[j2dad5389]

At my local HEB one here in Texas. It always pops up before I go to fill up with some 93 and I debate every time on doing it. Is it a hoax or actually good for your car? The scary part is it doesn't say how much ti costs either so I'm hesitant to do it

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[morphomeman]

Is HEB fuel certified as Top Tier? Those that are certified probably contain this voodoo juice to begin with. In all my many years, I have never seen such a thing. But then again, I have never driven a car in Texas.

[j2dad5389]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

Is HEB fuel certified as Top Tier? Those that are certified probably contain this voodoo juice to begin with. In all my many years, I have never seen such a thing. But then again, I have never driven a car in Texas.

I highly doubt it. I'd say it's middle tier quality. Shell and Chevron might be the best. I just go there because it's usually 10-13 cents cheaper than the competitors.

[sandrik93]

This is the good stuff. Haven't tried myself but have only heard positive reviews..
Unfortunately they don't have the US distributors, yet.
https://atomiumshop.eu/

[chattanooga240]

Pass, that is that cheap garbage at walmart gas stations.

[morphomeman]

You are being penny wise and pound foolish, trying to save by buying an inferior product and then being tempted to juice it up with additives.
As has been discussed many times on this forum, the least expensive Top Tier certified brand is Costco, so if there is one near you and you are a member, try that. If not, look for other Top Tier certified brands but stay away from the garbage.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by j2dad5389

Is it a hoax or actually good for your car?

I don't think it's a hoax; instead, it's for owners who don't know about gasoline additives. Those that do generally purchase 'Top Tier Gasolines': https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/. These gasolines have the additives that BMW expects to be in the fuel we use.

If we choose to use brands that skimp on buying an additive package so they can present us with a lower price at the pump, BMW has their Fuel System Cleaner Plus for us to use every 3,000 miles: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...z/82140413341/. The part number is 82140413341 if you want to shop around for some.

More technical information on BMW Fuel System Cleaner Plus here: https://store.vacmotorsports.com/bmw...ner-p2250.aspx.

FWIW, some drivers use both Top Tier gasoline and the fuel system cleaner. I run Shell V-Power and pop a container of BMW's Fuel System Cleaner Plus in every 5,000 miles.

[Throttlesteer14]

Much like oil, I think a lot of oxygen is spent arguing the quality of gasoline and additive packages. Believe it or not, the gasoline all comes from the same handful of places. The additive packages are a bit different, but not to the point where you're going to have major differences in performance (assuming you're running premium). Additive packages generally contain many of the same ingredients from one to the next. The few capfuls of this stuff in your gasoline isn't going to make the difference to your car throwing a rod at 60k or going 200k. I'm much more concerned about the 10% ethanol in my gas than which additive package is better than the other.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Throttlesteer14

I'm much more concerned about the 10% ethanol in my gas than which additive package is better than the other.

I think the subject started out along the lines of additive package vs. no additive package. At least that's how I interpreted it.

[Throttlesteer14]

Originally Posted by dradernh

I think the subject started out along the lines of additive package vs. no additive package. At least that's how I interpreted it.

Agreed, but then it steered down the top-tier direction and get your gas at Shell, Chevron, Costco, etc... All I'm saying is your average gasoline (top-tier or el cheapo) has plenty of additives to prevent gumming and deposits. Spending the additional money on mouse milk added at the pump is no different than paying an extra 50 cents a gallon because of brand X's V-additechroboost. Walmart gasoline is probably just fine and you're going to see little if any difference than pumping Shell.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Throttlesteer14

Agreed, but then it steered down the top-tier direction and get your gas at Shell, Chevron, Costco, etc... All I'm saying is your average gasoline (top-tier or el cheapo) has plenty of additives to prevent gumming and deposits. Spending the additional money on mouse milk added at the pump is no different than paying an extra 50 cents a gallon because of brand X's V-additechroboost. Walmart gasoline is probably just fine and you're going to see little if any difference than pumping Shell.

Got it. Call me silly, but I'm going to go with BMW on this one.

[Rocky58]

My understanding is that TopTier gasolines do have to meet a minimum standard of additives, basically detergents. The price difference between Top Tier and no-name gasoline is often not that much. Costco, Marathon, Sinclair are all Top Tier. AAA did a study that claims significant differences over a short period in terms of engine buildup:

For its test, the lab operated an engine continuously for 100 hours on a cycle to represent 4,000 real-miles of use. The engine was then disassembled, photographed, and its key components weighed and measured to determine the thickness of carbon deposits. Six fuels were used, randomly selected and split among three basic gasoline sources and three Top Tier.

The results showed that on average, Top Tier gasoline had 19 times fewer carbon deposits on injectors, intake valves, and in the combustion chamber when compared to regular gasoline.

AAA also found Top Tier gasoline can have a cleansing effect, reducing intake valve deposits by 45 to 72 percent when used over a 5,000-mile interval. Variation in the results is attributed to the detergents used by different brands.

Further, analyzing gas prices over a 12-month period found just a three cent price difference between non-Top Tier and Top Tier gasoline.

https://www.extremetech.com/wp-conte...t-640x1138.jpg

[morphomeman]

Wow, that pretty much nails it.
Thanks for the post!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Rocky58

AAA did a study that claims significant differences over a short period in terms of engine buildup.

Thanks for the reminder – I now recall seeing excerpts from that study. It can be found in its entirety here: https://www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/f...ull-Report.pdf.

This Car and Driver piece that provides a bit of background may be of interest, too: https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...-stuff-column/.

One thing I've noticed about Top Tier gasolines over the years is how many more of them there are every time I look at the list. It was just the majors in the beginning – maybe five or six, IIRC, and now there are many times that number.

[harma24]

Originally Posted by Throttlesteer14

Much like oil, I think a lot of oxygen is spent arguing the quality of gasoline and additive packages.

Sorry Throttle, I've seen the effect of Top Tier first hand. 7 years with my Prelude going to mostly Shell and Mobile, no issues. Moved to a new house and the closest station was a discount brand. Within 4 years, I had carbon deposit issues in the Prelude and another car. Started going back to Shell and 7 years later I haven't had another issue with any of our cars. Prior to my Prelude, I never had an issue or recall my parents having issues with their cars running a mix of Shell and Mobile.

I won't even put the cheap stuff in my lawn mower now.

[j2dad5389]

Dang, I had no idea top tier gas can make such a difference on a car. Thanks for the input everyone. I think from here on out I'm going to get top tier fuel only. I've noticed my car will often buck and kick on a cold start going from 1st to 2nd gear. I doubt it's from the gas I'm using, but maybe so? I'm going to run this tank empty and then fill up with some Shell and see if it makes a difference.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by j2dad5389

I'm going to run this tank empty and then fill up with some Shell and see if it makes a difference.

If you get two bottles of BMW's fuel system cleaner and put them in back-to-back empty fuel tanks, you'll speed up whatever effect you're going to experience from moving to Top Tier gasoline, and it might speed up how soon you see a difference

[Rocky58]

Originally Posted by dradernh

If you get two bottles of BMW's fuel system cleaner and put them in back-to-back empty fuel tanks, you'll speed up whatever effect you're going to experience from moving to Top Tier gasoline, and it might speed up how soon you see a difference

Yes, our Subaru starting making some noises going uphill after a few months of grocery chain gas. It took a couple of months of better gas before it went away. I think once the deposits are really built up, it is going to take more and just rinsing it with new gas is not going to really work.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Rocky58

Yes, our Subaru starting making some noises going uphill after a few months of grocery chain gas. It took a couple of months of better gas before it went away. I think once the deposits are really built up, it is going to take more and just rinsing it with new gas is not going to really work.

The AAA study I linked-to above indicates that the additives in TT gas will do a decent job of cleaning up the engine internals of cars that have been run for quite a few miles on lower quality gas. Specifically,

"Gasolines with an enhanced additive package demonstrated a clean-up performance (reduction of intake valve deposits) ranging from 45 percent to as much as 72 percent in the 5,000-mile [clean-up] test. The variation in cleaning performance was primarily based on the concentration of the additive package in the fuel."

[j2dad5389]

Alright, you guys are good salesmen and convincers. I went out and bought 3 of these suckers lol. Put the first one on top of my current fuel. Next one is going in my next fill up. Then the following one. I hope this can get me up to speed with all the poor quality fuel I've put into my car.

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[dradernh]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

As has been discussed many times on this forum, the least expensive Top Tier certified brand is Costco

Yeah.

I wish my local Costcos weren't as far away as they are, as I'm generally paying over 50¢ more for Shell V-Power than if I was willing to spend 40 minutes more to go get gas at the nearest Costco. Maybe I just need to work that Costco fuel station into my periodic car-exercise sessions.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Yeah.

I wish my local Costcos weren't as far away as they are, as I'm generally paying over 50¢ more for Shell V-Power than if I was willing to spend 40 minutes more to go get gas at the nearest Costco. Maybe I just need to work that Costco fuel station into my periodic car-exercise sessions.

Get your paper towels, TP, cereal, soft drinks, etc at the same time and it's worth the trip!