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quality or cheap gas?

11331 Views 27 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  Johnnyk
When I first purchased my car, the sales person told me that this car is made to run on the cheapest gas!

Is this true? Anyone still use quality gas such as chevron/shell or cheap it out?
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The sales guy probably meant it runs on regular and not premium like the rest of the Lexus line. I buy Costco gas about as cheap as they com in terms of price. Most gas comes from the same refinery and the individual brands then add their own additives.
I always fill up at Chevron, QT, or Costco and always get "regular" grade
I use only Shell when I can. It's better for your car in the long run, and highly recommended by my Lexus service manager.
This has been the subject of a long thread. The views range from "You can see the trucks filling up at the same tanks, so buy the cheapest!" to "Nothing for the best for my baby, I buy premium, name brand gas and a few extra cents doesn't bother me!" I lean toward the first view, but I mostly watch out for places that look like they don't maintain their stations very well, I am concerned with letting contaminants in the fuel, but frankly it has been a long time since I got a load of bad gas. Gas companies make enough money without my helping them.
By cheap gas, he just meant the 87 octane (regular) gas. I get my gas at Chevron because of their additives are supposed to be one of the best. I used to work at a Shell gas station, and you don't really get "Shell" gas. The same gas truck that deliver gas to our station also deliver to 76 gas station down the street. And the same goes to 87, 89, and 93 octane tanks. The only difference is the additives being mixed in with the generic gas when the truck fills up the tanks.
Been using Chevron for my vehicles for the last 32 years and never had a problem. I agree with KKM base blends are relatively the same it is the additives that make the difference.
The only really important road vehicle fuel variable for consumers is the octane number. Fuel 'additives' are much like snake oil, marketing ploys to make you feel good about a particular version of a generic product. My car is immune to the alleged benefits of additives, because they only work if you believe in them. :rolleyes:

I would advise rational consumers to not fret over brands or additives and just buy fuel with the minimum required octane rating at a good price. In modern, regularly driven cars, using fuel with a higher octane rating than needed is completely useless and wasteful.
I never had a problem with any brand of gas I ever used in any car I've ever owned. So it could be a brand name like Shell or BP or off brand like QT or Racetrack. Cars run the same. Like everyong else said, it runs on regular 87 octane.
The biggest reason to go to a station like Chevron and Shell is there will be no lines and the mini mart is probably nicer. The difference in quality of gas is negligible. And like others have said, note the trucks unloading new fuel. It's most likely Western Refining or another generic refinery truck.
The only really important road vehicle fuel variable for consumers is the octane number. Fuel 'additives' are much like snake oil, marketing ploys to make you feel good about a particular version of a generic product. My car is immune to the alleged benefits of additives, because they only work if you believe in them. :rolleyes:

I would advise rational consumers to not fret over brands or additives and just buy fuel with the minimum required octane rating at a good price. In modern, regularly driven cars, using fuel with a higher octane rating than needed is completely useless and wasteful.
Hear hear!
I've had experience in the past once of going to an independent small petrol station and right after fuelling experienced engine pinging as I drove of.
So since then I only fill up from reputable petrol stations.
For me, it's just not worth it saving a few cents or a dollar. But that's just me.
You spend more to get a CT200H so it deserves the best.
Another Costco gas customer here. I show up at 6am on my way to work once or twice a week, and there are no lines.
I use a Mobil that is right down the street. Across the street is an Arco which is usually cheaper by 5 to 10 cent. I just refuse to stand in these triple long line at all the stations there at Arco. At about 10 cents a gallon I am paying a dollar extra, Take My Money. I don't do long lines for 10 cents a gallon savings.
I use a Mobil that is right down the street. Across the street is an Arco which is usually cheaper by 5 to 10 cent. I just refuse to stand in these triple long line at all the stations there at Arco. At about 10 cents a gallon I am paying a dollar extra, Take My Money. I don't do long lines for 10 cents a gallon savings.
A perfectly reasonable position. Time is money! I just don't understand those people who claim that they are getting some sort of benefit from paying too much that involves the "quality" of the fuel. Theoretically possible, but not likely and even less likely to be recognized by us.
I've been using cheap gas from Costco or Superstore (grocery store in Canada) since I bought our CT a year ago. About a month ago I started having a "rotten egg" smell coming from my car on quite a regular basis for about a month straight. After googling the problem, cheap gas can give off a sulfur smell. I've switched to Shell V Power for my past 4 tanks of gas... and I haven't had the smell since. Maybe it'll come back... maybe this isn't the fix... but it seems to be doing the trick so far.
I was a huge Chevron fan boy until one day I gave costco a try. Long story short, no negative impact to mpgs, no diff in performance, no odors/smells. Using mmo additive (marvel mystery oil) I was able to achieve an extra 1-2 mpg according to my fuelly.com data

Every 10 gals of gas, i add 4 oz of mmo (less than $0.25). I find it more cost effective compared to the nearest chevron/techcron (or any "top tier fuel" station within a 5 mile radius) where the price gap is a good $0.20/gal more for the name brand stuff


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Been using Shell gas since I purchased ( Aug. 2011 ) the CT. From time to time I have also smelled that " rotten egg " smell, so don't think gas is the answer. Haven't had it now for several months so not sure what it is.
I've been using cheap gas from Costco or Superstore (grocery store in Canada) since I bought our CT a year ago. About a month ago I started having a "rotten egg" smell coming from my car on quite a regular basis for about a month straight. After googling the problem, cheap gas can give off a sulfur smell. I've switched to Shell V Power for my past 4 tanks of gas... and I haven't had the smell since. Maybe it'll come back... maybe this isn't the fix... but it seems to be doing the trick so far.
Did you use their regular, mid-grade or premium V Power? I've been using the premium V Power (15 cents more per litre here in Saskatoon, Sk. Canada compared to regular) during my fill ups. Here in Canada regular and mid-grade can have up to 10% ethanol whereas premium has none. I'll keep my nose on things for now.... no warning light has come on... but man does that sulphur smell stink. I'm just wondering how many people have this issue. Does the CT have trouble burning off the sulphur in the additives?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that using petrol blended with ethanol does not really provide any financial advantage because the vehicle consumes more thereby negating any advantage over petrol with no ethanol at all. The jury is still out on this but I personally do not fill up any of my cars with ethanol-blended fuel. And I only go to reputable petrol stations.
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