I thought the feds regulated a minimum amount of detergency additives in all gasoline?

 

Nope. Many many years ago there used to be Shell here. PCan stations were all converted to North Atlantic Petroleum about 5 years ago I think.

So we have a wonderful choice:

ESSO
Ultramar
North Atlantic
Irving Oil
an occasional independent

Don't know that ESSO was the dirtiest, but they used to be one of the highest in sulfar content.

 

Yes Lone ranger, the EPA requires all gas to contain detergents, but the minimum is so small that some lesser brands don't offer you the benefit of the detergents. I remember seeing a station in Nevada called "Two Stiffs Selling Gas". Obviously NOT a top tier brand. I was very surprised to see KwikTrip listed as a top brand. We here in Wisconsin see it as a cheapy brand.

 

How old is that list? I thought Shell had bought/merged w/ Texaco, and now all the stations are operated as Shell.

 

Here's some info that might shed some light on your question jx3.

N RAMON, Calif., June 30, 2006 - Chevron today announced that it is gaining exclusive rights to the Texaco brand for retail locations in the United States on July 1, 2006. Following the company's 2001 merger with Texaco, Chevron was required to license the Texaco retail brand to Shell in the United States for the marketing and sale of gasoline through June 30, 2006. Chevron and Shell have shared rights to use the Texaco brand in the United States since July 1, 2004, when Shell's Texaco brand license became nonexclusive.

http://www.texaco.com/about/news_press_063006.asp

 

Thanks Deb.

 

BP Amoco is probably not listed with Top Tier because it is partnered with Ford Motor Company, which prints "Ford recommends BP" right on the gas cap, and Ford is not part of Top Tier.

Top Tier is made up of General Motors, Toyota, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen and Audi.

Both competing groups will tell you their gasoline is high quality fuel of course.

In fact, BP says In terms of cleaning formula, Amoco Ultimate meets the Top Tier program specifications. Top Tier is only about cleaning formula and is not a comprehensive measure of fuel quality or performance. Amoco Ultimate goes beyond Top Tier by removing deposit-forming impurities at the refinery, exceeding industry standards for drivability.

(Note that Conoco Phillips makes Ford Motorcraft oil yet their gas is listed as Top Tier.)

 

Amoco Ultimate is 93 grade premium though. I wonder if their reg unleaded 87 octane has the same level of additives? I bought plenty of their Ultimate, though, when I had my Vette.

 

I guess there are no Gulf Gas Stations around anymore since no one mentioned it after I first asked the question! Guess they were part of some merger years ago. Just like Tydol disappeared years and years ago, probably back in the late 40s or the 50s? That must have been just an East Coast brand. I think the name was an acronym for Tidewater Oil

 

Good question. All grades probably have the same additives but BP wants to promote the premium brand.