Corvette Owners and Sunoco Gasoline

[Rob]

Just a little bit of an FYI for those of you living in the MidAtlantic region of the U.S. Last weekend, I stopped at a local Sunoco Gas Station here in the Northern Virginia area to fill up my Corvette with Sunoco Ultra 94 octane fuel. When I pulled up to the pump, I realized they no longer carried it.

Upon talking to the attendant, he informed me that 94 octane was being phased out across the country this year. 93 octane would be phased out next year, and 91 octane the following year. He told me "due to congressional demand", the only fuels that will be available in the U.S. in years to come will be 87 and 89 octane.

I contacted Sunoco Corporation here in the U.S. to inquire about this. Below is their official response:

-------------------------
In your region, the 94/93/89/87 offering is being changed to 93/91/89/87 at some locations and 93/89/87 at others. We have bought a lot of stations in the area which do not allow us to blend 4 grades. Plus, when gas prices run up, consumers buy less premium, putting price pressures on premium fuels, making it even more difficult to justify keeping a 94 octane fuel around.

There is no plan to end up with only 89 and 87 octane fuels. Many cars on the road, and many on the drawing boards of car companies, require premium octane fuels, so we have no intention of ignoring some of our best customers.

Thanks for the question,
Mike Miller / Sunoco Product Development

 

[*89x2*]

Upon talking to the attendant, he informed me that 94 octane was being phased out across the country this year. 93 octane would be phased out next year, and 91 octane the following year. He told me "due to congressional demand", the only fuels that will be available in the U.S. in years to come will be 87 and 89 octane.

I guess the attendant didn't quite have the facts right :eek

a world w/out 93 octane would be a tough one w/ the way performance (cars) are heading...

 

[Zippy]

Good info, thanks Rob!

Here in the Detroit area, Shell just released a new premium, called V-power (I think).

Zippy

 

[C4Tom]

V-Power is here in Indiana as well. I filled with it last week and it seems to be okay. Haven't seen anything significant about it though.

 

[jhong321]

out here in california there is only 87,89,and 91 this really sucks

 

[RichHeald]

Here in the Augusta, Maine area we do not have many Shell stations but they do have V Power fuel. I haven`t stopped to get any yet and don`t know the octane rating. Whats the story with "V Power"?

 

[Rob]

Here in the Augusta, Maine area we do not have many Shell stations but they do have V Power fuel. I haven`t stopped to get any yet and don`t know the octane rating. Whats the story with "V Power"?

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=pr>Press Release</TD><TD class=ps align=right>Source: Shell Oil Products US</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


Shell Launches New Shell V-Power(R), Its Most Advanced Fuel Ever
Tuesday July 6, 9:24 am ET <TABLE height=4 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=4></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>New Premium Gasoline Actively Cleans as Cars Are Driven, Has More Than Five Times the Minimum Amount of Cleaning Agents Required By Government Standards

HOUSTON, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- As they prepare to head down the road to a beach, a barbecue or a backyard celebration, motorists traveling this summer will be able to fill up with a new premium fuel -- Shell V-Power. The most advanced Shell fuel ever developed, Shell V-Power actively cleans critical engine parts -- specifically intake valves and fuel injectors -- as customers drive their cars. New Shell V-Power is available at Shell stations across the country. <LI>(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990716/SHELL )

To view the Multimedia News Release, complete with video, audio, and Hi- Res images, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/shell/12509/

Shell V-Power has more than five times the minimum amount of cleaning agents required by government standards, according to Mark Henry, manager of fuels for Shell Oil Products US. Just as the exterior of a vehicle accumulates dirt and other build-up over time, a vehicle's engine may also accumulate build-up if it runs on low-detergent fuels. With regular use of Shell V-Power, drivers can clean their vehicles' intake valves and fuel injectors as they drive.

"When your drains and pipes are clogged, you use a clog remover that can clean soap scum and food build-up so that water can move more efficiently through them," Henry explained. "Similarly, Shell V-Power can remove carbon deposits left behind by low detergency gasolines so that the air and fuel can mix more efficiently inside your vehicle's engine -- cleaning your car's engine as you drive. With millions of Americans planning to hit the road for vacations and road trips this summer, now is the perfect time to experience the benefits of this new fuel."

Bob Weber, on-site mechanic for TheCarConnection.com, affirms that keeping a vehicle's engine clean is important. "Gasolines with inadequate additive packages can leave spongy carbon deposits in the engine. As a result, the spongy build-up may absorb fuel, which may cause a vehicle to experience hesitation during its warm-up period," he explained. "To prevent carbon build-up, drivers should use quality gasolines that are high in additives or cleaning agents."

Shell, which enjoys a position as the No. 1 selling gasoline brand in the United States, tested Shell V-Power prior to its introduction through independent, third-party testing facilities and at the company's advanced Westhollow Technology Center, a fuel testing facility in Houston. Over the course of more than a year, this advanced fuel formulation was exposed to laboratory tests, engine test beds, and actual driving tests in vehicles of various makes, models and ages.

The tests proved that Shell V-Power helps remove deposits and can protect your engine from future carbon deposit build up. Removing these deposits is important because an engine will work most effectively when it has the maximum amount of air and an exact amount of fuel to burn together. Unfortunately, engines that have carbon deposit build up on intake valves and fuel injectors, may work less effectively while the engine is warming up to its normal operating temperature. If these deposits aren't removed, the vehicle may experience hesitation during the engine's initial warm-up phase.

"For most consumers, a car, truck or SUV represents the second-largest -- if not the largest -- purchase they will make during their lifetime, so it's important to protect that investment," Henry said. "Just as washing and waxing a car helps keep a car clean on the outside, using a high-quality, high-detergency fuel can keep intake valves and fuel injectors clean on the inside."

Consumers will hear about new Shell V-Power through a $30 million national communications campaign, including print, television, radio and Internet advertising. The communications campaign to support the new fuel is one of Shell's most significant marketing investments since the company began selling fuel in the United States nearly 100 years ago. Shell also is supporting the launch of the new fuel with a public relations program and other marketing initiatives, such as direct-mail promotions and point-of-purchase displays at all Shell stations.

In addition, Shell has created a mobile marketing tour that will visit approximately 20 major U.S. markets, giving consumers a fun way to learn about Shell V-Power and put a human face with the Shell brand. As part of the interactive tour, consumers will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with a Shell Ferrari F1 racecar while learning more about Shell V-Power. Consumers also will be able to find out more about the benefits of Shell V- Power through a consumer-friendly, product-specific Web site located at http://www.shellus.com .

New Shell V-Power gasoline replaces the company's existing premium-grade offering and is currently available at Shell stations nationwide. While other differentiated premium fuels similar to Shell V-Power have been introduced by Shell in more than 50 countries worldwide since 1997, this launch of Shell V- Power in the U.S. marks the largest launch of the product to date. For more information on Shell gasolines, please log onto http://www.shellus.com or http://www.localshell.com . Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a network of nearly 7,200 branded gasoline stations in the Western United States. Shell Oil Company is a 50 percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with Saudi Refining, Inc., which refines and markets branded products through 11,000 stations in the Eastern and Southern United States. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (NYSE: RD/SC). For more information, please visit http://www.shell.com .

 

[CyberFire 12]

Here in CNY, Sunoco has been selling 91 octance in lieu of 94 for a few months now, generally for a couple of cents less than current 93 octane prices. I have used 91 in my L98 with no seeming difference in performance. Generally I am not too brand loyal except I always use premium. We don't have any Shell stations locally.

My comment is that gasoline is delivered via pipeline and obivously the brands are mixed during shipment. I've often read that there is no significant difference in brands, just fuel grades.

If Shell has these "super additives" wouldn't any benefit be lost in the common transshipment? It seems like a marketing strategy to me rather than any real practical change.

I fully admit to not being expert in fuels, but most of my reading leads me to believe that any good premium fuel is sufficient and has the needed additives for good operation and fuel system maintenance.

 

[Blackie T.]

I think you'e absolutely right; you get whatever brand happens to come on the truck that day. Years ago, the Esso gas came in an Esso truck, Texaco in Texaco, etc. Now it comes in a truck marked with the name of a trucking company.

 

[JRMaroon]

We've heard a lot of different stories on who's gas you are really buying but here is what I was told by a couple oil company guys I golfed with the other day.

Gas stations buy their fuel from whoever they can get the best deal from in many cases. After a truck is tagged to deliver to a specific station, that brand's additive package is then added to the tanker. They start with the same fuel then add the Shell, Chevron or other brand's package. They said the fuel business has changed in that gas isn't sold by the large holding tank anymore but by the tanker truck.

 

[justafamilyman]

Hi CyberFire 12,
I heard from a SUNOCO owner that NYS legislated 94 octane out (rendering selling 94 octane illegal). Typical of this state to do stupid things like that, But, we are to blame since we put them there.
What, however, is the octane rating of Shell-V gas?
Blur Borg Brian 1 of 58
P.S, winter sucks up here, don't you agree?

 

[vettedoc]

Hi CyberFire 12,
P.S, winter sucks up here, don't you agree?

I heartily agree having spent 3 Winters up there myself back in the late sixties. Having the lining of your nose freeze when it gets to be lower than 10 below really sucks.

Doc

 

[chevyaddict]

Lordy, lordy..... we will have to start constraining the amount of fossil fuels we are extracting. What will the western world do?

Don't mean to sound contradictory or sarcastic - but at the rate we (the human race) are going we will run out of fossil fuels for purposes of gasoline and related uses in 50 to 100 years.... this movement discussed in this thread should have stopped before it even got started, unfortunately. In other words, we should have stopped producing the more refined fuels a long time ago. The process by which to get these fuels "better" (in and of itself) requires alot of energy waste.

The sad thing is my race car only runs on 104 octane and my motorcycle requires minimum 91.

Its times such as these when I sit on both sides of the fence and wonder..... talk about feeling hypocritical.

 

[craig0ry]

Lordy, lordy..... we will have to start constraining the amount of fossil fuels we are extracting. What will the western world do?

Don't mean to sound contradictory or sarcastic - but at the rate we (the human race) are going we will run out of fossil fuels for purposes of gasoline and related uses in 50 to 100 years.... this movement discussed in this thread should have stopped before it even got started, unfortunately. In other words, we should have stopped producing the more refined fuels a long time ago. The process by which to get these fuels "better" (in and of itself) requires alot of energy waste.

The sad thing is my race car only runs on 104 octane and my motorcycle requires minimum 91.

Its times such as these when I sit on both sides of the fence and wonder..... talk about feeling hypocritical.

Finally someone who feels the same way I do! In my opinion the current wave of hybrid cars needed to be introduced about 20 years ago. I love the way the mentality of the common consumer is that gas is similar to milk or water or any other common household product - a renewable resource that will never run out.

I was kind of glad to see gas hitting 2+ dollars a gallon, the more expensive gasoline costs the average consumer (who is usually driving a big ass truck, van, or SUV), the more people will push for alternatives - once they get past the whining and desire to control the middle east...

And yet at the same time that I rail against this cheap gas mentality... what does my family drive? A Corvette (maybe not a gas hog, but no geo metro), a 12 mpg F-150 and another 12 mpg Astro Van...

 

[chevyaddict]

I'm with ya there Craigory - I overcompensate in other environmental areas to help alleviate the dissonance I feel driving the gas hogs around!!
Dawn

 

[Mark_Breznay]

It has been my experience that there are differences in gasolines from different companys. My only vehicle is a 1997 F150 V8 5-speed and I sure can tell
Mark

 

[Vettefan87]

The only real difference is additives mixed in with the gas for the different companies getting them, which causes some to be higher then others due to the additives they might add in the fuel.


Justin

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

Lordy, lordy..... we will have to start constraining the amount of fossil fuels we are extracting. What will the western world do?

Don't mean to sound contradictory or sarcastic - but at the rate we (the human race) are going we will run out of fossil fuels for purposes of gasoline and related uses in 50 to 100 years.... this movement discussed in this thread should have stopped before it even got started, unfortunately. In other words, we should have stopped producing the more refined fuels a long time ago. The process by which to get these fuels "better" (in and of itself) requires alot of energy waste.

The sad thing is my race car only runs on 104 octane and my motorcycle requires minimum 91.

Its times such as these when I sit on both sides of the fence and wonder..... talk about feeling hypocritical.

Great comments... I agree with you and might add that as fossil fuels run out, the government constraints and the costs will become prohibitive for personal use long before the end. It could be later than we think. When China and some of the other large countries that don’t use that much fuel for cars now come on line it will go even faster. The free ride is about to end and the C6 Corvette could become a relic sooner than we would like to think. Have a nice day.

 

[grapeknutz]

I guess the attendant didn't quite have the facts right :eek

a world w/out 93 octane would be a tough one w/ the way performance (cars) are heading...

Unfortunatly in the peoples republic of Kalifornia 91 octane is the best you can get!

 

[G Winter]

I opporated a service station for a few yrs. The gas does come down the same pipline, but the additives are put in when it is loaded onto the truck. Different additives for diff brands. Before Texaco was bought out by shell stations that displayed the texaco sign were spot checked for the proper gas. If the gas was not the texaco gas the station would lose it's right to display the texaco sign. I have done a comparison over the last 3000 miles in my 90 vette and have found that the Shell premium 91 oct. runs the best and gets the best milage of any other gas in this area , It is even better than the BP which at one time was Standard Oil Company . I also found out that my vette just hates reg. All around I average just over 22 mpg on the shell .I try any other gas and the milage drops to 20mpg. Most of my driving is from 15 to 50 miles each way. very little city driving .