What station do you fuel up at?

[turkeyfeather]

I have never noticed a difference from one station to another. So I fill up wherever is most convenient.

[buglebuster]

I'd rather pay more for gas than have to pay the mechanic to clean all the sludge out of my engine.

Not singling you out, but this is a common feeling.  I've NEVER seen any proof of this. We only EVER buy AM/PM (in Stanwood) for our commuters.

1) My Accent went 180,000 miles without so much as an engine hiccup. Sold it to a friend who ran it for a few more years until the auto tranny took a dump.

2) My custom turbo'd Tiburon, running AM/PM premium and beat on intermittantly went 120K before I sold it and afaik is still on the road. Abused.

3) Current Elantra just turned 100K without so much as a set of spark plugs. (which are due now at 100K) and I expect to get another 100K if the auto tranny holds up. Mileage is still 32mpg. Same as the day we bought it new.

Dirt bikes, lawn mowers, tractors, quads, generators. All of 'em. Not once a fuel related problem.

and a couple notes: We see no difference in MPG from station to station (when we make long trips and buy from different stations along the way)  and if the station next to AMPM sells fuel for cheaper (as it appears they are) then I'll head over there!

Fuel here in our area only comes from one of 2 refineries. Yes brands add different additives, but the basic fuel is the same stuff. Just stay away from stations that are never busy. Freshest fuel is at the busiest stations. Anyone can get a bad load of fuel (meaning either water or contaminated with the previous load of whatever was hauled) but that's not the brand or the stations fault. That's on the carrier and around here there are only a couple carriers left

Exactly! I have used nothing but Arco fuel for about 7 years in all of our rigs, except for the rare occasion somewhere else is cheaper. I have never had a problem. My crx I picked up for a commuter is sitting at 245k and I know for a fact its been running on Arco gas for the last 150k and running like a champ.

[bobcat]

I also use Arco gas whenever possible since it's often the lowest priced. The only reason I don't always go there is they are 10 cents higher if a credit card is used.

[Wazukie]

I fill up at The Glenwood Inn, best gas in town 

With all the options you have, how to you decide? 

I got's to tell you, it is a very difficult choice, but hey, they are the closest to me 

[Elkaholic daWg]

Am pm... You guys can pay $0.40 more a gallon if you want

If there wasn't such a discrepancy in the amount of mpg I get from different stations I would be on board with this. As it is, I save a lot more money by paying the higher price up front. If your vehicle doesn't discriminate, that's awesome. Always nice to have more options. 

for maximum mileage  it would be ethanol free (which I use in all my tools/Toys) Then 76 and Chevron and your Safeway points work at Chevron.. AM PM doesn't start a decent fire Remember 110 octane leaded for our muscle cars??

[Rick]

You can't contribute a 1/2 MPG difference between tanks as having run gas from two different stations. Far too many variables in play.

I find it impossible to believe anyone gets 7-8 MPG difference between stations. It may have happened once in a perfect storm scenario,but to happen every time,I'm calling BS.

[bobcat]

I find it impossible to believe anyone gets 7-8 MPG difference between stations. It may have happened once in a perfect storm scenario,but to happen every time,I'm calling BS.

 

I watch my gas mileage pretty closely and it's directly related to how fast I drive, not where I buy my gas.

Basically it's about like this:

55mph on the freeway:  34 mpg.
70mph on the freeway:  25 mpg.

[jackelope]

I'm with Rick. Wayyyy too many variables. Ambient temperature alone could affect it more than .5 mpg. Using your a/c or defrost frequently, tire pressure, all sorts of stuff.

[Elkaholic daWg]

You can't contribute a 1/2 MPG difference between tanks as having run gas from two different stations. Far too many variables in play.

I find it impossible to believe anyone gets 7-8 MPG difference between stations. It may have happened once in a perfect storm scenario,but to happen every time,I'm calling BS.

Okay lets talk performance
 My brother was an AM/PM disciple for years, and his  Cash register shop was really close to one of their outlets. We would load up the 3 snowmobiles at his place in Lake Stevens and I would take the wheel...... heading north on 9 Past 84th the thing was CONSTANTLY shifting down and back enough that I  mentioned I bet it is fuel quality. Arlington west to Island crossing I filled it with Unocal and after about 6 miles headed north toward Baker it NEVER happened again.
 Another example is I drovea A WTA vanpool van TO BP and I would bring it inside the plant to fuel it up and the fuel coming out of their OWN tank had a totally different smell to it than what they sell to you...
  Another thing......someone said there were 2 refineries in the area.....better count again.

 As with everything else You get what you pay for or not.

[fair-chase]

You can't contribute a 1/2 MPG difference between tanks as having run gas from two different stations. Far too many variables in play.

I agree. That's why I clearly stated in my first post "I chalk up the difference between 76 and Chevron to driving conditions."

I find it impossible to believe anyone gets 7-8 MPG difference between stations. It may have happened once in a perfect storm scenario,but to happen every time,I'm calling BS.

I can assure you that it is not impossible. I wish it were. Then I wouldn't have to worry about where I fill up at. I could just go to the cheapest station around and call it good. It just so happens that my current vehicle is sensitive to the type of fuel it receives. Of course not all vehicles are like this, and if you got one that will burn anything under the sun with no noticeable difference, then you should consider yourself fortunate.

[jackelope]

What do you drive?

[Rick]

You can't contribute a 1/2 MPG difference between tanks as having run gas from two different stations. Far too many variables in play.

I agree. That's why I clearly stated in my first post "I chalk up the difference between 76 and Chevron to driving conditions."

I find it impossible to believe anyone gets 7-8 MPG difference between stations. It may have happened once in a perfect storm scenario,but to happen every time,I'm calling BS.

I can assure you that it is not impossible. I wish it were. Then I wouldn't have to worry about where I fill up at. I could just go to the cheapest station around and call it good. It just so happens that my current vehicle is sensitive to the type of fuel it receives. Of course not all vehicles are like this, and if you got one that will burn anything under the sun with no noticeable difference, then you should consider yourself fortunate.

The only person you need to convince is yourself.

[dewandgin]

I drive a 92 Toyota Paseo 95 miles round trip everyday 5days a week. with Cenex real fuel i get 35 to 37mpg . with safeway fuel i get 28-31mpg averaged out over many tanks of each. Drive my Isuzu with cenex 17-20mpg with safeway 14-16mpg.


From the Wetside. like the darkside only Wetter!

[fair-chase]

What do you drive?

'08 6 cylinder Accord with 150k. 90% of my miles are in commuting from Tri-Cities to Walla Walla.

[hollymaster]

Right now I get diesel at Fred Meyer, my toys get non ethanol fuel from a little place in Auburn.

  Plus my wife shops there a lot so I usually get 80 cents of a gallon!