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Top tier gas is a certain quality standard of the additive package (detergents) added to the gasoline. It’s got nothing to do with the octane rating. Here is a list of the gasoline retailer that claim to be selling fuel that meets top tier standards:
[quote=”Fopeano” post=131825]Top tier gas is a certain quality standard of the additive package (detergents) added to the gasoline. It’s got nothing to do with the octane rating. Here is a list of the gasoline retailer that claim to be selling fuel that meets top tier standards:
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html%5B/quote%5D Correct and excellent list. I use Shell, Sunoco, and Mobil myself in that order. Top tier gas is Chevron, Shell, Sunoco and Mobil in my opinion.
But is it necessary? My problem is there are only a couple stations in that list in my town and none are near me at all, LOL!
Being that additives are what make top tier gas what it is, there’s no reason that you couldn’t buy lesser gasoline and put your own additives in it. To answer your other question, recommended doesn’t mean necessary. It only means that’s what you need to do to get the best performance from the vehicle in general. You might have issues way down the road with decreased performance or maybe a CEL from carbon buildup in the combustion chambers or on the port side of the valves, but it’s not going to cause any sudden problems (aside from ethanol separation if the station sells cut-rate fuel that is old).
Unfortunately I don’t know enough to tell you what to buy from an auto parts store that would substitute for top tier standards. Top tier standards are all about deposit control, so that would be the type of product to go after if you want to keep your truck running it’s best in the long run. If you’re leasing or know you’ll trade it in before the powertrain warranty expires, neglecting this now will be more likely to affect the next owner than you.
Well, I had to find the nearest station to work because I was riding on E lol! I just used one of the 2 main stations I always use. It was the first fill up in my new truck!
I have used Techron in the past to help clean things up. I usually add it when I change the oil. I am going to check around town and see who has top tier gas and how the price compares to what I am usually using.
Techron is good stuff. Basiclly, it’s Chevrons additive package on the shelf. I am of the belief that if you regularly add Techron and avoid stations that sell stale/old gas that has partially separated as Fopeano said can happen, you should be fine. Also, a little tip if you see the gas truck there at the station you could be getting the fuel at the bottom of the tank from the pump. Always try to avoid a station that has the gas truck there at the time.
The Techron fuel additive contains a poly(ether) amine detergent for removing carbon deposits. Some fuel cleaners, like Techron and Gumout Regane, use PEA in higher quantities for cleaning the fuel system.
Mechanic in a bottle, liquid ring, engine restorer, blah ! Good quality fuel hasn’t been available since 1983. Chevron may put Tide in their gas or whatever, but it doesn’t do much. Funny thing, his avatar is a Grand national symbol. Only way to get those to run on high boost or any high boosted application for that matter is to use METHANOL injection. Big brother hates us ! Pump gas supporting only about 9.5 compression or around 9 lbs of boost doesn’t hack it.
[quote=”andrewbutton442″ post=132212]Mechanic in a bottle, liquid ring, engine restorer, blah ! Good quality fuel hasn’t been available since 1983. Chevron may put Tide in their gas or whatever, but it doesn’t do much. Funny thing, his avatar is a Grand national symbol. Only way to get those to run on high boost or any high boosted application for that matter is to use METHANOL injection. Big brother hates us ! Pump gas supporting only about 9.5 compression or around 9 lbs of boost doesn’t hack it.[/quote] The removal of lead, the addition of ethanol and further “environmentally friendly” changes such as oxygenating and modifying the volatility don’t help our engines. In fact, carbed engines HATE it. I had to play extensively with my carb settings and ignition timing just to get the newer fuel to burn the way I wanted it too. As I’ve mentioned in another thread, the ethanol destroyed the original accelerator pump seal.
On my tractor, the ethanol ate the fuel pump seal and some seals in the carb. Big brother does indeed hate us and our machines.
Man, that car was driven in a former life, when 93 octane was not reformulated gas and you could buy toluene and xylene from a chemical company’s will-call window and make your own octane booster.
[quote=”Hanneman” post=132223]Man, that car was driven in a former life, when 93 octane was not reformulated gas and you could buy toluene and xylene from a chemical company’s will-call window and make your own octane booster.[/quote]
You can still buy 5 gallon buckets of Toluene at Sherwin-Williams. My experience has been that telling anyone there you’re putting it in a car is a bad idea, I stick to a “My father and I make furniture and use this as a thinner for stains” kind of story. At least once a summer I mix up a batch of “rocket fuel” by adding a 5 gallon bucket to the tank of my old VW, topping it up with 93 pump gas, then advancing the distributor until knock can be detected then backing off a hair. Makes for some great torque and fuel mileage increases while it lasts. Not recommended if ambient temps/fuel temp will drop below 60*F though, it doesn’t like to atomize very well when cold.
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