Gas quality

What about Walmart gas? For example, I buy a lot of gas from my local Sam's Club. Their gas facility is meticulously maintained. New pumps, and an attendant is always on hand. Now, there's a Murphy's gas station down the street, and their prices are similar. The difference is the Murphy's is not as well maintained, but they do lots of business. Also, the Murphy's has some non-ethenal choices too.

 

I would have absolutely no qualms of buying at either. Murphy is a very large player in the petroleum industry on both the branded and on the open market on the unbranded side. You should have absolutely no problem with either product and if all you are using is 87e10 or regular you should not have a problem. Sams do a good job and do some major volume.

I do not know everything, about certifications but when it comes to regular (87e10) there is really no difference between top tier and not top tier gas. There is very strict guidelines on that particular grade and have high levels of detergent.

I know a guy in the industry that grew up in it, worked in it for 50 years. We were just talking about the quality of gas the other day compared to even 20 years ago.

Top tier really starts to come into play on 89+ octane grades.

 

Let me be clear I do not know what proprietary additive the brands have come up with that is added at the rack to make it "branded". Not saying there may not be an advantage to run them, there probably is? It is my opinion, and my opinion only there just is not that much of a difference today as there was in the past.

My wife and I have put over 700,000 miles on our cars in the past 10 years and all came from a certain unbranded store. Not one fuel related problem or defect from running that fuel.

I am now buying from a branded store because I was handed a card and said we will cover your fuel costs, haha.

Took a road trip from Knoxville to Atlanta this weekend and stopped at a little unbranded station in the middle of no where and got fuel. Our 4Runner somehow made it to Atlanta and got the same fuel mileage as the previous tank, haha.

 

I have been going back and forth between Valero 89 and Shell 89, I can say without a doubt that I get better fuel mileage with the Shell.

 

Shell is the best, sunoco is decent, speedway is pretty okay.
no BP, no valero, definitely no walmart

 

I use cheap gas. Arco/ampm and Costco in the city. When I travel California, truck stops are mainly Love’s. 87 octane only. No need for anything higher.

Bought truck new, now 200k later with no issues using cheap gas. Now my Benz is a different story..

 

Yes Kroger is Shell. I can use my Kroger points at the local Shell station. I got 60 cents off today. Filled it up with 92. I run a DAP tune 92 runs the best.

 

Kroger is unbranded. They are large enough to where they are doing day deals buying blocks in bulk, etc.... They might be even buying there own product and shipping on the pipeline.

Around here they can pull from any of about 30 suppliers at the terminal. Whichever is cheapest is what is probably going in.

Shell is very meticulous and holds their brands to a very high standard. All the canopy, pumps imaging would be required to be branded Shell if they were to allow branded gas goes in.

I have dealt with all the grocery stores we speak of and no branded gas goes in them.

Right now the unbranded market is .06 to .08 cheaper at the rack than the brands. Kroger, Costco, Sam's make .06 to .10 per gallon because of their purchasing power and being able to hit the open market in the unbranded arena.

Kroger and Shell did partner together as fas points program goes.

If you want branded Shell product you neeed to go to a branded Shell c-store and use your Kroger's pints there.

 

My Shelby GT-500 is labeled on the fuel cap recommending BP premium (super charged engine) fuel, with a BP logo. I guess BP kicked in some money on those Cobras. Lol

 

I use Costco as well. We also have the Costco Visa that gives back 4% at all gas stations, not just Costco. Depending how much gas you use, you can get your membership paid for pretty easily. Also provides 3% back at restaurants and 2% on Costco purchases (on top of the executive 2%). Only time I don't use this card is when either my Chase or Discover have a 5% quarter.