Is it only really Top Tier gas if it's labeled?

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nomdeplu71@reddit

Google “top tier gas”. This will give you a list of companies whose gas meets the Top Tier requirements across all octane levels.

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I think what OP is saying though is that some gas stations across the same company, say shell for example, don’t have the sticker on their pumps labeling it “Top Tier”. I’ve experienced the same at Arco for example

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

Not necessarily the same company but I can go to the top tier site and even though two places are both noted on the site as top tier, one will have it labeled and the other doesn't do I'm just wondering why and if maybe the one that isn't labeled really isn't top tier?

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PinkGreen666@reddit

You can report a missing sticker on toptiergas.com/contact-us/

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7eregrine@reddit

Just go to the official one: https://stationfinder.toptiergas.com/

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outline8668@reddit

Top Tier is a trademarked marketing name. If the fuel companies pay they are allowed to call their gas Top Tier. If they don't pay, they can't.

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

Okay that makes sense. Not sure where you are at but I can go to Meijer for example and it says Top Tier. I go to Sunoco and even though everything I see says it's too tier, I see no mention of it at the pump.

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Tony-cums@reddit

So one random Joe says it’s a pay to play only and really no difference and you just believe him?

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WillieMakeit77@reddit

Two random schmoes. You can look at the fuels SDS and see a little about what’s going on with it as far as its detergents go.

But it indeed is a “pay to play.” Top Tier is not a type of fuel. It’s a certification program. It’s not mandatory and it’s not free. They’re paying to be able to have the logo. It’s usually more expensive because they’re passing a little of the cost of the certification along to the consumer.

FWIW I don’t think that there really are any detergents in gas that can withstand combustion chamber temperatures. A detergent that can is really the only thing that has a fighting chance at cleaning the top of the pistons, which are the only things gas comes in contact with in a direct injection engine. Polyetheramine is a detergent used in fuel injection cleaners and it can withstand combustion chamber temps. However, its cleaning ability is fairly minute. You have to remember that the Top Tier program came out in 2004, and back then direct injection engines weren’t a mainstream thing. Back then port injection is what everything was running. With port injection engines the fuel sprays on the intake valves which can keep the valves clean. But you’re peeing in the wind if you’re trying to clean a direct injection engine. The detergents are getting exploded before they have a chance to clean.

Don’t fear the non tier.

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la-fours@reddit

Testing seems to indicate otherwise..

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/fuel-economy-efficiency/top-tier-gasoline-worth-the-extra-price-a7682471234/

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WillieMakeit77@reddit

Did you see the picture of the intake valves that they used in the test?

Guess what? Direct injection engines don’t spray gas on the intake valves. Therefore the fuel can’t clean the valves. In a direct injection engine which is pretty common place these days the fuel is sprayed into the combustion chamber where it is combusted immediately before it gets a chance to clean.

Top Tier came out in ‘04 when fuel was still being sprayed on to the intake valves. But today top tier a moot point.

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

Are you gonna provide differing information? Can you explain why one gas station has it labeled and the other doesn't even though they are both supposed to have it?

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Vegetable_Sample7384@reddit

The criteria for Top Tier qualification is on their website. So really you just have the commenters word versus what Top Tier says.

One is open to liability and potentially millions of dollars in litigation. The other is a random anonymous guy on Reddit.

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Tony-cums@reddit

Have to spoonfeed everyone the information, apparently.

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

Except you aren't. You're just bad mouthing the information others provide 🤷‍♂️

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

Yes, I understand all of that. The question still remains why is one labeled and the other not?

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DoobieGibson@reddit

they could have gotten new pumps and they just forgot to put it on there

they also might have a company policy only certain shit can go on the pumps

it could be a million different things for each station

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ClickKlockTickTock@reddit

Because the companies are responsible for advertising it? The requirement to be top tier doesn't include disclosing your gas is top tier.

If a brand doesn't want to advertise it they don't have to. Most folks don't even know what top tier is.

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

I have no idea this is why I'm asking.

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bridgetroll2@reddit

Walmart fuel stations and Mobil have gas delivered from the same truck. One of them says "Top Tier" on the pumps and costs 25% more. Just because a company doesn't pay to use the Top Tier trademark doesn't mean the gas is lesser quality.

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Scott43206@reddit

Miejer is super consistent with the stickers in my area.

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

Yeah idk lol I'm just trying to get some answers and people act weird. Thanks for the comment though

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gettin-hot-in-here@reddit

every brand that is certified as top tier (using the toptiergas.com list of brands) is top tier at all of their stations.

for example, every single shell or sunoco station meets the detergent content requirements for Top Tier, whether they have any stickers or not. Same for Conoco, shell, Exxon/Mobil or any brand that Top Tier has listed on their site.

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7eregrine@reddit

https://stationfinder.toptiergas.com/

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False-Elk9564@reddit

Garbage. This is something big Toyota would want me to believe along with 10k oci

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Supramantis@reddit

Such a regarded statement and not even applicable to what OP asked

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PinkGreen666@reddit

Not true. They have to adhere to a certain standard of additive package. If they don’t, they cannot be certified “Top Tier”.

You can even report a missing sticker on a pump at a station that is supposed to be “Top Tier”: https://www.toptiergas.com/fuel-stations/

From my understanding, a particular brand has to adhere to “Top Tier” gas quality across all locations. So like an Arco for example can’t have a single station that doesn’t sell “Top Tier” gas.

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GeriatricSquid@reddit

They also meet certain required minimums on detergents and additives. It’s not just a sticker they bought for the pump.

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smokingcrater@reddit

Ive lost track of the number of times ive had to explain this! It could be called "bobs gas additive package." But they are marketing geniuses, naming it tip tier makes people think it must be, well, top tier.

(I have zero actual knowledge of the quality of that additive package vs others, just commenting on the naming...)

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ZaphodG@reddit

Top tier is just the additive package they dump in the tank of the fuel truck when they fill it. The cheapest no-name gas station sells gasoline from the same giant storage tank.

If you care, run a tank of gas with fuel additive before your oil change. Techron. BG 44K.

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King_Forrest@reddit

Basically, Sunoco gas is Sunoco gas, Exxon is Exxon. But the individual pumps and whatnot are independedtly owned and operated. So the lack of a sticker or sign is down to neglect/oversight by the store owner.

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tandyzmills@reddit

Gas is gas is gas.

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Hour-Regular-1983@reddit

I rely on this to find top tier gas. I never really look at the labels on the pump.

https://stationfinder.toptiergas.com

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

Yeah that's what I do as well but I was just wondering if it has to say top tier at the pump as well? I can do to 2 different locations listed on the site and one says top tier at the pump and the other doesn't so that's why I was asking.

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Ok_Musician_6769@reddit

I actually asked that question on the Top Tier site because Marathon gas stations on Fort Bliss, TX where I work don't have the Top Tier Logo on the pumps but Marathon is one of the stations on the Top Tier site. The reply I got was that Marathon is a Top Tier gasoline whether or not the logo was on the pumps or not, so I would think that would apply to other gas station brands.

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WoodenNet8388@reddit

I never realized how lucky I was with top tier gas stations until I saw this map. Seems like 95%+ of the stations around me are top tier, unless that’s the normal everywhere in the country.

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A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot@reddit

I've looked into this before. The answer is that some do have the sticker on the pump and some don't. So, yeah, you do need to check online if you don't see the sticker.

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SpaceCat72@reddit

Yes, it is supposed to be labeled.

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Alternative-Way4750@reddit (OP)

So I've been getting scammed thinking it's top tier when it really isn't?

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SpaceCat72@reddit

It should be labeled on the pump. If unsure, go into the store and ask. And ask for paperwork as well.

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WillieMakeit77@reddit

I wouldn’t sweat it really. If it’s a GDI engine there isn’t much for the gas to “clean” anyway since it doesn’t get sprayed on the valves. Realistically how well fuel clean the tops of the cylinders while it’s being combusted?

If it’s not a GDI engine I still wouldn’t sweat using non “top tier” gas. No one is selling backwoods home brew fuel. All fuels have detergents in them these days, which is what is what is suppsed to make fuel that have the Top Tier certification “better.” The Top Tier program is a “pay to play” program. Fuel companies decide to pay to have their fuel tested by the Top Tier guys in order to have the certificate. They then pass the certification fee onto the consumer. A gas that isn’t Top Tier certified doesn’t mean that it’s “bad gas.” It just means that they didn’t pay the Top Tier people for the certification.

I’ve never ever had a fuel related problem due to where I bought gas.

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anyusernaem@reddit

QuikTrip is Top Tier and it even displays it at the pump.

Is Quiktrip gas good?

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Wade1217@reddit

I have never heard of “top tier” fuels. Only a range of octane ratings with the highest octane fuel available being the “top tier”. Is this a European thing?

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ShadowOfTheBean@reddit

Nah, US.

Check out the links that were posted.

I understood it to mean their gas meets additional quality standards but some dude in the comments is claiming it's a racquet.

Idk

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Wade1217@reddit

The first time I checked the link nothing showed up for my zip code. This second time I searched it shows two Exxon stations within 5 miles. I have still never previously heard of “top tier” connected with a marketing strategy for gasoline sellers. I always pump premium from the cheapest station. I stopped buying anything from Exxon 30 years ago after the way they handled their oil tanker spills at the time. The cheaper premium fuel has never had any adverse effects on my turbocharged cars that I am aware of. Lower octane fuels do cause knocking in my engines though so I stopped going that cheap…

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business_estate8647@reddit

no, this is american. a few car makers got together and realized that the epa mandated gas aditives werent enough and so they went and partnered with certain gas makers to come up with better standards hence the top tier was born. its just fuel with more detergents and additives to prevent engine issues due to carbon build up.

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dg8882@reddit

Almost every gas station in your area is sourcing the base gasoline from the same place, different brands just put it different additives that make it more or less expensive. Just because one station didnt pay for the "top tier" branding doesnt mean the gas is any different.

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rolph4@reddit

It also doesn't mean it's the same though. There are some well known brands that meet or exceed the top tier standards (e.g. BP) but don't want to pay the fees, but there are also the ultra-cheap local gas stations that don't necessarily meet or even come close to top tier standards.

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scrappybasket@reddit

No

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pcny54@reddit

For those that may not know, Top Tier gas is regular fuel blended with a higher concentration of engine cleaning detergent additives than the minimum government standard. It continuously cleans your engine's critical parts, which prevents carbon buildup, maximizes fuel economy, and lowers emissions. It's not octane specific but it is gas station specific.

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