Costco or Sam's Club Gas?
 

lately I've been getting into the habit of putting half a tank in when I go shopping at the warehouse stores. I started thinking about the number of times where I bought gas from Exxon, Shell or BP. I could only think of the rare instances when I was low and about to hit a highway away from home. Which got me wondering if saving three bucks is worth going with econo gas. But really its just the convenience of killing two birds with one stone when shopping at these places.

Does anyone else regluarly fill up at Costco/Sam's? Is there really any difference at all in their premium gas?

My guess is no, Can't see the industry making a different gas and then charging less for it. Probably getting less additives. Good or Bad?

I fill up frequently with Costco gas, and all three of our cars require premium.
Price is 'less' because of the warehouse pricing. For me it is convenience as well, there is a Costco directly across the street from where I work. If that were not the case I might not fill up there as often.

I saw a guy filling up his Ferrari at Costco. Guess he likes the convenience too.

I fill up all the time at Costco. Premium 92 octane gas fine. I see no difference when I fill up there and anywhere else.

All unleaded gasoline comes out of the same source whether from a pipeline (like Plantation and Colonial in the South) or a barge (Coastal locations such as NYC and the Eastern Seaboard) or train or other delivery method.

What differs is the additive package, octane boosters and oxygenates which are added to RBOB in order to make "Gas with Techron" or "nitrogen enriched fuels" or whatever the oil companies are peddling to differentiate themselves from the competition.

So gas is gas, over time the additive package can make a difference. Costco and Sam's club are obviously reducing the cost in order to sell at a lower price and it is not just corporate philanthropy and pure volume I can assure you. Their gas likely contains less of an additive package.

I would not have any problem putting their gas in a Ferrari I just would not run my Ferrari on it for its whole life. I would buy some BP or name brand gas ever fourth or fifth tanks and you will be fine.

You are pretty much right in that most of the gas at pumps is pretty close. A friend who is an engine tunner says the thing you really need to watch out for is the freshness of the gas. We don't have a Costco here in Oklahoma but I would imagine that Cosco runs enough gas through the pumps to not make that an issue.

There is a difference in gas seasonally that many don't know about, there is summer gas and winter gas.

wouldn't it be better to run a gas with additives for four straight fills rather than doing one every fourth tank?

I think it depends on the type of driving you are doing. If you are doing a lot of city driving then yes, if you are doing a lot of highway or high revs then not as important.

Costco.

Nothing wrong with that gas, has all the additives, always fresh because of turnover, and it is not Walmart!!!

What gas station is your preference in Oklahoma?

It's cheap for a reason. Maybe less (or no) additives or maybe more ethanol. For the few cents difference, I would go with the top brands.

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.

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.

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.

I buy gas for my three cars that take premium at Costco every chance I get. I have never had a problem. I did have a problem at BP years ago when their gas was contaminated. If no Costco around then I buy it at Sunoco. No more BP for me.

Where I live we can still buy ethanol free gas :D. I gladly pay a little more.

You're lucky that you can find those stations. I read somewhere that the major refineries deliver ethanol-free fuel to the terminals. The ethanol is delivered by truck and rail to the terminal and mixed locally. YMMV

Is it my imagination or does Costco gas not last as long as others? Citgo seems to last the longest for me.

Costco has tons of detergents and additives, BTW.

Costco Gasoline