Odd that noone has posted this yet...

[BailOut]

Hi H3LlIoN,

No one has posted that because the cheapest gas is almost never the best bang for your buck. To make a long and scientific story short, the gasoline brands are usually separated by no more than the mandated additives they use. The top tier oil companies spent billions of dollars in research and development to figure out how to make those additives combustible, meaning that they do not rob the underlying gasoline of power per volume, and also burn cleaner in your engine. The cheaper providers do no such thing, so not only does their gasoline not burn as cleanly (which can leave some nasty gunk behind) but it has less caloric content per gallon, meaning you don't go as far on a tank.

All of this means that while you may find a cheaper price at a pump you will most likely end up at another pump sooner, so you actually spend more money on cheaper fuel rather than save anything.

As to why the price of gasoline is going up right now, it is mostly due to the increasing demand in the U.S. (likely from children being back in school, and their parents insisting on shuttling them in their gargantuan SUVs).

[KCALB SIRAY]

Originally Posted by BailOut

Hi H3LlIoN,

No one has posted that because the cheapest gas is almost never the best bang for your buck. To make a long and scientific story short, the gasoline brands are usually separated by no more than the mandated additives they use. The top tier oil companies spent billions of dollars in research and development to figure out how to make those additives combustible, meaning that they do not rob the underlying gasoline of power per volume, and also burn cleaner in your engine. The cheaper providers do no such thing, so not only does their gasoline not burn as cleanly (which can leave some nasty gunk behind) but it has less caloric content per gallon, meaning you don't go as far on a tank.

All of this means that while you may find a cheaper price at a pump you will most likely end up at another pump sooner, so you actually spend more money on cheaper fuel rather than save anything.

As to why the price of gasoline is going up right now, it is mostly due to the increasing demand in the U.S. (likely from children being back in school, and their parents insisting on shuttling them in their gargantuan SUVs).

Again, Brian assumes everyone outside his world drives a gargantuan SUV. Here is a list of cars that parents from my sons pre-school drives. I see them on a daily basis:

Toyota Yaris -- Me
Toyota Camry Hybrid -- Parent
Saturn Vue Hybrid -- Teacher
Toyota Yaris Sedan -- Parent
Honda Civic Hybrid -- Parent
Honda Accord -- Parent
Toyota Prius -- Parent
Toyota Prius -- Teacher

Just a short list of the ones I see on a daily basis. If your looking for more fun facts compared to the area I live in, here the zipcodes for the school and surrounding areas : 22066, 22102, 22101. I'm sure you'll find that they can afford the big SUV's and the gas in takes to run them.

Currently the gas around my house is $2.39 at the Shell. Costco is at $2.36 and so is Sheetz.

[H3LlIoN]

Originally Posted by KCALB SIRAY

Again, Brian assumes everyone outside his world drives a gargantuan SUV.

I'd be bitter too if I was from Nevada, given the reports from friends I have out that way, as well as the news. We Virginians on the other hand just got named in the top 5 states to start a biz, not that you'd want to right now.

Anyway, given that long thing about caloric content and additives and what not, what is generally accepted as the "healthiest" gas?

[BailOut]

Originally Posted by H3LlIoN

Anyway, given that long thing about caloric content and additives and what not, what is generally accepted as the "healthiest" gas?

I hate to sound like I'm endorsing any particular oil company, but here it goes. Anything in this list should do: http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

... but we hypermilers have run millions of miles of road tests and have found that Shell and Chevron consistently offer the best mileage. This has been tested to the point that whenever someone holds a fuel economy challenge, most of the contestants show up with Shell in their tank.

[fmicle]

Originally Posted by BailOut

I hate to sound like I'm endorsing any particular oil company, but here it goes. Anything in this list should do: http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

... but we hypermilers have run millions of miles of road tests and have found that Shell and Chevron consistently offer the best mileage. This has been tested to the point that whenever someone holds a fuel economy challenge, most of the contestants show up with Shell in their tank.

Okay, so I've never really believed in this before and have always used cheaper brands of gas, as long as the station looked somewhat decent. I can count on my fingers how many times I refueled from anything other than ARCO and COSTCO over the past 3 years.

I've had my Yaris for 2.5 years now and I'm approaching 20k miles on the odometer. Is there a way to check if the cheap gas did any "damage" and how can I clean it up? Will using "good gas" clean the engine over time or do I need to actually do something about it? Are the "injection cleaner" products at the gas stations any good?

I am starting to get swayed by all the arguments here and ever since I started all these projects on my Yaris, adding all the mods, I've become more aware. Just as an example, 3 weeks ago I got the first full synthetic oil exchange... since I'm revving it close to 4,500 rpm a couple of times a day

Any advice will be appreciated

[ddongbap]

Originally Posted by KCALB SIRAY

Again, Brian assumes everyone outside his world drives a gargantuan SUV. Here is a list of cars that parents from my sons pre-school drives. I see them on a daily basis:

Toyota Yaris -- Me
Toyota Camry Hybrid -- Parent
Saturn Vue Hybrid -- Teacher
Toyota Yaris Sedan -- Parent
Honda Civic Hybrid -- Parent
Honda Accord -- Parent
Toyota Prius -- Parent
Toyota Prius -- Teacher

Just a short list of the ones I see on a daily basis. If your looking for more fun facts compared to the area I live in, here the zipcodes for the school and surrounding areas : 22066, 22102, 22101. I'm sure you'll find that they can afford the big SUV's and the gas in takes to run them.

Currently the gas around my house is $2.39 at the Shell. Costco is at $2.36 and so is Sheetz.

[RUFFSTUFF]

Originally Posted by BailOut

Hi H3LlIoN,

No one has posted that because the cheapest gas is almost never the best bang for your buck. To make a long and scientific story short, the gasoline brands are usually separated by no more than the mandated additives they use. The top tier oil companies spent billions of dollars in research and development to figure out how to make those additives combustible, meaning that they do not rob the underlying gasoline of power per volume, and also burn cleaner in your engine. The cheaper providers do no such thing, so not only does their gasoline not burn as cleanly (which can leave some nasty gunk behind) but it has less caloric content per gallon, meaning you don't go as far on a tank.

All of this means that while you may find a cheaper price at a pump you will most likely end up at another pump sooner, so you actually spend more money on cheaper fuel rather than save anything.

As to why the price of gasoline is going up right now, it is mostly due to the increasing demand in the U.S. (likely from children being back in school, and their parents insisting on shuttling them in their gargantuan SUVs).

+1

People will drive out of their way to save $0.03/gal and buy shitty fuel. Doh!

And FTR, Hybrids are the biggest scam going.

[TinyGiant]

Originally Posted by RUFFSTUFF

And FTR, Hybrids are the biggest scam going.

+1 to that :)

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by RUFFSTUFF

And FTR, Hybrids are the biggest scam going.

I just don't see how they save enough to be worth the added cost. They save some gas but a hybrid SUV is kinda like ordering a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese combo and a Diet Coke-sure the Diet Coke helps some but you could of just ordered a salad...

R2

[SilverGlow]

Originally Posted by BailOut

Hi H3LlIoN,

No one has posted that because the cheapest gas is almost never the best bang for your buck. To make a long and scientific story short, the gasoline brands are usually separated by no more than the mandated additives they use. The top tier oil companies spent billions of dollars in research and development to figure out how to make those additives combustible, meaning that they do not rob the underlying gasoline of power per volume, and also burn cleaner in your engine. The cheaper providers do no such thing, so not only does their gasoline not burn as cleanly (which can leave some nasty gunk behind) but it has less caloric content per gallon, meaning you don't go as far on a tank.

All of this means that while you may find a cheaper price at a pump you will most likely end up at another pump sooner, so you actually spend more money on cheaper fuel rather than save anything.

As to why the price of gasoline is going up right now, it is mostly due to the increasing demand in the U.S. (likely from children being back in school, and their parents insisting on shuttling them in their gargantuan SUVs).

Lots of untruths here.

First off, in nearly all instances, gasoline is now a commodity, and the only difference between brand X and brand Y is additive package. The base gasoline on most instances is the same. In other words, most of the Chevron, Shell, Arco, and mom-pop gasoline comes from the exact same refineries, same pipes, same everything...again the only difference is the additive packages....some use Techron, others use chemical XYZ, but all brands have to add additives that meet the mininal requirements of the state and federal government.

Now having said all that, I buy mostly Chevron, for their flavor of additive, knowing full well the underlying base gas is the exact same as the Arcon across the street, or the Mom & Pop down the way.

When you buy gas, go for the best additive packages...really that is the only thing that differs between one brand and another.

Also, no gas company has spent "billions" on gasoline R&D....never happened...gas is not rocket science and has been around for over 100 years.

[BailOut]

Originally Posted by SilverGlow

Lots of untruths here.

First off, in nearly all instances, gasoline is now a commodity, and the only difference between brand X and brand Y is additive package. The base gasoline on most instances is the same. In other words, most of the Chevron, Shell, Arco, and mom-pop gasoline comes from the exact same refineries, same pipes, same everything...again the only difference is the additive packages....some use Techron, others use chemical XYZ, but all brands have to add additives that meet the mininal requirements of the state and federal government.

Now having said all that, I buy mostly Chevron, for their flavor of additive, knowing full well the underlying base gas is the exact same as the Arcon across the street, or the Mom & Pop down the way.

When you buy gas, go for the best additive packages...really that is the only thing that differs between one brand and another.

Also, no gas company has spent "billions" on gasoline R&D....never happened...gas is not rocket science and has been around for over 100 years.

SilverGlow,

That's quite a confusing post. Though you seem to disagree with me your entire first, second and third paragraphs confirm exactly what I said, and your statement about there not being billions spent on additive R&D is laughable.

I'm not sure where you get your information from, but as a hobbyist investor I read many company balance sheets each year. I can tell you that from the 1970's through today that each of the top tier companies has indeed spent billions of dollars in additive R&D as they show this as a justified expenditure against their market capitalization, as well as providing their prospectus with a future-positive bullet or two. Every time a fuel regulation changes there is another spate of spending.

I can also tell you that the non-top tier fuel providers simply buy their additives from a tertiary company that offers their stuff dirt cheap, and that stuff is dirt cheap because it only does just enough to meet the mandates in the cheapest way possible.

Please research this topic more before posting again.