Are all Gasoline Brands the Same

1
Are all Gasoline Brands the Same?

• Reed (CTSVETT)
• As researched on the internet

2
Exec Summary

• According to gasoline distributors, all gas is
  almost identical it is a commodity and traded as
  such
• Difference is in the additives that different
  manufacturers put in the gas
• Additives (or detergents) help keep the
  injectors/ intakes/ valves clean
• Level or station quality is also an issue
• Cheaper gas usually means cheaper additive and
  less ability to keep your fuel system clean

3
All Gas IS the same!

• The distribution of Gas occurs on a mass scale
  through national pipelines.
• All gas flows through common pipelines in the US
  to the distributors.
• All of this gas must meet the minimum Federal gas
  quality requirement
• In most cases, various brands actually are pumped
  from the same distributor
• Base gas is a freely traded commodity that must
  meet certain government specifications. It flows
  through common pipelines into commingled storage
  tanks

4
Gas DOES differ by region

• For emissions reason, there is a different
  formulation of base gas by region.

5
But it is different

• Gas Differs in the additives that are put into
  the gasoline.
• At the point of distribution (where the gas flows
  into the truck) different brands add different
  additives
• Techron, Cleantech, etc
• At a rate of measured squirt to 40 gallons
• The major brands spend R-and-D money on patented
  additives, which they add to the basic gas

6
What do the additives do

• Chevron- Techron (most expensive additive)
• keeps combustion chambers free of deposits
  while "some of" its competitors' additives will
  increase these deposits
• Additives are patented formulations of chemicals
  intended to keep Valves, Intakes, and Injectors
  clean
• Prevent build-up of varnish
• Keep car operating as designed
• Goal of additives forming less deposits when the
  gasoline burns, for better mileage, performance
  and exhaust emissions

7
What the additives are

• octane-enhancing additives ( improve octane
  ratings )
• anti-oxidants ( inhibit gum formation, improve
  stability )
• metal deactivators ( inhibit gum formation,
  improve stability )
• deposit modifiers ( reduce deposits, spark-plug
  fouling and preignition )
• surfactants ( prevent icing, improve
  vaporisation, inhibit deposits, reduce NOx
  emissions )
• freezing point depressants ( prevent icing )
• corrosion inhibitors ( prevent gasoline corroding
  storage tanks )
• dyes ( product colour for safety or regulatory
  purposes ).

8
Clogged injectors based on type of injectors

• Early Bosch style most prone to clogging
• Used until 1989
• In 1989 GM introduced the Multec injector
• Ball style spray valve
• Less prone to clogging
• Injector has very small orifice
• Very little residue can clog injectors
• Goal is to keep orifice clean and promote Cone
  shaped spray pattern for best combustion

9
What happens if the injector is Clogged

• When injector is clogged, Gas tends to stream
  versus Spray
• This causes the combustion to be less efficient
• Loss of fuel economy
• Poor performance (stuttering/loss of
  acceleration)
• Goal is a Cone shaped Spray for maximum
  efficiency

10
How to keep injectors Clean

• Using fuel tank additives (one bottle/tank)
• Expensive
• Harsh on other parts of the engine
• Ritual Cleaning of injectors
• Very expensive (requires removing the injector
  from the car and cleaning)
• New Injectors
• Up to 100 each (x the number of cylinders you
  have example 800 labor for a V8)
• Using Fuel additives (techron, etc) that promote
  cleaning injectors.
• Usually a few cents more per gallon
• Continually clean the system
• No extra effort

11
Quality of Pumping Station also an Issue

• When gas is dispensed at pump, it is run through
  filters
• Some stations use single filters others use
  double
• The more filtration the better because it removes
  impurities from the fuel before it enters your
  car
• Cheaper stations do not change the filter as
  often or use single filtration

12
Which stations Cheat on you?

• Some stations also cheat
• Sell you 87/89 instead of 91
• Improperly charge in contradiction to what the
  price is marked
• Survey paramters
• 875 stations surveyed out of population of over
  10,000 stations
• Mixed branded (Exxon, Mobil, Chevron,etc) versus
  independent stations
• Results of survey
• Branded stations have a .4 higher overall
  compliance
• Independent stations had a .47 higher chance of
  charging you more than marked
• Independents had a 10 higher storage tank
  violation- leads to dirtier gasoline
• Bottom Line DONT USE INDEPENTENTS!

Source Department of measurement standards
California
13
So, why not Arco?

• Most suppliers of quality Gasolines will
  formulate similar additives into their products,
  and cheaper product lines are less likely to have
  such additives added
• This means
• Cheaper gas cheaper additive

14
Summary

• This does not mean spend more on gas, it merely
  explains why Arco/wal-mart/etc (cheaper brands of
  gas) causes engine problems later in the cars
  life or can cause engine issues
• However, if you plan to clean your fuel system
  often or are willing to pay later, use the cheap
  gas now.
• Personally I would rather spend a few cents more
  a gallon now, than deal with expensive problems
  later down the road!
• Bottom line YOU DECIDE!!!

15
References

• What Arco Says (marketing at its finest)
• http//www.arco.com/gas/faqs.html
• What Chevron has to say
• http//www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuels/techrongas/f
  aq.shtml
• The nitty gritty of Gaoline Composition
• http//www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline-faq/part2/
  preamble.html
• The Dept of Measures Survey
• http//www.cdfa.ca.gov/dms/pdfs/P-01-2.pdf
• Articles
• http//www.jsonline.com/wheels/peak/feb03/119491.a
  sp?formatprint
• http//www.nctimes.com/news/2001/20011223/61014.ht
  ml
• What damage it causes from Yahoo Auto Repair
• http//autos.yahoo.com/repair/results/ques076.html