I do not think the point was what would you do in an event where you did not have a choice... The question is what do you do on the regular, daily, when you do have a choice. Personally I default to the judgment of the Society of Automotive Engineers who, in the 1990s, went out of their way to lobby for and create a standard minimum for detergents and additives out of concern that the companies they worked for would be hit with considerably higher warranty claims and therefore would not have the funds to pay them as much if their clients (the consumers) purchasing their vehicles were to consistently use a fuel that did not meet those minimum standards... So I follow their advice to the best of my ability.
Okay I found it... it seems that Ford did add port injection to the direct injection on the 2.3 in 2025... I knew they had made that change for the 2.7 in 2023.... All for the reason of cleaning valves..... (at the cost of gas milage so it had to be important) Another good reason to use a top tier fuel that has the detergents in it to assist this process.
Yeah, I’ve only had one other vehicle with a turbo and fuel injection, years ago, but my take away from that experience was running clean gas is important. The dual port injection is new in the 2025 2.3L, and it’s too early to know if it’s finicky or not, but Top Tier 91+ gas seems like a ‘why not?’ Investment.
This true, all the brands get there fuel out the same spigot. They just add their additive. Lefty may not have the name brand additive. I say maybe becasue there are some off brands that may sell name brand without the name.
I have read the same from various sources. Independent labs have tested Costco gas and it’s on par with Shell, which is generally accepted to be among the top of the Top Tier additives.
Not entirely accurate. Some parts of the country DO have multiple refiners. But, given that there are very few corporate stores, the same truck dropping at Mobil could well be dropping at Kroger across the street (which is unbranded).
While this is technically correct, it’s misleading and glosses over many of the important characteristics that define Top Tier. Automakers did work together to develop these standards and there is a trademark on the use of the term Top Tier. But there is substance to the certification and there are many independent studies that have been performed on the fuel additives over the past several decades that confirm that it is clearly and measurably better for engines to have this level of detergent additives in fuel.
Keep in mind, specifications always state minimum and/or maximum requirements. A company being able to satisfy a spec requirement is a very good thing and certainly helps with consumer confidence, but it doesn't mean that one "Top Tier" fuel vendor doesn't have superior fuel to another "Top Tier" fuel vendor. One company may merely meet mins/maxs and a different far exceed those requirements. Same goes with motor oils. So, these topics will always be filled with spirited debate and "I'm willing to die on this hill!" brand loyalty.
"Top Tier" tag is not earned, but purchased. Theres stations that get the same gas as the "Top Tier" gas stations, but they don't get it to label their gas as "Top Tier".
CVX, SHEL, MPC, etc are investments; what you put in your tank is at best questionable insurance.
