After calling several mechanics in Spokane, I got the impression you should only buy the branded stuff. I started to wonder if these guys had some special allegiance to Chevron, since that's the brand many recommended (Chevron's additive, Techron, is supposedly the most expensive additive out there). The mechanics said time and again, they'd seen problems caused by cheap gas: clogged fuel systems, and engines with "gunk" (technical term here) in them. The problem is, it's not always possible to trace car problems to gasoline, and even if you do, how do you know which station's gas caused the problem? The scientists and mechanics I talked with pointed out that fuel system glitches can develop over time. If you're like most people, you fill up wherever it's convenient, so that tankful you bought two months ago may be causing you "gas pains" today.
We worked with State of Washington inspectors who tested Costco's gas on East Sprague in Spokane Valley and found no water. The State, however, does not test for additives. We found a lab run by the state of Maryland that's been testing fuels
more than three decades, and they ran a test on name brand versus generic gas. They found no measurable difference between the two fuels. The tester I spoke with told me because generic gas is scientifcally no different than branded gas, you're better off buying the cheapest stuff you can find. In reality, those additives the name-brand stations put into their gas are present at a ratio of about 1/3 of a gallon to every
1,000 gallons of gas.
After our Cheap Gas story ran, Two on Your Side received several e-mails from people claiming Costco gas had ruined their vehicles. One of those viewers said he had his tank and gas tested in a lab, so we're planning to follow-up with another story.
A recent survey finds more than 60% of consumers have no preference when it comes to the kind of gasoline they buy. For my money, I'll keep filling up wherever it's convenient.
By the way, the mechanics I talked to for the story assured me they've cut no deals
with the folks who bring you Techron.
-Dawn Picken