- Joined
- Apr 27, 2010
- Location
- Bethlehem, Georgia
Over the years I have met people that think Major brand gas is better than generic gas. And are willing to pay much more for the gas. I for one will go where ever it is cheapest.
Most people do not know how the refineries & pipelines work. They must assume that every gas brand has their own pipeline. This is not true. All gas comes from the same pipeline. And gas retailers get it from different refineries. What makes gasoline different from one brand to the next? The additives that they will add @ their depot.
All gasoline is made from crude oil. It goes to the refinery and what comes out is called the base gasoline. Since all crude oil is not created equal, not all base gasolines are the same, either. However, they are so close as to all be able to carry the label "base" , this is what retailers can start with". All base gasolines leave the refinery with one additive. It is required by law that they have an additive that prevents deposits in an engine's intake valves.
Taken from QuikTrip's webpage:
"All gasoline marketers in the United States get their gasoline from various terminals in their cities. This gasoline has been mixed in pipelines with gasoline from a number of refineries. Although we may purchase our gasoline from a specific refiner, the gasoline we actually pull out of the pipeline is really generic. Even retail outlets of major oil companies end up drawing their gasoline out of the same pipeline as everyone else."
Let's make this clear: all gasoline, no matter what brand, leaves deposits behind in your fuel injectors or your carburetor in your boat, auto, etc. As many brands of gasoline that are on the market, that is how many combination of additives there are that will remove those deposits. The additives that Brand A uses can be the same as the additives that Brand B uses, but each will use a different amount of each to clean out certain deposits that are left behind by any gasoline. Brand C on the other hand, may decide to use completely different additives than Brand A or Brand B altogether. All brands decide which additives to add based on what deposit they want to get rid of. Then, the marketing department goes to work to convince you that your car will run better because of this additive.
Just what are these additives, anyway? Glad you asked. They are those that:
- deter gumming and improve the stability of the gasoline
- reduce deposits that foul your spark plugs and also prevent preignition
- prevent the fuel from icing, improve how the fuel vaporizes, reduce injector and valve
deposits and reduce emissions.
- prevent the fuel from corroding the tanks it is stored in before it gets to your
gas station, and also after it gets there and is stored prior to your pumping it
into your tank.
- prevent the fuel from icing up
- give the fuel its particular color
These are the additives that gasoline companies put into their brand of gasoline. Their marketing will tell you which additive or additives are in their gasoline, and why you should buy it to keep your car running smoothly.
Isn't that simple? No...actually it isn't. However, Brand A in the Mid-West will probably be different than Brand A found on the East Coast - even though the additives in the gas are the same. Perhaps it is nit-picking to include this information, but it is interesting to note nonetheless.
The second thing to remember about these different brands is that each additive will remove the deposits it says it will, but each will also leave behind its own deposit. That's right, each additive leaves behind deposits of its own, which will in time, build up in your engine. No marketing department will ever tell you that. That's not good for business! So, what is a savvy consumer to do? Why, switch brands every few tanks, that's what! Look at what Brand A says its additives will do, and then look at what Brand B says, and Brand C and so on, and then switch based on your research. Of course, if you are like me, all that researching is a pain. Just switch brands every few tanks, and know that you are one of the few who really know the score about gasoline brands and their additives.
Most people do not know how the refineries & pipelines work. They must assume that every gas brand has their own pipeline. This is not true. All gas comes from the same pipeline. And gas retailers get it from different refineries. What makes gasoline different from one brand to the next? The additives that they will add @ their depot.
All gasoline is made from crude oil. It goes to the refinery and what comes out is called the base gasoline. Since all crude oil is not created equal, not all base gasolines are the same, either. However, they are so close as to all be able to carry the label "base" , this is what retailers can start with". All base gasolines leave the refinery with one additive. It is required by law that they have an additive that prevents deposits in an engine's intake valves.
Taken from QuikTrip's webpage:
"All gasoline marketers in the United States get their gasoline from various terminals in their cities. This gasoline has been mixed in pipelines with gasoline from a number of refineries. Although we may purchase our gasoline from a specific refiner, the gasoline we actually pull out of the pipeline is really generic. Even retail outlets of major oil companies end up drawing their gasoline out of the same pipeline as everyone else."
Let's make this clear: all gasoline, no matter what brand, leaves deposits behind in your fuel injectors or your carburetor in your boat, auto, etc. As many brands of gasoline that are on the market, that is how many combination of additives there are that will remove those deposits. The additives that Brand A uses can be the same as the additives that Brand B uses, but each will use a different amount of each to clean out certain deposits that are left behind by any gasoline. Brand C on the other hand, may decide to use completely different additives than Brand A or Brand B altogether. All brands decide which additives to add based on what deposit they want to get rid of. Then, the marketing department goes to work to convince you that your car will run better because of this additive.
Just what are these additives, anyway? Glad you asked. They are those that:
- deter gumming and improve the stability of the gasoline
- reduce deposits that foul your spark plugs and also prevent preignition
- prevent the fuel from icing, improve how the fuel vaporizes, reduce injector and valve
deposits and reduce emissions.
- prevent the fuel from corroding the tanks it is stored in before it gets to your
gas station, and also after it gets there and is stored prior to your pumping it
into your tank.
- prevent the fuel from icing up
- give the fuel its particular color
These are the additives that gasoline companies put into their brand of gasoline. Their marketing will tell you which additive or additives are in their gasoline, and why you should buy it to keep your car running smoothly.
Isn't that simple? No...actually it isn't. However, Brand A in the Mid-West will probably be different than Brand A found on the East Coast - even though the additives in the gas are the same. Perhaps it is nit-picking to include this information, but it is interesting to note nonetheless.
The second thing to remember about these different brands is that each additive will remove the deposits it says it will, but each will also leave behind its own deposit. That's right, each additive leaves behind deposits of its own, which will in time, build up in your engine. No marketing department will ever tell you that. That's not good for business! So, what is a savvy consumer to do? Why, switch brands every few tanks, that's what! Look at what Brand A says its additives will do, and then look at what Brand B says, and Brand C and so on, and then switch based on your research. Of course, if you are like me, all that researching is a pain. Just switch brands every few tanks, and know that you are one of the few who really know the score about gasoline brands and their additives.