[ShelJW]

Picking up my MG M2 in a couple of hours and just wondering of most of you on here use Shell V Power?

Does it really make a difference? Worth driving around looking for a Shell station, or is any premium gas fine?

Just wondering what other people's thoughts are....

Thanks in advance!

[Saberwalk]

Don't know if it makes a difference, but it is what I use 90% of the time. Other times, I use Exxon's or BP's 93 Octane. I am sure there are tons of threads on this or other forums on gasolines. The truth is that depending on you location most of the base gasoline or Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygen Blending (RBOB) in your area will come from the same terminal and originate from a variety of sources, shipped in by barge, truck or pipeline. The RBOB must conform to baseline API standards (can't remember off the top of my head) and the various sources may or may not get mixed into the same tank at the terminal depending on the fuel's owner and the contract with the terminal. The real difference between brands is in the additive packages that are added to the fuel, although the oxygenate component (typically ethanol) will be the biggest component. I cannot readily get my hand on the typical breakdown but you are talking about differences in ingredients of very small percentages.

[BMWPWR18]

I use what BMW recommends, and that's V-Power. Install the shell app and you can easily find the cheapest premium around your location. Also don't forget about the fuel rewards https://www.fuelrewards.com/gold

[JTPitsch]

I live in Los Angeles as well and I will usually go with Chevron. But I just try and stick to the same gas station as much as possible.

[Tag]

Costco FTW

https://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/

[DanG]

I use ARCO. It is a top tier gas.

[BishUK]

VPower makes quite a difference, c18bhp according to two separate dyno dynamic runs (same one used) I did vs Esso premium. Only ever have VPower now.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by JTPitsch

I live in Los Angeles as well and I will usually go with Chevron. But I just try and stick to the same gas station as much as possible.

I been going to Chevron as well in CA. Doing some online research I don't think there is much of a difference if any in CA when it comes to Shell vs Chevron?

[qnet]

I hadn't heard of this. I use Costco but will seek out Shell v-power also.

[oolas3]

Sometimes Shell but otherwise always Top Tier gas brand.

[doug_999]

See Tag 's post. Top tier is all you need.

Ps I use shell but that's cause it is on the way to work

[greasypeanut]

I use Costco. There were enough posts in this forum plus other forums that supported the use of Costco gas with no issues. What I like about Costco is that I believe them to have the "freshest" gas due to the volume. Freshness matters

I haven't noticed any difference at all, except that each gas trip now ends with a churro or slice of pizza in my stomach.

[lax01]

FWIW, I didn't notice ANY difference running 100 octane on a stock tune vs. 91 (and this was at the track so I was driving the car hard)

So I seriously doubt there is any difference between the different top-tier 91 octane brands (Chevron, Shell, etc)

[young1]

Yep 100% of the time (I do worry about valve deposits as there are no port injectors in this engine)... Shell V-Power reportedly has the best additive/detergent currently available... Chevron Techron now #2... I previously used it 100% in my M3 until V-Power was released.

NOTE: Gas is always from the same source within the same region... the only thing that differentiates brands is the additive/detergent package. Non top-tier brands have no additives.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by greasypeanut

I use Costco. There were enough posts in this forum plus other forums that supported the use of Costco gas with no issues. What I like about Costco is that I believe them to have the "freshest" gas due to the volume. Freshness matters

I haven't noticed any difference at all, except that each gas trip now ends with a churro or slice of pizza in my stomach.

May I ask what is wrong with the hot dog?

[ShelJW]

Originally Posted by doug_999

May I ask what is wrong with the hot dog?

That's going to be my next question...

When you refill at Costco, do you get:

1. Pizza
2. Churro
3. Hot dog

Thanks for the responses! Guess I'm going to give Shell a try....

[KevM2]

Only Shell V power

[RAM_F30_F87]

Like BMWPWR18, I've only used Shell VPower with the discount.
I add Chevron Techron (supposedly the same as BMW) to a full tank before the M2 goes into it's 3 month winter storage.
I've always used top tier Premium for 6 years in my 328i, but lately I've been using 91 Octane Ethanol-free available from the following.
U.S. gas, except possibly for California, can have up to 10% Ethanol in it.
I haven't decided yet if I want to try it in the M2.
https://vpracingfuels.com/vp-branded-gas-stations/

[Spartan King]

Originally Posted by BMWPWR18

I use what BMW recommends, and that's V-Power. Install the shell app and you can easily find the cheapest premium around your location. Also don't forget about the fuel rewards https://www.fuelrewards.com/gold

This

[Nezil]

Costco is way way cheaper than the 5c that Fuel Rewards gets you with V-Power, and that's before the 4% cashback on fuel you also get by using the Costco Credit Card.

I think if I was in another state, or country, I might use V-Power, but in California, where what's classed as Premium is 10% Ethanol 91 AKI, I don't think there is much difference between Costco and V-Power.

I gave Shell a try for a few weeks and didn't notice any difference to mpg or performance, so I'm switching back; first Costco fill-up was this morning.

P.S. When I lived in the UK, I used to drive an S2000 and always filled that with V-Power. At that time though, there was no Ethanol in the fuel, and if I remember correctly was 99 RON, which is roughly equivalent to 94 AKI. That was a good fuel!

[ZM2]

My MINI JCW’s didn’t run well on Costco gas. Haven’t had any problems with Shell.

[Nezil]

Originally Posted by ZM2

Costco gas gave my MINI JCW’s issues. Haven’t had any problems with Shell.

The problem is that this is likely all state dependent, and maybe even county dependent.

It's quite possible that Costco in DC is not as good as Shell, but Costco in the Bay Area is no better than Shell. I'm not saying that is the case, but it's definitely possible.

I saw a comment from a Brit earlier, and like I said, V-Power in the UK, and in Europe, is way better than any V-Power in the US. V-Power in California may be the worst V-Power in the world, but it's still called V-Power!