Top tier gas at Costco

I use Costco all the time. Here in Indianapolis it is 93 octane. I’d be hard pressed to tell the difference in their gasoline vs. others. I don’t track my F430, but I do have a e46 M3 I use for that purpose and have run all sorts of different vendors, including Costco. I can’t tell the difference.


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I always use a "top Tier" gas station, most times Shell

 

I filled my CS up at Costco for years until Costco quit accepting AMEX. All the gas comes from the same place.

 

I've used both Shell and Costco. 93 octane here in Texas. Can't tell the difference.
T

 

Any gas 92 octane or higher seems like the same. I try to use Shell.


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Cant place it now but although top tier ..the cleaner/additives are different among brands ...hard to say who has the best additives
The gas is the same when it is refined but each agent adds their own cocktail of additives

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I'd use it.

I tend to love shell personally, but I'd use Cosco.

 

I use COSTCO since years w/o any issues for both street and track cars. Chances of ever getting old fuel there are close to zero in our area, they have lines of cars there 7 days/week throughout the day.

 

Indeed most all gas does come from the same refiner in a specific geographic area, but the additive pack with vary with each vendor

 

I have never noticed a difference with any pump gas....even before "top tier" existed, or now. I have even purchased (at greater expense) pure gas, without alcohol added...again, no discernable difference. I only use "top tier" now, but it would be very hard to find anyone not selling "top tier" since all major retailers sell it. I was even told by a Costco buyer years ago, that they met the "top tier" designation based on their additives, but did not wish to go to the added expense of testing and paying marketing fees to the "top tier" organization, as it would bite into their already low margins. Obviously they figured out being the lone seller without the designation was starting to hurt sales...so they jumped on the bandwagon.

 

I only use Costco on all my cars, no issues at all. I'd stay a member just for the gas perks alone with the 4% cash back on the costco card but there are so many other benefits especially when you have 3 small kids. You'd have to be a moron regardless of income not to be a member

 

I too use Costco on all my cars with zero issues.

I used it on my 360 Spider, 2006 BMW M6 coupe, 2009 BMW M6 Cabrio, 2015 BMW M4, and now on my 2006 F430. Never had a problem.

I actually tried Shell one time just for comparison, then Costco gas and I cannot tell any difference whatsoever.

 

I think when you use the more expensive gas you feel better. Other than that, not much difference. It depends on the state but there are required blends.

Some advice. Get 92 octane or better. use a station that pumps a lot of gas (fresh fuel and little contaminates), don't pump when the truck is there (mixing the tanks).

 

I have never seen a refinery in the MD - DC area. I have been told ALL the gas in MD comes out of the same pipe in Baltimore up from the gulf. I have not seen a name brand fuel truck in years! Most stations around here have a 3rd party deliver their gas.

I think this is an interesting question, >99% of the population has no idea about basic and fundamental aspects of our existence and our economy.

 

This is correct, and one truck can deliver to more than one branded station. I was told the additive packages are on the trucks in separate, smaller tanks and selected, blended and dispensed based on each brands requirements. But I am only quoting a guy who worked at a refinery and posted about his experience....so take what I am saying for a grain of salt....

 

It would actually take some effort to find a gas that is not "Top Tier" anymore...all major brands and many independents are these days, the list is online and quite long: http://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/
(I don't see any grocery store brands on there)
76
Aloha
Amoco
ARCO
Beacon
BP
Break Time
Cenex
Chevron
Chevron (El Salvador)
Chevron (Guatemala)
Chevron (Honduras)
Chevron (Panama)
CITGO
Conoco
Co-op
Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale - Diesel (select locations only)
CountryMark
CountryMark PLUS
Diamond Shamrock
Esso
Express
Express Mart
Exxon
Fast Fuel
Fast Stop - Diesel (select locations only)
Fast Stop Express - Diesel (select locations only)
Hele
HFN - Hawaii Fueling Network
Holiday
Kirkland Signature Gasoline
Kirkland Signature - Diesel (select locations only)
Kwik Star
Kwik Trip
Kwik Trip Express
Mahalo
Marathon
Metro Petro
MFA
Mobil
Mobil (Canada)
OAAI
Ohana Fuels
Petro-Canada
Phillips 66
PUMA (El Salvador)
PUMA Maxxima (Puerto Rico)
QT
QuikTrip
Ranger
Ranger Mustang
Ranger Stallion
Ranger Thoroughbred
Reeder's
Shamrock
Shell
Shell (Canada)
Shell (Puerto Rico)
Sinclair
Sunoco
SuperAmerica
SuperFuels
Tempo
Texaco
Texaco (El Salvador)
Texaco (Guatemala)
Texaco (Honduras)
Texaco (Panama)
Tri-Par Qwik Stop
Valero

 

Your understanding and earlier statements are correct. Although there are nearby refineries in PA and DE, Baltimore probably gets most of its gasoline from the Colonial Pipeline which originates in the Texas refining centers. Gasoline (before blending) is a fungible commodity based on octane grades and is thus tradable between suppliers. To me, "Top Tier" means better quality controls. Chevron and Shell are regarded as having the best blending packages, but that is not to say the others are unacceptable as a minimum baseline must be achieved and state specs can also differ. Blending packages usually differ in detergent concentrations. Up to a point, more is better. Generally, you get what you pay for. Top Tier is really a marketing program that Costco must have joined recently.

Here is more about the Top Tier program (no affiliation):

http://www.toptiergas.com

 

See my post #12

 

Duly noted! I can remember in the early 2000s when the Top Tier program was comprised of only a handful of the O&G majors. That is where I was coming from regarding Costco and others today- nearly a 7 fold increase in participants. And as you commented above, the situation has now almost flipped to who is NOT in the program.

 

I was wondering about those adds on the pump and how they could be possible!

 

I was curios one day while filling up so I decided to call the number on a decal posted on the pump. According the state of MD official:

ALL gas in Columbia, MD comes from a pipeline from the gulf coast or a barge from Virginia. At the depot, it is mixed with the required federal and state additives.

when the delivery truck arrives, a code is entered and the proprietary (Shell, Exxon, BP, etc.) additives are mixed with the fuel filling the delivery truck. with the exception Sunoco, all the stations contract delivery out to a 3rd party delivery service. the majors do not want the liability of delivery accidents.

Costco is the only exception - they have an exemption where they also combine additives at the pump.

non-name brand gas can all be "generic" gas containing only the federal and state mandated additives. It is really unknown to the consumer if they contain additional additives or not unless specifically advertised.

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My seat if pants feel and other non scientific research shows me that she'll is a lot better than Costco at least by me .. my cars seems to run better ..whether high end or low end ..have never used in exotic though

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^^^ The additives are the big differentiator. IMHO the pecking order (for quality additive packages) is Chevron, Shell, Exxon, and no opinion thereafter.