AAA says not all gasoline the same
By Associated Press
Many motorists are clogging their car’s engine by not using gasoline with enough added detergents.
That’s the conclusion of a study by the AAA auto club.
Federal rules in place since 1996 require all gasoline to have some engine-cleaning additives, but many major brands have extra detergents. AAA said tests it commissioned from an independent lab found that lesser gasolines left 19 times more deposits on engine intake valves than so-called top-tier fuels after the equivalent of 4,000 miles of driving.
AAA said carbon deposits reduce a car’s mileage, increase emissions and hurt performance, especially on newer cars.
The auto club said gasolines with extra detergents cost an average of 3 cents per gallon more. And that could be their undoing.
Three-fourths of consumers surveyed by AAA buy their gas based on price or the service station’s location. Only 1 in 8 picked a brand because it has extra detergents.
AAA’s director of automotive engineering, Greg Brannon, said car owners can undo some deposits by switching gasoline for a few thousand miles.
The program to promote higher-detergent fuels grew out of concern by some car makers that the EPA standards for fuel detergents were too weak to prevent buildup that affects car performance. General Motors, Honda, Toyota, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are sponsors.
The Michigan-based Center for Quality Assurance runs the program and charges gas stations a fee to use the Top Tier seal of approval. Two executives of the group declined to disclose the fee.
Upon asking the truck driver guy who was there and re-filling the local major-brand service station’s tanks if I really was buying a Top Tier gasoline, he replied: “Yes, because I loaded it myself. I added the ingredients.”
He said that the “naked” gasoline for all brands arrives in Reno via pipeline. There is where the truckers are supposed to insert any additives, whether “Top Tier” or other, for each gasoline brand they deliver, and that’s what determines the quality and price of your gasoline.
I cannot confirm the accuracy of his statement. But I must admit, my Subaru’s “Check Engine” light stopped appearing after I quit buying the cheapest no-brand gas I could find and opted instead for “Top Tier.”
As someone who once owned an interest in a gas station, and who has kept up with the Industry, I can affirm what Bill Kingman said. Additives are added at the Distribution Point….whether by the truckers or the local operators at the distribution point.
It is also true that money is being made by those at the top level of the Top Tier distribution network….at the Michigan Center…
It all sounds like an easily abused, money making scam. How do we know “the trucker” added the ingredients ? And of course, any station can “pay” to get the “Top Tier” stickers.
Just saying….because in today’s world you can’t trust anyone !
And what about prices ?
Costco, Top Tier, was $2.25 for reg on Sat.
The Roadrunner and Chevron in Meyers were $3.10 or higher.