My dad works at an oil refinery. So when I came across this article (10 Things Gas Stations Won't Tell You) on MSN today, none of the tips were really "secrets" to me, but they're still good advice. The #3 tip really stuck out to me. It's something my dad has been telling us for years, and something I've been passing on to my friends, but they don't usually believe me. ;) hi friends!
From the article:
3. "My gas isn't better for your car; it's just more expensive."
Oil companies spend lots of money explaining why their gas is better than the competition's. Chevron's gas, for example, is fortified with Techron, and Amoco Ultimate is supposed to save the planet along with your engine. But today, more than ever, one gallon of gas is as good as the next.
True, additives help to clean your engine, but what the companies don't tell you is that all gas has them. Since 1994, the government has required that detergents be added to all gasoline to help prevent fuel injectors from clogging.
State and local regulators keep a close watch to make sure those standards are met; a 2005 study indicated that Florida inspectors checked 45,000 samples to ensure the state's gas supply was up to snuff, and 99% of the time it was.
"There's little difference between brand-name gas and any other," AAA spokesman Geoff Sundstrom says.
What's more, your local Chevron station may sell gas refined by Shell or Exxon Mobil. Suppliers share pipelines, so they all use the same fuel. And the difference between the most expensive brand-name gas and the lowliest gallon of no-brand fuel? Often just a quart of detergent added to an 8,000-gallon tanker truck.
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Interesting tip! I'll try and convince my husband next time he complains about Sam's Club gas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea - very revealing information, I'm not gonna sweat the gas purchases anymore - sounds like cheapest is best.
ReplyDeleteKristin
Wow! So glad I came by and read this. You just saved me a boat load of money! Thank you for the info and for stopping by my blog for the SITS potluck!
ReplyDeleteSee, that's what I always figured anyway. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit and comment. I love the little onesie, too. Was at Costco and couldn't pass it up. :)
Hey. Can you tell me who is Elisabeth Ross, the lady you're quoting in your sidebar? I'm on a quest to find myself too, so any information would be more than helpful! Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteI always suspected this was true, so I always buy the cheapest gas. Glad to know I was actually doing the right thing!
ReplyDelete(Visiting from MMB by the way.)