Don't rely on brand alone for Top Tier fuel

[MasterCylinder]

Don't rely on fuel brand for Top Tier fuels
I've experienced this many times thus the reason for posting. I live in and around small "cities". They may be technically be called cities but real nearby cities high school enrollment is larger! Many gas stations, corner markets etc.... display name branded fuels. Be whatever it is and I noticed most do not have the Top Tier display any where to be found. Yet I can go into a larger city and the same brands pumps be marked very clearly. The reason is each location/outlet has to be lisened not the just the brand and pass spot test. No sign tells me it's probably not Top Tier. See picture from Top Tiers web site. Ranger On!

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[bigb]

Thanks for the heads up, I have wondered about that since we have some Chevron stations that have unbelievably low prices. These are older stations that were recently bought by individuals, remodeled and re-opened with Chevron signage. I'll be looking for that logo.

PS you can go to the Top Tier website to check your area: https://stationfinder.toptiergas.com/

Strangely I just checked those Chevrons I mentioned and they show Top Tier gasoline but not diesel. Apparently there is no Top Tier diesel available in Tucson at all.

 

[superj]

that app showing all the top tier places around you has 4 within 2 miles of me but when i went to hte station to look, i didn;t see those little stickers on the pumps. maybe i am looking for hte wrong thing though?

 

[MasterCylinder]

that app showing all the top tier places around you has 4 within 2 miles of me but when i went to hte station to look, i didn;t see those little stickers on the pumps. maybe i am looking for hte wrong thing though?

I've got none within 25 Mile's of my local. See below superj.

 

[superj]

i will have to look over the ones they list around me for that sticker. they list alot of valeros as having it so i wonder if the sticker will be in the same place on the machine here in corpus? i will look tomorrow, probably

 

[MasterCylinder]

i will have to look over the ones they list around me for that sticker. they list alot of valeros as having it so i wonder if the sticker will be in the same place on the machine here in corpus? i will look tomorrow, probably

My curiosity got me last week so I just drove through looking at the pumps while in a larger city. Most bigger outlets i noticed, even the corner marts selling name brands had the license sticker, 9 out of 12. On way home to the boonies stopped by 2 Valero and a Shell, no sticker so wanted others to know. We can still shop by price but look for the sticker. The local Sams club, no sticker, yet Costco had them. We all want them to last so every little thing helps!

 

[Satex]

"Yes, a station can sell TOP TIER™ gas without a sticker, as the standard applies to the fuel brand's products, not necessarily every single station's signage, but you should always verify on the official TOP TIER™ website by checking the licensed brand's list and reporting missing logos for clarity. The TOP TIER™ program ensures the fuel meets standards, so a major brand like Shell or Exxon should have it, even if a specific station misses the pump decal. "

That's Google AI. I have lots of local stations listed on the Top Tier website. Most, or at least a significant minority, don't have the "Top Tier" sticker.

 

[Jason B]

The two specific stations I regularly use (Exxon and Texaco) are on that list, but I've never seen those stickers.

 

[Lion77]

There's a ton around my area, Shell, Sunoco, Marathon, Meijers and CostCo, but we live in an upper scale county for our region (a ton of multi-million-dollar homes all around the area).

I use the Top Tier app and always make sure sticker is actually on the pumps, if it's not, I don't assume it's Top Tier. It's ok to fill up with non-top tier fuels on occasion, but I only do it if there is a really big inconvenience or there's nothing in the general area if I travel.

95% of my fill-ups are Top Tier and it's a way better method of keeping the fuel system clean that periodic fuel system cleaners.

 

[MasterCylinder]

"Yes, a station can sell TOP TIER™ gas without a sticker, as the standard applies to the fuel brand's products, not necessarily every single station's signage, but you should always verify on the official TOP TIER™ website by checking the licensed brand's list and reporting missing logos for clarity. The TOP TIER™ program ensures the fuel meets standards, so a major brand like Shell or Exxon should have it, even if a specific station misses the pump decal. "

That's Google AI. I have lots of local stations listed on the Top Tier website. Most, or at least a significant minority, don't have the "Top Tier" sticker.

AI=Artificial ignorance.

 

[MasterCylinder]

The two specific stations I regularly use (Exxon and Texaco) are on that list, but I've never seen those stickers.

A lot of independent fuel stations are not going to put up the cost for certification and will not be able to jack the prices up enough to warrant the cost. Jezz one of my Valeros is 20 cents higher per gallon non top tier certified and I can drive another 20 miles and get the same brand certified Top Tier cheaper. Cost involved are the annual fee, a testing of the fuels for the additive package, a random spot testing for compliance only then can they get and use the Top Tier logo. Some people don't understand to that one tanker truck can carry and distribute more than one type of fuel also to drop off on a run, different octane, different brands and top tier or non top tier. Ranger On!

 

[bigb]

Checked my local mini mart Chevron today and no stickers. Will check Qwik Trip next.

 

[BrrRaptor]

I thought the additives in Top tier stations was only in the highest octane gas? ( example Shell is one)

 

[Satex]

I thought the additives in Top tier stations was only in the highest octane gas? ( example Shell is one)

Nope. It applies to all grades, although a station with Top Tier gasoline may not have Top Tier diesel.

 

[Geode]

A month or so ago, I reached out to Top Tier with a few suggestions, such as having a CarPlay app to make it one-button easy to find Top Tier gas from the truck. I also suggested a way in the mobile app and on the eventual CarPlay app to report stations that are not displaying the Top Tier stickers on the pumps. The reply from Top Tier said that both of my suggestions are in the works.

The reply was also informative about how the process works, so I figured I would post it here:

"Yes, far few stations are displaying their stickers.

Surprisingly, getting the correct fuel to the station is easier than getting stickers on the pumps themselves. The fuel that is delivered to each station is determined by the brand of fuel that station sells, regardless of if it is a company owned or franchise location. Fuel goes from the fuel dispensary to the tanker truck, which typically holds 6 different fuels, and to the stations. The TOP TIER additives, octane, and other parts of the brand-specific fuel recipe are all managed and, typically, electronically metered in the blending process prior to being dispensed to the trucks. This process ensures that the fuel that gets to the station is the correct quality. In addition to this process and the related controls, we randomly audit the actual stations to ensure that what comes out of the pump is TOP TIER.

The TOP TIER app is the best way to identify is a station is TOP TIER approved. If the station is listed on the app and the retailer matches the brand shown, the regular, midgrade and premium gasoline fuel there is TOP TIER approved. If the station is listed as a TOP TIER Diesel provider, their retail diesel is also TOP TIER approved."

In the meantime, for those of you who are interested in taking the time to do so, if you go to the Top Tier website, you can use the Contact Us feature to report a station that is missing the stickers. Of course, who knows if they'll actually put them on the pump. Might be worth a try.

-Geode

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