AGREED !!! I mentioned Gas in a thread post and was immediately TOLD ALL gas is the same like I'm an idiot.
I absolutely get better gas mileage with name brand/ more refined higher quality gas. Better performance and less problems like with the fuel delivery system.
Here are some facts:
Supply Arrangements and Ownership Structures
Retailers pursue different marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage, and one key component is the nature of their fuel supply arrangements. Some choose to sell motor fuel under the brand of their supplying refiner, others choose to establish their own brand. Finally, there remain a few sites that are directly owned and operated by the major oil company or the refining company itself, but these are becoming much less common.
1.Major Integrated Oil Company Owned and Operated: Less than 2 percent of the 115,340 convenience stores that sell gasoline in the United States are owned and operated by the major oil companies. These retail locations receive product directly from the corporation’s refinery assets and their profit or loss is integrated into that of the corporation.
2.Refining Company Owned and Operated. Approximately 2.5 percent of convenience store gasoline retail locations are owned and operated by non-major refining companies. These also product directly from the corporation’s refinery assets and their profit or loss is integrated into that of the corporation.
3.Branded Independent Retailer: Approximately 44.5 percent are independently owned and operated and sell gasoline under the brand name of the fuel supplier. The business owners sign a supply contract to sell only one brand of fuel at any particular location. Branded retailers pay a slight surcharge per gallon for using the refiner’s brand, benefiting from the supplier’s marketing and ensuring a more secure supply of product. This surcharge can vary from contract to contract for any variety of reasons but in all cases, the refiner supplier establishes the retailer’s wholesale costs. Branded independent retailers benefit, however, when supplies are constrained by securing a higher level of priority for accessing product, although access to supplies may be restricted.
4.Unbranded Independent Retailer: The remaining 51 percent of convenience gasoline retailers are operated by independent business owners who do not sell gasoline under a brand owned or controlled by a refining company. These retailers purchase gasoline from the unbranded wholesale market, which is made up of gallons not dedicated to fulfill a refiner’s contracts. These retailers do not pay a marketing surcharge like their branded competitors do; consequently, unbranded gasoline is typically sold at all levels of trade for a lower price than branded gasoline. However, when supplies are constrained, these retailers have the lowest level of priority to access gasoline, often incur the largest wholesale price increases and may be completely denied access to product. Their wholesale costs are also established by the refiner supplier(s).
This data is valid and current.
To summarize, if you buy gas at a store with no "Exxon" "BP" "Amoco" "Shell" or other name brand signage it could be any of those name brands. The reason it is a bit cheaper at those locations with no name brand signage is no marketing fees and it could be any brand. I personally have bought gasoline at all four types of retail stores and have NOT noticed any corrolation between brands (or lack of) and fuel efficiency, especially not up to 15-20% difference as some claim.
Different brands of gasoline are very close to being the same because of government regulations on refining and additives. The "Techron" and "cleaners" are marketing strategies, nothing else. All gasoline blends have them per 1994 EPA regulations.
This data is from NCSA and is current through 2010. The number of wholly owned brand gasoline stores has decreased since.
Refined gasoline is not "all the same" but it is damn close. Good luck.
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