Cheap Gas and Your Car - It's a question I always ask myself when gas prices go up:

Is cheap gas bad for my car?

As I fill up the tank at Peter's Petrol, I promise my car I'll make up for this abuse and feed it better gas next time. But is there anything wrong with cheap gas?

Here's what I found.

All Gas Comes from Same Place

California Energy Commissioner Jim Boyd said in a CBS News Report that since the fuel crisis in the 1970's, the EPA has set standards that ALL gas must meet. Plus, Boyd declared:

"Gasoline comes from just a few terminals."

So since the all gas has to meet the same EPA standards AND comes from a small number of terminals, gas is gas.

The only difference is price.

Is There a Difference Between Brands?

Yes and no. It's all the same gas. However, brand names like Chevron/Texaco, Mobile, Shell, etc. all claim that they add detergents and special additives that help keep your engine cleaner.

My mechanics throughout the years seem to buy into this as well--they have always advised using brand name gas OR pouring in detergents and additives every so many miles, "just to keep the engine clean."

Case closed?

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Author?05 February 2007, 17:08

Cheap gas is bad for you car. See this link.

Brent?05 February 2007, 18:12

That's cool. Thanks for sharing that...I wonder if it's true. You have to consider the source, Shell oil. I'd feel better about it if there was some independent study: Consumer Reports, etc. But it's worth investigating.

JAMES BAXTER?27 May 2007, 19:56

Have You Notice That The Cheap Gas To The High Test, YOU WILL NOT GET THE SAME MILEAGE.Before The Gas Price Sky Rocet.If We Have To Pay Top Dollar For It THEY NEED TO STOP PUTTING WATER,OR WHAT EVER KIND OF ADDITIVES,TO GIVE BACK THE GAS MILEAGE.A BIG RIP OFF

DELORIS?21 January 2008, 23:44

I BELIEVE THAT CHEAP GAS IS BAD FOR YOUR CARS. I HAVE GONE IN PAST TO ONE OF THE A.M. P.M. STATIONS AND MY CAR SOUNDED LIKE A TRACTOR AFTERWARDS.