Costco Gasoline? Yay or Nay?

JohnnyDaJackal said:
I feel I'm never really going to get a definitive answer.
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That is the bottom line. It is all speculation at best. Just go with whatever your car likes best.
 
One of my coworker's husband drives a newer 3 series BMW. He was having trouble with the fuel pump which they fixed but they attributed it to using "cheap" gas, i.e. Kroger, Costco, etc. She had a printout of the BMW tsb and I saw it with my own eyes. It suggested using only name brand stations.



All that being said, I've used Costco gas in my cars for the last several years with no probs. I do put a bottle of Techron through every couple of months and do a Seafoam/Berrymans induction treatment once a year or so.
 
I wouldn't fill up from there but that is just me. Try it and just make sure you pay attention to your car. I use Texaco, Shell and Sunoco mostly.

BMW recommends Texaco, Shell, Chevron, Exon, Mobil and a few others.
 
sal329 said:
I wouldn't fill up from there but that is just me. Try it and just make sure you pay attention to your car. I use Texaco, Shell and Sunoco mostly.

BMW recommends Texaco, Shell, Chevron, Exon, Mobil and a few others.
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Interesting, didn't know BMW actually has gas company recommendation.
 
was curious... has anyone heard or use valero gasoline? i'm seeing more of these gas stations popping up here and there...
 
BlackElantraGT said:
Just curious, but what mods do you already have on your car for you to consider doing an ECU reflash?
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I'm actually stock, but apparently a lot of people have been getting nice gains with reflash/cai. Nothing to crazy, but noticeable differences especially in the mid range which is what I'd want. I don't rev my car high at all. I know I would get even more gains with header and exhaust, but I don't like loud exhausts and putting a race header would eliminate the cat making it impossible to pass inspection without re-doing everything.



Reflash - K20A3 Base RSX
 
Someone posted this on another forum. Though it was threadworthy here since it pertains the topic



AudiWorld Forums: Costco Response to Top Tier Gasoline Inquiry



Top Tier Gasoline



All gasoline retailers in a given market sell the same grade and quality fuel, as the government has very precise standards for octane and other gasoline characteristics. The only difference between different brands of fuel is the detergent additive package. Since 1995, the federal government requires that all gasoline sold in the U.S. contain detergent additives. These additives must be EPA-approved, and the government specifies the amount based on what it takes to keep engines free of deposits. Because it's a performance-based requirement, over the years the fuel suppliers have figured out ways to use less of these expensive additives to achieve the government standards. All Costco gasoline contains detergent additives in the amount necessary to meet these requirements.



Recently, several automakers (BMW, GM, Toyota, and Honda) announced their new "Top Tier" standard for gasoline, as they believe the government additive requirement is too low. They invited gasoline manufacturers to certify their fuel to this higher standard, and several have done so. Other major oil companies, such as BP, declined as they believe the auto manufacturers are simply trying to reduce their warranty claims. To achieve this voluntary "Top Tier" designation, all the fuel sold in the U.S. must meet the higher standard. Costco cannot currently do this as we buy from a variety of refiners and distributors around the country and do not own our own truck terminals where the additives are blended with the fuel.



Nor is it certain how much additive is really necessary to keep an engine clear of deposits. The fuel detergent is only one component, as anything that causes incomplete combustion will lead to valve deposits and fuel injector clogging. It's easy for an auto mechanic to simply declare the problem is the gasoline. So the science is uncertain, and the industry response is certainly not unanimous. Regardless, we are actively researching the issue directly with the various additive manufacturers. We are hesitant to raise the cost of fuel to our members without first understanding if this is simply a way for some brands to charge more for their fuel. We do know that we sell a tremendous amount of fuel with very few complaints.



Costco only buys fuel from reputable suppliers, and we do a very good job of maintaining our tanks and pump filters to assure clean fuel is delivered to our members. If you remain concerned about fuel deposits, Costco sells a four-pack of Chevron's Proguard fuel injector cleaner in our warehouses for about $10, or $2.50 per bottle. It's much less expensive to use a bottle of this occasionally than to buy higher priced fuel every time you fill up. Any auto parts store has a shelf full of similar products.



Again, all Costco fuel contains detergent additives sufficient to meet the government standards. As with anything we sell, our fuel is 100% guaranteed.



* Top Tier Gasoline
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From what I read, the increase in cost per gallon to become Top Tier is one penny per gallon. This was a artical about Citgo Gasoline were the Vice Presedent was interviewed, and said that they sell value, and that Top Tier would make Citgo too expensive. At the end of the interview it was said that the cost increase would be 1 cent per gallon.Heres the thing, just use what makes you happy. Its like what is the best car wax . Its a different opinium from all of us.
 
Personally I have always had doubts about the "Top Tier" designation. Maybe I have just become a skeptic in my old age but when has corporate America ever been willing to exceed government standards for the good of consumers?



I would rather put in a fuel additive myself and shop for price rather than worry about some perceived lack of quality. Just goes to show how effective marketing is when people are so convinced that there is a huge difference from one brand to another.



I think you are far better off making sure you find a station that does a good job of keeping the crap out of their tanks, maintains their filters and does a brisk business so that the fuel doesn't sit in the tanks for very long...



I strongly believe that most problems with fuel are from contamination and have nothing to do with the initial quality of the gasoline.
 
nlkccom said:
Interesting, didn't know BMW actually has gas company recommendation.
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BMW, along with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi, were part of the group that developed the "TopTier" standards. See here: Top Tier Gasoline



Seems that the EPA required levels of detergents in gasoline don't clean the engines well enough so that many newer vehicles were failing emissions tests. This group developed the TopTier certification so that the engines would continue to run well and pass emission testing.



I can attest to the difference in my RX330. If I use cheap gas the car smells of rotten eggs on moderate to hard acceleration. That doesn't happen when I use TopTier gas.



I've had the car back to Lexus and they checked that the car is in tune and it's the cheap gas that is causing the smell. They also have a TSIB stating that this is an issue with crap gas.
 
jfelbab said:
BMW, along with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi, were part of the group that developed the "TopTier" standards. See here: Top Tier Gasoline



Seems that the EPA required levels of detergents in gasoline don't clean the engines well enough so that many newer vehicles were failing emissions tests. This group developed the TopTier certification so that the engines would continue to run well and pass emission testing.



I can attest to the difference in my RX330. If I use cheap gas the car smells of rotten eggs on moderate to hard acceleration. That doesn't happen when I use TopTier gas.



I've had the car back to Lexus and they checked that the car is in tune and it's the cheap gas that is causing the smell. They also have a TSIB stating that this is an issue with crap gas.
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I have a '08 ES350, and occasionally noticed the rotten egg smell, but didn't know it was due to the type of gas I was using. Come to think of it, I haven't notice the smell for the past few weeks since I switched back from Costco to Shell.
 
All gas comes from oil, which is refined at refieriers right? well Im sure All gas comes from only a few refineriers, the diffrace is the ADDITIVES they put in or "detergents" as it seeems the web site calls it, I my self uses cervron with Techron 93+, ALSO I've been told that the only fuel that has additves in it are mid grade (89) and pre (91+) this is just what I've been told by people that work in and around refiners.
 
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