Top Tier Gasoline

[SGilbert]

Very interesting! 
Luckily, our 2 favorite stations are Costco & Kroger.
However, our favorite motorhome station is/was Love's Truck Stops (mostly due to dog runs)
 Speedway is also out! (It's big around here)

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2024/01/09/the-9-worst-gasoline-brands-in-america/

 

[16ACE27]

What's old is new again.

Always a good reminder.

 

[Lt Keefer]

That's why I use Lucas fuel treatment. That way I don't have to hunt down an internet recommended fuel station.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

Unfortunately brand quality isn't consistent due to each state having their own set of fuel standards. Ohio is typically known as a dumping ground for low grade fuel due to "industry friendly" regulation... read: relaxed regulation.

 

[CactusJuice]

I never go to Love's. Always busy and mostly very difficult access for RVs. Even the stations they have at their new RV parks are tight.

My favorite gas station in the whole country is a Valero in Clayton NM. It has an honest to goodness RV fueling plaza - not just a pump but several islands off to themselves.

As for "top tier". Meh. I get what is cheapest that I can get in and out of. Usually Cenex co-ops in the small towns.

 

[The Rookie]

I never go to Love's. Always busy and mostly very difficult access for RVs. Even the stations they have at their new RV parks are tight.

My favorite gas station in the whole country is a Valero in Clayton NM. It has an honest to goodness RV fueling plaza - not just a pump but several islands off to themselves.

As for "top tier". Meh. I get what is cheapest that I can get in and out of. Usually Cenex co-ops in the small towns.

Honestly, just give me pumps I can get my coach with a toad in easily.

 

[Bob Nodine]

When buying gasoline for the motorhome we try to select stations based on maneuverability. We are always towing our Chevy truck and tend to avoid stations that have the pump direction perpendicular with the building. You can't always base this on the service station brand. For example, some Love's have the pump ingress/egress facing the building and some have it parallel to the building.

When we had a 41 foot diesel pusher towing a full size pickup we always went to a truck stop with the big trucks. Now we have a gasoline motorhome and finding a station with decent maneuverability is often difficult.

 

[EA37TS]

Very interesting! 
Luckily, our 2 favorite stations are Costco & Kroger.
However, our favorite motorhome station is/was Love's Truck Stops (mostly due to dog runs)
 Speedway is also out! (It's big around here)

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2024/01/09/the-9-worst-gasoline-brands-in-america/

Bias based reporting based on their affiliates from which, in their own words, they receive compensation.

I have seen the same Eagle Petroleum truck go from one brand station (supposed top tier) to another brand station (supposedly the worst) and fill their tanks with the exact same fuel out of the same load.

Most stations get their fuel from distributors and not from branded refineries. Distributors will paint tankers for high end contracts or for advertising dollars.

 

[dkoldman]

I am just in the Minority I guess?

When I need gas, I always find the lowest price gasoline at the next exit. Yes, I will cross over the freeway if it is cheaper.

With that said 99% of the time the lowest price gas is always one of the following.

1. Lowes
2. Circle K
3. Valero
4. RaceTrac
5. Pilot
6. Speedway
7. Chevron
8. Road Runner
9. Sams ( rare to see of interstate but my wife has card and will sometimes find one nearby where we may be staying). I see Murphy's at Wal Marts and will use especially if staying overnight regardless of price.

If you fill any of engines, cars, SUVs, Boats, Motorcycles or RV with any of those gases I could not tell you the difference unless some station has some issue with water or moisture in the tank. If I knew of the issue the gas treatment would make sense, but if I keep driving and get more gas at the next place it will self correct.

Also, unless I have the towed, I have no issues with getting in and out of any of the stations. I may scare some little old ladies when I pull up behind, but that is not a problem for me :whistling:

When all things are equal, Lowes is our #1 by a mile because of the restaurants, and my Lowes card that get I think it is an extra $.10 per gallon?

I don't think I have ever bought gas at a Exxon, Mobil, Shell, Texaco etc in the RV. Like I said, I guess I am in the minority?

 

[SGilbert]

When all things are equal, Lowes is our #1 by a mile because of the restaurants, and my Lowes card that get I think it is an extra $.10 per gallon?

I'm sure you mean Love's and not Lowes which is a big box home improvement store.

And, yes, we go to Love's because of the 10c discount.

 

[ducksface]

I don't care much.
A fuel related failure is like an oil related failure.
Too few failures to give it a thought.

I put it in, it runs.
If it doesn't run I'll buy gas elsewhere.

(Wach for a detraction from that publisher. One is surely coming)

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

I do pretty much what Duck says. It's all "lawnmower gas". If your engine doesn't ping like hell, it's probably okay. Otherwise get gasoline somewhere else next time. But... next time the SAME pump may have crappy gas.

I've wasted far too much time chasing myths about "better gasoline"... so I don't chase anymore. I shop strictly by price.

 

[dkoldman]

I'm sure you mean Love's and not Lowes which is a big box home improvement store.

And, yes, we go to Love's because of the 10c discount.

Yes Loves should be on my list at the top , but there is a Lowes Gas Station with Gas Rewards. Ask that EAT37S guy, I bet he could verify?

https://www.lowesfoods.com/savings-and-rewards/gas-rewards

 

[dkoldman]

I don't care much.
A fuel related failure is like an oil related failure.
Too few failures to give it a thought.

I put it in, it runs.
If it doesn't run I'll buy gas elsewhere.

(Watch for a detraction from that publisher. One is surely coming)

Watch out, what if you buy bad gas, and on the way elsewhere you have an engine failure, and you are stranded on the road with no antifreeze in the plumbing so you get freeze damage and you also learn that your BMS does NOT work

 

[dkoldman]

I do pretty much what Duck says. It's all "lawnmower gas". If your engine doesn't ping like hell, it's probably okay. Otherwise get gasoline somewhere else next time. But... next time the SAME pump may have crappy gas.

I've wasted far too much time chasing myths about "better gasoline"... so I don't chase anymore. I shop strictly by price.

Exactly, you can learn a lot from a Duck.

 

[EA37TS]

I'm sure you mean Love's and not Lowes which is a big box home improvement store.

And, yes, we go to Love's because of the 10c discount.

Lowes is also a grocery chain in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. They have fuel stations and their own discount fuel program.

We are currently in SC and in this neck of the woods when you say Lowes you have to be specific and say Lowes Home Improvement or Lowes Foods.

Whenever we go there shopping I sit in the Beer Den sampling the local craft brews while the DW does the shopping.

https://www.lowesfoods.com

 

[Bob Nodine]

Bias based reporting based on their affiliates from which, in their own words, they receive compensation.

I have seen the same Eagle Petroleum truck go from one brand station (supposed top tier) to another brand station (supposedly the worst) and fill their tanks with the exact same fuel out of the same load.

Most stations get their fuel from distributors and not from branded refineries. Distributors will paint tankers for high end contracts or for advertising dollars.

Spot on. Here in Knoxville we have a large fuel distribution center with large tanks. That is where all the gasoline in this area comes from.

 

[marksil]

I don't care much.
A fuel related failure is like an oil related failure.
Too few failures to give it a thought.

I put it in, it runs.
If it doesn't run I'll buy gas elsewhere.

(Wach for a detraction from that publisher. One is surely coming)

I have probably driven well over 1.5 million miles in cars, trucks, motorcycles and RV’s since I got my license in 1976. I find no difference whatsoever in performance or economy in any gas, provided I am using the octane number the mfr recommends. All gas is the same. Some brands add cleaning additives, and I am unsure if they are very effective.

 

[dkoldman]

I have probably driven well over 1.5 million miles in cars, trucks, motorcycles and RV’s since I got my license in 1976. I find no difference whatsoever in performance or economy in any gas, provided I am using the octane number the mfr recommends. All gas is the same. Some brands add cleaning additives, and I am unsure if they are very effective.

Sounds like somebody getting their money's worth from the road taxes

Most boats are designed to run with water in the gas, never an issue. Granted they have water separators but the the water has to be in the gas.

 

[The Gritz Carlton]

How many refineries do we have in this country?...there's your answer. It all comes from the same sources. Oil companies "terminal" with other oil companies, trading one product in "this area" for another product in "that" area throughout the distribution network. Federal Government mandates the additive packages for all of them. Bad gas comes from contaminated underground tanks...not from the fuel supplier.