I'm contemplating a costco membership to save (among other things) on gas. Any feedback on costco gas?

Has anybody had problems with the higher octane costco gas in their MINI?

 

i would think it is good, they are pretty serous about customer satisfaction. if your not satisfied with their petrol maybe you can return it, haha.

 

Just always run 91+, high turn over stations are better, and avoid em for the first 24 hours after the sation gets a refill and you're good.

 

Up to a point the higher octane should give you better performance. I'm still getting used to the fact that Premium in the US (91-93) is roughly on par octane-wise with the Regular (91-92) I used to buy back in New Zealand.

 

i am pretty sure octane levels are measured differently here, our 87 is the same as your 92.

 

read http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

BMW recommends these companies for gas.

 

Very interesting - the largest gas company in the US (ExxonMobil) isn't on that list. Anyone know why? Is that list regional? Here in the North East, the only supplier on that list is Shell (and Shell stations are few and far between). We're pretty much dominated by EM, while BP/AMOCO, Shell, Getty, Citgo and a host of others fill out the rest of the market.

 

I've been running Costco gas for almost a year without issues.

....Les

 

thats funny, you know i never really liked any of the gas from those stations that are on that list. now i know why, they all use the same inferior gas, but i don't think they all do get the same gas, depends where you are and what they put in it. I here people saying cheveron is better then shell in tests, that shell gas made their car ping, and stuff like that.
the best way to find good gas is by seeing what gas gets you the best mpg's, that gas will be the most unadulterated gas and the highest performance.

 

QuikTrip shouldn't be on there. They have crappy gas, how else can they be the lowest in price in the areas where I see them. Even Circle K's more expensive.

 

why is that?

 

High turnover = fresh gas

Station refill = sediment in bottom of tank stirred up by massive volume of gas dumped in tank.

Of course a high volume station will have to refill more often, so it's a bit of a Catch-22...

 

I have used CostCo gas a bunch of times. I fill up when ever I take the MINI there.

 

I always thought the octane rating was calculated the same everywhere but I could be wrong.

Gas is funny like that. I get really good mpg with Shell which is on that list and previously I was using Getty gas and getting crappy mpg.
I'm becoming a believer more in station turnover than a particular brand.

 

MY only commet about Top Tier Gases are that I was issue free on Sams gas and abotu 2 weeks after I started using top tier regularly I started getting O2 sensor warnings, switch back to Sams and now I only get a system too rich, the O2 warning stopped. I most certainly don'tthink its the cause but I'll stay with Sams (costco not in FL,at least my area, but I'll use them when I'm in IL).

 

But if it's a place like Costco that has a tanker truck in there twice a day, then wouldn't there be little if no sediment at the bottom of the tank?

 

Exactly And do the best you can to stay at the same octane #, I switched to 91 for a tank, and I thought I killed the engine preformance SUCKED because the timing had to adjust for konck, went back to 93 and been the same ever since, I might put 98 unleaded in if at the track but for $5 a gallon two months ago, I don't even want to know what a fill up would run me nowadays

 

I imagine there would be a little but iwould be constantly mixed in with the fuel instead of sitting on the bottom.

 

here is a good link to clarify things with gas ratings and u.s. measurement of PON and everyone else who uses RON, just skip to the last few little paragraphs.

 

you all need to read the whole article. BMW, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota have set the standards. Its about the additives ...

"These automakers have raised the bar. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline help drivers avoid lower quality gasoline which can leave deposits on critical engine parts, which reduces engine performance."

Of course, everyone will have their opinion on whats best. This is just BMW telling you whats best ...

 

I use Citgo and so far so good. I never liked Shell and it is the most expensive gas around here. Chevron is OK.

 

I'm in So. Cal and haved used Costco since I bought my mini (4 months ago.) Everything is great and we are both happy!!

 

The problem with short-term ancedotal information like this is that it doesnt mean anything relative to what the top tier gas recommendation is trying to do

"Currently, many gasoline retailers provide fuels with lower-quality additive packages that can build up deposits on fuel injectors and on intake valves."

Everything might be fine for months, or years, its only til the deposits do damage that you will know ... I guess.

 

Costco gas = Never had any issues....

Donna

 

From the link:

"The deposit control performance of unleaded gasoline conforming to section 1 of this document shall be met at the retail level in all grades of gasoline sold by a fuel company in all marketing areas of a selected nation. In addition, conformance to the standards shall mean gasoline sold in the selected nation shall not contain metallic additives, including methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT)."

(I boldfaced that phrase for emphasis.)