Jon Y

Shell? Chevron? Mobile?

And why.

Hothonda

Costco.....works just fine & $4.04/gal premium a couple days ago (5/18/13 WA State).

I used to be a snob & get only top tier, but I notice (feel) -0- difference.

Just my opinion.

ArashApollo

I personally think Shell and Chevron are the best. Nothing that special with ExxonMobil additives, but they are still top tier. And those additives are not bs btw, they actually do add / enrich their gas at refining stations.

John's 991

I had a friend who works in refining tell me that Chevron does have the best additives, and that 76 and Shell are also very good. He worked for Chevron, but had lots of specific information to support the argument, but I don't recall the details. The more generic stations have less and/or lower quality additives and detergents, and that if used regularly can result in dirty injectors and such.

I have seen other articles by car manufacturers that do recommend what they call "Top Tier" gas, such as Chevron, 76, Shell, Exon, etc. because of the greater quantity and presumed quality of what they put in the gas.

Personally, I try and use one of those three as often as I can, but if I need to put in a tank of something generic once and awhile, I don't lose sleep over it. But I would not use generic gas all the time, even if the car runs fine on it given the potential for a dirtier engine down the road.

I would also hazard a guess that the additional additives do not cost much more to add, given their concentrations, so are profitable for their refiner, but in my mind add enough value to pay the extra $0.10 to $0.20 cents extra they cost around here.

kes7u

I try to use one of these whenever possible:

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

Cogito_Ergo_Zoom

I try to use Shell as much as possible, but I don't think it's an earth-shattering decision in any sense.

Fifth Gear did a recent comparison FWIW.

kes7u

Regarding the Fifth Gear test, I do not search out Top Tier gasolines in search of power gains. I'm hopeful that the additives will be better for the engine in the long run.

kosmo

i use shell, as i like their commericals the best.

rnl

I miss Esso. Yeah, it's a dirty oil company but they had that Tiger and they gave away drinking glasses and road maps; every station looked like a small white tiled shrine too..and Ethyl was $0.359 a gallon....ahhh, the old days....then again, i was driving a 1966 VW with 50 hp back then....

Cogito_Ergo_Zoom

Every time I pull up the pump I think, "Good enough for Alonso, good enough for me." Simple minded fool I am.

I was living overseas for 11 years up until a few months ago, so an Esso sign has been a very familiar sight for me. My first car was an eggshell white 68 Beatle (loved that thing), punctuated by two Hondas, now back the VeeDub family.

Jon Y

Do you guys always put in premium? (keep in mind I'm leasing the car for 27 months) If it's not going to make a difference to the engine's health AND performance, I would like to go for the medium or cheapest grade.

I used to put the cheapest in my 3 series lease. Didn't have a problem with it but of course, not sure what happens 10 years down the line....

I'm gonna just stick to the Mobile gas station nearest to my house. It's supposedly a "top tier" gas company based on that link kes7u provided.

Thanks!

neanicu

It is mandatory to use premium in these cars!

rnl

Sunoco Ultra (93) or Exxon Mobil 93 only.
the gas is the cheapest part for the car.

Jon Y

Haha ok didn't know. Car is arriving in 2 months or so! Don't worry, no damage has been done (yet )

jlanka

just wondering what the compression is on the 3.8 liter?