BP vs Texaco

[Ford Man]

I've recently been using either Texaco or BP gasoline and I've noticed I'm getting much higher MPG readings on the Texaco than on the BP. I never thought there was that much difference in gas, but each time I use BP mileage is dropping. Thought I would share this information in case anyone else wanted to see how their results turned out. It's not from just one specific BP station so it's not just that there's a variation in the pump reading, because I've filled at several different BP stations. The MPG differences have been as much as +10-15% using Texaco. I'm going to use Texaco only for a while to see if my MPG results vary as much as in the past using both brands. My driving conditions remain 90%+ the same day in and day out so I don't think that's playing much of a roll and I always top off the tank so I know it's not a variation in fill levels. I'd like for other BP users to try this experiment and post results in this thread so I can see if it's a trend or if it's vehicle specific. If you look at my gas log my last 2 fill up's were at BP and the previous 3 were Texaco and I don't remember about the others.

[WhitePolarBear]

Do you always get Texaco's gas at a Texaco station and BP's gas at a BP station? In our area, most gas stations get their gas from the same distribution source. A Texaco station only means it's operated by Texaco.

[RoadWarrior]

The Tempo I drove for a while was very particular, it really liked Sunoco, was the only way you could get near 30mpg out of it, Petro-Canada and Pioneer weren't too far behind, but it not only got bad mileage on anything else, it would buck and hesitate and splutter.

Marvin always seemed to prefer Canadian Tire gas, wherever they get it from round here, and is off his game on Sunoco, but seems to tolerate Petro-Canada and Pioneer okay, he runs smooth on Esso, Shell he doesn't like. Wile-E had a slight preference for Petro-Canada and Pioneer over Canadian Tire gas, Esso ran good, and didn't like Sunoco much.

However, this was all before the mandated 5% ethanol and I'm not so happy with the Canadian Tire gas as I used to be. (Though very happy with the $2 worth of CT money I get each fillup, other promotions seem to be worth a max of 50c or so.) But, using methanol as a "fixing ethanol" additive seems to have helped my last tank, and since Sunoco and Pioneer seem to have highest ethanol blends, I might try a tank of those with the methanol in.

Oh differences were on the tempo getting highs of 31 mpg, vs lows of 23, and on Marvin getting lows of 21 vs highs of 25. and on Wile-E getting just around a 2mpg variation between 30 and 34.

[RoadWarrior]

Oh, my theory is that while it's all nominally 87 Octane, that's determined as RON+MON/2 so an average of the two testing values, and that some motors prefer a leaning towards the RON side, and others towards the MON side, and is probably burn speed, ignition advance and engine geometry related.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by RoadWarrior

The Tempo I drove for a while was very particular, it really liked Sunoco, was the only way you could get near 30mpg out of it, Petro-Canada and Pioneer weren't too far behind, but it not only got bad mileage on anything else, it would buck and hesitate and splutter.

Marvin always seemed to prefer Canadian Tire gas, wherever they get it from round here, and is off his game on Sunoco, but seems to tolerate Petro-Canada and Pioneer okay, he runs smooth on Esso, Shell he doesn't like. Wile-E had a slight preference for Petro-Canada and Pioneer over Canadian Tire gas, Esso ran good, and didn't like Sunoco much.

However, this was all before the mandated 5% ethanol and I'm not so happy with the Canadian Tire gas as I used to be. (Though very happy with the $2 worth of CT money I get each fillup, other promotions seem to be worth a max of 50c or so.) But, using methanol as a "fixing ethanol" additive seems to have helped my last tank, and since Sunoco and Pioneer seem to have highest ethanol blends, I might try a tank of those with the methanol in.

Oh differences were on the tempo getting highs of 31 mpg, vs lows of 23, and on Marvin getting lows of 21 vs highs of 25. and on Wile-E getting just around a 2mpg variation between 30 and 34.

My old Pontiac wagon used to do really well on Chevron, but then a lot of the Chevron stations switched to another brand. The only remaining Chevron stations were not along my regular route, so I ended up on whatever I got my hands on cheap after that. My sister swears by Texaco, and mom raves about Exxon. My guess is its how well their advertising gets to you. I do know that my wagon would only spin the rear wheels when I put Chevron in it.

-Jay

[trancosrt]

My old car (Toyota Yaris) and my current (Mitsubishi Lancer) really liked Chevron. I'm giving Shell a spin (out of necesity more than anything. tank was on E and the closest open station was a Shell), so I'll know by next week how does the Lancer likes Chevron. Both Mobil and Marathon gas performed really bad on both cars though.

[opelgt73]

Look to see how much ethanol is in each.

Also you really need to average 5 tanks in a row on each to make sure it isn't just a difference between the pump cutoffs.

[Ford Man]

Originally Posted by WhitePolarBear

Do you always get Texaco's gas at a Texaco station and BP's gas at a BP station? In our area, most gas stations get their gas from the same distribution source. A Texaco station only means it's operated by Texaco.

Yes, and have even bought some out of the general area that I usually buy my gas. (About 75 miles from home so I know it is was from a different distributor.)

[Ford Man]

Originally Posted by opelgt73

Look to see how much ethanol is in each.

Also you really need to average 5 tanks in a row on each to make sure it isn't just a difference between the pump cutoffs.

That was my first thought maybe one had ethanol and the other didn't. There is nothing on the pump at either stating any ethanol content so I was asuming they have none. I think they are required by law to post it on the pump, but I could be wrong.

[Ford Man]

Originally Posted by opelgt73

Look to see how much ethanol is in each.

Also you really need to average 5 tanks in a row on each to make sure it isn't just a difference between the pump cutoffs.

I plan to use only Texaco for a while just to see if I get any large variations or not, so time will tell. I used to use whatever was cheapest, but then I got the BP credit card that gives 5% rebate and started using it nearly all the time and I just recently started using some Texaco because their price at one local station is nearly as cheap as BP including the 5% rebate. The 5% rebate is not worth losing 10-15% on FE. I may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but I know 10-15% savings beats the hell out of 5%.

[dosco]

I thought all the refiners sell their product to everybody? Further, I thought that once the stuff goes into the pipeline there is no way to differentiate between brands.

Are the refiners now somehow ensuring that only "their" stuff gets to "their" retail facilities?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by dosco

I thought all the refiners sell their product to everybody? Further, I thought that once the stuff goes into the pipeline there is no way to differentiate between brands.

Are the refiners now somehow ensuring that only "their" stuff gets to "their" retail facilities?

Raw gasoline is raw gasoline. The difference is in the additives that the different brands use.

[dosco]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Raw gasoline is raw gasoline. The difference is in the additives that the different brands use.

So then what's the difference between brands? Placebo effect?

[Jay2TheRescue]

The physical difference between the brands is their additive package. I'm sure marketing plays into this somehow as a preceived effect as well.

[dosco]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

The physical difference between the brands is their additive package. I'm sure marketing plays into this somehow as a preceived effect as well.

Where are the additives added? Presumably in the pipeline there can be no differentiation in additive packages...?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by dosco

Where are the additives added? Presumably in the pipeline there can be no differentiation in additive packages...?

The additives are added at the depot where the fuel trucks are loaded.

I remember when I worked for the USMC I used to be a manager at a fuel station on Quantico MCB. It would usually say "Unbranded Citgo" or "Unbranded Crown" on the bill of lading. I asked the driver what this meant, and he said that the additives were not put in the fuel before it was added to his truck.

-Jay

[bowtieguy]

Originally Posted by Ford Man

I plan to use only Texaco for a while just to see if I get any large variations or not, so time will tell. I used to use whatever was cheapest, but then I got the BP credit card that gives 5% rebate and started using it nearly all the time and I just recently started using some Texaco because their price at one local station is nearly as cheap as BP including the 5% rebate. The 5% rebate is not worth loosing 10-15% on FE. I may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but I know 10-15% savings beats the hell out of 5%.

discover has a gas rewards card of 5%, obviously any brand will qualify. shell has one as well, again 5%.

[Ford Man]

Originally Posted by bowtieguy

discover has a gas rewards card of 5%, obviously any brand will qualify. shell has one as well, again 5%.

The Discover card only gives 5% rebate on the first $100. of gas or car care products each month. With 5 cars, a motorcycle and two riding mowers in the family I exceed $100. in the first 2 weeks of the month. I haven't tried Shell gasoline in a long time so I don't know what kind of results I would get from it. I used to use 76 sometimes and it always seemed to get pretty good mileage.