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Hi all.
Just need some answers here.
I have been running cheap gas in my cars for over 3 years now because the premium brands are anywhere from $.30 to $.35 more expensive ($3.21 for Arco vs. $3.53 for Shell and $3.45 for Chevron). I can’t really afford to run the more expensive gas, but haven’t had any trouble with the Arco gas, despite everyone I talk to (mechanics and laypersons) cursing it as poison for my car 👿 . I will say the cheap gas from 7-11, Astro, and others is horrible.
I can’t tell a difference between the premium brands and the Arco either. No change in mileage or performance. However, I can tell a slight difference in my wife’s car as it has a higher-compression motor than my Subaru. I only run 87 octane, as premium 89 and 92 octanes for the others are near as makes no difference $4 a gallon :dry: When you drive over 300 miles in 2 weeks, it adds up.
Is it bad for the engine/fuel system? I occasionally run a fuel system treatment through it (Lucas upper cylinder lube) and it works fantastic.
Thanks for the input!
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There’s plenty of cars made to run on regular grade gasoline. So, when shopping for your next vehicle that is something that should be part of your buying equation. As for the vehicles you have now they should be operated on the grade of gasoline the maker recommends. Doing otherwise can shorten the life of the engine.
As for gasoline brands it is like asking what is the best oil – everyone has an opinion. I say, if your engine likes it – good enough.
Don’t I wish I could run cheap, low octane gasoline! In the misses’s vehicle just about anything works. In mine if its not low or no ethanol 91 or better its not going to work worth a dam. Knocks and Pings till the cows come home, retards the timing back so far its weak as a child, and if you continue on like that the carbon build up is un real.
On road trips I keep a bottle of octane booster in the trunk in case I have to fill up at el cheapo gas station.
It isn’t the cheap gas that is bad but the station owner not maintaining the tanks and pumps properly. That and the god awful ethanol they put in it.
Thanks guys.
Yah, ethanol isn’t good. It destroys older car’s fuel systems, any car from 1901 up to 1980 when CAFE said there has to be less smog. All ethanol does is add oxygen to the fuel to help it burn cleaner (alcohol burns very clean).That’s it.
As far as gas/grade/octane, yes, run what the manufacturer recommends. Most all modern cars can run on 87 and be fine due to the knock sensor, but some, especially turbo/super charged and high performance engines, need premium 92 octane to prevent detonation.
So, i’ll keep running Arco. Summer’s around the corner and they start tweaking the fuel formulas to reduce smog here, which makes it like salad oil.
Thanks again.
It’s likely that the cheap fuel was supplied by a major oil company. As long as you use the octane rating for your car you shouldn’t have a problem.
I use the cheapest gas I can find but I always buy from a busy location. That way I know I’m always getting fresh gas.
[quote=”wysetech” post=90605]
I use the cheapest gas I can find but I always buy from a busy location. That way I know I’m always getting fresh gas.[/quote]
That’s the best advice I’ve ever read.
Idk, cuz… I always run Sunoco in my vehicles and can’t report any problems. I feel like I get better mileage, as long as I don’t lay into the throttle as much. Something about Sunoco, seems like it burns slower than other brands.
Honestly, and I’m ready for the flaming to begin, gas is gas. If you’ve ever been to a distribution center you see all the tankers there at one time filling from the same source. Exxon, Sunoco, BP, etc. then they dump their proprietary additive package in and that’s that. Pretty fascinating to see. I second the using a busy station and that poorly maintained and old in ground tanks are usually to blame. I had a family member in the industry who let me see those secrets firsthand.
The video is worthwhile because of its great animations with color and modern engine design.
However the explanation about octane is for the most part incorrect. I won’t take the time to write an essay, but here are a few sentences with the right vocabulary that can get you reading in the right direction. Eric has described pre-iginition, and not detonation. Virtually all of detonation the we encounter is “end gas” explosion which comes well after the spark. However, some forms of pre-ignition can lead to end gas detonation.
I too agree that “gas is gas” as far as brands, but to try to use a busy station so you get fresh gas. I travel quite a bit and can’t be brand loyal to any particular station as it can be miles away. I use strictly 87 regular in all my vehicles (excluding my jetski) because that’s all they call for, but I also usually throw in fuel system cleaner every 6 months or so just in case I got a bad batch along the way but so far so good.
DFRanger and Wysetech, I only go to busy stations, and the stations that are busiest around here are….drumroll….Arco stations banana: Yes, they are well-maintained. I catch the fuel delivery guy (it’s BP, by the way) filling up the tanks as customers are filling theirs during the day. Very busy, I have to wait in line sometimes. For the record, their 89 octane is as cheap as Shell and Chevron’s regular, and their 92 is as cheap as the latter’s mid grade. That said, it’s a matter of preference. Some like chocolate covered strawberries, some like chocolate covered bananas, and some are happy with them plain. I see no reason to run anything other than 87 in your car unless it’s turbocharged or supercharged, or high compression and prone to detonation/knocking. You wouldn’t run 87 in a Nissan GTR, Blown 69 Chevelle, or Ferrari 458.
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