What brand of gasoline is best? - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General Area
  What brand of gasoline is best?

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   What brand of gasoline is best?

diveorfish posted 07-08-2003 03:42 PM ET (US)
Currently we have an in-depth discussion going on about what the best oil to use is. How about fuel? What is the best brand of fuel to use? Currently, I'm only putting Chevron in my boat. Is that good or bad? Does anyone know the true story on fuel?
NoviceWhaler posted 07-08-2003 08:17 PM ET (US)
In most cases, unless you live in an area with many oil refinerys nearby, one or two refinerys in the area will supply the majority of gas and diesel to all the gas stations in an area, regardless of brand. Different additives and blends of gas are delivered to a particular station, based on the particular brand of station it is (i.e. Techron added to gas for Chevron stations, etc.)
However, the blending of the fuel (adding ethanol or not, what specific octane range is allowed, etc) and the additives make a lot of difference. These are defined by the brand name of the station (i.e. Chevron, Shell, Texaco, etc.)
Most fuels will be comprable by octane, however, long-term performance issues will be what drives a "brand" of fuel to be "better" than another.
The discussion of fuel quality may end up going along the same lines as that for oil, it depends on the person's good or bad experiences to define one's preferences. However, a brand name fuel (Shell, BP, Chevron, etc) with a good quality detergent and additive mixture will give good performance in most cases. A knock-off brand without a well designed and engineered mixture is surely more likely to cause trouble in the long run.
NoviceWhaler
P.S.
My opinion here is after having worked in the oil refining industry for both Chevron and Shell.
jimh posted 07-08-2003 09:30 PM ET (US)
One of the reasons for specialty formulated oils is the gasoline that boaters must use. The gasoline is blended for automotive use. Thus the outboard makers try to blend additives in the oil (of 2-stroke engines) to compensate.
Being a trailer boater, I often buy gas for the boat on the highway. If I had a strong brand perference, it is not hard to find a station selling your preferred brand. On the water, you are at the mercy of the marina.
FLUKEDUKE posted 07-09-2003 12:25 PM ET (US)
Always looked at buying boat gas like buying beer, a good name brand at a location that moves a lot of product. Avoid marina gas if possible, higher likelyhood of getting H2O
in your tank not to mention the premium $$. The other consideration is where it originated from (crude oil).
These are DOE figures for 9/1/00 - 8/31/01.
[Moderator's note: Deleted inaccurate figures which have been widely circulated via email, also known as "urban legends." See below--jimh.]
Sal DiMercurio posted 07-09-2003 12:42 PM ET (US)
My current engine seems to digest any brand of gas, but I go out of my way to run Chevron.
My last engine, 1991 - 150 Johnson hated Shell, wouldn't run right no matter what I did, as soon as I put Chevron or Union 76 in her, she comes back to normal.
Don't ask me why because I really don't know.
Sal
NoviceWhaler posted 07-09-2003 01:09 PM ET (US)
FlukeDuke,
You can't depend on those import figures for your local branded gas. As I stated previously, nearly all gas comes from your local refinery, regardless of "brand name". Locally, we have Citgo, Sunoco, etc... gas stations, but no refinerys except Chevron and Shell.
Don't think that by buying fuel from a particular brand of station that you're avoiding imported crude.
NoviceWhaler
tomroe posted 07-09-2003 01:40 PM ET (US)
There was a hoax e-mail going around last year that quoted those same import figures. Check out:
Urban Legend of Gasoline
jimh posted 07-09-2003 11:58 PM ET (US)
Perhaps because of the popularity of Inboad/Outboard power using automotive engines, there is a specialty brand of gasoline sold around Lake Michigan that has been formulated with some sort of additive to help valve lubrication. It is more like the old leaded regular gasoline, or at least that is the claim.
Some have reported that their outboard engines did not like the faux-lead additive.
Duckin Whalers posted 07-10-2003 03:32 AM ET (US)
It might be my immagination but, I think my old 70ish Merc runs best with a bottle of octane boost and lead additive. It might just be my immagination.
Dick posted 07-10-2003 10:13 PM ET (US)
We have a fuel dock at the marina and sell only 89 octane gasoline and diesel.
I can assure you that there is no difference between service station gasoline and marina gasoline except for the price. My marina fuek is the same as dumped at the Chevron station up the street. I am paying $1.66 a gallon and they sell it at $1.89, Me at $2.19. One more good reason for a traierable boat.
I don't remember when leaded gas was dropped but engines manufactured at that time did not require leaded gas. For boaters, etc, with older engines all fuel stations sell a lead substitute to add for valve lubrication.
As for 2 strokes the loss of leaded gasoline is no big deal, the oil in the fuel lubricates everything that needs it.
Additives are added to 2 stroke oil not because of the quality of the gasoline, but to make the oil burn cleaner.
Dick

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: What brand of gasoline is best?
diveorfish	posted 07-08-2003 03:42 PM ET (US) Currently we have an in-depth discussion going on about what the best oil to use is. How about fuel? What is the best brand of fuel to use? Currently, I'm only putting Chevron in my boat. Is that good or bad? Does anyone know the true story on fuel?
NoviceWhaler	posted 07-08-2003 08:17 PM ET (US) In most cases, unless you live in an area with many oil refinerys nearby, one or two refinerys in the area will supply the majority of gas and diesel to all the gas stations in an area, regardless of brand. Different additives and blends of gas are delivered to a particular station, based on the particular brand of station it is (i.e. Techron added to gas for Chevron stations, etc.) However, the blending of the fuel (adding ethanol or not, what specific octane range is allowed, etc) and the additives make a lot of difference. These are defined by the brand name of the station (i.e. Chevron, Shell, Texaco, etc.) Most fuels will be comprable by octane, however, long-term performance issues will be what drives a "brand" of fuel to be "better" than another. The discussion of fuel quality may end up going along the same lines as that for oil, it depends on the person's good or bad experiences to define one's preferences. However, a brand name fuel (Shell, BP, Chevron, etc) with a good quality detergent and additive mixture will give good performance in most cases. A knock-off brand without a well designed and engineered mixture is surely more likely to cause trouble in the long run. NoviceWhaler P.S. My opinion here is after having worked in the oil refining industry for both Chevron and Shell.
jimh	posted 07-08-2003 09:30 PM ET (US) One of the reasons for specialty formulated oils is the gasoline that boaters must use. The gasoline is blended for automotive use. Thus the outboard makers try to blend additives in the oil (of 2-stroke engines) to compensate. Being a trailer boater, I often buy gas for the boat on the highway. If I had a strong brand perference, it is not hard to find a station selling your preferred brand. On the water, you are at the mercy of the marina.
FLUKEDUKE	posted 07-09-2003 12:25 PM ET (US) Always looked at buying boat gas like buying beer, a good name brand at a location that moves a lot of product. Avoid marina gas if possible, higher likelyhood of getting H2O in your tank not to mention the premium $$. The other consideration is where it originated from (crude oil). These are DOE figures for 9/1/00 - 8/31/01. [Moderator's note: Deleted inaccurate figures which have been widely circulated via email, also known as "urban legends." See below--jimh.]
Sal DiMercurio	posted 07-09-2003 12:42 PM ET (US) My current engine seems to digest any brand of gas, but I go out of my way to run Chevron. My last engine, 1991 - 150 Johnson hated Shell, wouldn't run right no matter what I did, as soon as I put Chevron or Union 76 in her, she comes back to normal. Don't ask me why because I really don't know. Sal
NoviceWhaler	posted 07-09-2003 01:09 PM ET (US) FlukeDuke, You can't depend on those import figures for your local branded gas. As I stated previously, nearly all gas comes from your local refinery, regardless of "brand name". Locally, we have Citgo, Sunoco, etc... gas stations, but no refinerys except Chevron and Shell. Don't think that by buying fuel from a particular brand of station that you're avoiding imported crude. NoviceWhaler
tomroe	posted 07-09-2003 01:40 PM ET (US) There was a hoax e-mail going around last year that quoted those same import figures. Check out: Urban Legend of Gasoline
jimh	posted 07-09-2003 11:58 PM ET (US) Perhaps because of the popularity of Inboad/Outboard power using automotive engines, there is a specialty brand of gasoline sold around Lake Michigan that has been formulated with some sort of additive to help valve lubrication. It is more like the old leaded regular gasoline, or at least that is the claim. Some have reported that their outboard engines did not like the faux-lead additive.
Duckin Whalers	posted 07-10-2003 03:32 AM ET (US) It might be my immagination but, I think my old 70ish Merc runs best with a bottle of octane boost and lead additive. It might just be my immagination.
Dick	posted 07-10-2003 10:13 PM ET (US) We have a fuel dock at the marina and sell only 89 octane gasoline and diesel. I can assure you that there is no difference between service station gasoline and marina gasoline except for the price. My marina fuek is the same as dumped at the Chevron station up the street. I am paying $1.66 a gallon and they sell it at $1.89, Me at $2.19. One more good reason for a traierable boat. I don't remember when leaded gas was dropped but engines manufactured at that time did not require leaded gas. For boaters, etc, with older engines all fuel stations sell a lead substitute to add for valve lubrication. As for 2 strokes the loss of leaded gasoline is no big deal, the oil in the fuel lubricates everything that needs it. Additives are added to 2 stroke oil not because of the quality of the gasoline, but to make the oil burn cleaner. Dick