gasoline stations advertising they had top-tier gasoline as if it made them special. I rolled my eyes whenever I saw that.
Independent_Time_322@reddit
This. Thrn they sweat higher octane makes their engines cleaner in their 6k shitbox. No unless you've done wicked mods to your car, or it specifically calla for higher octane don't waste the 30 or 40 cents a gallon.
CanadianDadbod@reddit
This is the answer. Premium is what I use and it does make a difference in performance with my whips.
thodges314@reddit
Top Tier doesn't mean high octane
CanadianDadbod@reddit
93 octane here. Not bad
thodges314@reddit
https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/
ponyo_impact@reddit
It makes sense if your a long term owner. I keep my cars 3-5 years and never more then 70k miles
in my ownership time it doesnt matter. Maybe to the 2nd or 3rd guy but that aint my problem
bilkel@reddit
Which thankfully is what Costco pumps.
TheAncientMadness@reddit
Same. Shell/Mobil in my area.
BigMoneyChode@reddit
I go based on convenience. Is the gas station on the way home from work the cheapest in the area? I don't know, but I don't care to go out of my way so that I pay $30 instead of $31.
Ok-Half8705@reddit
I do it based on convenience and promotions as well. Obviously the station changes depending on where I live. I usually top off at the station next to me which is top tier anyways, or I'll try to time my trip to the next county where it's cheaper and have it as empty as possible if I have to be there anyways. If there's a station when shopping then fill up there. If there's a promotion going on then try and take advantage of that. I even went as far to buy multiple gas tanks for promotions and now my ex has them so I didn't get the chance for the savings to add up past the cost of the containers. I can't grab them either because I currently have no place to safely store filled containers.
StraightSomewhere236@reddit
The difference between the most convenient and a little bit out of the way is a lot more than $1 on average. For me, the difference is around $6 every fill-up, which happens once a week. So driving an extra 10 minutes saves me $312 a year.
BigMoneyChode@reddit
It really isn't like one gas station charges $3 and another one charges $4. It's more like $2.89 vs. $2.91 or something.
StraightSomewhere236@reddit
Wrong. My closest gas station is $3.99, and the costco station 10 minutes away is $3.45. $0.55 a gallon matters bud.
BigMoneyChode@reddit
So if I pay a yearly membership fee, I can wait in a long line for gas to save some money. I also don't have a Costco near me at all. This is literally only good advice if you live near a Costco and it is worth it to pay their membership fee.
StraightSomewhere236@reddit
There are other ways to get just as much savings depending on various factors. Try getting some cash and going to arco for $0.30 less a gallon for example. Or if you shop at safeway, savon, Albertsons, fred Meyer, etc you can get money off already decently priced gas.
There are a ton of ways to do it, I use costco as an example because I already shop there for some things, so it costs me nothing extra to go there for gas. I've also never had to wait that long to fill up.
Instead of immediately poopooing on someone's advice, you try shutting your mouth and wondering "could I be doing things more efficiently, or am I an idiot?"
BigMoneyChode@reddit
I just buy gas with my credit card and get cashback. I don't hyper analyze all of the prices because the savings are absolutely miniscule in the grand scheme of things.
StraightSomewhere236@reddit
$300 less a year is not miniscule.
lemmegetadab@reddit
It is to most people tbh. Thatâs only six dollars a week. Iâd pay six dollars to get home 20 minutes faster. Also most gas stations in the same area are within $.20 of each other. You canât compare a highway Chelle station to some in town no name place.
StraightSomewhere236@reddit
In a time of skyrocketing groceries, housing costs, utilities increases, etc. I'm watching pretty much every dollar I spend. $6, a week saved is a win especially since it's only about 3 minutes out of my way on my drive home
shaynee24@reddit
$2? iâd love to see prices like that. my prices are like $5.29
QuinceDaPence@reddit
They were $1.85 either before or during the earlier part of that-which-will-not-be-named
TheTightEnd@reddit
Always make sure the fuel is top tier. I have a discount card for one brand of gasoline as part of my car purchase, so I use that. Otherwise, I prioritize 93 octane premium.
scottwax@reddit
Always use Top Tier gas, usually at QuikTrip because they usually are less expensive than Shell or Exxon.
yourbrokenoven@reddit
In my experience, the name brand gas stations are the ones who have had the issues with their fuels. Remember the bad Gas at Shell?
Tankline34@reddit
There are gas station brands I avoid because I had issues about their quality in the past, even when they are the cheapest. Among the brands I don't avoid, I choose the least expensive if it's convenient.
me0ww00f@reddit
costco gas is my goto -- usually is the cheapest
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
I'm loyal to kwik trip gas. If there's not one around I'll go to speedway or bp. Caseys and other cheap brands tend to use more ethanol and are more likely to have lower quality fuels, which is fine if you're driving a newer car, but for my cars, I only put in what I know won't cause premature component failure in my fuel system
No_Difference8518@reddit
I go to the gas station that is on the way to where I am going.
tOSdude@reddit
I use the ones that give me a 3c per liter discount.
IllMasterpiece5610@reddit
The minimal fuel saving isnât worth a detour. I buy whatever is closest when I reach 1/4 tank.
BillM_MZ3SGT@reddit
I've been using Sunoco for my fuel needs. Doesn't really matter what the price is. My car seems happier with top tier fuel
rusted17@reddit
Same here. Plus Sunoco tends to be cheapest in ny immediate area
BillM_MZ3SGT@reddit
Just put $31.20 in my tank yesterday. It was $2.99 a gallon
unwantedrefuse@reddit
This is the way. Would rather pay 0.10 more for gas than put bullshit in my engine
BunnyHopScotchWhisky@reddit
Kwik Fill because they're usually cheaper, but sowlmetime Marathon because I get 10¢ off and sometimes they'll be cheaper. Doesn't have to be either, but the stations I like to stop at happen to be one or the other.
cshmn@reddit
Petro Canada, Shell, Chevron and Husky/Esso in Canada. Chevron and Shell in the US. Mostly, I just avoid the no name gas stations out in the country if I can.
BanMeForBeingNice@reddit
You realize they get their gasoline from the same refineries, right?
cshmn@reddit
I do, but the quality of the gasoline when it's dumped into the storage tank is the least of my concern. How quickly does the station go through fuel? When was the last time they changed their filters? What additives are they adding to the fuel on delivery?
FabulousPanther@reddit
Cheap as possible
HawaiianSteak@reddit
Whatever is convenient. Why wait in a long ass line at Costco to save $2 or $3? I used to use ARCO all the time since they take cash at the pump.
Anxious-Depth-7983@reddit
Today's modern engines can handle just about anything and be fine. Thorntons is the best rated detergent fuel and will keep your injection system clean and functioning properly.
Dakessian@reddit
I think itâs best you use one type of brand.
BanMeForBeingNice@reddit
It makes no difference, all comes from a handful of refiners anyhow.
Hambone1138@reddit
Guys, guys, please donât fall for the marketing bullshit (in the U.S. at least).
Despite all the fancy marketing terms, gas is pretty much interchangeable. Gas stations that overcharge for fuel piss me off to no end.
My car gets about 15-20 mpg of 93, and the difference between the cheapest station in my area and the most expensive is more than a dollar per gallon.
If Iâm in a pinch, I will literally buy only enough gas to get me to a cheaper station just out of spite. I drive a high performance car, and have never had an issue with using the less expensive gas.
BanMeForBeingNice@reddit
No kidding, and you literally have no idea where it actually was produced and by whom, because it's totally fungible.
veechene@reddit
I go to the most convenient station on the same side of the road as I'm driving that isn't busy. (They're almost all shell and Irving where I live anyway lol)
537lesjr@reddit
Depends, If I am low on money and need gas I will get the cheap stuff. Though that rarely happens.
Low-Limit8066@reddit
I live in a small town. Like 2 gas stations. I usually use the one closest to my house. But, if Iâm in town (the one 30 minutes away that has all of the stores and restaurants), Iâll use the cheapest in the side of town Iâm in
YTraveler2@reddit
Tier 1 gasoline only. Tier 1 gas has been proven to keep valved cleaner, burn cleaner and cars running tier 1 gas are proven to need less maintenance.
Attarker@reddit
Whatever is closest when the light comes on
x_asperger@reddit
Usually cheapest or least out of the way on my commute. There is a family owned full service station near me that I'll choose to go to sometimes to support them.
maybach320@reddit
Samâs or Costco which ever I am closest to when I need gas. Diesel itâs the cheapest I can find, I have a 40 gallon tank that $.10 difference to drive three stations farther adds up.
ZealousidealDepth223@reddit
Those $4 you save on every fill up must be close to buying you that maybach
maybach320@reddit
Itâs generally a larger gap where I live, I have seen swings as wide as $.65 a gallon if you drive 10 minutes down the road. Itâs really just that it adds up when youâre buying a large volume of fuel.
ElGeeBeeOnlee@reddit
Cheapest that isn't at a place I'm currently refusing to give business to for whatever reason. Like the gas station where the guy accused me of having a fake ID, I'm 35 and balding man wtf I don't need no fake ID. I don't go there. My husband refuses to go to gas stations that have no pumps without annoying ads. Though there is one type of those we have figured out how to mute so we will use those.
JabbaTheHutt12345@reddit
I stick with gas brands because it is the cheapest option since I rack up points and savings.
Inevitable-Plenty203@reddit
Use GasBuddy.com
Electricl-Mood@reddit
If u shop at Ralphâs sheâll is the way to go
sunfries@reddit
Both kinda
I have a hierarchy of gas station brands I prefer to use, but I'll use whichever of those acceptable ones is cheapest at the moment
Illustrious-Mud-6521@reddit
Never had an issue with cheaper supermarket fuel personally.
KRed75@reddit
Only top tier.  The mom and pop and off brand gas stations call around for the cheapest prices. The gas they use only has the bare minimum additives as required by law. The top tier stuff will keep your engine and fuel system much cleaner for only pennies more per gallon. Â
Soeffingdiabetic@reddit
Kwik Trip>.
Only place that consistently carries e85 too
FSBFrosty@reddit
It all comes from the same place, delivered by the same trucks. I use my grocery store because I can get a 15 cent discount on Wednesdays.Â
willyjeep1962@reddit
Cheapest but every now & then Brand Name &/or injector cleaner.
realityinflux@reddit
FWIW, I was once told it was wisest to buy gas only at busy locations since the gas in the underground tanks has less chance of acquiring water and sediment due to the tanks being filled more regularly.
PyleanCow06@reddit
I honestly go wherever is most convenient for me depending on where Iâm going. I usually stick to 3 gas stations though. One of them is a Buc-eeâs. Theyâre competitive with a nearby Samâs Club for gas prices. Then my dad has a savings with Loveâs so I punch in his phone number and get like 10 cents off a gallon. Then thereâs another gas station near my house that Iâll go to if Iâm on my way out on a trip and donât want to go past the interstate for gas then back track lol.
wassdfffvgggh@reddit
Go to whatever gas station is closest to me when I am low on gas.
I usually pay between $35 and $45 based on the gas price (and how empty my gas is). I'm not gonna go through the effort of only goung to specific gas stations just for the sake of saving a few dollars.
Either_One_3105@reddit
I check the facility i am at more than a general bias. I look for any big cracks near where the holding tanks would be. Water inclusion killed my cobalt.
Cheapest for The work truck that gets e85 anywhere. My mustang gets premium with seafoam added each time so i dont really shop around. I only get big truck stop desiel when traveling with my hauling truck or little cruze because you can never trust small town desiel to be fresh.
Shelbelle4@reddit
95% of the time I go to Caseyâs. I have rewards with them. I know their pumps only place a small hold on my card. Their bathrooms are usually reasonably clean and the inside of the gas stations are usually configured the same way.
Unlivingpanther@reddit
I go for whatever is most convenient without being a weird expensive place. Has to be pay at the pump. There's still the old style out there.
Best_Market4204@reddit
meh.
* Just stay away from run down shit places.
Theres a sunoco (top tier gas) always 10 cent cheaper. But their pumps are from 1990, 3/4 only works. 1 wont even take a card, 1 pump not even joking take 2 solid mins to go through the messages.
ponyo_impact@reddit
Sunoco by me is high end lol
new station and the only with 94
ponyo_impact@reddit
I got to whatever is closet to my house or trip
I dont go out of my way for fuel unless im in the racecar and need e85. then i have to.
in my normal car gas is gas. these arent highly tuned race cars LOL. 99% of cars will run fine on any brand regular 87 (assuming your not beating on them).
moistdragons@reddit
I just go to the gas station on the way home from work when I need gas. I donât look at the type or care about the brand.
Digital-Bionics@reddit
Not buying a second hand car from you then.
lepposplitthejooves@reddit
I'm so glad I only buy cheap POS cars, and drive them into the ground.
Hydraulis@reddit
My preference has nothing to do with brand or price, I go to the pumps that are convenient for me.
If you're spending energy thinking about brand or price, you're wasting your time. I save far more by driving efficiently than I ever would by seeking out the cheapest price.
Made_Human76@reddit
I go with the most convenient at the time when Iâm getting to about a quarter tank.
It tends to be the same place since Iâm usually in the same area most of the time but Iâm much more concerned with going to a gas station with enough pumps so thereâs always one open, an easy entrance and exit, and a big enough space that Iâm not fighting with everyone to move.
tamlynn88@reddit
Where I live, there isn't much difference from one place to another so I just go where it's convenient.
Life-Masterpiece-161@reddit
What are the benefits of Top Tier gasoline? Better fuel to help keep you on the road PROTECT. Regular use of TOP TIER⢠will minimize carbon build-up on critical fuel system and engine components. PERFORM. Regular use of TOP TIER⢠helps prevent the loss of critical fuel economy. RESTORE. TOP TIER⢠cleans existing engine deposits after just a few tanks. https://www.toptiergas.com ⺠about-...
squintintarantino__@reddit
I stock up on rewards programs for stations that have it and I usually will get gas from whichever loyalty program is offering the best option. I signed up for Circle K rewards (theyâre already one of the cheapest in my area by like 20-30 cents a gallon) and they give 25 cents off per gal on your first five uses of their rewards. I also will base the decision off of what I need from inside and what the cost of THAT is. Speedway has lots of great rewards, so does Circle K, so theyâre usually where I end up, but I also have a place I like thatâs always cheap. Idk though, I drive a 2007 Toyota Sienna and I think fuel quality is the very least of that vanâs concerns at this point in its life.
Cautious_General_177@reddit
Yes, but for me the same gas station is typically the cheapest as well.
vLT_VeNoMz@reddit
I use the same gas station every time and usually go out of my way to find them when Iâm traveling within their operating range, Sheetz has spoiled me over the years so they have my loyalty. When I leave that area I look for a Wawa and if I do end up driving outside of their operating range I just stop whenever necessary.
Fuel prices usually only differ by a few cents at most between gas stations in the same area (thereâs a ton of regulations in the US that require gas stations to price fuel a certain way) so if youâve got a 40 gallon tank this may be worth looking for cheaper gas, but if youâre only filling up once every two weeks for a 16 gallon tank, the savings will be minimal.
Illustrious-Science3@reddit
I go to the ones that let me use points off/money off per gallon. They're generally the same price or cheaper and then I have my $0.30/gallon or whatever. I get points at the grocery store and at the has station I'm using the points at.
robomassacre@reddit
I always used Sunoco Ultra 94 gas growing up, loved that stuff but they don't make it anymore
mschiebold@reddit
Convenience before price. I'm not going anywhere out of my way for gas even if it saves me 10 cents a gallon. One, I'm impatient, two, idk about the math but I'm not keen on spending more gas to go get gas.
signol_@reddit
UK: cheapest. It all comes from the same refinery (there's about 4 refineries in the country, each serves an area. Source: friend works in BP head office). I usually buy from Tesco or Asda.
South Africa: makes zero difference as price is set by government on a per province basis. So name brand fuel stations in suburban areas (I've never seen a supermarket brand fuel station) cost the same as a freeway rest stop.
SignificantEarth814@reddit
In the UK and most of Europe, the gas at different stations comes from the exact same wholesaler. Yes the stations add their own proprietary additives to mix, but these additives make no noticible difference to the performance of the engine. There are two exceptions:
1) Ethanol. Forgetting the fact that it ruins older cars, ethanol contains less energy than petrol. Your car literally travels less far when burning 5% Ethanol. Its not 5% less, but there are calculators online to figure out exactly how much, and usually, like 9 times out of 10, the "cheaper" fuel with ethanol is less value for money than the expensive 100% petroleum fuel. Note than Biodiesel (I.e. B7, B15, B50, B100) is similar, in that biodiesels contain less energy per Litre/Gram, but biodiesel is also much less polluting so you do actually get something good there.
2) injector cleaning additives in diesel are also generally worth it, at least if applied periodically, although its ALWAYS cheaper to go into the store and buy a bottle of concentrated additive and add it to your fuel yourself before you start filling up. The cap of the bottle usually works as a measuring cup. Just don't get that crap on your hands, takes ages to wash out and stinks.
michaelpaoli@reddit
Used to go for the cheapest. After getting a quart of water from the pump in with the gasoline, after that, no more going for cheapo gas stations - only major known brands after that - and mostly just stuck with one.
Alas, someone I knew got about a quart of sawdust from one cheap place.
SabreToothKyatt@reddit
I just go to the closest gas station. I only fill up every 2 weeks ish and it's usually only about $30. Maybe $40 if I'm on Empty
JoeCensored@reddit
Here in California the state mandates a special formula of gasoline available nowhere else in the world. Only 2 refineries produce it. That means that every gas station in the state is delivering the exact same gasoline. So there's no point to paying more for a name brand.
It's also why our gasoline is so much more expensive than most of the country.
OrphanKripler@reddit
Go to any major brand. Itâs all the same gas just with extremely minor difference in detergents and amounts of detergents.
Just donât go to a shady mom and pop station. They could add water or whatever to stretch out their supply. Stay away especially if they have their own garage. Mess up your engine then oh how convenient they got a repair shop attached and will further ruin your car.
ChangingMonkfish@reddit
Tend to stick with Shell because I can pay through the app
kevMcalister@reddit
Costco always. If I had to choose another, Shell. Top tier gas that gets refreshed often so old gas/poor quality gas. Cheaper than anywhere else most of the time. Also rated as one of the best fuels up there with Shell and all its additives
I avoid rink a dink turban stations like a lot of Sinclairâs. I avoid small town middle of nowhere as well ( I use premium 93 and can assume itâs old gas because nobody buys premium in the middle of nowhere tweeker country areas)
Hopfit46@reddit
I work in pipeline maintence. All the gas comes down the sane pipeline and most of it refined at the same refinery
Appropriate-Food1757@reddit
Neither. The easiest one. Like Iâm not gonna take a left for 4 cents a gallon less.
NotYetReadyToRetire@reddit
We usually just fill up at Kroger - fuel points from grocery shopping means we usually pay $1 less than the pump prices.
Creative_Boot35@reddit
I only use shell 87
FluffySoftFox@reddit
I've honestly never really noticed a difference in my vehicle regardless of where I get the gas from so I usually just go with whatever's cheapest
mildlysceptical22@reddit
I use the two closest gas stations, one east and one west of me, depending on where Iâm going. Weâre paying $4.50 and up for gas around here in north San Diego county.
Costco is cheaper, but the pumps are packed all day every day. It takes a half hour to save 20 cents a gallon and most people are leaving the engines running while they wait. Zero miles per gallon..
tacitjane@reddit
I go to the cheapest on my route. Tonight it was $4.19 per gallon if you pay in cash.
LordKai121@reddit
I have a 20 year old accord and a 20 year old Tacoma. I'm buying the cheap shit.
stevenmacarthur@reddit
Around home, I stick pretty loyally to KwikTrip; since I have a Rewards+Credit card, I get 3 cents off per gallon automatically - and as convenience stores go, they're pretty top rate, so I can pick up a few things while I'm there.
If I'm on a road trip, I'll try to find chains that have something I know about and like, and plan for those.
ElectronicInitial@reddit
I always purchase Top Tier Gas, but most brands are. https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/ This page has all of the brands, and even most of the cheap options are listed. I donât go to the same one all the time, though itâs usually Fred Meyer or Loves based on their pricing when I fill up.
Imaginary-Round2422@reddit
I work for the of the companies, so I stick with them when I can. Otherwise, I go with whatâs convenient. Saving a buck or two isnât worth going out of my way for.
Reddittoxin@reddit
The prices are never really different enough near me to justify going out of my way to another one. Like sure gas might be 3 cents cheaper across town but by the time I drive over there I've wasted more than that.
I don't have brand loyalty either, I go to whatever station is on my way to my destination and/or is easiest to get in and out of. There is this one station that usually is cheaper than the others, but it's such a nightmare to get out of I'm like "is it worth risking my life to use?". Occasionally I'll do it, but usually I'll pay a little extra to not try and do an unprotected left turn across 6 lanes of traffic.
extremelight@reddit
Cheapest and trusted. Usually thats a Costco.
noldshit@reddit
I have always driven average joe cars which are happy with average joe gas. I use whatever.
Ferowin@reddit
I do neither. I look for places with reasonable prices on top-tier fuel. No sense driving all over town to save a few pennies.
KUweatherman@reddit
I go to places with ethanol free gas only.
Naikrobak@reddit
Same truck delivers to Shell and the local Get and Shit. I know this because I work in the oil and gas industry, there are only a handful of refineries to get fuel from. Itâs all the same.
Kdoesntcare@reddit
Getting gas at little no name gas stations is more of a risk of getting dirty gas.
Our local grocery store gives you a discount on their gas with their loyalty program so that's where we go for gas.
waverunnersvho@reddit
I typically like to fill up at the same place because itâs locally owned. I buy diesel at a different place sometimes because they have DEF on tap.
warrenjr527@reddit
I still frequent the major brands in my area such as Mobil and Sunoco, whichever is cheaper and convenient depending where I am heading. I do this out of old habit because I can't get myself to trust the off brands. Back in my early days of driving in the 70's and 80's poor quality gas would cause pre-dentination ping and the engine to run on for a couple seconds after I shut it off. It was known some unscrupulous dealers would dilute the gas with water, which affected engine performance. That is why I developed preference. Old habits die hard. Much of that has been cured by computer controlled ignition. Also the fact that gasoline formulation is closely regulated for emissions requirements where you are driving. So the fact is there is very little difference between the various brands of gas today. I know some doubt this, but think about this; when was the last time you heard or saw a commercial for gasoline? They used to fill the airways saying their brand was the best. It provided the best fuel mileage, best performance, more power, and cleanest operations. I remember them from the 60' - 70' but they were on well before that. But No more Really the only difference is the octane rating.
Raptor_197@reddit
I stick mostly with the same brand, but Iâm not like scared to get others, I just try to go to the same gas station near my home.
But really anything is fine besides BP.
Npucks@reddit
Costco is the closest gas station to my house so I bought a membership solely for gas and Itâs usually the cheapest around. I rarely need to go any where else but if I do I just go wherever.
Mammoth_Pack_6442@reddit
Cheapest. It doesn't matter the brand. How drive matters more than the brand you use
Logical-Appeal-9734@reddit
I tend to either use Arco or Costco for my gas needs. Never had an issue with either of them. Quality is not usually a concern since any gas station has to sell fuel that meets minimum SAE and Federal requirements. The only thing that changes from station to station is the additive package for cleaning the engine.
TheDutchTexan@reddit
Shell only if I can help it. Current day direct injection engines like the one in my Passat donât like cheap gas.
Pressman4life@reddit
Costco with a Costco Citi card, 4% back on gas. There's two on my way to work, whichever is cheaper that day. Typically .30 to .50 cheaper than anything else.
jordan31483@reddit
I go to Circle K more often than anywhere else, both because it's convenient and because I get rewards thru DoorDash.
I will fill up at Sam's on the occasional trip over there. Never Costco unless there's no line. I'd rather pay more than sit in line for 30 minutes.
Odd-Statistician-457@reddit
I am fortunate that there is an Exxon gas station across the street from me, in a nice area that is open 24/7 and is on priority power âwe are next to a hospitalâ, I use that station 99% of the time because it is convenient, well lit, relatively safe and I have the Exxon app which allows me to activate the pump without using my credit card, which adds a little bit of protection from theft. Even though I drive a 2008 Highlander V6 base model, I always use top tier fuels and for Exxon I will only use premium instead of midgrade or regular, because of the extra cleaning agents in the fuel. I get outstanding fuel economy with my Highlander, because the engine rarely sees over 3000 RPMs. Your gas mileage is heavily influenced by RPM speed of the engine, which is totally controlled by the driver.
SuperSathanas@reddit
Probably need the extra detergents what with all of that incomplete combustion due to using too high of an octane in the worst case. In the best case scenario, your engine is adjusting timing to compensate for the octane, which means you're wasting fuel and leaving performance and efficiency on the table, as well as wasting money when you could just run some fuel system cleaner through every so often. If it's really running better on higher octane, your shit is already gunked up full of carbon deposits.
Odd-Statistician-457@reddit
I have a lot of free time and resources. I even have an âon callâ mechanic for my cars. We have driven around and watch via his laptop the fuel to air ratio as well as the injector duty cycle percentage.
As I said before, all of my vehicles are extremely well-maintained since this is basically a hobby for me. When the spark plugs were replaced at the 200K mile mark, we inspected everything, which looked to be in really great shape for its age & mileage.Â
As always, each to their own.Â
SuperSathanas@reddit
Fuel/air ratio shouldn't need to change at all, because that remains the same regardless of octane. Duty cycle also most likely stays the same or at least very close. The main difference should be in valve timing, allowing the slower burning higher octane fuel more time to burn. Without the ability of the engine to adjust compression via a variable stroke length, you get none of the benefit of that higher octane. If you baby your vehicles, then they most likely stay in great shape regardless of octane. You'd just be wasting money for the benefit of any added detergents that you could add yourself for much less.
Odd-Statistician-457@reddit
Like many others, I have ran the numbers using different apps and if I use regular I will have to fill up 3 times during 1 work week and if I use premium I only fill up once. There is a decent mpg bump for me. Â At the end of the day, cost is of no concern to me, I just enjoy running the numbers and formulas that I use on my Excel spreadsheets to track maintenance and repairs on my cars.Â
As always, each to their own.Â
RetiredBSN@reddit
Top Tier gasoline is recommended by Toyota and probably other auto manufacturers as well, because it contains detergents that help keep your engines clean. Costco sells Top Tier, and some other chains do as well (Kwik Trip in Wisconsin is one). Costco is often 10-20 cents/gallon cheaper than nearby gas stations, and if you use their Citi credit card you get another 4% back (that applies to the first 6000 gallons bought anywhere, not just at Costco).
I prefer to gas up at Costco when I can, but I've been known to stop at other major chains if there's no Costco around, and Buc-ees is always a fun place to stop.
canadas@reddit
The closest when I decide I need gas
Waveofspring@reddit
I donât even go with the cheapest option I just go to the first one near me
M8NSMAN@reddit
Kroger & Thorntonâs are my regular because of the additional discounts I get from them.
Ok-Pea3414@reddit
I fill up every 2 weeks. Except for the two fillings I've done, all were from the same Sam's club.
bart_y@reddit
Cheapest option that isn't out of the way. I'd have to drive an extra 6-7 miles out of the way to get the cheapest gas around here. But I have an EV so about the only time I buy gas is when I need to pull the trailer for the Scout troop. So maybe once a month at most.
In 30 years of driving I've only gotten one bad tank of gas. Brand really doesn't matter if you drive frequently enough.
noburdennyc@reddit
Filling up 13 gallons if there is a 10 cent difference is $1.30 over 350 miles. I usually just stop where is most convenient at the time. Usually its a much smaller difference like 3 cents.
FutureHendrixBetter@reddit
It depends i basically just go based on convenience, I sometimes go to Costco or Samâs since theyâre one of the lowest sometimes but I hate waiting in those lines so I usually go to either BP, Shell, Exxon, Sunoco etc
Legal-Law9214@reddit
I go to whatever gas station is the least out of my way.
bradgel@reddit
I stick with brand names. BP shell etc. but I always save the last two receipts. My car needs 89 and if there are any issues at least I can look back and see where the gas came from.
Side note, be aware gas buddy does collect telemetric data on your driving habits and does sell it to insurance companies tied to you directly. They actually score your driving habits based on that app. Skeptoid.com has a good look in to it
CPSFrequentCustomer@reddit
My mechanic suggested Chevron so I go there most of the time, with Shell as a back-up.
Past-Apartment-8455@reddit
I use 93 octane in mine so my choices are limited.
ChickenXing@reddit
I fill up at lowest priced among brands the offer Top Tier gas (Conoco, Phillips 66, 76 Shell, QuikTrip, Exxon, Mobil, Chevron, etc). You know it when you see this sticker on the pump like this - https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lED5uX2oTK4/maxresdefault.jpg
Raevyn_6661@reddit
I tend to go to ARCO or AM/PM. I try to go to Costco but sometimes I get there too late or the line is just way too long lmao
ChickenXing@reddit
I generally fill up at lowest priced among stations with Top Tier gas. You know it when you see this sticker on the pump like this - https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lED5uX2oTK4/maxresdefault.jpg
SquareSurprise3467@reddit
The cheapest save for Mijer. Mijer gas turns on my check engine light for a different fuel related problem each time I've made the mistake of going there. Clears up the moment i cycle through the gas.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
I typically go to a local Kroger or go to a Maverik. While I donât get too picky with the brands there are a few places I wonât go because I have gotten shit gas. Â