Most car owners consider Top Tier gas as a myth concocted by gas manufacturers to get people to pay more for gas. With the increase in gas prices, one begins to wonder if there is a need to stick to the Top Tier gas myth or go for lower price gas.
The Top Tier gas myth says that Top Tier gas is healthier for a car than low-cost gas at a gas station. The myth is not just a myth. It is pretty accurate. Top Tier gas contains additives that help the engine run longer and better than low-price gas.Â
The idea that Top Tier gas is a scam and a sales strategy to get you to pay more is not entirely correct. Although Top Tier gas is more expensive, it has some benefits that standard gas does not have. This article will explain all about the Top Tier gas myth…
Top Tier Gas
In short, Top Tier gas is a specially manufactured and treated fuel to reduce a car’s carbon deposit. Top Tier gas’ ability to reduce carbon deposits is created by adding special detergents.Â
Regular standard gas is refined crude oil transported from the refinery to several terminals for storage and sale. Although traditional fuel contains antioxidants and some detergents, its level of antioxidants and detergents are not the same as Top Tier gas.
Top Tier gas is standard gas that has been supplemented with proper additives. The additional additives are what make the difference and make it Top Tier. Top Tier gas is a unique blend of gas. It must meet strict standard requirements, and the gas station must display the Top Tier sign at any retail selling it.
Although a car does not require Top Tier gas to run, the gas can ensure that your vehicle runs better with fewer emissions and better fuel efficiency. Car makers do see the benefit and recommend the use of Top Tier gas.
That is why the EPA in the year 1996 started introducing and regulating detergents in gas to regulate the level of carbon deposits in vehicles. By 2004 carmakers started researching and developing high-quality fuel that would increase the reliability of their vehicles.
Top Tier became a colossal brand that offers high-quality fuel optimised for cars from the likes of as BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Audi. These companies recommend using Top Tier gas to increase the car engine performance and lifespan.
Is Top-Tier Gas Worth The Hype
Despite the high cost, Top Tier gas is worth the hype. A lab test result of top-tier gas against regular gas shows that after 4000 miles of simulation driving, top-tier gas left lesser carbon deposits in the fuel injectors, combustion components, and intake valves. Carbon deposits had an almost 72 percent reduction in comparison to regular gas.
You should not mistake Top Tier gasoline for premium gas. Premium rating in gas means that the fuel meets the octane minimum requirement. However, it does not mean that the gas is of high quality.
Top Tier gas not only meets the octane minimum requirement but also has to exceed the additive standards applicable to gas and diesel by EPA. Although the octane level in gas does not mean the gas is of high quality, most cars require a certain octane level. It is best to consult your car manual to determine the best gasoline type for it.
Carbon deposits cause performance issues and damage to an engine. It is best to spare a few cents and avoid these future hiccups. Preventing carbon deposits by using Top Tier gas will help your car run longer, smoother, and cleaner for the environment.
Top Tier Gas Stations
They are numerous gas stations offering the sale of Top Tier gas. These gas stations are licensed retailers offering fuel that meets Top Tier standards, and most of these brand gas stations use their formula. To ensure the quality, look for the Top Tier logo or sign before you purchase it.
Before retailing Top Tier gas, there are some requirements a gas station has to meet. These requirements include the following:Â
- They must have a Top Tier license to indicate they have reached the TOP TIER program.Â
- Treatment of gas must be using an approved top-tier gas detergent additive and at the proper concentration.Â
- They must display the Top Tier logo or sign broadly and prominently.Â
- They should be no organometallic additive of any kind.Â
The following brand sells Top Tier gas at their gas stations around the country. The retailers include Arco, Beacon, Aloha Petroleum, Citgo, CountryMark, Shamrock, Chevron, Conoco, Cenex, Diamond, Exxon, GetGo, Express Mart, and Fast Fue.
Then, there’s HFN, Hele, Kwik Trip, Fuel Stop, Marathon, Metro, Kwik Star, Petro, Ohana Fuels, QT/Quik, Ranger, Shamrock, Sinclair, Value America, Shell, Moil, Philips, Rutter’s, Simonson, Texaco, and Wawa.
Retailers selling Top Tier fuel should adhere to the Top Tier standards no matter the octane grade level of the fuel. This standard means car owners don’t need to upgrade their gas octane level to get maximum cleansing.
Top Tier Detergent Gasoline
Top Tier gasoline is a unique performance gasoline blend that contains higher detergent additives. It improves a vehicle’s performance and reduces the carbon deposit rate in your car.Â
The detergent additive increases the rate at which impurities are burnt out in the car engine. Top Tier detergent gasoline does not contain metallic contents that might destroy your engine. It is available in almost all retail gas stations around the country.
NHTSA recommends using Top Tier detergent gasoline and confirms its emission deposit reduction capabilities. Top-tier detergent gasoline first came to light in 2004 by a group of carmakers that felt the need for a higher detergent additive than the standard requirement in gas.
Without using Top Tier detergent gasoline, the carbon deposit in your car engine will result in problems such as low fuel economy, more emissions, and low driving performance over time.
Top Tier Gas Myth
The Top Tier myth says that Top Tier gas is the same as the lower price of regular gasoline. Some people perceive Top Tier as a scam that intends to get extra money from car owners for gas. Due to the wild beliefs surrounding this myth, most car owners do not consider using Top Tier due to the additional cost.
The Top Tier gas myth is a lie. Top Tier gas is better than regular lower-price gasoline and contains higher detergent additives and a good octane level. Top Tier gas reduces the carbon emission deposits in your car engine and increases your car’s performance and reliability.
This belief that Top Tier is just the same as regular gas and is a money-scamming way invented by automakers has got many people going for low-price gas to save a bit of cash. However, they are doing more damage than good, thinking they have beaten the system.
Although the lower-priced gas will not cause a problem, it is not the best. Preventing more significant damage or prolonging the lifespan of your vehicle and its components should be considered a long-term saving. Avoiding future problems will save you considerable repair costs.
Best Gas Stations
Every car owner is very conscious of what enters their gas tank. Most gas stations have stringent rules, but they do not necessarily mean that their gas is the best. To get the best, you have to use Top Tier gas.
Top Tier gas has detergent additives in higher quantities than the EPA requirement. Using Top Tier makes for a cleaner and high-performing vehicle. Hence this best gas station list will not include gas stations that have not committed to Top Tier gas standards. The best gas stations include the following:Â
Top Tier Gas Myth, Best Stations: #1. Shell
Shell has been in existence for over a century. In all this time, they have perfected a lot about their gasoline. Shell gasoline contains nitrogen enrichments that help prevent and remove deposits from the engine.
Top Tier Gas Myth, Best Stations: #2. Mobil
Mobil has been the leading brand of top-tier gas for more than five decades. Since the merger with Exxon, they are now ExxonMobil and the world’s largest provider of Top Tier gas. Mobil’s fuel secret is Mobile Synergy. It contains nine additives that offer corrosion inhibition and friction modifying effects and three detergent additives.
Top Tier Gas Myth, Best Stations: #3. Costco
Costco brand has become almost more than a gas station. You can buy a lot of things from Costco and in bulk too. The company started in 1995 and has since been selling gas. Costco gas is a Top Tier gas and a Kirkland signature product too. Costco offers a membership that can save you up to twenty cents on a gallon.
Top Tier Gas Myth, Best Stations: #4. Chevron
Chevron started in 1879, and since then, they have been one of the leading gasoline brands. They are known for their use of Techron. It is a mixture of gas additives that work to break down carbon buildup and impurities in your car engine.
Top Tier Gas Myth, Best Stations: #5. Sinclair
Sinclair came about as a result of eleven companies merging. They are over one thousand outlets around the country. Sinclair is unique due to its use of a concentration it calls Dinocare. Dinocare contains lots of fuel additives that help increase your engine performance and fuel economy and reduces deposits in your car.
It is crucial to choose the best gas quality for your vehicle. Your vehicle will thank you for choosing the best Top Tier gas provider. A little extra cash might save you a lot of trouble later on.
Worst Gas Stations
There is no winner for the worst gas station award. The differences between the gas provided by different brands are the cost and the octane ratings. The fuel octane rating determines the stability of the gas. Due to the recommendation by car manufacturers, the price difference between premium gas and one with lesser octane has widened.
Before buying gas from a gas station, it is best to determine the octane rating of the gas being sold. There are three types of octane-level gasoline sold in gas station outlets. They include:Â
- Typical: Typical has the lowest octane level rating of 87.
- Grade: Grade has a middle or average octane rating of 89 or 90.
- High-end: High-end has the highest octane rating of 91 or 94.
These gasoline types always go with unleaded, super, and premium tags. The premium is the best for your engine. The more the octane level, the more stable the fuel will be.
Top Tier Gas Brands
Although most gas stations now sell Top Tier gas at their outlets, some gas stations have made it up to the Top Tier list of 2022.
The gas list includes the following: Arco, Aloha, Beacon, Breakaway, CITGO, Cennex, Chevron, Conoco, Costco Wholesale, Exxon, Getgo, Mobile, and Marathon. Holiday, Hele, Meijer, Metro Petroleum, Ohana fuels, QT, Raner, Shell, Texaco, Wow, Win Win, Sinclair.Â
These brands are licensed and meet the highest requirements of a Top Tier fuel. Any of these brands’ outlets sell Top Tier gas. Some offer membership discounts and sell at a lower affordable rate too.
Top Tier Gas List 2022
Considering how necessary Top Tier gas is to your car engine, how can you tell which Top Tier gas to purchase? You can do that by consulting our list of Top Tier gas list 2022. You can also look for a sign showing that the outlet sells Top Tier gas. According to Consumer Reports, this is the Top Tier gas list:
- Citgo
- Sinclair
- Chevron
- Valero
- Wow
- Win-Win
- Value America
Other gas stations offer Top Tier gas to their customers but do not make a list. If unsure, it is best to ask about the type of fuel sold before buying.
Is Top Tier Gas A Requirement For My Car
No, Top Tier gas is not a requirement for your car. But, it is the better choice of gas for your vehicle. Car manufacturers recommend the use of Top Tier gas due to its benefit. The EPA started regulating the level of detergent for road car gasoline because various test has shown that detergents make for a vehicle with cleaner emission.
The cleaner emission holds till after some thousands of miles, and the carbon starts to build up. Bearing this evaluation in mind, several carmakers produced Top Tier gas to improve their car reliability.
Top Tier is a gas recommendation for better running your vehicle, not a requirement. Using a car on Top Tier gas will have lesser chances of your vehicle having contaminated gas problems and engine breakdown.
Differences Between Premium Gas And Top-Tier Gas
Both Top Tier and premium gas are quality gasoline. Both gases are expensive and are always car owners’ last choice for car owners on a budget. However, that is where the similarities end. Top Tier gas is not a requirement for vehicles, but premium gas is a requirement.Â
Premium gas has no improvement qualities, while Top Tier gas has a high capacity to improve engine performance due to its detergent additives. Premium gas always removes the need to purchase it because it offers no extra protection or use. But, the Top Tier gas is worth the additional cost due to its improved capabilities.
There are a lot of advantages to using Top Tier gas. These benefits make its expensive nature bearable and wise to prevent further costs from repairs. But premium gas is expensive without attraction except for its high octane ratings. It is best to use Top Tier gas for your vehicle.
FAQs On Top Tier Gas Myth
What Kind Of Gas Does My Car Take
You can determine what type of gas your car takes by looking for the minimum octane rating of your vehicle. This information will be on your owner’s manual. If your car requires premium gas, the user’s manual will indicate that. Finding the gas type specific to your vehicle for better performance is best. Cars requiring premium gas always have an indication on or near the gas cap. However, always use good gas with high octane rating.
Is Arco Gas Good
Arco gas belongs to Marathon Petroleum. It has a Top Tier license and sells Top Tier gas that contains additives that help your vehicle run better and smoother. Arco gas is budget-friendly. They offer low prices for their fuel, almost more down than other gas stations. The Top Tier rating means that Arco sells good fuel that has high quality.
Is Shell Gas Good
Shell gas offers high-quality Top Tier gas. It has a high standard for its fuel too. Shell gas might be the best gas due to the amount of experience in the gas industry it has. Shell gas has significant benefits to a car. It increases performance, cleans up the combustion chambers and fuel injectors, and reduces the rate of fuel use.
Is 76 Gas Good
76 gas is one of the Top Tier gasoline brands. It has more detergent than the EPA requires and is 30% more surplus requirements than specified by the EPA. It is lower in cost than Chevron, and the gas has a good octane level.
Who Has The Best Gas
Chevron has the best gas so far. Their Techron mixture of additives reduces carbon deposits and ensures the engine is running smoothly for many thousands of miles. They have the highest customer satisfaction point. It has more than 7,800 outlets and stores around the country.
Is Sunoco Top Tier Gas
Sunoco is a Top Tier gas. It has a certification to prove it too. Sunoco Ultra 94 uses the same detergent additives as a racing fuel because the brand produces for NASCAR. It meets all requirements of the EPA.
Is Mobil Gas Good
Yes, Mobil gas is good. Mobil is a well-known company. It is known for the quality of gas they produce. Mobil merged with Exxon to become ExxonMobil in 1999. Since then, they have been the largest petroleum company in the world.
Is Costco Gas Top Tier
Yes, Costco gas is Top Tier. It has five times more detergent in all its gas types than required by EPA. Costco gas is budget-friendly. The gas formula is made to clean a car engine and enhance engine performance.
Is Chevron Gas Better
Chevron currently has the highest ratings as the best gas brand. It always claims its gas to be better due to the Techron additive blend. They have thousands of outlets across the country and provide services like mart and car parts.
Is BP Top Tier Gas
No, BP is no longer a Top Tier gas. They are no longer on the Top Tier list. One reason for the demotion is the octane rating of BP gas. It has almost the lowest octane rating.
What Is Top Tier Gas
Top Tier gas is a branded gas that contains detergents and other additives in quantity higher than the EPA requirement. Top Tier gas helps prevent many issues in a vehicle, like corrosion, fuel injector blockage, and carbon deposit.
Is Sam’s Club Gas Top Tier
No, Sam’s Club is not Top Tier. However, they are high-quality gas. Sam’s Club offers club membership. Its gas comes in regular, premium, and diesel.
Is Speedway Top Tier Gas
No, speedway gas is not a Top Tier gas. Although speedway is a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum company, it does not offer Top Tier.
How Is Premium Gas Different From Top Tier Gas
Premium gas has different octane ratings, which are always displayed at gas stations. There is regular, mid-grade, and premium gas. But, Top Tier gas has detergent additives no matter the grade of gas. Even the cheapest Top Tier has a blend of detergent additives.
Where Can I Buy Top Tier Gas
You can buy Top Tier at any Top Tier licensed gas station, and these gas stations are all around the country. We have given a list of Top Tier gas stations. Get your gas at any of their outlets.
Is Wawa Gas Top Tier
Wawa gas is not Top Tier. It does not contain more than the EPA requirements. But it is quality gas and has just the right amount of detergent by EPA. Wawa gas is okay for your vehicle.
Is Circle K Top Tier Gas
Circle K is not a Top Tier gas. Its Top Tier ship dropped in 2019, and this quality does not make it bad gas. It has enough detergent to pass the EPA requirement and no metallic additive.
Conclusion
The top-tier gas myth did not emerge today. The claim that top-tier is better than regular gas is valid. Top-tier gas increases the performance capacity of a vehicle, reduces carbon deposits in the engine, and adds to the car’s long life.
There is a lot of gas in the market, making choosing the best for your car difficult. You should try top-tier, ignore the little extra cost and give your vehicle a better chance to serve you better. Remember, good gas equals a better car.
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“The fuel octane rating determines the stability of the gas.”
No, it does not. It’s the anti-knock rating. The octane rating determines the fuel’s resistance to ignition in order to prevent premature ignition of unburned vapors: AKA “Knock”.
The only problem is there is no way of knowing if the “approved additives” were actually added to the gasoline you are buying. I would stick with an annual treatment of Seafoam.
Like Brett, I understand there is a lot of hanky-panky and dishonesty in fuel retailing, tank filling in darkness, and poor regulation of ethanol percentage. Finding a high-volume station with clean tanks and staying with it is the best policy for good value, whatever the brand or rating. Also noteworthy: used cars are not advertised or priced for whatever kind of fuel and oil a previous owner or leasee might have put in the tank and used.