What do you think of the Wal-Mart gas?

[hassanbigboss]

I have been using gas from Wal-Mart for a good year and a half now. I like the gas, the price is good, and I never had any problem. What do you guys think about Wal-Mart gas?

[AccordCodger]

Same as everyone else's. The gas from convenience ctores somes from the same supplies as the "branded" gas.

[hassanbigboss]

Good because I had a feeling that somehow the gas might be of inferior quality.

[ClearHooter]

While brands of oil DO make a difference. I don't think gas that has the same octane ratings do. 87 is 87. 93 is 93 etc. Even way back when gas was an outragious 50 cents per gallon I've seen an APC truck go to one brands station then go down the road to a different one. Back then I think Sunoco 260 made a difference in performance but that was mainly again due to the octane rating. Amaco had white gas which was your basic unleaded. I was always told to stay away from that because it would eventually burn up the valves. That don't apply to todays motors. The higher octane rating does reduce spark ping in certain cars. But is that cost effective? WallyWorlds gas where we live is usually 10 cents cheaper on the gallon with the card than their local competitors. Its presently 25 cents cheaper in SC than NC, where I live.

[RIP]

Another viewpoint. This is concerning Sam's Club gas, a subsidiary of Wal Mart. I noticed a possible decline in milage when using Sam's Club gas. So for the next 4 tanks I alternated between SC gas and another brand. Sure enough, I was consistantly loosing 2-3 mpg using SC gas. I made sure I stuck to the same type trips and driving habits. I noticed this about a year ago but recently the wife forgot and bought Sam's Club gas and noticed a 3-4 mpg drop in her Grand Caravan.

[hassanbigboss]

Interesting fact R.I.P. I dont know if I have seen a drop in mileage but I think that I will try Shell 93 vs. Wal-Mart 93 and calculate the difference if any.

[AccordCodger]

You are talking a 10% difference in consumption. That's a huge amount. How do you measure your MPG? I know a lot of people talk about "xxx miles per tankful," but that's highly innacurate method (unless you fill to the brim and run the car it until it stops).

I'm really skeptical. I've read numerous times that, with the exception of additives that the premium brands claim are something special (but, if they are, only address clean throttle bodies atc - not MPG) ALL gas is the same (for the same octane, of course). Given that no oil refinery could realistically make a "cheapo" formulation in economic quantities for one retailer (even Sma's/Wal-Mart), it just doesn't make sense.

[RIP]

To calculate my mpg I divide the total miles driven by the number of gallons to fill the tank. I agree going by miles driven is only half the story.

When doing the test I would always go to the same pump at the same time of day and limit the "top off" to 1/2 gallon. The "top off" is what I normally do anyway.

In all my gas buying days I've never noticed this big a drop in mpg. It really caught my attention. I like to regularly check the mpg because it's a great early indicator of something going wrong. Why the loss of mpg this time? Just as you're saying, it's my opinion gas is gas no matter where you buy it. Then again, unless you work in the business, can you really know that for sure?

All I know is in the 30+ years I've been driving I've always shopped for the cheapest gas around. I've never had a fuel related problem and the mpg on every car I've owned has always stayed at or near the government ratings. The commercials tell you if you don't buy this or that gas you're going to have carbon buildup or lower mpg. BULL! It is always amusing to watch people line up LIKE SHEEP at the popular stations when across the street a station is charging 5-10 cents per gallon less. It's hard not to laugh.

BTW - Avoid Citgo stations. They are owned by that fruitcake dictator in Venezuala. I think it's time we put a 2000 pounder through that bastards bedroom window.

[rimfire,22]

Originally Posted by hassanbigboss

I have been using gas from Wal-Mart for a good year and a half now. I like the gas, the price is good, and I never had any problem. What do you guys think about Wal-Mart gas?

hassanbigboss,

My buddy uses Sam's Club in his Chrysler Caravan with no ill effects. Currently it's about $3.05/gallon so he's a happy camper. If it works for you then go for it. It's your pocket book and not ours.

For myself I've tried Valero gasoline and it seem to be a good brand of gas. Nothing bad has happened but on the other hand nothing super good either. Currently it's going for about $3.16/gallon.

I don't know where you live but when the gasoling goes from summer to winter blend it's gonna go way up. For now I really don't care about the quality between brands of gasoline. I just need cheap gas!!! I can head to Pep Boys and get a bottle of Chevrons Techron and toss it in the tank for comfort.

Be strong,

rimfire,22

[hassanbigboss]

Rimfire 22, I also shop for the cheapest gas around, just to let you know I am a college student and money is always tight. With the gas prices high and to see no relief in sight I just want the best MPG with the cheapest gas I can get. I assume you are either in California or living in some other big city because I live in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area and the regular here is at 2.82 per gallon. Which is not that bad but just to let you know for reference, I was filling gas during the Feburary and March of 2006 for 1.95 per gallon. By the way thanks for the reassurance. Take care.

[RIP]

hassanbigboss - If you don't know, anytime you want to see where the person who wrote the post is from just click on the name then click "view public profile" (that is if the info is entered). rimfire 22 is in LA (you were right) so it's easy to see why he's paying that much for gas. I'm 90 miles north of LA and paying about the same. All that "pollution prevention" costs money.

[rimfire,22]

Originally Posted by hassanbigboss

Rimfire 22, I also shop for the cheapest gas around, just to let you know I am a college student and money is always tight. With the gas prices high and to see no relief in sight I just want the best MPG with the cheapest gas I can get. I assume you are either in California or living in some other big city because I live in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area and the regular here is at 2.82 per gallon. Which is not that bad but just to let you know for reference, I was filling gas during the Feburary and March of 2006 for 1.95 per gallon. By the way thanks for the reassurance. Take care.

hassanbigboss,

For what you pid back in march that price would be fantastic here in California. here you think you pockets tight? Live in California where the current price for regular gas is back up to $3.17/gallon. I feel I'm back in college again cuz I'm scraping for money just like every else. Heck! my felloworkers now car pool cuz the management won't give us a raise to buy the outrageous gasoline but wonder why were all mad.

rimfire,22

[hassanbigboss]

I feel you there rimfire 22 but inflation is on a rise but the salary we get tends to keep shrinking I just hope that things calm down in the hot spots of the world then maybe we will see some reasonable gas prices but I doubt that will happen in the short run.

[xfeejayx]

Originally Posted by rimfire,22

Live in California where the current price for regular gas is back up to $3.17/gallon. I feel I'm back in college again cuz I'm scraping for money just like every else.

I am a college student, and gas here around Chicago is about $3.30 a gallon, i got the worse of both worlds . back to school in a week, lots less driving, and its about a nickel cheaper in the champaign/urbana area.

[hassanbigboss]

That sucks because the financial aid from college does not help with gas problems either