Are you loyal to a particular brand of gasoline or diesel fuel for your car, truck or RV? Or do you buy mostly on the price per gallon?
In most instances, what is most important to you? It may take a moment for the poll to appear, so please stand by.
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$$$$ always, unless terribly difficult to get to station. Hurricane coming, price jumped 20 cents. Who claims that they not control prices?
The poll on purchasing fuel should of had additional options, or at least one more, “Neither”. Many times there is only one choice for fuel where I happen to be, and other times I choose a location that has the best options for getting in and out easily with my Class A and toad.
You should have included biodiesel or not, biogas or not, and whether you can get your rig in or not.
neither…convenience. we use Flying J’s RV lanes when gassing the MH. the car? on the road…mostly wherever we happen to be at home…usually a pilot for the discount.
Probably 95% of my gas purchases are at Walmart Murphy gas, I have a MurphyUSA credit card which gives me a 5 cent per gal.discount on gas or diesel. They usually are the least expensive and with the discount makes it even better. I have only found 2 Walmart’s that I couldn’t get in and out easily with my 38’ class A and toad.
I have a Chev.2500 6.0 L long bed with truck camper and I get over 6mpg more and unbelievable performance improvement by using name brand 93 octane i.e. Shell as it is proven that engines burn cleaner internally with top quality 93 octane so price is meaningless as my engine deserves the cleaner burning 93 octane and the power is amazingly improved..My rig was not cheap to buy and not cheap to travel so why in the world would a few dollars make any sense when engines deserve the best for longevity performance..Go first class or don’t go..it’s not a waste in opinion to go premium as I will eat a burger and pass on a steak but not run cheap fuel and my truck is a 2002 one owner and never failed..
I won’t argue with you over your choice of gas, my motorhome is also a 2002 with the 8.1L on the workhouse chassis. I have ran Shell gas through it before I started buying at MurphyUSA and didn’t see a tenth of a mpg difference. There seems to be something in the laws of physics that says a 38’ 24000 lbs brick rolling down the road at 62 mph that can’t get real good gas mileage. When we go to FL or the flat land of TX I can get 10 mpg. But everyday driving in the southeast is going to be 8-8.5 mpg. I feel confident that if the manufacturer of our engines (Chevrolet) could brag about how much better mpg we could get by buying the hi-priced spread they would do it. Just sayin’. Have a good day!
I avoid truck stops which sell biodiesel because it requires more frequent filter changes. I buy brand name diesel and by using Gas Buddy I almost always pay the cheapest price also. Win-win!
Third option is whatever station is closest to the exit when I need the gas for the RV.
Brand? Someone probably has a credit card for that “Brand”.
A perceived reason FOR ‘Brand” might be the quality of fuel? But pretty much, most fuels are the same quality. Many will market with additives that are gimmicks to convince you that their brand is better than another.
Where there is a CLEAR difference is the “Station” you buy from. The last thing you want is water or other contaminants getting into your fuel tank. I pick truck stops for diesel and in-ground DEF. They rotate most frequently. If I can’t get it at a truck stop, I will opt for a large station such as Buckee’s in Texas. Again, for rotation of product and in this case, the best price anywhere. If you haven’t stopped there, you’re missing a rare treat. What to avoid? Small mom and pop stations where they can barely afford to stay in business much less maintain their equipment (i.e. filters, pumps and tank storage). To avoid this disaster for tow trucks (not motorhomes), get an auxiliary tank (assuming you have the weight capacity to have one). It might just come in handy to get you to the next quality stop.
When we’re going in directions that are new to us, I always carry a 6 gallon spare diesel ‘jug’ with us. That way, if we can’t find fuel we’re guaranteed of at least another 60 miles.
I buy from brands that are Top Tier. It is not a gimmick.
The Brand I by from is usually the one with the lowest price. I have never seen it’s price higher than another in the same area. Plus I like their breakfast croissant and pizza not bad. Always a VERY clean restroom. They are in the Midwest, Casey’s
Actually a third option “neither” we base ours on “location” when we need fuel and def.
When we’re towing, dieseling up is based on convenience of location, ease of manuevering, and how often we think the fuel is rotated. When not towing, it’s based on price and fuel rotation.
It is all the same no matter what they say.
With a 100 gallon Diesel tank and a TSD/EFS card I use the app to find the best price on my route. They will always be Truck stops with relatively easy maneuvering room. With a safe 600 mile range I usually have plenty of options any place from 450 miles to 600 miles from start.
If it were available, I would have voted “neither”… as I choose where I get diesel on convenience. Easy access, easy exit. Finding one that accepts my TSD card is icing on the cake.
It seems to me back in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s it made a difference in the brands of gasoline, some were cleaner than others. Buying “cheap gas” was always a risk for pinging, or incomplete combustion. But after fuel injection and unleaded gas became the norm, that problem went away.
By Brand, then price.
Going into an unknown low price station – Buyer Beware – you may get what you paid for.
Not all stations are created equal.
Quality Control is better today than in the past, but there is always a chance for bad/low quality fuel.
Major Brands stand behind there product.
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Can bad gas ruin your engine?
While not a common occurrence, contaminated gas does make its way into local gas pumps and can severely damage your vehicle. … Contaminated gas can cause everything from mild to severe damage to your vehicle. Your car may end up in the shop for a few days or even weeks depending on the damage.
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I buy based on price as long as the gasoline is a Top Tier brand as my fuel injectors prefer.
I keep meticulous records on fuel and the local station that sells ” top tiered only gets me fewer miles per gal. But because they are cheaper I buy it. cost per mile about the same. As far as bad gas ruining your engine? What happened and how was it resolved?
Yesterday we tried to start my friends boat that had 3 year old gas. It was so bad you couldn’t get a cup of it to burn with a match. Replaced gas and it fired right up. Damage, none.
Offering binary choice for a more nuanced question guarantees comments.
Gas or Diesel? Storing or roaming?
If diesel and cold weather expected – big difference of where I would fill.
If gas and I am ready to store motorhome for weeks/months:
– I’d fill with non-oxy aka Pure-Gas aka ethanol-free, then run the generator for a while and shut off generator fuel supply while running (assuming gas generator)
If gas and roaming:
– I’d fill with Costco, or Murphy, if just off hiway (for pricing), or major station/truck stop where fuel will be the freshest.
I buy diesel based on ease of acquisition, unless the price is exorbitant. If the location has an RV lane; if it is on my side of the highway; if on/off highway is doable. Usually I’ve picked a few candidates the evening before using Google Earth to view conditions, and reviews to determine quality/safety of the location.
I purchase gas with who is offering the best discount at that moment. Murphy Oil, Kroger, Pilot/Flying J, Mapco, Circle K. For me it pays to have several choices for discounts wherever I am at the moment.
On the price but convenience of the station is a big factor also
I would propose that “quality” is not really an issue for 99% of the stations out there. If a person gets bad gas that trashes their engine, there will be litigation. Owners could not afford that. But, like I said earlier, I still try to find resources with quick turnover.
And to the point of some below, for gas, there are higher octane ratings. For diesel, there are higher cetane ratings. But, there are also maintenance practices. How well do you maintain your vehicle? It’s about risk. Keep that risk lower by purchasing fuel from resources you know move fuel. Then, maintain your vehicles. There are additives for gas and diesel to keep fuel injectors cleaner. But that does little if you don’t keep up with the EGR valves, plugs, and other engine components.
I choose a fuel station based on accessibility for my RV with Toad.
Exactly! Us too. Accessibility is by FAR the most important thing to us.
Most large truck stop are unusable to us as the gas pumps are inaccessible to a motorhome with road. The orientation of the pumps is the entrance & office buildings make the turns too tight.
When you fuel up at Costco, PFJ or Safeway (nearly exclusively) you get the best of both worlds!
That said, I look for brand, price and accessibility of the station to tank up my 35ft Georgetown Class A. For instance, when I tank up at Costco near my home north of Seattle, I don’t have to refuel until I hit the Costco in Coeur D’Alene, ID, or PFJ in Stansfield, OR or Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, OR – and I’ve verified how easy it is to get into each of them before I ever went thanks to Google Maps/Street View.
I keep a log of every trip we take, including fuel stops and mileage, so on future trips we can stop at the same place and know we won’t have any problems. Sometimes, it is worth paying an extra 5/10 cents a gallon at PFJ and know I can get in/out easily, than a knock-off station that may be on the other side of the highway.
1 – best price
2 – easy in & out
3 – best price
4 – I think you get the idea….
Easy in and out. Often Chevron’s are the most convenient.
I have been driving for over 50 years and have always bought by price. I have read many times that the fuel sold today is basically the same. I’ve probably driven a couple of million miles and never had a problem with bad gas. Use gas buddy and pick out the cheapest gas on my route. Now I tow a 5th with a diesel truck and the only time I don’t use the cheapest station is if it’s not able to accommodate my truck and 39′ trailer, then I go to the next cheapest.
In about 1975 or 76, I had purchased bad gas from a small station. The truck basically made it about a block. The repairs at that time were somewhere around $400-500 dollars. When the station was confronted, they initially were not going to pay for the repairs. But I saved a fuel sample for them. It was loaded with sediment and water. After that (and a few others stepping up with the same problem) they paid for the repairs. Other than that, I have not had any issues. If that happens today, an engine can be trashed.
Tell me that you didn’t have a fuel filter. Pretty sure they didn’t use fuel injection in the 70s, so whatever got past your filter plugged up your carburetor. Nothing that got through there damaged your engine.
Yep…The service shop at that time rebuilt the carb and flushed out the fuel tank. They probably cleaned the fuel lines as well. I was not that old at the time. I don’t have the memory for everything they did. Labor is labor.
I base it on price.
If I’m traveling, it’s by price. For winter storage, I’ve found that a good brand name gasoline stays stable a little longer.
Whether it is gas or diesel, just add stabilizers if you’re going to store your RV. For gas, the product breaks down faster than diesel. In a previous job, I had responsibility for fuel (both gas and diesel – also propane and JP and JP-5). I would purchase enough gas to ensure a 30 day supply. Diesel, I would purchase in 6 month supplies. I had test kits for both. If the diesel sat for 6 months, I would test and add Cetane stabilizers if required. We always used the gas so fast I never had to actually add stabilizers for that. I had the tanks inspected regularly and the filters were changed. Using 3 micron filters or less on diesel was common practice. I paid more for the 1 micron filters because studies show that 3-7 micron particles can cause injectors to foul.
For my personal diesel, I purchase aftermarket Cetane boosters with additives to keep the injectors clean. I also go by the Ram Manual and service regularly.
I had a bad experience using gasoline stabilizer several years ago. Only had enough for two of my four snowmobiles. Come the next winter, they didn’t run very well so had to tear down and clean the carburetors on them. The other two ran fine. They all were the same models using the same fuel so I deduced it must’ve been the stabilizer.
Just to let you know, I use ethanol-free gas in all my small engines.
Just curious…Did you run the engine with the stabilizer in the unit? Just pouring it into the tank is of no benefit. I suspect you likely did. Just wanted to hear it from you for clarification.
Gas is delivered to the fuel terminal nearby via a pipe line & when the fuel truck driver pulls up to load up he/she uses a fuel card to tell the terminal system what additives go in the gas as it fills the truck. Gas is gas!
Exactly! I watched this over and over when I was working in construction at a fueling terminal. ANY truck could pull up. They would receive the fuel from the terminal. There are what’s called “markers” in the fuel so that one gas station brand won’t/can’t receive another brand’s fuel. Its added at the terminal. If it is one brand, they put the fuel into the tanker and add the secret ingredients (additives) with the push of a button. Fuel is fuel without those additives. And those additives are the gimmicks to get you to buy their brand. Prove to me that there are thousands of car using brand X and as a result have had a ton of mechanical repairs as a result. There is ZERO evidence of this. It’s always the Owner who fails to maintain the vehicle or the station that fails to maintain their tanks. I also worked at several refineries….
If RVing it would be the ability ease of in and out then price.
Here are three articles about the differences in fuels (brand A to Z). There is no real difference in the actual fuel coming out of the pump. Years ago, there used to be significant differences. Regulations took all that away. Now, the differences are indistinguishable.
https://blogs.platts.com/2010/08/23/unbranded_vs_br/
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Business/story?id=2978563&page=1
https://www.thoughtco.com/does-it-matter-where-get-gas-607905
This is good to know. Thank you. My entire life I’ve been told to never buy my gas at a Casey’s. I haven’t…… yet, logically, I know they would probably have to have (at least at a minimum) a regulated standard, across the board.
With the Pilot/Flying J card I save 5 cents per gallon. So I usually look for that gas station.
I too use the TSD/EFS card. Have only stopped at Love’s so far. Last fill-up on AZ – CO trip was $1.29/gal. That’s not a typo.
Like most have said, we go on price, and accessibility. We do our best to stay with major brands of gasoline, but occasionally you don’t have that luxury on rural roads.
We do our best to trip plan, use google maps and street-view to see what access the gas station/s have, well before we plan our stops.
I have a 2019 F350 dually. I always avoid Murphy and Walmart. When pulling I always use truck stops for convenience and price. Sadly, P/FJ only gives 9 cents off Good Sam Elite members. With the TSD/EFS card Loves discounts dropped to 16 cents a gallon. They used to be 1st choice, now only above P/FJ. My last fill was at Petco, the saving was 48 cents. Fill of truck (48 gall0n) and aux tank 68 gallon was pumped so the saving was noticeable. Prior fill was at TA, more gallons pumped and the discount was higher as well. I’ve been using TSD/EFS since they started the program and I’m grateful for the savings!
Always Pilot, Loves. Easy in /out. I have seen and heard about those MH’s that get caught in smaller stations, those that jockey around trying to get into or out to save a few bucks. Go with Experienced
Drivers so I don’t have trouble, don’t have to Wait just in and out.
Always price. Sometimes convenience. I don’t go out of my way for price though. We never stop for just one night so we don’t have the problem of “easy in/out”. If we have to stop enroute, it’s truck stops for us. The Loves and Pilots around here charge more than locals for their diesel. If you’re saving 5 or 10 cents a gallon, that just brings it down to what the local prices are.
always convenience, usually flying j’s rv lanes.
As for diesel I look for 1) the percentage of biodiesel, 2) the probability of the fuel being fresh, 3) the price. I try to buy fuel that is less than 5% biodiesel from a station that looks like It has a high turnover.
I try to use a brand of gasoline that’s Top-Tier rated.