Okay, maybe there's something to this detergent thing?!?

[Darryl]

Hmmmm!
Careful @Darryl may post a selfie while standing in a 55gal drum

Don’t give me any ideas

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[dochawk]

(15% ethanol and 88 octane). So far so good although I know high ethanol fuels have an impact on fuel economy,

to a first order approximation, 15% ethanol would give about 4.5% less MPG than pure gasoline, and 1.5% less than with 10% ethanol.

[ethanol has roughly 2/3 the energy per volume as gasoline; the rest is math]

I do believe that ethanol is welfare for the farmers.

The question then is using any additive NEEDED if you already use top tier gas. ?

Nope. Techron is what Chevron adds to base gas to turn it to Top Tier--conveniently concentrated in a bottle for everyone else.

Top Tier is a standard from automakers to make sure that there are enough detergents to safely use a higher compression. Gas companies either do or don't meet it. (and some, like Chevron, seriously exceed it).

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Curious how many miles are on your truck and if you have been running top tier gas?

keep in mind that almost ALL gas is "top tier". The only exceptions might be no-name gas stations. Every known brand is "top tier" (Mobil, Exxon, Chevron, Shell, Sinclair, Texaco, on and on and on....).

Also, "top tier" is like "better business bureau"; you pay them to be included on the list. Yes, your gas has to pass whatever test they have, but you can't get stamped "top tier" unless you pay their fee to be on the list.

That said, I'm impressed and consumer-curious about the OP's observations. I guess you could just run a tank of Chevron instead of buying a bottle of Techron, but it might not be the same concentration.

That brings to mind my fail today; I'm over on Hawai'i for a couple months, and today I filled up the car we keep here with "regular" (87). I forgot it's supposed to take "super" (91). It's not going to kill it, and I probably won't even notice the difference, an '07 X5, but now I'm thinking I should dump a bottle of techron or octane booster in it.

And another thing....
I saw a Maverick over here yesterday, NOT a popular car here. At least 80% of pickups are Tacoma's. We like the Maverick, especially the mpg, so I think if/when the X5 dies I'll get a Mav to have over here, too. It would be nice to have a pickup to take the yard waste to the dump instead of bags in the back of the mini SUV.

 

[Timothyd]

Ok, I'm going to fess up and put it out there:

I've always been a "all gas is the same" kind of guy.

There, I said it. But wait, there's some Paul Harvey here! So, I've seen the "geek" tell us all about the detergents and the oil and all that. But it's likely my age as much as anything, that has contributed to my recent consideration of alternative ideas that might help make my vehicle last longer and be less troublesome in its aging process. So on my last fill up from near the bottom of the tank, I included one bottle of Techron. Keep in mind, that my Mav is less than a year old and still fairly low on the clock so this was entirely a preventative choice.

Well, Holy Internal Combustion, Batman! This little 4 banger is running smoother and quieter than it did the day I drove it home! I would NEVER have expected this, especially in what could still in many respects could be considered a new vehicle. I have been so blown away by this on each outing since the fill up that I'm seriously considering those Top Tier stations even though I know I'll pay more for the gas.

So this is not a commercial. If you already were a believer, this is old hat for you. If you think it's a scam, that's okay, it's no skin off my teeth. I'm just sharing this crazy thing that makes me rethink the idea of not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I had an old Saturn and, at about 160k miles it started running rough. Dealer wouldn't work on it without fixing all the codes so on the way home I stopped and bought a can of the most expensive fuel additive I found. Worked like magic car ran great. Now I just use Costco gas. Glad I don't have direct injection.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Have there been any REAL tests that show either an additive makes any REAL difference or high cost fuel. does? I would like to see a link to such a independent test. Not it FEELS to me its better after I did this or that.

Sorry but there is that placebo effect.

I dunno about additives for regular use, and if they even save as much money as they cost (mpg and long term maintenance). But, using Seafoam treatment on a higher mileage (125k+) engine in my experience DOES make a difference. I'm talking the intake, not the gas additive, but you might as well do both at the same time at 125k and then every 50k afterwards.

I've used it on my Transit(not Connect) and the X5 with noticeable differences.

 

[BigClydeLittleTruck]

keep in mind that almost ALL gas is "top tier". The only exceptions might be no-name gas stations. Every known brand is "top tier" (Mobil, Exxon, Chevron, Shell, Sinclair, Texaco, on and on and on....).

Not looking to argue but I can't help but wonder if this may be a slight overgeneralization - or maybe a difference in how you define "brand". I was running Walmart gas which I've run for several years since they added gas to the edge of their parking lots here. Maybe you're thinking of that as "no name" but it was this that I added the Techron to and experienced what I experienced. I know that Walmart is all about volume, but I now have to assume there's a difference beyond volume and perhaps them using it as a "lost leader" to account for the $0.25 - $0.40 per gallon difference seen regularly here between their gas and that of the brands you specifically mentioned. In my area, Sam's Club is the same price as the Walmart gas (I would assume that's the same gas) AND Costco is also the same price per gallon but there's the membership fee to factor into that cost as well.

 

[Cherokee]

Have there been any REAL tests that show either an additive makes any REAL difference or high cost fuel. does? I would like to see a link to such a independent test. Not it FEELS to me its better after I did this or that.

Sorry but there is that placebo effect.

Very true, we know engines can be tuned for premium.
But the fuel system in the Mav’s, does it not ‘Learn’ and adjust somewhat depending on what it’s fed ?

Says In The owners manual, what octane was used for mpg ratings doesn’t it ?
It was not regular.
Was it ?

 

[Carlitos_92]

Not looking to argue but I can't help but wonder if this may be a slight overgeneralization - or maybe a difference in how you define "brand". I was running Walmart gas which I've run for several years since they added gas to the edge of their parking lots here. Maybe you're thinking of that as "no name" but it was this that I added the Techron to and experienced what I experienced. I know that Walmart is all about volume, but I now have to assume there's a difference beyond volume and perhaps them using it as a "lost leader" to account for the $0.25 - $0.40 per gallon difference seen regularly here between their gas and that of the brands you specifically mentioned. In my area, Sam's Club is the same price as the Walmart gas (I would assume that's the same gas) AND Costco is also the same price per gallon but there's the membership fee to factor into that cost as well.

"Almost ALL gas is 'top tier'" is an easily verifiable (or debunkable) statement.

https://stationfinder.toptiergas.com/

 

[BigClydeLittleTruck]

"Almost ALL gas is 'top tier'" is an easily verifiable (or debunkable) statement.

https://stationfinder.toptiergas.com/

Thanks, I've been on that site before but took another look and they say that their online directory may not have all the top tier brands but they give a link where you can see the full list and it includes stations I've never even heard of so it's not just the big boys. Walmart nor Sam's is included in this list.

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

 

[Carlitos_92]

Thanks, I've been on that site before but took another look and they say that their online directory may not have all the top tier brands but they give a link where you can see the full list and it includes stations I've never even heard of so it's not just the big boys. Walmart nor Sam's is included in this list.

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

I think their gas is technically "Murphy USA" but I don't remember seeing that, either.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

keep in mind that almost ALL gas is "top tier". The only exceptions might be no-name gas stations. Every known brand is "top tier" (Mobil, Exxon, Chevron, Shell, Sinclair, Texaco, on and on and on....).

Also, "top tier" is like "better business bureau"; you pay them to be included on the list. Yes, your gas has to pass whatever test they have, but you can't get stamped "top tier" unless you pay their fee to be on the list.

That said, I'm impressed and consumer-curious about the OP's observations. I guess you could just run a tank of Chevron instead of buying a bottle of Techron, but it might not be the same concentration.

That brings to mind my fail today; I'm over on Hawai'i for a couple months, and today I filled up the car we keep here with "regular" (87). I forgot it's supposed to take "super" (91). It's not going to kill it, and I probably won't even notice the difference, an '07 X5, but now I'm thinking I should dump a bottle of techron or octane booster in it.

And another thing....
I saw a Maverick over here yesterday, NOT a popular car here. At least 80% of pickups are Tacoma's. We like the Maverick, especially the mpg, so I think if/when the X5 to dies I'll get a Mav to have over here, too. It would be nice to have a pickup to take the yard waste to the dump instead of bags in the back of the mini SUV.

Someone posted a year or two ago they bought one in Continental US. and shipped it to Hawaii and saved $$$.
ETA: Might have been due to "Dealer 'add on' ???".

 

[BigClydeLittleTruck]

I think their gas is technically "Murphy USA" but I don't remember seeing that, either.

Didn't think of that naming difference but, no, Murphy isn't on that list either. I knew Costco was Kirkland and it is there.

 

[Pointyears]

keep in mind that almost ALL gas is "top tier". The only exceptions might be no-name gas stations.

That brings to mind my fail today; I'm over on Hawai'i for a couple months, and today I filled up the car we keep here with "regular" (87). I forgot it's supposed to take "super" (91). It's not going to kill it, and I probably won't even notice the difference, an '07 X5, but now I'm thinking I should dump a bottle of techron or octane booster in it.

I noticed Sheetz wasn't listed on the top tier site.....

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I think their gas is technically "Murphy USA" but I don't remember seeing that, either.

I believe that not all the stations are "Murphy USA". Don't remember the details but think it had something to do with whether Walmart owned the station or leased it. The Murphy ones say Murphy somewhere.

 

[TonyP19]

If you lease or only planing owning you Mav a few years, by all means, run the cheap stuff.

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