Future of Shell gasoline …
 

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I am out of the loop since I retired, but as of a couple of years ago, Chevron had the best additive package in the market (I did not work for them). My impression is that their fuel quality is determined by engineers and not by bean counters (who want to reduce additive addition to the minimum required by law) or marketers (who want to pay the least they can for the product, or who are more interested in C-Store retailing than providing high quality fuel.

Shell and its affiliates were deeply afflicted / affected by both bean counters and marketers.

I buy only Chevron fuels unless they are not available - would consider BP a good second choice.

Remember in most parts of the country the base gasoline is fungible and the only differentiation is due to additive packages that are added at the truck terminal. The exceptions to this is where fuel is supplied direct from the refinery rack or in the case of Amoco (not sure if this exists any more) and perhaps some others, through a proprietary pipeline system

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

I had been running Valero in my Camry Hybrid, getting between 40 and 42 MPG, which pleased me. I had to buy gas in a rural area, and the cheapest one was Shell at $3.619. I only put in about a half tank. The car only got 37 MPG! I ran the tank almost empty before filling with Valero again, and now I'm only getting 39 MPG.

I think that Shell gas damaged my engine somehow. I will never, ever use it again, even if I have to run on the electric engine to avoid it.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

Don't mention that Shell damages your engine on this forum, there is a thread on how great shell is and how people are seeing huge mpg gains... going from 39mpg - 46 mpg.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

Thanks for the good advice. They obviously have a different kind of Camry Hybrid than I do. :shade:

I noticed the praise of Shell, but I wanted to warn anyone away based on my single experience.

My mileage is back up to 40 today. I hope I see 42 again. No more Shell ever again!

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

Hmm. Interesting. I always assumed gasoline was gasoline.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

Hi,

You might scan this report:

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfgecon.htm

There can be a 3.4 to 4.8 percent difference between gasoline batches.

Another good source:
http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/papers/misc/energy_conv.html

It may turn out that the best way to measure the fuel content of a gallon of gas is to just weigh a known volume, measure the density.

Bob Wilson

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

Not to sound crazy here but, gas is gas. Most of our gasoline is coming out of the same octane rated pipe, sulfur included. The only difference between the gas at your local gas stations has mainly to do with the additives that they put into the delivery truck.
Unless you live next to an Exxon oil refinery and buy Exxon gas (for example), you are getting whatever gas comes out of the pipeline. The gas companies all work together this way. Economically it makes more sense for them to truck refined gas to stations over only a few miles.

I'm not discounting what was stated above regarding differences between octane grades and sulfur content. What I am saying is that there generally is no difference in the base which your local gas stations use.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

I'm sure there are ways to discover differences from batch to batch. But, considering the trend is towards consolidation - well, what's the diff?

Does one go from station to station (brand to brand or within each brand) to find, "the best?"

Too much like work for me.

Let me know how this all works out. In the mean time I'll continue to buy on price.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

It's not unheard of to just get a bad tank of gas. The gas in the stations tanks could just be old, or they could have just been refilled and it stirred up sediment in the tanks. The latter could be especially true if it's an older station.

Just put a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in your next couple of tanks and you'll probably be fine.

I usually only buy Shell or BP gas, mainly because they import the least amount of foregin oil of any national suppliers, but also because I know the stations that I frequent have good gas and I had practically no engine troubles with my old car after I switched from using Jewel or Meijer discount gas. It's not worth saving 2 cents per gallon.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

Here in NZ we have taken the lead out of our gas. Since that was done the gas starts going off after about 6 weeks. We have had cases of boats being stranded out in the harbour due to every thing getting gumed up. Even my lawn mower died and had to be cleaned out as the gas went off. So a country gas station could have old gas that will effect the economy as the octane decreases.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

To reiterate the point about gas being gas. Any station can get a "bad" batch of gas - doesn't happen a lot, but it can happen. In general, you're probably better off choosing a station that does a lot of business - they turn their inventory over frequently, and if there is a bad batch, someone else is likely to have found it and gone back to complain. Also, if you see the truck at the station, move on because a recently filled underground tank is likely to have more sediment stirred up.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

I don't know who gets their info from ...........

I use the following..

• BP ( Formerally Standard, SOHIO, BORON, American )
• Shell
• Meijer
• Sams Club ( membership required )

The Oil I use is a BP aka Castrol Synthetic 10W-30

I was in discussion with a GM Engineer awhile back and the problem with mixing fuels weather E-95 , or some other name, the employee working at the Station does not follow mixing instructions !! Bio-Diesel is all done at the refinery again mixing ratio. :omg:

I drive a 2002 Dodge Intrepid 2.7 L DOHC , I also used to sell Lubricants from a Texas Based Company in the Ft Worth Area ( I believe now closed ) I mainly drive this car without problems, I previously driven 4 bangers and sold them when it was close to 200,000 or more miles.

you can pump cheap gas in the engine and run cheap oil but if you have sludge , varnish, and other garbage gunked up thats the old saying you get what you pay for ! anyone recalled the White Generic Oil ? :)

also another thing the fuel station owner look at the fuel hose its it fairly new ? or does it have cracks in the hose where you can see the metal braid ? if the station looks like a Pig Sty and the restroom looks & stinks reflects the ownership and management. also when you see the gas spitting back out the saftey release did not let go, betcha your gas was cheapo fuel. :shade:

And whats worse like the time I stopped at one of those ma & pa stations and some driver you know the Hillbilly type spills his gas about 1 gallon, its time to leave before someone throws a cigarette butt in the gas ! :omg:

( that was with my older car )

I am a little more cautious when buying gas. and I observe people.

If its a hillbilly town I don't bother with it.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

The reason they took lead out of the fuel is that Leaded fuel if you look at this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetra-ethyl_lead ,

also this is interesting as well also

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...9/gen99615.htm

this will give you some solid information since removing leaded fuel this chevron link offer some information as well..

http://www.chevron.com/products/ourf...eaded_gas.aspx

You may wish to do a google search on fuels and engines, I used to sell lubes and worked 12 years in the Heavy Duty Transportation dealerships technology is continually changing.:lightbulb

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

Well Mark,

Down here in "Hillbilly Heaven", most of us prefer to pump fuel that is not labeled "ethanol added". I use Chevron (first choice), BP or Exxon. The two times that I had to buy Shell gas (long road trip) my mileage was off by a large percentage. My go to oil is Mobil 1, I maintain my own cars (my version of R & R) and I don't even own a tractor....

Of course living in a "redneck" town of 2,500 (county seat) I don't get to see much of the "big city" types other than trying to tell them not to stop in the middle of the road when they see a squirrel or a deer on the side of the road. By the way, when is the rest of the country going to learn that it is spelled "Jawja" and not "Georgia"???

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

every time I've done a close comparison, Chevron has given me the best mileage. Sometimes the price difference has made cheaper gas slightly cheaper per mile, but very rarely. On my 5.0L (that's the old 305) V8 Mountaineer, and usually on the 4.0L V-6 Explorers I've owned, it paid to buy premium (92oct). Costco gas is the most frustrating for me because it can be 20% per gallon cheaper, and my gas mileage usually goes down as much.

It might not make sense to a lot of people, all I do is the calculations.

Re: Future of Shell gasoline …
 

Interesting. I always assumed gasoline was gasoline.