AAA Article on Advantages of using Tier 1 Fuel Brands

[OleFordGuy]

IMO, an informative scientific AAA report on the type of fuel used can aid in the longevity of all gasoline engines, aid in increased overall performance, aid in reduced carbon emissions and aid in carbon reduction on intake valves (especially any vehicle brand using Direct Fuel Injection).

I found it very informative and it confirmed my long time stance on only using Tier 1 Brands of gasoline.

https://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fuel-Quality-Full-Report.pdf

https://www.toptiergas.com/

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[Ozarkbeard]

IMO, an informative scientific AAA report on the type of fuel used can aid in the longevity of all gasoline engines, aid in increased overall performance, aid in reduced carbon emissions and aid in carbon reduction on intake valves (especially any vehicle brand using Direct Fuel Injection).

I found it very informative and it confirmed my long time stance on only using Tier 1 Brands of gasoline.

https://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fuel-Quality-Full-Report.pdf

https://www.toptiergas.com/

The good thing is, you get TopTier additives in all grades, at stations that have TopTier. And all of them in my area do, except Walmart/Sams Club (they are Murphy stations here).

 

[A.Bursell]

Good article.

I buy the vast majority of my gas from Costco (Top Tier).

Keep in mind that like motor oils and other things that are "certified" to certain specs, just because a gas isn't certified, doesn't mean it doesn't meet specs. It just means they haven't paid to be in the club.

I didn't purposely seek out Top Tier gas, but if I'm not in my normal area I will probably pay a little more attention now, for peace of mind.

 

[OleFordGuy]

Good article.

I buy the vast majority of my gas from Costco (Top Tier).

Keep in mind that like motor oils and other things that are "certified" to certain specs, just because a gas isn't certified, doesn't mean it doesn't meet specs. It just means they haven't paid to be in the club.

I didn't purposely seek out Top Tier gas, but if I'm not in my normal area I will probably pay a little more attention now, for peace of mind.

I certainly understand what your saying, there are some that operate in the pay to club, but from all my years the AAA Foundation has been a very legit organization that doesn't play that game. Everyone has their own opinion and that's fine, but I put their research studies in high regard.

 

[A.Bursell]

I certainly understand what your saying, there are some that operate in the pay to club, but from all my years the AAA Foundation has been a very legit organization that doesn't play that game. Everyone has their own opinion and that's fine, but I put their research studies in high regard.

I don't necessarily fault AAA, I think it's a good article. When it comes to gas though, there is nothing that says Billy-Bob's gas on the corner doesn't have 10x the required additives and blow away Top Tier minimum requirements. But you wouldn't know if he doesn't pay for the official Top Tier certification. As for AAA though, did they randomly choose the non-Top Tier stations or did they run test results on the worst gas they could find? Did they use the best Top Tier stations they could find? I feel like that's the only piece missing from the test. Randomizing their picks, rather than keeping them anonymous and not knowing if they included all of their test subjects or discounted some, would have been a good addition.

I'm still going to continue to use Costco (Top Tier). I understand Top Tier is a good certification, but it doesn't mean that other gas is "bad" necessarily. It is nice to have some way to differentiate known good gas from unknown though, so I appreciate that.

 

[Gpp]

Other than looking up a station on the internet how do you know what station is a top tier station.

 

[OleFordGuy]

Other than looking up a station on the internet how do you know what station is a top tier station.

That link should give the info: https://www.toptiergas.com/

The one's I use have a Tier 1 Label on the pump, but not sure that is a required thing everywhere

 

[James]

I noticed about 2mpg. increase if I use Sunoco gasoline compared to buying gas at Giant Grocery Stores. I assume Sunoco is Tier 1 gasoline, I have the EcoBoost engine.

 

[MoHillbilly]

I get top tier gas at a local convenience store, that also happens to be one of the cheaper places around me. Double win there..

 

[Tbone289]

I don't necessarily fault AAA, I think it's a good article. When it comes to gas though, there is nothing that says Billy-Bob's gas on the corner doesn't have 10x the required additives and blow away Top Tier minimum requirements.

There's nothing that says that it does either. How can you be certain what additives Billy-Bob's gas has?

 

[Atlasmetmav]

Thanks OleFordGuy for the links. Good info. I do wish AAA would update more of this article towards Direct Injection results, that would be more relevant to our Mav Ecoboost. They did mention in the review that Top Tier would help the Injectors, but I didn't see anything about long term testing of carbon build up on the Valves? Which of course, is were we (EB Mav) are going to have the greatest concern. Thanks again.

 

[Tbone289]

Agree. This study was from 2016, so it would be nice to see an updated study that included DI results.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I try to use Sinclair when the price is acceptable. Sinclair like Maverik are both US owned out of Utah.
Sinclair is tier one gas.
Maverik is ????

Who remembers custom blending??

 

[CajunMick]

Many gasoline deliveries by various independent tank farms usually buy their fuel from local refineries. Any brand. Ever see a fueling truck at a Shell, Exxon, Mobil or whatever stations with the Shell, Exxon or Texaco logos on those refueling/distributors trucks? Fact - A Texaco tank farm dealer buys fuels from a local Shell refinery.

 

[BrianA]

IMO, an informative scientific AAA report on the type of fuel used can aid in the longevity of all gasoline engines, aid in increased overall performance, aid in reduced carbon emissions and aid in carbon reduction on intake valves (especially any vehicle brand using Direct Fuel Injection).

I found it very informative and it confirmed my long time stance on only using Tier 1 Brands of gasoline.

https://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fuel-Quality-Full-Report.pdf

https://www.toptiergas.com/

I don't want any vehicle I cannot fill up at any random gas station in BFE Wyoming, or get the oil changed at any random oil change chain store. If you need 'special' to make your vehicle run properly - that is a significant design failure on the manufacturer's part and you should have bought something different.

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