Quote:
Originally Posted by Radiation Joe
Why does this myth continue to be presented as fact?
Stations that purchase their base stocks from the same refinery get the same gasoline prior to additives. HOWEVER, there isn't just one refinery on the planet, nor in the British Isles, nor in California. I believe there are at least three refineries in just the SF bay area. Each uses it own proprietary processes to refine gasoline. I didn't even mention the variable quantities of alcohol added (up to 10%).
So depending which station you purchase your gasoline from, you CAN get very different products.
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Perhaps partially true, although it's doubtful that those refining processes differ significantly from the standpoint of removing sulfur content. All of their processes yield a product, which is close to predetermined standards.
However, from a practical standpoint, you're getting the same product whether it is BP, Shell, Exxon/Mobil, or whatever. Yes, each brand has its own proprietary additive packages added to each tanker load.
If there are multiple refinery choices hooked to the pipelines supplying your area, that gasoline from the different refineries is all passed through the same set of supply pipelines, and is mixed in storage tanks where it waits for pickup by the distributors. You'd then be getting a mixture of multiple refineries or a product of a single refinery.
Unless you move around a lot, you're probably getting the majority of your fuel from retailers relatively close to where you live. That means your gasoline is likely coming a single distribution center, serviced by one or more refineries, and if it is multiple, it is all mixed together.