Does buying quality gas matter?
Gasoline is refined from crude oil and may contain impurities and minor inconsistencies. For this reason, the addition of additives to gas is standard practice. This means that one person can fill up their car anywhere and get relatively the same product. Despite this, there are companies that claim that their gasoline is the cleanest or best for engine performance.
Top grade gasoline
Automakers around the world have agreed that government requirements for fuel additives are inadequate as they have not changed to meet the requirements of today's engines. Now, if a company can prove that its gas contains additives and detergents that prevent residue from forming on the valves or in the combustion chamber, it is entitled to call itself a top-tier gasoline supplier. This type of fuel is designed to keep engines running efficiently. There are several companies such as Exxon, Shell and Conoco that have different gasoline formulas and they are all top tier. Automakers claim that these requirements make gasoline better for modern cars.
Is top-tier gasoline really better? Technically it is, as it is designed with modern engines in mind, but the difference will be hard to tell. No manufacturer is going to produce a car that runs on only one brand of gasoline, or a car that can be damaged by using gasoline coming from any conventional fuel pump. Gasoline standards in the US are already enough to ensure that every gas station sells a reliable product that doesn't damage valves or combustion chambers.
Keep in mind:
Always fill your vehicle with recommended octane fuel.
The recommended octane rating for a particular vehicle should be written either on the gas cap or on the fuel filler flap.
The vehicle owner's manual should indicate which octane rating is optimal for the vehicle.
