Gas station selection

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » July 11, 2005, 3:38 pm

Just curious because my wife was the energy reporter for Dow Jones and tried to avoid her "bad company" list. I recently switched to another company on her list but was a clean fuel company as awarded by a panel of specific automakers for their entire line at all stations.

Besides, prices are ridiculous even in NJ where it's typically lower than the national average so I am beginning to see cars lined up at Raceways and other such bottom feeders

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » July 11, 2005, 3:41 pm

Low price but not Wawa water. Typically Citgo around here.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » July 11, 2005, 4:01 pm

Sams and Shell are cheapest around here lately, my Toyota pings\rattles on anything but super so it's really getting to suck filling it up.

Racetrack is the only place I've ever gotten a "bad" tank of gas.

I go to Exxon for diesel as it's on the way to the interstate. Gogo 45+ mpg

Sendarie · Post by **Sendarie** » July 11, 2005, 4:43 pm

Aabidano: If your car doesnt recommend running super and your running it anyway you are going to wind up frying the abstrate in your cat (see mildly expensive fix).
If your detonating (pings/rattles) you better get that looked into while its still fixable otherwise time for a new motor.

I only put the best available in my car, Mobil if I can find it but most of the time premium Citgo.

As with all other things you get what you pay for.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » July 11, 2005, 5:22 pm

I vote "None of the Above"

I generally get gas at Shell because I have a Shell card.

Otherwise, I avoid the super-cheap places because I don't trust them - Like Astro, etc.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » July 11, 2005, 6:02 pm

If i can, i buy gas at either membership warehouse thing i'm a member at (Costco, BJs), but better than 75% of the time i buy gas at a gas station when i'm low.

If price isnt an issue, i lean towards Chevron, because a family member works for them. but i am happy at BP, Mobil, etc. i don't get gas at the cheaper places like QT. though i have no factual basis for my opinion, i am suspicious of the quality of gasoline at those places.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » July 11, 2005, 6:09 pm

I can't pick any of those. I just buy gas when I need gas. I could care less what the company's name is who is selling it to me and I'm not going out of my way for 5 cents a gallon difference.

Noysyrump · Post by **Noysyrump** » July 11, 2005, 6:32 pm

AMPM/arco , there cheap and they take my bank card.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » July 11, 2005, 6:32 pm

Sendarie wrote:If your detonating (pings/rattles) you better get that looked into while its still fixable otherwise time for a new motor.

I've got 10.5:1 compression, tuned properly it's going to ping at sea level without high test. In cool (for FL) weather I can run mid grade but the mileage goes down a bit since the computer has to retard the timing to keep it from knocking. It's been the same way for 135k miles.

87 octane runs great in my two other vehicles, if you don't need it premium\high test gets you nothing. The same additives are in all of it

Fash · Post by **Fash** » July 11, 2005, 6:33 pm

seconded... missing the 'station that is closest when running on fumes' option.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » July 11, 2005, 6:36 pm

Actually, if your engine doesn't require it, adding high octane actually causes buildup because it cannot completely combust the fuel. Remember Gimpy? His old t-bird was getting carbon buildup someplace, and the folks at the Ford dealership told him to stop using premium.

Mr Bacon · Post by **Mr Bacon** » July 11, 2005, 6:51 pm

I pretty much go to the same exact station every time regardless of price (usually).

It's fast - and I don't mind paying an extra 10 cents. I can't stand people who drive around town for an hour trying to find the gas station that's 2 cents cheaper. FFS people 2 freakin cents. When you're buying 20 gallons that's still nothing.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » July 11, 2005, 6:54 pm

I usually go to Exxon, yea hate the company but their gas has always seemed the best. Went to a Shell station down the road for a while but I get better gas mileage on Exxon 93 than Shell 93, no idea why... The Exxon station is on the way to work, I know the owner and they have biscuits and gravy for breakfast... that plays a part as well

And yes my car takes 93 Octane, actually it's designed for higher but 93 is best we can get here in the US.

Marb

Clatis · Post by **Clatis** » July 11, 2005, 7:09 pm

1.93 up at the Sheetz

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » July 11, 2005, 8:45 pm

On the way back from vacation I stopped at Crazy D's and filled up. Can't be too picky in the middle of the night with your Low Fuel light on.

Was $2.39 I believe for 87.

Sendarie · Post by **Sendarie** » July 11, 2005, 10:27 pm

Aabidano wrote:I've got 10.5:1 compression, tuned properly it's going to ping at sea level without high test. In cool (for FL) weather I can run mid grade but the mileage goes down a bit since the computer has to retard the timing to keep it from knocking. It's been the same way for 135k miles.

87 octane runs great in my two other vehicles, if you don't need it premium\high test gets you nothing. The same additives are in all of it

Nothing should ever ping at any level if tuned properly. Maybe we are misunderstanding each other. What exactly do you mean by "ping"?
I'm thinking with the way you explained it earlier you are talking about some mild detonation (sounds a little like rocks rattling around in a empty coffee can). That is not cool under any circumstances.
Not throwing any codes?
Maybe its just lifter tick or something... /shrug.

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » July 12, 2005, 2:14 am

Gasoline is a commodity. Unless there's a particular brand or dealer that outright sucks quality or service wise, just get what's convenient.

I tend to buy at Sams Club because it's pseudo cheap, but when you're buying 87 for a sedan, there's not a huge price diference here in Ohio that I've seen, so you're talking under a dollar difference on a fillup in most cases.

So it really doesn't matter to me.

My Dad used to own a Citgo, and they always got thier oil from Venezuela. I always filled up at his station for free when I was in Acworth GA, but since I live in Columbus OH, it wasn't a big factor in my budget. Well anyway, he sold the station for a hefty profit - so I guess I better take an extra $25 the next time I drive down there.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 12, 2005, 5:33 am

I don't really look at the prices. Convenience is more important. I go to the gas station that's closest to my home or work that requires the fewest left hand turns.

Hoarmurath · Post by **Hoarmurath** » July 12, 2005, 9:42 am

I guess I'm pretty lucky in that there is a Costco that can be considered pretty close to "on the way home". Normally I don't care to save a couple of pennies, but Costco is 10 cents cheaper than the places that are more convenient. Sure, that only comes out to about $50 per year in savings for my car, but my wife wants to go to Costco so damn often anyway that it makes it convenient.

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » July 12, 2005, 10:13 am

I go wherever is closer. If I notice I need gas, I'm pulling in the next one I see.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » July 12, 2005, 10:28 am

Sendarie wrote:Nothing should ever ping at any level if tuned properly. Maybe we are misunderstanding each other. What exactly do you mean by "ping"?
I'm thinking with the way you explained it earlier you are talking about some mild detonation (sounds a little like rocks rattling around in a empty coffee can). That is not cool under any circumstances.

We're talking about the same thing, it can be caused by overheating, tuning or incorrect fuel grade.

In higher compression engines the fuel will detonate if the octane rating is too low, causing a rattle\knock or whatever you want to call it. Your average engine is around 8 to 8.5:1, it won't have detonation problems with 87 octane fuel if tuned properly. Higher performance motors frequently have higher compression and require increased octane ratings to prevent detonation, especially in very hot weather. It's a physical issue with the engine's design and fuel's explosibility and not related to tuning.

Tuning will only fix a rattle that's due to pre-ignition caused by ignition system components (afik).

Higher octane fuel is less explosive than lower and also has a slightly slower burn rate.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » July 12, 2005, 10:41 am

I mostly buy gas at the place up the street mainly because it is the closest. However they don't have a carwash so when I need one of those I go across the street to the other gas station. Gas is 2.39 here now. I am milking the last of my 1/4 tank in hopes it may drop by this weekend.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » July 12, 2005, 10:51 am

I play the comodity market...ie I wait for a transient dip/price war and fill up at one of several stations nearby when they go after each other. I bias towards the majors. Locally I will hit a shell, exxon, citgo typically.

On the road I tend to hit the visibally best maintained major at a given exit.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » July 20, 2005, 11:20 am

Sirensa wrote:I vote "None of the Above"

I generally get gas at Shell because I have a Shell card.

Otherwise, I avoid the super-cheap places because I don't trust them - Like Astro, etc.

Same here. I do however refuse to go to Exxon or Mobile (since Exxon bought them). I'll run out of gas first before using them. I have a Shell card so I go to them almost exclusively unless I happen to get low and there's not one close. Cheveron is a second choice but there's not that many around, then Texaco since my Shell card works there.

VeeshanVault

Gas station selection

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Gas station selection