Top Tier

What benefits overall do the Top Tier detergent packages in certain gasoline brands have?

I personally think that it's just marketing. It may be possible that they give you a little more cushion if you don't maintain your vehicle, but doubtful. There are only a handful of refineries, so most all gas is the same (except for different octane levels, regional anti-smog formulations and gasohol blends of course). Smoke and mirrors for the most part.

I don't know if it is a marketing gimmick but the top automakers take the matter seriously. GM recommends using only top tier gasoline due to declining gasoline quality. The standards for top tier fuel is set by BMW, General Motors, Honda and Toyota.

http://www.toptiergas.com/index.html#

You'd be surprised how many people use top tier only and aviod discount brands like at Wally World/Sams. I use strictly Chevron/Texaco.

All the Texaco stations pulled out of my area. I like Shell and Sunoco. Get good mileage with both and haven't had issues. I still use injector cleaner about once a month just to keep the injectors at top performance.

Same here on Texaco but plenty of Chevrons. I think the Texacos went West to California but Chevron and Texaco are the same company now. Shell and Sunoco are top tier.

Approved Top Tier Brands
http://www.gmfleet.com/image/pdf/TechTip_0905_TopTierGasoline.pdf

I agree with the name brand only gas, as you never know what you're getting at the no-brand places (including true octane, accurate pumps, water, etc...). I don't believe any name brand has any advantage over any other.

What name brand you may use is based on locale and what is available. Where I'm at we only have Shell, Chevron and Phillips 66 as name brand or top tier so there really isn't much of a choice versus the old days. If I was back east Sunoco would be my choice due to the better variety of grades available.

IMO one of the deciding factors on name brands is the old gas credit card. You tend to use the gas that you have credit cards for even though you could use your Mastercard or Visa. They do come in handy on trips and vacation time. Anyone can get a gas company credit card even college kids as long there is no negative credit record.

The gas card is good for those wishing to start building a credit history.

You can tell that high risk customers are built into the private brand (Doesn't carry Visa, MC logo). The last time I glanced at an application the APR for a ConocoPhillips card was 23.24% Variable. The rate listed included the prime rate.

I prefer cards with gas rebates. If you pay the balance off every month, that 3-5% which is usually featured is just money in the bank.

In my area, we offer Phillips 66, Conoco, Shell and QuikTrip for TOP TIER retailers.