Talk about top tier fuel

David G · Jan 13, 2019

I am seeing conversations referencing top tier fuel, around here there is no designation as such.

Are you talking about 91 Octane?

The manufacturers list the octane requirements in the manuals, and the engines are controlled by a computer with anti detonation logic. Why is there a need to exceed these recommendations and spend more money on better fuel?

Russ from MN · Jan 13, 2019

I have never noticed any difference in the gas we buy, I usually buy whatever is the cheapest. A tail or headwind makes a lot of difference. When we are traveling I look at gasbuddy a day ahead and plan the stops where the price is the best, and never let it get below 1/4 tank. With a 4 cylinder Subaru we don't buy a lot of gas.

M-MAN · Jan 13, 2019

The only time I have seen it is in a neighboring state at a cheap fuel station. My guess is they are trying to make you think it's as good as the Phillips 66 down the street.

jimg.allentown · Jan 13, 2019

There is no such thing as "better" fuel. It all comes straight from cracking and refining crude oil. As to quality, there is no brand that is better than another. The only difference in brands is the additives that they put into the gas.

Buying more octane than you need is purely a waste of money. Unless you have the internal parts and engine design to take advantage of extra octane, it is actually bad for your engine. Higher octane fuel burns slower. As such, it can cause internal parts of the engine to get more caked up with deposits than they would otherwise get caked up with.

The people that designed and built your engine will know more about it than anybody else on Earth. As such, their recommendations for fuel and oil should be considered the gospel truth.

If you took a gallon of the cheapest fuel that you can get and compared it to the so-called "top tier" fuel, I doubt that even a high priced laboratory could tell one from the other as far as BTU content or quality goes. As far as I am concerned, there is no such thing as "better" gas.

sourgum · Jan 13, 2019

We buy reg gas from mostly independent owned stations, they have no sign advertising top tier gas. When we stop at a name brand station (say Shell gas) they have a small sticker on the gas pump that says- top tier gas. Have also seen these stickers on Valero owned gas stations. I think this means they have added some detergent to the gas to supposedly help with fuel injector life. Whether this helps fuel injectors can t say, am not an engineer.

fixerupper · Jan 13, 2019

This brings up a question in my mind. Back 50-60 or more years ago when we in Iowa had Standard, Skelly, Shell, Mobile, Sinclair, and I’m probably forgetting a few, did these stations get their bulk fuel from their own name brand refineries only? Farmland had a refinery but I don’t know if Farmland sold only to co-ops or to anyone. Was there a no name refinery/bulk supplier in those days? The only choice we had back then was regular and the high octane ethyl. Seems to me there were different octane levels of ethyl? I wasn’t personally involved with buying gas till the late 60’s so I got in on the tail end of the big brand gasoline.

Bob · Jan 13, 2019

(quoted from post at 13:03:01 01/13/19) I am seeing conversations referencing top tier fuel, around here there is no designation as such.

Are you talking about 91 Octane?

The manufacturers list the octane requirements in the manuals, and the engines are controlled by a computer with anti detonation logic. Why is there a need to exceed these recommendations and spend more money on better fuel?

AFAIK, it's a 'brand name for the "additive package", nothing to do specifically with octane.

In my area, "CENEX" stations sell/advertise it.

Top Tier Website...

https://www.toptiergas.com/

I find it interesting when they brag about less "back of the intake valve deposits" when so many newer cars have "direct fuel injection" and gasoline newer gets to the back of the intake valves.

I have read were some direct injected gasoline car engines still inject a portion of the gasoline (through another set of injector(s)) into the plenum area just to keep the intake valves washed clean, but at a slight mileage reduction.

(The deposits come from crankcase ventilation vapors.)

"The most well-known issue that direct injection has is the injector is located behind the valve instead of in front of the valve so you don’t have that mechanical cleaning of the backside of the intake valve that you would on a multipoint injection.

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/20...e-direct-injection-issues-facts-fictions-gdi/

Glen SW Wi · Jan 13, 2019

When I worked as a Sinclair rep in the Chicago area in the 60s, Sinclair and Chevron had adjoining bulk terminals. If Chevron ran out of a gasoline they would come over to our terminal to get gasoline. And visa versa. The bulk gasoline is all made to the same specs. The additives that are added afterwards make for the difference when it is put into the tanker delivery trucks.

john in la · Jan 13, 2019

Top Tier is a additive package as all gasoline is the same.
All the major brands are top tier certified.
If you shop from a unbranded location like some pilot stores and many mom and pop places it is not certified top tier.

docmirror · Jan 13, 2019

The Top Tier fuel program was developed by auto mfgs, to guarantee a standard min fuel for their cars. Although the mfg don't require the car to use Top Tier, they certainly endorse it.

Both AAA and Consumer Reports endorse the use of Top Tier for those cars which it was developed. I don't think it is limited to a marketing hype, similar to STP back in the 60s. STP did nothing for cars lubrication, and in a few cases caused problems for some engines which were prone to sludge generation. Top Tier fuel additive package is designed to reduce carbon deposits.

Frank A · Jan 13, 2019

It has been a while but as near as I recall with the minimum standard of additives the engine should go X amount of miles and still look new on tear down. With top tier fuel it is supposed to last longer. This is just a quick explanation and not really complete but may give an idea of what its about.

oldtanker · Jan 13, 2019

Everyone can think what they want. I first noticed a difference in fuel economy driving a multi port injected 302 Ford. If I bought gas from places like Holiday, BP and Sinclair no problem. My mileage dropped 4-5 MPG with a local independent station and Cenex of all places. Same vehicle got about 3 MPG better running mid grade over regular. When we went with a newer (at the time 2000) Ford exploder really no difference between grades of gas but again reduced economy from certain stations. What that boils down to is the additive package. When we bought our first Suburban again, grade didn't matter. But I was used to burning 11 gallons of gas going to and returning from VA appointments. One evening I didn't feel like driving into a BP station to top off before an early VA appointment the next morning. Burned 18 gallons!

Now on the other hand my old gas tractors don't seem to use anymore gas no matter where I buy the gas.

Rick

Geo-TH,In · Jan 13, 2019

Fuel
GM recommends the use of TOP TIER
detergent gasoline to keep the engine
cleaner and reduce engine deposits.
See www.toptiergas.com for a list of
TOP TIER detergent gasoline
marketers and applicable countries.
Do not use any fuel labeled E85 or
FlexFuel. Do not use gasoline with
ethanol levels greater than 15% by
volume.
Use regular unleaded gasoline meeting
ASTM specification D4814 with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher.
Do not use gasoline with a posted
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico11349110) - 2018 - CRC - 9/28/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 237
octane rating of less than 87, as this
may cause engine knock and will
lower fuel economy
Go to page 236

Geo-TH,In · Jan 13, 2019

Oil Specification
Ask for and use engine oils that meet
the dexos1 specification. Engine oils
that have been approved by GM as
meeting the dexos1 specification are
marked with the dexos1 approved
logo. See www.gmdexos.com.
Caution
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico11349110) - 2018 - CRC - 9/28/17
256 VEHICLE CARE
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade
engine oil.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below −29 ?C
(−20 ?F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be
used. An oil of this viscosity grade will
provide easier cold starting for the
engine at extremely low temperatures.
When selecting an oil of the
appropriate viscosity grade, it is
recommended to select an oil of the
correct specification. See
?Specification? earlier in this section
go to page 256

WayneLee · Jan 13, 2019

I noticed when buying Caseys or Hy Vee my mileage goes into the toilet. I usually use Shell as its
the closest station.

whereswaldo · Jan 13, 2019

Back in the 50's, my Dad drove for Ruan (Iowa) and filled the tanker at Great Lakes Pipeline (Now Williams Brothers). He'd stop at various stations and told me DX was the ONLY delivery that had him add a 5 gallon can of additive. Remember DX's motto? 'It's Lubricating'. Standard Oil had their own pipeline and he never delivered there.

Talk about top tier fuel

David G

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Russ from MN

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M-MAN

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jimg.allentown

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sourgum

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fixerupper

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Bob

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Glen SW Wi

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john in la

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docmirror

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Frank A

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oldtanker

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Geo-TH,In

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Geo-TH,In

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WayneLee

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whereswaldo

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