Current Gas Prices
Racer
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 343
The data is a bit nuanced
New motors, do best with pure gasoline. Upto 10k miles, pea/piba which is the main ingredient in top tier fuels actually is worse for deposit buildup.
Old used motors, if they have an unknown history and have sxms of fueling system issues, then pea/piba will provide some relief.
New motors, do best with pure gasoline. Upto 10k miles, pea/piba which is the main ingredient in top tier fuels actually is worse for deposit buildup.
Old used motors, if they have an unknown history and have sxms of fueling system issues, then pea/piba will provide some relief.
Last edited by Framestead; Yesterday at 06:36 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
The study I'm talking about:
https://www.ace.aaa.com/automotive/a...-gasoline.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...e-a7682471234/
Several orchards in my neck of the woods have reported losses of up to 80% of their apple crops because of a late April freeze that came in when the trees had already started to blossom. Going to be a messy year
Racer
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 343
Don't have time to watch that right now, but isn't that about retail additives not top tier fuels?
The study I'm talking about:
https://www.ace.aaa.com/automotive/a...-gasoline.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...e-a7682471234/
The study I'm talking about:
https://www.ace.aaa.com/automotive/a...-gasoline.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...e-a7682471234/
tbh, I use techron or other pea every pre-oci, but idk if it really does anything, even with top tier fuels.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
I don't think you can draw that same conclusion. Using those additives once and a while provides no benefit, but consistently using top tier fuels does show a benefit in reduced deposits. You'd likely have the same benefit if you used a fuel additive in every tank.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 343
I get the use case for engines exhibiting issues due to the deposit buildup or fuel system issue related.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
True, but i guess what I am hinting at, is if pure gasoline has proven to have the least amount of deposit on a new engine, why pay more for the top tier license fuel for engines that will have more deposit?
I get the use case for engines exhibiting issues due to the deposit buildup or fuel system issue related.
I get the use case for engines exhibiting issues due to the deposit buildup or fuel system issue related.
It’s not about the license it’s about having fuel that has a certain level of detergent in it.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 990
Likes: 168
Discussion of bottled fuel and oil additives are of greater entertainment than the products are of value, IMO. That said, it can be easy to become a believer. Several months ago the CEL illuminated on my Tundra. The guy at Auto Zone said the code indicated a problem with a catalytic converter and recommended a fuel additive, Cataclean. I thanked him for the suggestion but declined. The next day the CEL stopped illuminating and has remained so. Had I poured that magic-in-a-bottle in my gas tank I would be convinced it works.
Sam's premium gas $4.39.
Sam's premium gas $4.39.
Last edited by ChattanoogaPhil; Yesterday at 07:01 AM.
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CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,340
Likes: 600
From: IL
The study I'm talking about:
https://www.ace.aaa.com/automotive/a...-gasoline.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...e-a7682471234/
https://www.ace.aaa.com/automotive/a...-gasoline.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...e-a7682471234/
Contrast that with the cars we all have. Likely close to zero of us have an engine with such a faulty design, so deposits of the magnitude seen in the study aren't even a thing. And the overwhelming majority of our engines have direct injection, so fuel and the additives they carry never reaches the valves and they can't possibly have an impact anyway.
Top Tier is first and foremost a marketing ploy. Yes there are minimum additive requirements. But several brands have added the label without changing their additive package, simply by paying the licensing fee. Others have dropped out, again without changing their additive package, because they found the per-station and per-gallon fees to not be worth it.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 343
Can you explain what does Top Tier represent, besides the study? Like what makes a fuel Top Tier. Please use specifics other than higher level of detergents.
Don't have time to watch that right now, but isn't that about retail additives not top tier fuels?
The study I'm talking about:
https://www.ace.aaa.com/automotive/a...-gasoline.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...e-a7682471234/
The study I'm talking about:
https://www.ace.aaa.com/automotive/a...-gasoline.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...e-a7682471234/
That said, it can be easy to become a believer. Several months ago the CEL illuminated on my Tundra. The guy at Auto Zone said the code indicated a problem with a catalytic converter and recommended a fuel additive, Cataclean. I thanked him for the suggestion but declined. The next day the CEL stopped illuminating and has remained so. Had I poured that magic-in-a-bottle in my gas tank I would be convinced it works.
i just posted a review of a coffee maker in clubhouse and the guy actually uses 'additives' in the WATER to make coffee, with different additives for different types of coffee.
Many NYC Gas Stations Reportedly Selling Regular Gas as Premium
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a7...umbers-report/
Last edited by bitkahuna; Yesterday at 09:55 AM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,096
Likes: 1,740
From: Ohio
We've been using Sam's Club Mastercard for several years. 5% cash back on all gas purchases at any gas station (not restricted to just Sam's gas)
I don't purchase so-called top tier fuels. Special detergents might benefit some engines or those that sit for extended periods but my Tundra idles and runs silky smooth with the same MPG after a quarter century and 300k miles.
ps. Yes, severe Spring drought conditions are impacting US agriculture. It's reportedly the worst March/April drought on record.
I don't purchase so-called top tier fuels. Special detergents might benefit some engines or those that sit for extended periods but my Tundra idles and runs silky smooth with the same MPG after a quarter century and 300k miles.
ps. Yes, severe Spring drought conditions are impacting US agriculture. It's reportedly the worst March/April drought on record.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 343
/s
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,096
Likes: 1,740
From: Ohio
I have used heavy doses of PEA additives in DI cars that were having issues from prior owners when just new gas and heavy driving didn't fully clean things up. I know it works in that situation when combined with a lot of max power runs to force everything to flow at high pressure and heat etc.
As far as the fuels go I have seen better log data on shell vs generic gas stations or Sheetz for example. No comment yet on if it helps keep chambers clean as I've not been running it what I consider long enough for the bore scope/before after to mean anything to me yet.
If your engine works perfectly I don't think anything past the combustion stability and lack of anything that will cause corrosion etc matters much. The more advanced your engine is the better I've seen them to look as far as internal condition, likely as a result of much more precise control systems.
As far as the fuels go I have seen better log data on shell vs generic gas stations or Sheetz for example. No comment yet on if it helps keep chambers clean as I've not been running it what I consider long enough for the bore scope/before after to mean anything to me yet.
If your engine works perfectly I don't think anything past the combustion stability and lack of anything that will cause corrosion etc matters much. The more advanced your engine is the better I've seen them to look as far as internal condition, likely as a result of much more precise control systems.