Until the end of this year, Top Tier Gasoline may not meet Top Tier Standard due to "... navigating through unprecedented times."

KingJ2 · May 27, 2022

As per Top Tier Gas Site:

Disastrous weather conditions and unplanned additive production operational outages have resulted in some of our TOP TIER™ Detergent Gasoline Fuel Marketers being unable to supply gasoline with the approved detergent at the approved dosage. The TOP TIER™ program is committed to working with its participants and the industry in managing through this in the best way possible and to return to supplying gasoline fully meeting the TOP TIER requirements as soon as possible.

As this shortage is expected to last through the end of the year, you may see some gas stations noting they are unable to supply TOP TIER™ Gasoline at this time."

2020PW · May 27, 2022

I never really bought into that hype.

BossHogg · May 27, 2022

Well, the EPA dictates required additives to fuels. Not sure what "top tier" means outside of displaying the logo and likely paying a fee to some organization.

1999 White C5 Coupe · May 27, 2022

BossHogg said:
Well, the EPA dictates required additives to fuels. Not sure what "top tier" means outside of displaying the logo and likely paying a fee to some organization.

The EPA dictates minimum additives to fuels.

Several vehicle manufacturers, including GM, Ford, BMW, FCA (now Stelantis) specific a minimum level of cleaning additive to gasoline fuels (considered,”Top Tier”) which helps keep various portions of the engine cleaner.

Here is some information: https://www.toptiergas.com/

Many vehicle manufacturers have information concerning this type of fuel in their vehicle owner’s manual.

1999 White C5 Coupe · May 27, 2022

2020PW said:
I never really bought into that hype.

What hype?

Burla · May 27, 2022

Redline si-1, just say'n. Ram Forum member treatment boroscoped proving it is cleaning the piston tops. Look up PEA fuel treatments, redline the highest level PEA on the open market.

Redline Complete Fuel System Cleaner Tested and Results...Does it works?

NOTE: I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH REDLINE OR ITS ASSOCIATES. I AM SIMPLY DOING THIS FOR GUYS WHO LOVE THEIR CARS AND NEED RESULTS INSTEAD OF YOUR "WORD OF MOU...

youtu.be

This is @Hemi395 's truck, clearly it was gonna take more treatment to get it all, but look at where the carbon is wiping off after one treatment, right at the rings and onto piston top. Yes, he has before and after pics, see bitog redline si-1 boroscoped if you want to see the thread and other examples as well.

Other videos prove the effectiveness of seafoam through vac lines, but if you want to add something to a tank of gas that will clean carbon out of combustion chamber, use the product with the most PEA.

KingJ2 · May 27, 2022

2020PW said:
I never really bought into that hype.

A study done by the AAA concluded that Top Tier Gasoline is more than hype:

Consumer Report Article

Jerrybob · May 27, 2022

I don’t usually brag about going to expensive places

But I just left the gas station.

indept · May 27, 2022

I don't need to go to top tier gas stations to get gas with PEA in it, this is cheaper

2020PW · May 27, 2022

1999 White C5 Coupe said:
What hype?

The marketing hype that the oil companies put together.

KingJ2 said:
A study done by the AAA concluded that Top Tier Gasoline is more than hype:

Consumer Report Article

Consumer reports, say no more!!! AAA they both have served their purpose but in this day and age there’s more than enough information to think for ourselves.

This standard was established by the oil companies. They use an old outdated test subject and deem that the environment will be extreme.

Does anyone know constitutes a “fail” and how much ethanol must be in the fuel? That non-ethanol fuel, is it top tier?

I have a vehicle that even with “Top Tier” fuel the fuel gauge sending unit gets deposits and sticks. The only way to solve it is concentrated fuel system cleaner as the manufacture recommends. First question was what brand of gas, then had to give receipts showing a top tier station.

Your money, spend it how ever you wish…

ramffml · May 27, 2022

Apparently here in Canada the only stations selling it that matter are costco and shell, which means almost none of us Canucks are using top tier. I'm not sure it really matters.

spacex · May 27, 2022

…is this even a thing? Never heard of “top tier” gas.

Jeepwalker · May 27, 2022

I read a whole series of forum posts on some other sites a couple months ago where, basically all trucks bring the fuel from the local (major) fuel tanks (the one that's in your region). It doesn't matter if it's Billy-Bob's Stop n Shop or Exxon. So basically all the gas in the area stations comes from the same place.

If it's name-brand, the Exxon, BP, Phillips or, say, Shell truck driver will pour in their respective company's additive pack out of a quart or couple quart containers, whatever is called for. That's their additive pack he's adding. Additive packs are important, but it kind of took the 'specialness ' of the Top Tier fuel for me.

I used to work at a company who's building was literally right next door to the large fuel depot in our region. I should have walked over and asked how their process worked. It's funny, every once in a while while we were working we'd hear a major 'boom!', the building would shake, and we'd have to evacuate the building, or there'd be some other alarm or gas smell, and we'd have to evacuate. Probably 3-4x a year. Eventually our company (thankfully) re-located.

Tim7139 · May 27, 2022

ramffml said:
Apparently here in Canada the only stations selling it that matter are costco and shell, which means almost none of us Canucks are using top tier. I'm not sure it really matters.

Many of the Canadian brands were disqualified after removing detergent from their lower grades, as Petro Canada was in 2019.

Chevron, Costco, Co-Op, and Shell make up a good chunk of the prairie markets. With Only 51% of Canadian gas stations are operated by their own brand consumers need to check each station, if they care about such things.

Tim7139 · May 27, 2022

Jeepwalker said:
If it's name-brand, the Exxon, BP, Phillips or, say, Shell truck driver will pour in their respective company's additive pack out of a quart or couple quart containers, whatever is called for. That's their additive pack he's adding.

Drivers pouring additives into the truck at terminals is no longer a thing, but additives still get integrated at most terminals. Depending on how the fuel is delivered to the terminals ethanol may also be added there.

The government of Canada has a fairly easy to follow overview of how the markets work here.
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/ener...petroleum-products-distribution-networks/5897 and there are lots of data firms with more detail for people who want more https://kalibrate.com/insights/blog/data-intelligence/canadian-fuel-census/

Tim7139 · May 27, 2022

spacex said:
…is this even a thing? Never heard of “top tier” gas.

Direct injection engines brought to light issues with fuel quality additives quality and quantity declines BMW, GM, Honda, and Toyota teamed up in 2004 to identify fuels that still had enough detergents to keep their engines from having issues. Others eventually joined on.

Using recommendations from a global committee of automakers and engine manufacturers they established a proprietary standard for a class of gasoline called "TOP TIER" Detergent Gasoline which required increased levels of detergents and restricted metallic content.

Additive manufacturers pay for performance tests for intake valve and combustion chamber deposits, fuel injector fouling, and intake valve sticking. Retail Brands pay an annual fee based on the number of stations to participate in the program.

In the past few years they've been loosing brands. A desire to reduce costs by removing detergents from lower grades is an often sighted reason.

spacex · May 28, 2022

Tim7139 said:
Direct injection engines brought to light issues with fuel quality additives quality and quantity declines BMW, GM, Honda, and Toyota teamed up in 2004 to identify fuels that still had enough detergents to keep their engines from having issues. Others eventually joined on.

Using recommendations from a global committee of automakers and engine manufacturers they established a proprietary standard for a class of gasoline called "TOP TIER" Detergent Gasoline which required increased levels of detergents and restricted metallic content.

Additive manufacturers pay for performance tests for intake valve and combustion chamber deposits, fuel injector fouling, and intake valve sticking. Retail Brands pay an annual fee based on the number of stations to participate in the program.

In the past few years they've been loosing brands. A desire to reduce costs by removing detergents from lower grades is an often sighted reason.

Ironic as their profits are soaring right now.

Tim7139 · May 28, 2022

spacex said:
Ironic as their profits are soaring right now.

I guess if you're Alanis Morissette? They cuts costs to increase their profits, then saw an increase in profit.

HEMIMANN · May 28, 2022

Top Tier started back in the 80's when the 1st port injectors came out. Moving the sole throttle body injector downstream to individual intake runners left less time for gas evaporation, impinging directly on the back of the intake valve, creating deposits an disrupting intake air flow pattern. Low detergent gas also clogged injector nozzles fairly quickly since gasoline is so volatile compared to diesel fuel.

Direct injection removes the intake valve deposit issue, unless & until engine makers do the right thing and have dual injectors.
Direct injectors are subject to combustion deposits in addition to gasoline deposits.

2020PW · May 28, 2022

4.3.3.1 Test Method. Intake valve sticking tendency shall be determined using either the 1.9 L Volkswagen engine (Wasserboxer according to CEC F-16-T-96) or the 5.0 L 1990-95 General Motors V-8 engine (SWRI IVS test). Two options are available for demonstrating intake valve sticking tendency.

https://www.toptiergas.com/documents/18/TOP_TIER_Detergent_Gasoline_Performance_Standard_revF_2019-12.pdf

Until the end of this year, Top Tier Gasoline may not meet Top Tier Standard due to "... navigating through unprecedented times."

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