Other than main brands like Chevron, Shell, and 76, who supplies the "no name"
07-26-2008, 12:51 PM
#1
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Other than main brands like Chevron, Shell, and 76, who supplies the "no name"
gasoline stations? And are they safe?
PS. I've always used Chevron supreme...I used to work at one in college and have loyal since.
PS. I've always used Chevron supreme...I used to work at one in college and have loyal since.
07-26-2008, 02:17 PM
#2
The fuel all comes from the same refineries for the most part. What differs are the additives.
What may be a bigger concern is the addition of ethanol, and whether the additives are helped or hindered by it.
"After crude oil is refined into gasoline and other petroleum products, the products must be distributed to consumers. The majority of gasoline is shipped first by pipeline to storage terminals near consuming areas and then loaded into trucks for delivery to individual gas stations. Gasoline and other products are sent through shared pipelines in "batches." Since these batches are not physically separated in the pipeline, some mixing or "commingling" of products occurs. This is why the quality of the gasoline and other products must be tested as they enter and leave the pipeline to make sure they meet appropriate specifi cations. Whenever the product fails to meet local, State, or Federal product specifications, it must be removed and trucked back to a refinery for further processing....
After shipment through the pipeline, gasoline is typically held in bulk storage terminals that often service many companies. At these terminals, the gasoline is loaded into tanker trucks destined for various retail gas stations. The tanks in these trucks, which can typically hold up to 10,000 gallons, usually have several compartments, enabling them to transport different grades of gasoline or petroleum products. The truck tank is where the special additive packages of gasoline retailers get blended into the gasoline to differentiate one blend from another. In some areas, ethanol may be "splash blended" in the tanker to meet environmental requirements. When the tanker truck reaches a gas station, the truck operator unloads each grade of gasoline into the appropriate underground tanks at the station....
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) cannot definitively say where gasoline at a given station originated since EIA does not collect data on the source of the gasoline sold at retail outlets. The name on the service station sign does not tell the whole story. The fact that you purchase gasoline from a given company does not necessarily mean that the gasoline was actually produced by that particular company's refineries. While gasoline is sold at about 167,000 retail outlets across the nation, about one-third of these stations are "unbranded" dealers that may sell gasoline of any brand. The remainder of the outlets are "branded" stations, but may not necessarily be selling gasoline produced at that company's refineries. This is because gasoline from different refineries is often combined for shipment by pipeline, and companies owning service stations in the same area may be purchasing gasoline at the same bulk terminal. In that case, the only difference between the gasoline at station X versus the gasoline at station Y may be the small amount of additives that those companies add to the gasoline before it gets to the pump. Even if we knew at which company's refinery the gasoline was produced, the source of the crude oil used at that refinery may vary on a day-to-day basis. Most refiners use a mix of crude oils from various domestic and foreign sources. The mix of crude oils can change based on the relative cost and availability of crude oil from different sources."
http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/gasoline/index.html
"After crude oil is refined into gasoline and other petroleum products, the products must be distributed to consumers. The majority of gasoline is shipped first by pipeline to storage terminals near consuming areas and then loaded into trucks for delivery to individual gas stations. Gasoline and other products are sent through shared pipelines in "batches." Since these batches are not physically separated in the pipeline, some mixing or "commingling" of products occurs. This is why the quality of the gasoline and other products must be tested as they enter and leave the pipeline to make sure they meet appropriate specifi cations. Whenever the product fails to meet local, State, or Federal product specifications, it must be removed and trucked back to a refinery for further processing....
After shipment through the pipeline, gasoline is typically held in bulk storage terminals that often service many companies. At these terminals, the gasoline is loaded into tanker trucks destined for various retail gas stations. The tanks in these trucks, which can typically hold up to 10,000 gallons, usually have several compartments, enabling them to transport different grades of gasoline or petroleum products. The truck tank is where the special additive packages of gasoline retailers get blended into the gasoline to differentiate one blend from another. In some areas, ethanol may be "splash blended" in the tanker to meet environmental requirements. When the tanker truck reaches a gas station, the truck operator unloads each grade of gasoline into the appropriate underground tanks at the station....
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) cannot definitively say where gasoline at a given station originated since EIA does not collect data on the source of the gasoline sold at retail outlets. The name on the service station sign does not tell the whole story. The fact that you purchase gasoline from a given company does not necessarily mean that the gasoline was actually produced by that particular company's refineries. While gasoline is sold at about 167,000 retail outlets across the nation, about one-third of these stations are "unbranded" dealers that may sell gasoline of any brand. The remainder of the outlets are "branded" stations, but may not necessarily be selling gasoline produced at that company's refineries. This is because gasoline from different refineries is often combined for shipment by pipeline, and companies owning service stations in the same area may be purchasing gasoline at the same bulk terminal. In that case, the only difference between the gasoline at station X versus the gasoline at station Y may be the small amount of additives that those companies add to the gasoline before it gets to the pump. Even if we knew at which company's refinery the gasoline was produced, the source of the crude oil used at that refinery may vary on a day-to-day basis. Most refiners use a mix of crude oils from various domestic and foreign sources. The mix of crude oils can change based on the relative cost and availability of crude oil from different sources."
http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/gasoline/index.html
07-27-2008, 09:34 AM
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Other things to consider
The additive does matter, even if it's a small fraction of the total volume.
Chevron/Texaco (same) use a great additive.
Shell also has a great additive.
Does the station maintain the pump filters?
Is the owner dumping used oil in the tanks? Is the owner actually buying the right fuel (additive)? There's really nothing to keep him from buying a tanker or 2 of non-brand in the middle of the night, other than his marketing contract.
Is the place clean and well maintained? If not, it tells you alot about the owner. His biggest expense is buying the gas. So if he won't hire someone to empty the overflowing trash cans, that tells you alot.
My order of preference:
1. Chevron/Texaco/Shell no real distinction as long as its close and clean.
2. Other toptier listed brands
3. Exxon/BP
4. Last (to avoid) no-name discount fuel including Valero, which is no-name discount fuel with a name.
Chevron/Texaco (same) use a great additive.
Shell also has a great additive.
Does the station maintain the pump filters?
Is the owner dumping used oil in the tanks? Is the owner actually buying the right fuel (additive)? There's really nothing to keep him from buying a tanker or 2 of non-brand in the middle of the night, other than his marketing contract.
Is the place clean and well maintained? If not, it tells you alot about the owner. His biggest expense is buying the gas. So if he won't hire someone to empty the overflowing trash cans, that tells you alot.
My order of preference:
1. Chevron/Texaco/Shell no real distinction as long as its close and clean.
2. Other toptier listed brands
3. Exxon/BP
4. Last (to avoid) no-name discount fuel including Valero, which is no-name discount fuel with a name.
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