[Autobahn SoCal]

Anyone use this on their G87?

Is it junk gas compared to Shell, etc?

[Albator_IIII]

Depends where. When I was living on Vancouver Island (Comox), I was assured their premium didn't contained any ethanol. It was great.

Now living in central Alberta. I couldn't get the same "assurance" and I switched to Shell.

Apparently, now in Canada, we have to accept that ALL gasoline might have up to 10% ethanol. I have been sticking to Shell 93 knowing it most likely has some. However, what can I do?

[Dave07997S]

Looks like you live in S. Cali, a lot of things to complain about in S. Cali but the fuel we get all pretty much comes from the same refineries. California law also states that fuel sold in California have to have a certain minimum of additives to keep things clean. Also, Costco is a very busy fuel distributor so their fuel isn't in the ground tanks for that long. I would have no issues with Costco fuel here in S. Cali.

[Autobahn SoCal]

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

Looks like you live in S. Cali, a lot of things to complain about in S. Cali but the fuel we get all pretty much comes from the same refineries. California law also states that fuel sold in California have to have a certain minimum of additives to keep things clean. Also, Costco is a very busy fuel distributor so their fuel isn't in the ground tanks for that long. I would have no issues with Costco fuel here in S. Cali.

Thanks it’s like a dollar cheaper per gallon at Costco I noticed, that’s a lot!

[M2siast]

Costco gas is fine. Do it.

[DarkNight707]

Costco is a “top tier” brand. It should be good to use…

Interesting thing, the other day I found Shell charging almost the same for premium.

[JustinHEMI]

It's top tier.

[gcmak]

I'm at Costco regularly. But will fill up with Shell if needed as well as whatever is being offered up at whatever racetrack I show up at.

[yuzu]

Top Tier and premium is like a full dollar cheaper than anywhere else where I am

[Carefree]

I spent 40 years in the chemical/petroleum business. Companies such as Shell, Chevron, Exxon etc. routinely trade and exchange gasoline. Point being, outlets such as Costco, Circle K et.al are supplied by various refiners and you may get Shell gas today and Chevron on Monday at the same pump.

[sharpmoney]

Originally Posted by yuzu

Top Tier and premium is like a full dollar cheaper than anywhere else where I am

if you go late at night you can avoid the big lines....otherwise not worth it at my location. culver marina and hawthorne are the ones i used most and the lines were obscene.

[40 Cylinders]

We have one firm that own's/controls 3 different brands in my home town and and hence set's the price...Costco premium is a bargain everyday compared to the monopolistic pricing being exploited by the competition ... and I suspect most of us con't tell the diff between one premium to another...just don't go to Costco on the weekends unless you having nothing else to do...

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by Autobahn SoCal

Thanks it’s like a dollar cheaper per gallon at Costco I noticed, that’s a lot!

Think that's worth noting.

Hard to believe a refinery/distributor would sell Costco gasoline at a discount that allowed Costco to retail gasoline at a $1/gallon lower price if it could get more for the gasoline.

A gasoline test (published in EVO magazine (this in the UK)) found supermarket gasoline varied in quality. Sometimes the quality was very good. Other times... Boils down to supermarket gasoline resellers who require fuel at a low price to allow them to offer a discount and thus seeking out the lowest priced (wholesale) gasoline and this means sometimes getting lower quality gasoline.

Shell V-Power is a very good gasoline. (The EVO test ranked it best.) But in some cases the price... Oh my. I haven't checked recently but a while back a nearby Shell station was offering 91 E10 at nearly $1/gallon *more* than a nearby Casey's station.

Being where you are you are not likely to find Shell (or Chevron or Philips 66 or Unocal 77) gasoline for the same price as you can buy Costco gasoline.

All you can do is try Costco gasoline. That the stations are so busy means the gasoline is very fresh which is a plus. If the engine doesn't manifest any signs of problems with Costco gasoline well there you are.

If it does switch to another brand of gasoline.

Will mention my SOP when I lived in northern CA (SF Bay Area) was to fill up with Chevron Supreme every so often. Two to 4 times in 5K miles. 5K miles was about 16/17 fill ups (averaging 20mpg). Chevron Supreme had Techron in it and Techron is an excellent engine deposit remover.

Where I live now there is no Chevron available. So between 500 to 250 miles before my car's scheduled 10K mile oil/filter service I'll add a bottle of Techron to the fuel tank just prior to filling the tank. As I drive and burn through that tank of gasoline with Techron added the Techron will remove deposits.

[aerobod]

Costco only sells AKI 87 or 91 here in Calgary, so 93 or 94 is only available at other retailers. I tend to use Shell V-Power 93 if possible, just to maintain a consistent additive package over time.

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by Autobahn SoCal

Anyone use this on their G87?

Is it junk gas compared to Shell, etc?

Take it to Shell, highest octane that they have. Don’t be cheap on the gas or the car may drive like crap.

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by aerobod

Costco only sells AKI 87 or 91 here in Calgary, so 93 or 94 is only available at other retailers. I tend to use Shell V-Power 93 if possible, just to maintain a consistent additive package over time.

Same here. But I’ve stopped using Shell in favour of Chevron, and my mileage is back to normal. Because the car is stock, no difference in power. In my tuned 135i Chevron 94 made more power than Shell 91, and Shell 93 made more power than Chevron 94.
In the US the 92 in WA and OR made MUCH more power than anything in Canada. And the 91 in CA made more power than anything in Canada too. I used any 91 in Cali and was happy. So Costco is fine if all are 91 and the car is stock anyway.

I believe in varying additives by anecdotal experience, nothing firm.

I used 91 from Costco once in the M2. No difference in power. But Costco is not worth it for me here:

1- it’s only 5 cents less than other stations per litre. If it was 1 dollar a gallon as it is down in CA, I’d consider it.
2- the lineups are ridiculous (I only gassed up once because there was no one there so I quickly stopped). Waiting to gas up negates savings.
3- Costco is far, so going there to gas up negates the savings too.

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by RPM33

Take it to Shell, highest octane that they have. Don’t be cheap on the gas or the car may drive like crap.

Sorry, but it sounds like the marketing of Shell has gotten to you, or you’re not familiar with California.

The highest octane rating in CA is 91. Any station (save some specialty brands that sell race gas).

There’s no difference for him, his car will not drive like crap.
How do you think his car will drive like crap?

[Tag]

I've used Costco gas for years on multiple bimmers without issue. Costco in my region also has 93 octane. The cost savings over Shell or other 'premium' stations is a no brainer.

As previously mentioned, Costco gasoline is Top Tier.

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

https://www.costco.com/fuel-promise.html

[yuzu]

Originally Posted by sharpmoney

if you go late at night you can avoid the big lines....otherwise not worth it at my location. culver marina and hawthorne are the ones i used most and the lines were obscene.

Yeah trying to go at night is the strategy for sure, even early morning has been good for me too but it’s not as consistent.

Undortunately(?) the premium is so cheap compared to everywhere else near me it saves 10-15 bucks which is almost worth the wait lol

[VegasG42]

Originally Posted by Carefree

I spent 40 years in the chemical/petroleum business. Companies such as Shell, Chevron, Exxon etc. routinely trade and exchange gasoline. Point being, outlets such as Costco, Circle K et.al are supplied by various refiners and you may get Shell gas today and Chevron on Monday at the same pump.

Hmm, so is fuel swapped / traded etc. before or after the additive package is added ?

Costco only uses top tier fuels. But it's the additive packages which make the difference.

I only use Shell V-Power , but will use Chevron Premium if needed.

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by VegasG42

Hmm, so is fuel swapped / traded etc. before or after the additive package is added ?

Costco only uses top tier fuels. But it's the additive packages which make the difference.

I only use Shell V-Power , but will use Chevron Premium if needed.

The proprietary fuels are unique to the brand name. Shell V-Power is a good example as you stated and is a Shell product from refinery to the pump but there is very little difference among premium gasolines. Don’t be a victim of marketing. However, nothing prohibits Shell from moving the same product to outlets such as Costco, Circle K, and Flying J. It’s very similar to the food industry in which a major manufacturer such as General Mills or Kellogg’s will private label products under the Kroger or Safeway name. It’s also common in the personal care and pharmaceutical industries.