Most US states do not sell 0-ethanol gasoline at vehicle gas stations. You either have to take the ethanol out yourself, or try to get a fillup at a boat marina. Or pay out the yazoo for cans of gasoline. Or move to Europe.

 

They don't directly market it that way of course because they'd get sued or regulated.

But they certainly will lead the horse to water, and nowhere will they inform consumers that they don't need premium if they don't need it.

https://www.shell.us/motorist/shell-...-gasoline.html


A more honest approach would be to market the additive packages separately from the octane. It would be too hard logistically to have six separate fuel options, but they could maybe add a fourth, regular octane with budget additives. People who buy cars that run mid and high octane are generally less interested in scrimping on additives anyway.

 

I don’t think its the responsibility of the fuel company to read all owner’s manuals and provide data what what grade of fuel is the correct grade for the vehicle at the pump. Nor would I want that decision made for me.
However, “if” I had a vehicle with a lower octane requirement, I may want the assurance on the % of levels of additives in the different grades. Good call.

But, don’t all fuels have some form of additive? Interesting note, I purchase my diesel in the winter for the boat for that reason.

Incidentally, I always used “premium” fuels in even the lawn mowers. Mine lasted longer ran better, started easier, and with fewer plug changes than most of my neighbors. hmmm.

 

That wasn't because of the octane, though. Must have been the additives in whatever brand you were using. Small engines for things like lawn mowers are not high compression engines.

 

Yes, they all have a regulated minimum of additives, specifically for emissions purposes.

But top tier gas will have more and/or better. A typical engine will enjoy noticeable benefits from running quality gasoline, over the long run. If you're driving a leased car, or you always trade in after 3-5 years it probably won't matter. If you plan to keep it for 5+ years, or put on a lot of miles, it will matter.

 

Everyone's gasoline is exactly the same and comes from the same pipelines, what changes is the additives that are added before delivery to the retailer's tanks. And "Top Tier" retailers do not all use the same additives, because they are not required to do so, so you may get different results.

 

I won't say this never happens, adding additives after pipeline delivery, but in general different brands and octanes of gasoline (as well as diesel, jet A, etc) are actually sent down the pipe in different batches. IIRC they can use a pig to separate them but in reality they typically don't bother with similar distillates, and just deal with a little mixing at the interface between batches. Probably can't do that with gas/diesel, gas/jet A, etc unless you discard the mixed interface.

It's true that the base gasoline will be very, very similar between brands and the additives make up any differentiation.

Top tier don't use the same additives, although IIRC shell or 66 was actually using techron (by another name, on license from chevron) for a number of years.

Over the years I've had great luck with chevron, shell, with some use of mobile. Those are the stations closest to home/work. I'll occasionally use other top brands on road trips, etc. I think all the top tier are good enough, it's bottom tier stuff with less additives and detergents which is likely to gum up your system over time.

 

From what I have been told, the different density and specific gravity of the products keeps them mostly separated at the interface points. Yes, a little mixing happens, but I think they have that under control. The reality though is that there's no way to keep them honest as to additive quality.