Choose the best gasoline quality, avoid costly engine trouble

The minimum gasoline additive performance standards, established in 1995 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), do not adequately ensure the best gasoline quality. Though these standards were necessary and largely successful in creating a more equal quality of gasoline across all brands, there is a common misconception that all gasolines are now equal. While some marketers continue to provide a quality detergent additive, most have actually reduced the amount of detergent additive in their gasolines by as much as 50% since the EPA established the minimum requirement.

Gasolines with this smaller amount of detergent additive are less effective at preventing deposit formation on critical engine parts such as fuel injectors and intake valves. While fuel injector design has evolved greatly since the mid '90s, reducing the susceptibility of deposit formation on the injector itself, other critical engine parts still require an adequate amount of detergent additive to stay clean. Engine trouble,  including combustion chamber and intake valve deposits, can result from lack of quality detergent additive. Not only do these deposits result in poor vehicle responsiveness, they can also lead to more costly problems such as an intake valve leak.

For this reason, six of the world's top automotive manufacturers, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi have developed a set of standards known as the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standards. The standards establish an objective method of determining a particular brand of gasoline's ability to meet certain criteria. Using a very detailed set of requirements, including testing standards developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials, these automotive manufacturers have created an opportunity to look beyond marketing gimmickry and use scientific results to determine which gasoline retailers deliver a quality fuel.

To be approved as providing TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, every grade of gasoline a retailer offers must meet the standards. Additionally, every gasoline outlet carrying that brand of gasoline must meet the standards. The current list of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline retailers, while somewhat small, does include a couple of discount brands. For those of us in Central Florida, our choices are a bit more limited but there are three brands widely available in our area on the list. The list is updated as retailers meet (or fail to meet) the standards.

Though it may not always the most convenient stop and sometimes results in paying a penny or two more per gallon, the test standards and criteria are effective in helping ensure the long-term performance and health of your vehicle's engine and fuel system. This provides peace of mind for a smooth running engine and avoiding future engine repairs to correct an intake valve leak caused by fuel deposits. For more information, including the list of criteria, visit http://www.toptiergas.com.

The list of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline providers is identified here: TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline providers of the best gasoline quality

To learn more about finding the lowest gas prices on the highest quality gas in your area, read this article: What are the lowest gas prices in my area?

Happy Motoring!