Is Costco gas as good as Shell or Exxon...etc.

[fuzzball90]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Pretty sure its a federal mandate.

Adding a little bit of ethanol to gasoline actually reduces harmful emissions (like the sulfur dioxides) by up to 50%, with only a small decrease in fuel economy, around 1-2 mpg. That's why it is added.

I work in O&G and have been told this by coworkers who work in that area.

[Black Prinz]

It's a regional thing. In the Northeast US, the base fuel is the same only the detergent additives vary between brands as there is only 1 pipeline to service the region.

The Colonial Pipeline

Starting in Houston, with stops in Knox Springs, Louisiana; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Greensboro, NC; Richmond and Herndon, Virginia; and continuing on to Philadelphia, is the 2,887-mile main line of the Colonial Pipeline. This is the only artery of finished petroleum products reaching from the Gulf into the Northeast.

http://www.wearethepractitioners.com...eline-capacity

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

I'm pretty sure areas where the EPA has deemed a smog zone or has low air quality to be required to have 10% Ethanol fuels. As part of the requirement to "encourage" compliance, the Feds will withhold Federal Highway funding to States that don't comply.

It's pretty telling how bad the Ethanol crap is when a manufacturer like Husqvarna provides an incentive to customers to not use the Ethanol crap in their products. Husqvarna says they will extend the warranty on their products by an additional year if you use their premixed fuel that is Ethanol free. You just have to show a receipt at the time of purchase of the product that has 3 cans of the fuel.

Not sure about the EPA rules, but we have the same laws here, but shell gets around it because the "average" must be a specific number, so they put higher amounts in the lower octanes so they can make premium with 0%.

[Andrewcoja]

When they came out with Top Tier fuels, premium brands like Chevron and Shell were already (and still do) exceed the detergent standards. Don't skimp on gas. While all gas is the same, the additives are what you pay for.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Olgeezer1

Can you guy's in the U.S. still get non-ethanol gas? In Canada only Shell91 and Esso91 are ethanol free so those are the only fuels I use. Esso also sells to other outlets here like "Canadian Tire" and Loblaws gas bars so those are OK too. When in doubt I ask where they get their gas. If, as someone said earlier, they buy wherever it's cheapest I'd pass on that. Having said all that if all U.S. fuel has ethanol I guess the choice is less critical.

There are stations in my area that sell ethanol free gas. For a premium of course.

[BMW135pls]

No it's not. I work in the petro industry doing repairs/maintenance of gas stations which include Costco and many other banners, and I don't buy it.

[Bigiggs]

Originally Posted by BMW135pls

No it's not. I work in the petro industry doing repairs/maintenance of gas stations which include Costco and many other banners, and I don't buy it.

Interesting. Can you elaborate some more, since you work in the industry. Really curious about this topic.

Thanks!

[BMW135pls]

Originally Posted by Bigiggs

Interesting. Can you elaborate some more, since you work in the industry. Really curious about this topic.

Thanks!

Not publicly, feel free to PM me with some questions though.

[RoundelM3]

Maybe it's just me, but listening to a group of BMW (costing ~$50K) owners quibble about maybe $2 per tankful seems a bit odd. Is it really that big a deal? Most people spend $200+ a year at Starbucks. Seems like if you can afford a BMW, you can afford to use brand-name fuel.

On the other hand, the info about the pipelines and additives is good information. Personally, Shell has always been my favorite, and I've been driving 50+ years now. Unfortunately, in my part of NC, there aren't any Shell stations close to where I live, and driving 12 miles to the nearest one seems counterproductive. I could drive 40 miles down to South Carolina and get gas 35 cents less than here (SC has no gas tax), but that's even more counterproductive unless I am making a run to the Myrtle Beach Costco liquor store.

[MightyMouseTech]

Honestly though, it appears they now use their own additive package, and it is Top Tier rated, so seems good enough. If you don't have the ridiculous line ups, then why not? More money for tires!

This is what the line ups around here look like all the time:



Although, I do find it funny when I hear people in the US complain about gas prices, you guys are pretty much driving for free down there. Filled up in Syracuse on the weekend with Sunoco 93, almost laughed when I saw how cheap it was.

[PA135i]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Honestly though, it appears they now use their own additive package, and it is Top Tier rated, so seems good enough. If you don't have the ridiculous line ups, then why not? More money for tires!

This is what the line ups around here look like all the time:



Although, I do find it funny when I hear people in the US complain about gas prices, you guys are pretty much driving for free down there. Filled up in Syracuse on the weekend with Sunoco 93, almost laughed when I saw how cheap it was.

+1 MMT

That scene has never occured at the Costco 1.5 miles from me. I have never had to wait. But, our Coscto has 6 islands.
For me it's a win win. And there is nothing wrong with spending 20 a gallon less especially if it's Top Tier!
I'm always looking to save money where ever & whatever. This car may have cost me $42K when I bought it new but to keep it is costing me a few dollars (or maybe more than a few dollars) even using a Indy shop. So if I can save money buying gas etc... why not.