CITGO is Good Gas... NOT

I thought I'd pass along a bit of "real world" experience here, for what it's worth:

I keep seeing the CITGO ad campaign; "CITGO is good gas-- guaranteed."

Normally, I run either BP/Amoco or Mobil (premium.) I've been getting between 52.5 and 55.5 MPG all summer using those two brands of gas exclusively.

Recently, I found myself running low on reserve, and in close proximity to a CITGO station. Remembering the very vocal ad campaign, I figured, what the heck, I'll give it a try.

CITGO IS NOT GOOD GAS. At least the tank I got wasn't---

The bike ran OK, not quite as smooth as I'm used to, but ok...

HOWEVER, I only got 50 MPG for that tankful. As soon as I switched back to BP, my mileage is right back up to 52.5~55 MPG.

Nothing else changed. Thought I'd share; your results may vary. I'm sticking to BP or Mobil henceforth.

 

Fitz,

Might have been that the station, like most Citco stations, does not get gasoline directly from citco but from wholesalers. Citco is NOT a top tier gas but nor is BP so I'm not convinced that had anything to do with it either. Maybe just a bit more ethanol? It has less "power per unit" then gasoline....


GGE table

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/re ... /a/gge.htm

Top tier retailers

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

jeff

 

No ethanol; I always look first.

Interesting info Jeff, thanks. I was just stunned by the sudden drop-off in fuel economy is all. I use BP almost all the time, sometimes Mobil, and have had consistent mileage results all along.

Maybe it was just that one station, but I'm not going to try the "experiment" again.

 

How do you know that? We don't have a labeling requirement in MI for up to 10% ethanol.

 

how's Sinclair and Esso work?

 

There are 15 states that don't require labeling of gasoline containing ethanol and Michigan is one of them. More and more states are switching over to ethanol without telling the public and there is a strong push to up the percentage to 15% of each gallon. I am all for alternative energy but not with an inferior product. In my state (New Mexico), they stopped labeling the pumps a couple years ago and my fuel millage went down just like you experienced. Problem is, there are only two gas stations in our entire state that don't have ethanol blended fuels. Best you can do anymore is to find a good fuel stabilizer and add it with every fill up. I have gone with Startron myself as it is the most concentrated...

 

I used to work a few blocks from the Atlanta fuel hub i have seen all major brands as well as off brand stations like race track quick trip. All fueling from the same tank waiting inline .They must add their additives either at the station or in the truck. It all comes from the same pipeline down here. Here in GA all gas has ethanol 10% wish i had the choice that stuff is really rough on your whole fuel system Plus we have summer and winter additives on top of it because of the pollution i guess. I have tried 2 different vehicles my 04 svt lightning and 03 mountaineer both get about 1 mpg less on summer gas with a/c off

 

our gas here in SE mich comes out of the marathon refinery and hub downriver of detroit...

i work with a guy who used to drive fuel for Atlas when he was laid off a few years back...

SOME stations have their own additives that are put in the underground tanks prior to offloading the trucks. Speedy Q here in st clair county are one of them...

i just avoid citgo all i can because of their owner, hugo chavez...

 

Same in Florida. I've been told it's shipped (by ship) to Tampa from Texas refineries, then piped to Taft (south Orlando) for storage and distribution by tanker truck. The "base stock" goes in, then the trucks go to their own little corner of the lot where the "additive package" is tossed in. I don't know when the alcohol is added, but it would make sense to add it with the "base stock". By the time the gas is poured into the underground tanks, it's blended. Only marinas and airports sell straight gas. (here)

 

I never realized that, since I DO see it labeled on some pumps, which I then drive away from.

Hmmm...

I guess the only real test would be to start using CITGO exclusively, from a bunch of different stations, and see what happens to my fuel economy. Then we'd see if I was falsely accusing the brand because of one outlet.

Except I'm not willing to do that; I'd rather be narrow minded (and stubborn and downright pig-headed if need be) and stick with what I know works. I get BP and Mobil (and occasionally Sunoco, come to think of it) from a whole bunch of different stations, with consistent results.

 

I live a ways out of town, so I try and get gas before I go home. If I don't I may have to stop at an Exxon near where I live. If I put their fuel in any of my vehicles, it will run like crap. With the Maxim, I can feel the difference on the handlebar almost immediately. In fact, I was going to do a complete tune-up, until I realized where I got the fuel I was running. After refueling from another station, the bike ran perfectly....again. My guess is that they may have water seeping into their tank. I'd like to call someone to have it checked out. After mentioning this to some neighbors, they make the same claim. The best fuel I've filled with is from 76 or Texaco. Probably the same stuff though.

 

I get much better mileage with texaco/chevron then
the other stations.

Wish I could tell you why. I have heard exactly what cutlass
stated. But then again why would they formulate and advertise
"Tectron" as an additive (and with all the extra production costs)
and then "give" it to the next guy down the block?

All I do know is the bike runs smoother and longer. But at a higher
price as well.

 

I get much better mileage with texaco/chevron then
the other stations.

Wish I could tell you why. I have heard exactly what cutlass
stated. But then again why would they formulate and advertise
"Tectron" as an additive (and with all the extra production costs)
and then "give" it to the next guy down the block?

All I do know is the bike runs smoother and longer. But at a higher
price as well.