COSTCO gas

[skim]

What's wrong with Shell on the west coast vs east?

[BMWFB02]

Originally Posted by Vic311

What a refreshing new topic..

[BMWFB02]

Originally Posted by JJunkins

I was advised against Costco gas by a BMW Technician. Due to the amount of detergents (either too much or too little) in the fuel and with usage over time, it can clog the injectors. For the best gas, visit http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html With that said, I use Shell only; same station, same pump, every time.

Also, the manual recommends BP fuels. Check your Supplementary Owner's Manual, page 59.

How come BP is not on that list and its the only one recommended by the manual. I use it most of the time, BP invigorate 93% octane

[DBH]

Neither Costco nor BJ's prices as low as others in this area. So, no incentive to go there vs Sunoco or Hess where prices are better. Also, not sure Costco has 93 octane (BJ's does).

[robbiedawg]

Originally Posted by BMWFB02

How come BP is not on that list and its the only one recommended by the manual. I use it most of the time, BP invigorate 93% octane

i looked into this.bp says it has its own standard,and doesn't want to be tied to top tier regs.the 2013 manual recommends top tier or bp.

we highly recommend purchasing
gasoline from BP or Top Tier retailers-this is copied from the manual

[happos2]

Costco doesn't sell Jet A fuel, therefore a no go in my book.



















fine, a real response, I fill up usually at Shell / BP / Speedway.

[Sean05]

For the last 4 years and with 76k miles my car has not seen any other gas station other than CHEVRON...

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Sean05

For the last 4 years and with 76k miles my car has not seen any other gas station other than CHEVRON...

Really? Never once were you low and there was no chevron near by?

[Vic311]

Just run a mix of vegetable oil and mollases...and be done with it.

[apecush]

Originally Posted by Z K

Costco is actually a major wholesaler and refiner of gas here in Northern California. Shell, Chevron and a lot of smaller gas companies purchase gas from the Costco refinery and add their own additives to it. You see their tankers pull up to fill up at their refinery.

So whether you want to use Costco or not, you are probably pumping Costco gas into your car.

I use Chevron or 76 but I have no problem with Costco gas. I just don't have Costco membership and the lines are super long for Costco gas. I try to avoid Shell if I can.

Might want to re-check your sources there. Norcal (SF) refiners are chevron, shell, conocophillips, valero, and tesoro. Costco purchases from these refiners.

I've never had an issue with Costco fuel...or any fuel for that matter.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by apecush

Might want to re-check your sources there. Norcal (SF) refiners are chevron, shell, conocophillips, valero, and tesoro. Costco purchases from these refiners.

I've never had an issue with Costco fuel...or any fuel for that matter.

Perhaps I have it the other way around. Anyway, I'd trust Costco over the value brands such as Valero, Arco, no name gas stations and others around here.

I still prefer Chevron if I can find it. 76 Stations are disappearing... Rather disappointing as they are one of the few places that sold 100 octane unleaded at the pump at some stations.

[Leonardo629]

Of course BMW recommends BP because Castrol is part of BP....you can't have Castrol on the oil cap and not recommend BP gas if you are BMW.

[mhabs]

Costco does not own any refining assets. They buy from the major refiners in norcal/west coast: Chevron, Valero, Tesoro, Conoco/Phillips, Shell.

The differentiating factor in gasoline is the amount/quality of detergents added. Top Tier gas association is a voluntary association that has agreed to a standard of detergent additives.

Originally Posted by Z K

Costco is actually a major wholesaler and refiner of gas here in Northern California. Shell, Chevron and a lot of smaller gas companies purchase gas from the Costco refinery and add their own additives to it. You see their tankers pull up to fill up at their refinery.

So whether you want to use Costco or not, you are probably pumping Costco gas into your car.

I use Chevron or 76 but I have no problem with Costco gas. I just don't have Costco membership and the lines are super long for Costco gas. I try to avoid Shell if I can.

[robbiedawg]

Originally Posted by Leonardo629

Of course BMW recommends BP because Castrol is part of BP....you can't have Castrol on the oil cap and not recommend BP gas if you are BMW.

does that mean you don't think bp is as good as top tier fuels?

[cambit]

I only let 100 octane Sunoco gas touch my M3

[Mike Benvo]

Originally Posted by mamadub

Hey Mike....I thought I was doing the right thing buy only using Shell here in AZ. Should I stop that and switch to Chevron?

I've had nothing but issues with Shell. It's up to you but if it were me I would switch

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by bga23

I fill up whenever I'm at Costco and never had a problem, otherwise it is Shell for me. As for as issues with Costco gas, since I only keep my cars for about a year and put ~5K on them I doubt I'm doing any damage. But guess they are problems for the new owner.

Your M3 is due for a change now hahah

I use purely Shells but it's somewhat not on the way so I also use Sunoco. Used nothing else but Shells and Sunoco for the past 6-7 years.

[averrec6262]

I use Sunoco 93 octane. Doesn't seem like many people use Sunoco? I always just assumed it was good because its sponsored by NASCAR hahah

[DBH]

Originally Posted by averrec6262

I use Sunoco 93 octane. Doesn't seem like many people use Sunoco? I always just assumed it was good because its sponsored by NASCAR hahah

I generally use Sunoco 93 as well.

Sunoco is getting out of the refining business. They recently sold the Marcus Hook (Phila.) plant to the Carlisle Group. I believe they retained a 1/3 interest in the refinery.

[mamadub]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

I've had nothing but issues with Shell. It's up to you but if it were me I would switch

Okay, thanks for the response.....I'll be a Chevron girl from now on!

[MMME30W]

I believe gas is gas.

Here in Atlanta I use Costco Kirkland Signature Premium. Zero problems.

In fact zero problems with the other four previous BMWs we've had.

On the road I tend to use Shell 93, or Chevron. I look for busy stations (fresh gas) and high fuel fill rates (clean filters).

[BMWFB02]

Originally Posted by Leonardo629

Of course BMW recommends BP because Castrol is part of BP....you can't have Castrol on the oil cap and not recommend BP gas if you are BMW.

They recommend BP because the #1 fuel in Germany is Aral with the name printed on all their DTM, ALMS, 24hr Motorsport cars. Aral was bought by BP in 2002 and its the company's fuel stations in most of Europe.