[BobbySueZQ]

I've been doing a bit of reading today after having a discussion with a technician at BMW. It felt like he was dropping a few too many hints that I should use a particular BRAND of gasoline in my 04MCS to get rid of an on-going problem I've been having.

www.toptiergas.com

Anyone have any educated guesses on how this might impact our cars? I wonder if the ECU Emissions Upgrade had anything to do with this automaker initiative.

Sometimes I hear and read things that just make me go "hmmmmmm."

[Spy Car]

Funny...I had just stumbled on the "Top Tier" site myself the other day.

I guess I'm a lot less cynical that you are (what you don't trust oil companies to play it straight? ) but seems to me your BMW technician was just trying to get you to use a high quality fuel with optimal levels of detergents to keep the engine in good shape.

I know some people say "gasoline is gasoline"...but from what I understand proper additives make a world of difference. I plan on keeping my car a long time. So I'm going to stick with using Chevron (in the main) and 76 or Shell (when need be).

Curious to hear what someone with more expertise tham myself thinks about all this.

[vagt6]

Good question. A friend of mine is in the oil distribution business and knows his stuff about fuels. He says that generally, the major brands are the best in the long run. In the U.S., this would include Exxon, Shell, Amoco, Texaco, Chevron, etc.

I try to use Amoco when it's available, trying to stick with one brand and not change around, whenever possible. I usually avoid the minor brands. But, I often wonder if it makes a significant diff?

[pocketrocketowner]

In the USA, the USEPA mandates the use of detergents in gasoline. These are used to keep the valves (particularly the intake valves) clean of deposits that form (long story of why, but there is a why) and affect emissions and CAN affect performance.
As with everything that gets mandated by the government, the standard was subject to very heavy lobbying by EVERYONE. Bottom line is that the standard has a Lowest Additive Content (LAC) level that is so low it is pretty much of a laugh. Most if not all your "regular" gasoline contains this level of detergent...some of it good, some of it not so good but all effective to a point. In order to maintain your intake valves in pristine condition, one requires the use of substantial amounts of detergents (also known as IVD Cleaners-Intake valve deposit cleaners) and very few gasoline marketers are willing to put the effort into differentiating their fuel to that extent. (No and it is not a matter of just turning a valve in some refinery) The few and the brave in the USA are few and far between and your best bet is among the major brands currently advertising. The top brands that are not advertising....well.....you figure out why they are not advertising........