[Ishan99]

Hey guys! I just purchased a membership for Sams Club. The gas prices are damn cheap- even for the 93 octane. I want to know other people's opinions on using this gasoline since IT IS NOT Top Tier.

I also have a Costco membership and their gasoline is also damn cheap, but their gas IS Top Tier.

The reason I got a sams club membership is because I go to college 2.5 hours away from home and there is no Costco within an hour of where I am located. I still have Costco membership since parents have the account.

Any help is appreciated!

[Sinner328]

It’s not Top Tier, so more carbon and gunk will build up on your engine.

I use Top Tier only. And the Gas Buddy + AAA apps to find cheap gas at top tier stations.

[Ishan99]

Originally Posted by Sinner328

It's not Top Tier, so more carbon and gunk will build up on your engine.

I use Top Tier only. And the Gas Buddy + AAA apps to find cheap gas at top tier stations.

That is a good point. I do use the gas buddy app actually. Very useful app

I use chevron fuel injector cleaner every few thousand miles. Will it be okay then? If not, I don't want to risk my vehicle just to save a few dollars.

[njdangelo]

The only difference between premium gas at name brand stations is the additives they put in to 'clean' your engine. I'd say you're fine if it's what is available to you. Remember there are whole states who only have 91 octane and their cars work fine. Will there be more carbon build up? Maybe,most likely. But with the .10/.15 cents a gallon you're saving you'll be able to have the valves and intake manifold walnut blasted every 5 years or so

[Ishan99]

Originally Posted by njdangelo

The only difference between premium gas at name brand stations is the additives they put in to 'clean' your engine. I'd say you're fine if it's what is available to you. Remember there are whole states who only have 91 octane and their cars work fine. Will there be more carbon build up? Maybe,most likely. But with the .10/.15 cents a gallon you're saving you'll be able to have the valves and intake manifold walnut blasted every 5 years or so

Yeahhhh no thank you. I don't want that risk haha. I'll just spend some few extra dollars on good gas 😂

[njdangelo]

Originally Posted by Ishan99

Yeahhhh no thank you. I don't want that risk haha. I'll just spend some few extra dollars on good gas 😂

Smart man!!! Enjoy the car my friend!

[Ishan99]

Originally Posted by njdangelo

Smart man!!! Enjoy the car my friend!

Thank you for the help!

[ggrcrash]

Originally Posted by Ishan99

Thank you for the help!

Yup you will be fine, in case your conscience is really bothering you, use a bottle of Techron every 2 or 3 fillups...BMW's really aren't as fickle as you have been led to believe...

[vooonoo]

As long as you're not putting e87 in you should be good. Get the good stuff.

[Onizukachan]

It all comes from the same place out of the same truck.
The only difference is the additives.

[eluded]

I heard using Sam's club fuel puts you at risk for coronavirus. Not worth it to me.

[deviantspeed]

Originally Posted by Onizukachan

It all comes from the same place out of the same truck.
The only difference is the additives.

Not all costco/cheap gas has the additives. You may be lucky in your area, or the attendant is lying.

This comes up on forums all the freakin' time, you would think that google could confuse you even more.

If in doubt, get the name brand and premium.

[Ishan99]

Originally Posted by deviantspeed

Not all costco/cheap gas has the additives. You may be lucky in your area, or the attendant is lying.

This comes up on forums all the freakin' time, you would think that google could confuse you even more.

If in doubt, get the name brand and premium.

I think Costco does because it is a Top Tier gas station, and it is listed on the Top Tier gas website

[Billfitz]

It's more difficult to find a gas that's not labeled Top Tier than it is to find one that is.
https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/

The only thing you can be sure of with a Top Tier gas is that they've paid their licensing fee to Top Tier. Caveat Emptor.

[PhizzurpF]

Why not use shell v power as recommended in the manual? If I recall, their 91 octane had no ethanol

[Ishan99]

Originally Posted by PhizzurpF

Why not use shell v power as recommended in the manual? If I recall, their 91 octane had no ethanol

I'd love too but it's kinda far from where I'm at. The closes gas stations to me are a citzo- which is super ghetto and a chevron- which has nozzles that never stop properly and leak gas onto my car. There are several other gas stations, but they are all no brand.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by PhizzurpF

Why not use shell v power as recommended in the manual? If I recall, their 91 octane had no ethanol

This is not true on a broader scale. Around here ALL gas stations use ethanol no matter octane, to include the 93 stuff. On my normal travels/driving patters I only know of one station which has ethanol-free fuel and it's two states away.

I've used the Shell and the Sam's club back to back a couple times just to see if I could tell the difference since the two stations are only about 1/4 mile apart. I could not. As of yesterday, I paid $.50 PER GALLON less for 93 octane at Sams than I did the Shell, so it's a no-brainer. I may toss a bottle of Techron in from time to time for good measure.

Around here, "Top Tier" stations are very hard to come buy. Other than my old faithful (and now very expensive) Shell, the only other station is a very run-down sketchy BP station with a reputation for water intrusion into their tanks. Every other station I know of within 10~15 miles is either a local chain or Circle K branded station/store. Circle K took over the gas portion of the all the Shell and Phillips 66 stations in the entire region. Top Tier stations are effectively gone from the area.

[deviantspeed]

Originally Posted by Ishan99

I think Costco does because it is a Top Tier gas station, and it is listed on the Top Tier gas website

Not every costco station is a guarantee on "top tier" additives. I believe I have stated that before, and there's common knowledge on that on the internets.

Enjoy your day and keep "thinking"! I think I found that site, and there's no guarantee there, at all. So I would assume nope, not happening.

But it's your dice.

[deviantspeed]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It's more difficult to find a gas that's not labeled Top Tier than it is to find one that is.
https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/

The only thing you can be sure of with a Top Tier gas is that they've paid their licensing fee to Top Tier. Caveat Emptor.

Blammo! Even if licensed, they don't have to. Which is exactly the Costco point.

Used to get this all the freakin' time a major metropolitan. Caveat Beware. Either way, it's gasoline. But did you want to save $1 because you didn't go to Chevron and were cheap and went to Costco?

[tex2670]

I've used Sam's Club gas almost exclusively for about 8 years. Never had any problems. Gas price discount, especially for premium, more than pays for the annual membership.

[Ishan99]

Originally Posted by deviantspeed

Not every costco station is a guarantee on "top tier" additives. I believe I have stated that before, and there's common knowledge on that on the internets.

Enjoy your day and keep "thinking"! I think I found that site, and there's no guarantee there, at all. So I would assume nope, not happening.

But it's your dice.

Every Costco gas station has top tier fuel lol. This thread is about sams club fuel

[Billfitz]

With some effort you can find out where Sam's gets its fuel. It's not from Sam's Refinery. . Sam's has chosen not to pay a royalty to display the Top Tier logo, even though their gas comes from the same refineries that Top Tier brands do.