Costco 93 premium
 

After a year or so of pumping Shell V-Power, I decided to try out Costco premium since I got their membership recently. Since early on, I noticed my engine starts take like 1.5 or 2 cranks, basically a slight delay that I didn't expect a new car to have. Nothing serious, just something I noticed but wasn't sure if normal or not being a first time new car owner. I've been pumping Shell exclusively (usually the same station) even on previous cars and never had any issues related to fuel that I'm aware of. It did make me ponder though about battery or starter possibly not being 100% healthy.

After pumping 14gals of Costco 93 though with ~10miles on the tank and sitting over the weekend, yesterday morning startup was noticably faster and smoother, like just 1 crank with no hesitation. Does this mean the Costco gas is cleaner or better? Anyone else experienced this before when switching fuel brands or am I just imagining things?

Also, on a somewhat related topic. Do I need to worry about fuel pump priming if I don't lock the car overnight or the weekend? I read something about the fuel being primed when the car is unlocked but I don't lock when garaged.

Thanks in advanced for any response.

I have 90%+ used Costco gas on my car. Only on long trips do I do otherwise. Never had any issues.

My car runs better on Shell, Chevron. I can’t tell the difference in actual power but the fuel pump on mine is louder with Costco gas… without a doubt.. I tested back and forth a few times.

What I understand is that Costco gets their gas from other companies so seems like it would be based on where your Costco is located… guessing they still use their own cleaning additives though.

In shitty CA where I am, I only use Costco 91 octane. Car runs just great.

I either use Costco 93, Shell 93 or QT 93 which are all Top Tier gas stations. Once had to use Chevron 93 on a trip. I’m amazed at my MPG, around 17-18 in city, 26-27 HWY

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...66abffdbf6.png
I’m a Buc-ee’s man

Chevron usually gives better MPG and Shell usually gives better power

^^^^Your source, please.

Lou

My father drove a tanker truck servicing different brand gas stations all over Oregon for decades. What he told me is all fuel unloaded from the ships go into the same tanks at the terminal, unbranded. When that fuel is pumped into the tanker truck for delivery, he would enter a code, which would mix that specific brands additives into the tanker truck with the fuel. That is the only difference between Chevron and Safeway (etc.) gas. It is nonetheless an important difference.

costco uses "top tier" certified gasoline. any place with that certification is good.

Ditto....Same exact care..same shitty gas

I'm in Arizona, so the same crappy gas here. I haven't done any dynos, but I monitor my KCLV from my phone:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-60-oh-my.html

Before I started using a fuel additive, I could never get to a value over the mid to low 19s. I started using an additive a couple of years ago, and my KCLV now runs somewhere in the high 23s. Currently at a value of 23.9.

My additive is Lucas Octane Booster: https://www.lucasoil.com/product/octane-booster/

Lou

The only practical difference between different gasoline brands of the same octane from a chemical perspective is the additive package in it. More expensive brands theoretically have more expensive (read: better) additives. Do those additives really matter? I think when Direct Injection first hit the scene and there was a rash of engine failures caused by dirty valve heads, maybe, but our engines are direct and port injected, the port injection keeps the valves clean, in that respect quality will matter less.

In theory, a more expensive brand also has a better maintained station, and that matters more. Better moisture control and cleanliness in the tanks and lines. I've been to a couple Marathon stations that looked so bad that I thought there was no way they were actually maintaining the systems well. But I've been to some Exxons that looked like crap too.

I'd expect all the bulk store gas brands (Costco, Sams, BJs, Walmart) to operate well-maintained stations with midrange additive packages. Will you notice a difference between that and Mobil? Doubt it.

A Speedway or Valero station that looks well-taken care of will probably feed your car cleaner fuel with less moisture content than a Shell that looks like its from the set of Escape from New York.

⬆️ ⬆️ — This is also my understanding and we gas up at Costco every chance we get, otherwise we try to use Shell.