Costco or Sam's Club Gas?

[Johnny Danger]

I have a friend who works in the petroleum business, and according to him all of the discount brands and service stations buy their fuel from the same big name suppliers. Unless someone like Shell or Mobil is offending some special octane, regardless of who is selling it, most gasoline can be tranced back to same limited number of producers/suppliers.

[1olddude]

Here in Utah Costco and SAMs are always .15 to .20 cheaper than anywhere else. It's the same gas, they just have tremendous buying power and sell such large quantities that they don't need much of a margin. I have used it in all my cars for years with no problems whatsoever. I take the savings and drive a few more miles in the Box. Now if I can just get that transmission mount installed I will go filler-up and put the pedal to the metal.

[shadrach74]

Minimum octane ratings are federally regulated. This notion of buying the "good stuff" every few tanks of gas is much ado about nothing. it reminds of an uncle of mine that knows nothing of combustion science, but puts 93oct in every third tank because @it's good for the engine". Either you've gotten what you paid for (ie whatever rating is on the pump) or it has been mislabeled. I've bought has that made my GF's MCS ping, but I doubt that it was at the rated octane. BTW, I've never had a bad batch of Costco fuel.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by 1olddude

Here in Utah Costco and SAMs are always .15 to .20 cheaper than anywhere else. It's the same gas, they just have tremendous buying power and sell such large quantities that they don't need much of a margin. I have used it in all my cars for years with no problems whatsoever. I take the savings and drive a few more miles in the Box. Now if I can just get that transmission mount installed I will go filler-up and put the pedal to the metal.

it's kind of genius when you think about it.... People wait on these long gas lines there to save a whopping $2-3, park their car and then hand Costco $200 in groceries and Made in China crap.
By the way, I'm guilty of being dump Costco prey too but its the $1.50 berry sundae and not the $2 gas savings. But it makes you wonder what it costs Costco to run so many gas stations at what sounds like break even. The little gas station guys retail operating an Exxon station or Shell must really hate Costco.