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Old 01-23-2013, 08:26 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Non-top tier gas + additive to save money?

This isn't exactly a question of efficiency as much as it is a question of economics, so I put it here. Typically I would fill my car with Chevron (something about the blue everywhere makes me feel good), but I didn't feel like driving 2 miles just to get to the cheaper Chevron station in the next town so I just filled at a Valero. Typically I avoid Valero/ARCO since it's "lower quality" gas, but I read that the only difference is a small amount of detergents, so I poured 2 ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil in the tank since it's composition suggests that it's a good cleaner.

1 quart of MMO costs about as much as 1 gallon of gasoline, but the additives in gas are well under 1% of the composition, so adding just a few ounces should be bringing the "cleaning power" up quite a bit? So I saved maybe 1 dollar on the actual gasoline getting Valero, and then dumped 30 cents of MMO back in.

Thoughts?


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Old 01-23-2013, 09:23 PM   #2 (permalink)
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...that's exactly what GM Owners Manual recommend when using "...non-Tier 1..." gasolines, so you're doing it right.
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Old 01-23-2013, 09:32 PM   #3 (permalink)
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I burn the cheapest fuel w/o additives. No problems.
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Old 01-23-2013, 11:17 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Tele man View Post
...that's exactly what GM Owners Manual recommend when using "...non-Tier 1..." gasolines, so you're doing it right.
Really? :O

Gonna buy more Valero from now on, my credit card gives 3.3% off on gas so that makes up the difference between them and ARCO.
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Old 01-25-2013, 07:56 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee View Post
I burn the cheapest fuel w/o additives. No problems.
Same here.
I tried adding a bottle of Techron Fuel System Cleaner to a fill-up in my Mustang last Summer. It made NO difference in FE, but it cost over $85.00 per gallon. ($7.99 + tax for a 12 oz bottle) I'll just continue purchasing my fuel from Safeway and not adding anything to it.
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Old 01-25-2013, 09:16 PM   #6 (permalink)
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I've found good results with Lucas Fuel Treatment. The small 4 oz. bottles are expensive, but you can by it in quart and gallon sizes.
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Old 01-27-2013, 01:30 AM   #7 (permalink)
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I buy the cheapest gas without going out of my way. No additives.


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