Has anyone ever notice if a different brand of gas makes your max perform better or more powerful? I got a 00 Se auto and have been premium ever since i got the car. But chevrons winter gas seems to make my car seem slow and sluggish. Citgo makes it perform better. I changed spark plugs and ignition coils thinking this was causing my lack of power but im thinking it may be the gas brand. What is the brand gas you guy's use to make your max perform top notch?

 

Anyone experience this?

 

Seems to me that sunoco 93 octane, which is the most expensive gas in my area, makes my car run smoother and with more power, but judging performance without instruments is very subjective. Performance can depend on the car's condition, environmental conditions like air temperature, humidity and your mood (when I am in a hurry, my car seem to never have enough power.). Plus it may depend on what **** the station owners themselves put in the gas (I dunno if thats possible).

 

Yes I have and with Shell my car runs better tha with Exxon and it doesnt burn as fast either. Quik trip makes it run the stongest although.

 

Thats just all a placebo effect...

The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline

The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline
From the Federal Trade Commission
September 1997

Are you tempted to buy a high-octane gasoline for your car because you want to improve its performance? If so, take note: the recommended gasoline for most cars is regular octane. In fact, in most cases, using a higher-octane gasoline than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit. It won’t make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner. Your best bet: listen to your owner’s manual.

The only time you might need to switch to a higher-octane level is if your car engine knocks when you use the recommended fuel. This happens to a small percentage of cars.

Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher-octane gasoline is a waste of money, too. Premium gas costs 15 to 20 cents per gallon more than regular. That can add up to $100 or more a year in extra costs. Studies indicate that altogether, drivers may be spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year for higher octane gas than they need.

What are octane ratings?
Octane ratings measure a gasoline’s ability to resist engine knock, a rattling or pinging sound that results from premature ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture in one or more cylinders. Most gas stations offer three octane grades: regular (usually 87 octane), mid-grade (usually 89 octane) and premium (usually 92 or 93). The ratings must be posted on bright yellow stickers on each gasoline pump.

What’s the right octane level for your car?
Check your owner’s manual to determine the right octane level for your car. Regular octane is recommended for most cars. However, some cars with high compression engines, like sports cars and certain luxury cars, need mid-grade or premium gasoline to prevent knock.

How can you tell if you’re using the right octane level?
Listen to your car’s engine. If it doesn’t knock when you use the recommended octane, you’re using the right grade of gasoline.

Will higher octane gasoline clean your engine better?
As a rule, high-octane gasoline does not outperform regular octane in preventing engine deposits from forming, in removing them, or in cleaning your car’s engine. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that all octane grades of all brands of gasoline contain engine cleaning detergent additives to protect against the build-up of harmful levels of engine deposits during the expected life of your car.

Should you ever switch to a higher octane gasoline?
A few car engines may knock or ping — even if you use the recommended octane. If this happens, try switching to the next highest-octane grade. In many cases, switching to the mid-grade or premium-grade gasoline will eliminate the knock. If the knocking or pinging continues after one or two fill-ups, you may need a tune-up or some other repair. After that work is done, go back to the lowest octane grade at which your engine runs without knocking.

Is knocking harmful?
Occasional light knocking or pinging won’t harm your engine, and doesn’t indicate a need for higher octane. But don’t ignore severe knocking. A heavy or persistent knock can lead to engine damage.

Is all "premium" or "regular" gasoline the same?
The octane rating of gasoline marked "premium" or "regular" is not consistent across the country. One state may require a minimum octane rating of 92 for all premium gasoline, while another may allow 90 octane to be called premium. To make sure you know what you’re buying, check the octane rating on the yellow sticker on the gas pump instead of relying on the name "premium" or "regular."

For More Information:

You can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the Consumer Response Center by phone: toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD: 202-326-2502; by mail: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or through the Internet, using the online complaint form. Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible law violations. The FTC publishes free brochures on many consumer issues. For a complete list of publications, write for Best Sellers, Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or call toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357), TDD 202-326-2502.

 

Speaking of which, I just got 28 mpg out of mine this past fillup, most of which was long-distance highway driving though...
Very rare since most of the time I'm getting 23-25mpg thanks to stop and go driving

 

Yes, I have. For 8 years I used Shell since the station was near my office. Always noted some ping in my 95 max and 2000 I30. Recently the station closed and I swithced to a new Mobil station down the street from my office. After about 3 fill ups I noticed for the first time in 8 years NO PING and smoother performance!

 

I go to cheveron.....best gas in SLC........

 

Chevron for me too...always premium...no complaints here!!

 

I believe winter gas has additives in it.

 

Does the winter gas additives have anything to do with decreased performance? Also, i'm thinking about swithching to Amoco brand, any positive reviews on them?

 

I'm pretty sure it does because I know I get better gas mileage and my car runs better in summer time.

I've been using Mobile and Amoco for at least 10 years. 2 Best gas IMO.