# Does brand of gasoline really matter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2008, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179 "2008-12-30T05:39:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/21 "2009-01-07T03:07:26Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > Are the Shell and Chevron adding more ethanol? Lots of places have 10% ethanol added to gasoline. I honestly have no idea. But I’d much prefer to get Chevron since in my town it’s the same price as the ‘cheap’ gas and it’s better for my car. But the gas mileage difference is enough to make sure I stay with the cheap place. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/22 "2009-01-07T15:32:55Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > I honestly have no idea. But I’d much prefer to get Chevron since in my town it’s the same price as the ‘cheap’ gas and **it’s better for my car**. But the gas mileage difference is enough to make sure I stay with the cheap place. Not if it has ethanol in it. There should be a sticker on the pump, I try to avoid those places. It’s awesome now, ethanol is more expensive than gasoline, so it’s easier to find the places that use 100% gas (or, at least more pleasurable!). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/23 "2009-01-07T15:52:16Z")
Every station here has 10% ethanol. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/24 "2009-01-07T16:05:23Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > Not if it has ethanol in it. There should be a sticker on the pump, I try to avoid those places. It’s awesome now, ethanol is more expensive than gasoline, so it’s easier to find the places that use 100% gas (or, at least more pleasurable!). Well next time I gas up I’ll check. I use the cheap stuff for my car and my mom insists on Chevron for hers so I’ll compare. It’ll be interesting to find out since I had no idea about certain places using Ethanol. Living in Oregon you usually don’t pay too much mind to what’s posted on the pumps since you normally never even get out of your car. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/25 "2009-01-07T17:41:32Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > I dunno, I hear people say there’s no difference but there is a definite difference in my gas mileage depending on where I fuel up. Shell and Chevron give me about 20mpg however the ‘cheap’ gases like AMPM give me a good 23-25mpg. Just curious, how did you figure this out? (How many tanks of each did you use for your tests?) ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/26 "2009-01-07T17:44:59Z")
I thought all gas now had 5 or 10% ethanol (depending on winter or summer blend) as a replacement for MTBE which is a now-outlawed octane booster. Is this not the case? FWIW, Rob ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/27 "2009-01-07T17:59:00Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Just curious, how did you figure this out? (How many tanks of each did you use for your tests?) I personally use the GPM calculator on my car. I average about three or for MPG less in my car than **AngelSoft** does, but the results are similar for gasoline vs. ethanol blends. I stare at the thing all the time, resetting it sometimes, letting it run for a tank at others. The results are pretty consistent. **sweeteviljesus** , it may depend on the state? Some require 10% blends (Florida and Michigan?). I think they change the blends at different times of year, but it seems to me that they’d have to change the rating on the pump if they changed the octane. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/28 "2009-01-07T18:00:54Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Just curious, how did you figure this out? (How many tanks of each did you use for your tests?) I’ve done it on several occasions. Sometimes Chevron/Shell will be more convenient, or cheaper. As for number of tanks, probably between 5-10 over the past year. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/29 "2009-01-27T02:15:44Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > Sorry, You’re wrong. [First google result. (PDF File)](http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/MSD/docs/pdf/fuel_tank_cap.pdf) > > Joe Thanks for the information. This more or less proves my point, however, as it states that capacity varies by “up to 3%” of the manufacturer stated volume. 103% of 12.5 gallons is 12.875 gallons… which still leads me to conclude that I was cheated at the pump. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/30 "2009-01-27T04:47:42Z")
> [@Hunter\_Hawk](#): > > GQ response: I believe **Rick** weighed in on this topic a while back, and IIRC he noted that some brands were in fact better than others. You might want to do some searching to see if you can turn up his replies. > > IMHO response: In my experience, my car (1992 Volvo) does seem to run better and start more easily when I’m using Chevron/Shell gasoline than when using Arco gasoline. > [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > IIRC he uses Chevron gas, in part because when standards were raised for top-tier gasolines, Chevron was the only one who didn’t have to reformulate. Both of you are correct. I tend to run Chevron as my default fuel, I will also go with Shell, or Union 76 if there is no Chevron nearby. All three of these are top tier fuels. IIRC Chevron did not have to reformulate to meet this requirement. [Cite](http://www.chevron.com/products/ourfuels/trusttech/toptier.aspx) Also The big three car makers run their EPA certification tests on Chevron. Which means they have to truck in it, since Chevron does not sell their gas in Michigan. [Cite](http://www.chevron.com/products/ourfuels/trusttech/bigthree.aspx) Maybe I am a bit warped in my perspective but I have seen cars with driveability problems get fixed by only a change in fuel. That makes it a bit hard for me to swallow there is no difference, all fuels are the same. > [@neuroman](#): > > Thanks for the information. This more or less proves my point, however, as it states that capacity varies by “up to 3%” of the manufacturer stated volume. 103% of 12.5 gallons is 12.875 gallons… which still leads me to conclude that I was cheated at the pump. 😉 Depending on the car and the tank, the stated capacity and what you can get into it can vary by a gallon or two. I once put 20 gallons into a tank that was supposed to be 18.4 gallons. Of course this took a bit of extra time, rocking the car to get all the air bubbles out, and the fuel was all the way up the neck when it was done, but that car was FULL when I got done. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/31 "2009-01-27T04:53:26Z")
anecdotal: In my Infiniti it really did matter. I once bought some gas at a 7-11 and it completely shut my car down. It ran notably better when I used Chevron or Texaco. Of course, being a luxury car, it needed the highets octane available, as well. Picky little thing. It has never mattered in any other car I’ve driven. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_Tightlips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Joey\_Tightlips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_Tightlips)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179/32 "2009-01-27T13:47:35Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > Some require 10% blends (Florida and Michigan?). I think they change the blends at different times of year, but it seems to me that they’d have to change the rating on the pump if they changed the octane. Here in VA (at least at the station I go to) the sticker says something along the lines of “ **may contain up to** 10% Ethanol”. That way they have themselves covered whether it’s 10%, 5%, or 0%. Imagine that, a gas station doing something reasonably wise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brand-of-gasoline-really-matter/479179.md?page=1)