Shell vs CT!!!

[heiachi]

hey guys, just wondering if there is an actual difference using Canadian tire gas vs Shell...which is better when comparing performance and mileage...any engine 'gunk' issues as shell would like to call it...any long term CT/shell gas users out with insight in this matter? thanks so much.

[Efx]

Just put in whichever one is cheaper.

[bythehour]

Just put in whichever one is cheaper.

...and pay for the engine repairs later?

I ran Petro-Can exclusively in a new Jeep for two years...until the "check engine" light came on. The dealer said that the valves were all fouled up with gunk from poor quality gas.

My current mechanic also recently said that Petro Can was the worst in terms of additives; Shell and Sunoco are supposedly the best.

I don't know who brews CT gas. Try to find out the refinery and the additives, and there's your answer.

[heiachi]

AS far as I know CT gas is from imperial refinery (esso), their additive package is Tolad T 3306. The features of this additive are:
Cleans fouled port injectors
Maintains carburetor and fuel injector cleanliness
Corrosion inhibitor in gasoline containing oxygenates
Provides corrosion protection in aqueous layers formed below gasoline

Wondering how this is compared to Shell and their claim of reducing engine gunk with their additive...basically i want to drive my new car for a long time.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/affiliates/petroleum/en/on/additives.html

[gherikill]

I used to use Shell exclusively when I paid full price for gas. IMO it is the best. More kms per tank and better performance. Since then I got a CT Mastercard that give me 10c a litre off so I have been using Can Tire for about a year now. The gas is definitely poorer quality and I lost about 50 km per tank. I have also had the check engine light come on then disapear after I put in a new tanbk of gas.

Actually my CEL just came on again and I'm hoping it is the same problem. Maybe I'll buy a tank of premium.

[Blackjack]

.

Actually my CEL just came on again and I'm hoping it is the same problem. Maybe I'll buy a tank of premium.

I wonder what OBDII code your car is throwing?

[Pete_Coach]

...and pay for the engine repairs later?

I ran Petro-Can exclusively in a new Jeep for two years...until the "check engine" light came on. The dealer said that the valves were all fouled up with gunk from poor quality gas.

My current mechanic also recently said that Petro Can was the worst in terms of additives; Shell and Sunoco are supposedly the best.

I don't know who brews CT gas. Try to find out the refinery and the additives, and there's your answer.
Poor quality gas is pretty difficult to find. The refinery processes in Canada are pretty well defined. Yes, there may be moisture in the storage tanks of some stations making it poor quality but as a rule, automotive fuel is pretty equal (brand additives notwithstanding). Driving habits and conditions are more to blame for engines and valves "fouled up with gunk" than gas, in most cases.
Canadian Tire does not have a refinery and they buy it off contract from a refinery in the area, depending on price and quantity available. Sometimes it's Shell, sometimes Imperial or Petro Canada.

[heiachi]

so i should stick to shell and their claim to be the cleanest fuel with the best additive is true? or is it just marketing hype...damn i wish the answer was clear :cry: just want to do the best for my car...also am talking about 87 octane here not v-power or anything. thanks for all the replies so far.

[Mayoo]

SHELL falls under Top Tier Gasoline

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

[Empz]

I'm definitely a firm believer of premium Shell and Sunoco gas. Nothing else touches my car(s). I've read quite a few reports and we Ontarians already have "dirtier" gas than most other provinces. All reports have shown that Shell and Sunoco are definitely the cleaner ones. From personal experience, I get slightly higher KM/Tank with Sunoco over Shell, and Shell beats the stuff I get from the US when I visit (If I can't find a Sunoco or Shell).

If it wasn't for AirMiles I would have stayed with Sunoco.

-E

[gherikill]

I wonder what OBDII code your car is throwing?

You know a place in the GTA that does free scans?

[gherikill]

Canadian Tire does not have a refinery and they buy it off contract from a refinery in the area, depending on price and quantity available. Sometimes it's Shell, sometimes Imperial or Petro Canada.


I'm pretty sure CT gas is from Essos refinery. Not sure if they use the same additives though.

[Pete_Coach]

I'm pretty sure CT gas is from Essos refinery. Not sure if they use the same additives though.
There are 4 refineries in Ontario, Imperial (with 2) Sunoco and Shell. Imperial refines twice as much as the other two combined. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_refinery
Refining of crude is, in it's most basic form, heating crude oil to temperatures that evaporate the crude. The gasses then cool and fall into their constituent parts (tar, diesel, lubricants, petrol etc). Gasoline (or petrol) is one component. The basic process is distillation.
If Imperial, Shell, Sunoco etc all get their raw material (crude) from the West or Middle East (very very little comes from there and none from the US) then distilling it all produces the same clean gas. The differences in the various products now is up to the refinery and amounts to their formulation of additives and blends.
My point is, all gas is "clean", you cannot distill dirt. It is the additives that make the differences and a companies like CT or other independents get what comes out of the already refined tanks. Sometimes it is Shell, or Sunoco or Imperial.
:)

[heiachi]

ok...then any idea which additive is best for your engine? are there descriptions about sunoco and shell additives? if i want my car to run for the next 10 years, isn't changing the oil properly more important than the fuel i put in?

[konfusion666]

I've been using ESSO exclusively due to the Esso Extra points. But after reading this thread... I'm tempted to switch to Shell.

[Pete_Coach]

ok...then any idea which additive is best for your engine? are there descriptions about sunoco and shell additives? if i want my car to run for the next 10 years, isn't changing the oil properly more important than the fuel i put in?

To be honest, today's cars, and engines are far more reliable than they have ever been in the past. Oh yes, you will read horror stories about this problem or that problem but that is more attributed to the proliferation of forums and the internet than actually poorly designed and built cars.
If you drive your car sensibly, do the scheduled and recommended maintenance and keep it from rusting, your car can easily reach 300K (the West Coast is a good example of many older cars on the road). You will most likely want a new car before that but it will last. Owning a car has never been cheap. Proportionally, back in the days when gas was 50 cents a gallon, folks were making $2 an hour and a car cost $2500 and a house cost less than $25,000. Today, you can multiply all those by 10 (except housing which is nuts) and be close to reality.
Back on topic and as far as additives, well, this is such a debatable issue that no one will win. I my sole opinion, so many of the additives are no more than oils and naphtha in varying quantities, they all become a sort of witches brew. You will find folks that will swear on a stack of (pick your religious book), and those that say it makes no matter and every degree of advertisement and brand loyalty in between. One thing one must always remember, advertisement is a medium to attempt to sell you something you may not need, that is it's purpose.
If you want to add one or two dollars extra to your fill ups, go ahead and get the stuff for your tank or, save the bucks and see what happens, my opinion is nothing detrimental will happen.
Holy... I need to get off my soap box :lol:

[feet_]

i use Shell V power , due to no Ethanol content.
gives me 700kms /12 gallon tank

[Asad_A203]

i use Shell V power , due to no Ethanol content.
gives me 700kms /12 gallon tank


Holy that is impressive. What vehicle do you drive? I have been constantly pulling 240 miles on 70L (about 14-15 MPG depending on US or CDN gallon).

[pfbmgd]

I have used the CT fuel exclusively in my 2003 Civic .Never had any issues in 4 years .I used CT again exclusively in my 08 SI and 07 EX with no problems .

I`m pretty sure as long as you are using name brand gas stations you will be OK in the long run.

[Fort McMurray]

Shell certainly has had their issues with additives, I had the fuel sending unit in my Ranger replaced by Shell when they admitted that their fuel had an additive that would gum up equipment.

[skidz88]

V-power all the way. CT uses Esso which has a high amount of sulphur.

[heiachi]

it's funny even with shell additives causing huge problems a few years ago, they are known for the best/cleanest fuel along with sunoco...i guess the advertising/hype machine has done its job for shell...so if i want to save a few bucks with CT (gas advantage mastercard) then i should without giving it a second thought?

[sunnybono]

To be honest, today's cars, and engines are far more reliable than they have ever been in the past. Oh yes, you will read horror stories about this problem or that problem but that is more attributed to the proliferation of forums and the internet than actually poorly designed and built cars.
If you drive your car sensibly, do the scheduled and recommended maintenance and keep it from rusting, your car can easily reach 300K (the West Coast is a good example of many older cars on the road). You will most likely want a new car before that but it will last. Owning a car has never been cheap. Proportionally, back in the days when gas was 50 cents a gallon, folks were making $2 an hour and a car cost $2500 and a house cost less than $25,000. Today, you can multiply all those by 10 (except housing which is nuts) and be close to reality.
Back on topic and as far as additives, well, this is such a debatable issue that no one will win. I my sole opinion, so many of the additives are no more than oils and naphtha in varying quantities, they all become a sort of witches brew. You will find folks that will swear on a stack of (pick your religious book), and those that say it makes no matter and every degree of advertisement and brand loyalty in between. One thing one must always remember, advertisement is a medium to attempt to sell you something you may not need, that is it's purpose.
If you want to add one or two dollars extra to your fill ups, go ahead and get the stuff for your tank or, save the bucks and see what happens, my opinion is nothing detrimental will happen.
Holy... I need to get off my soap box :lol:


Well Said Pete!!!!!!:) :) :)

[heiachi]

any input from a long term CT user would be much apprecitated :cheesygri

[untaka]

I've been using Esso in my car for about hmm 6 years now, at around 300k now :D and the car just won't die!!!

I don't believe that xyz gas is so much better then abc, plus to go to a shell or sunoco would be very inconvenient for me. Since there arn't any around, only esso and petro-can.


FYI I'm getting around 520-540 on a 35L tank, and I drive insane ...around 140 on the 407 daily

[feet_]

Holy that is impressive. What vehicle do you drive? I have been constantly pulling 240 miles on 70L (about 14-15 MPG depending on US or CDN gallon).

2001 4dr Honda Civic w/ Acura RSX TypeS engine swap.

well its 90% hwy driving. i also figure the light weight of the civic 2400lbs + the 210hp engine + 6th gear. helps.
weighs about -400lbs less than a RSX.
PWR/Weight Ratio FTW!!

its the best of both worlds. good MPG and pretty quick.
and room for the baby seats.
HANG ON KIDS!!!!!!!!.

[Rekognize]

I use shell as well, gets me up to 500km on 45L

[mr_raider]

Until I see anything more than anecdotal evidence or advertising hype, I am inclined to believe that all major companies produce similar quality gas. It would be corporate suicide for a major fuel supplier to produce lesser quality gas and have engine damage result from it.

[heiachi]

i've always used shell and it has been good for me...but now with gas prices...thinking i shud save some money with canadian tire gas...hopefully it will be ok for the civic long-term.

[squireglig]

Just put in whichever one is cheaper.

+1

[nalababe]

As someone already mentioned, the only major player that has had any significant quality issues was infact Shell. They eneded up paying a lot of money for the cars that they ended up damaging...

[gheart008]

Only Chevron for me. Shell doesn't even have 92 octane (only 91) in the West.

[johnboy]

Been using Petro Can for at least 8 years (before was Esso). Car is 14 years old. Zero problems with engine (knock on wood) and still on original oxygen censor. But I use premium fuel if that makes a difference. Over 180,000km on the odo.



...and pay for the engine repairs later?

I ran Petro-Can exclusively in a new Jeep for two years...until the "check engine" light came on. The dealer said that the valves were all fouled up with gunk from poor quality gas.

My current mechanic also recently said that Petro Can was the worst in terms of additives; Shell and Sunoco are supposedly the best.

I don't know who brews CT gas. Try to find out the refinery and the additives, and there's your answer.

[e1e0n]

...and pay for the engine repairs later?

I don't know who brews CT gas. Try to find out the refinery and the additives, and there's your answer.

Esso and it not any better then Petro Canada :mad: .

[e1e0n]

You know a place in the GTA that does free scans?

Drop by I will read your codes :lol:

[heiachi]

anyone find a difference between sunoco 87 vs shell 87? which is cleaner/more performance/mileage?

[cq358]

I drove a round trip from Toronto to Thunder Bay and test quite a few brand of gas. The trip include going constant incline/passing transport truck at Trans-Canada. I only use 87 octane gas. Car: Corolla 3 spd auto.

I had been filling up CT gas for the last 8 years. I found the performance level is the same as Esso. I filled up CT gas at Sudbury,Shell at the Sue and Thunder Bay and Esso at Nippigon.

Shell gas definitely is the best one out of all the gas. You don't feel the car straining as much when driving 115km/hr at steep incline.

The worst gas "Swipe, Pump & Go" (no name brand). This is the cheapest gas in some small town at North Western Ontario.. I guess I had made a mistake for not buying the gas at the full service Esso right next door. The car is straining even holding 105km/hr driving on a level road at hwy17 heading back to Sue. For some reason, there is strong carbon odor inside the car when I trying to pass tractor trailer. It has the fewest millage only manage 460/tank wit this cheap crap versus 580-620 with CT,Esso,Shell.

[gheart008]

The worst gas "Swipe, Pump & Go" (no name brand).

Can't be worse than Super Store gas.... that one takes the cake.

[vek]

Gas is gas, people. It all comes from a select few refineries, and they're all virtually indistinguishable in quality.

Its amazing what marketing can do. I'm still laughing at the post from the guy who's car apparently "strains less" going uphill with a certain brand.

[konfusion666]

I'm still laughing at the post from the guy who's car apparently "strains less" going uphill with a certain brand.

:) A 3 speed auto tranny coupled with a 105hp 1.6 engine will "strain" going uphill with ANY brand of gas, I reckon.

[mau108]

I went from petro can super clean to shell vpower, I noticed in winter vpower gave better mpg but in summer they are all equal. I pump shell now as it gives decent rewards, 1.5% cash back on my bmo mosaik as well as air miles also tons of stations on my way to and from work.

Sunoco 94 goes in the other car as its a turbo.

No problems with both.

[Dough]

Exclusively shell... used to go to the sunoco near markham/shepphard, but my mechanic was changing the fuel filter and was saying it was awfully gunked up, switched to shell, expecting to not hear said words again from my mechanic, that and i rarely hear anything bad about shell

[aquariaguy]

The worst gas "Swipe, Pump & Go" (no name brand). This is the cheapest gas in some small town at North Western Ontario.. I guess I had made a mistake for not buying the gas at the full service Esso right next door. The car is straining even holding 105km/hr driving on a level road at hwy17 heading back to Sue. For some reason, there is strong carbon odor inside the car when I trying to pass tractor trailer. It has the fewest millage only manage 460/tank wit this cheap crap versus 580-620 with CT,Esso,Shell.


I'm sure your "study" has so many sources of error it's not even funny. Anyways, that gas you bought at the "No name brand" was bought from one of the 3 big companies. They don't refine their own gas, they just buy it from somewhere else.

[rchong]

I buy gas at The Real Canadian Superstore.

[Pete_Coach]

Gas is gas, people. It all comes from a select few refineries, and they're all virtually indistinguishable in quality.

Its amazing what marketing can do. I'm still laughing at the post from the guy who's car apparently "strains less" going uphill with a certain brand.
So right, I have been trying to say this all along, only 4 refineries in all of Onario and all the gas comes from them.
:) A 3 speed auto tranny coupled with a 105hp 1.6 engine will "strain" going uphill with ANY brand of gas, I reckon.
Well said. There was no "scientific" or even good anecdotal basis to that "study" :)

[gherikill]

It is true all gas comes from 4 refineries. But the refinereies are comapany specific. The process for gas resellers and stations is as follows.

1. Truck picks up gas at one of the refineries.
2. Truck drives to no-name station and fills underground tank
3. Station owners add there magic package of additives that makes their gas unique.

The only factors affecting quality of gas are

1. Condition of stations underground tanks (do they have water or dirt in them)
2. Contents of the additive package

I perosnally think that shell has the best refinery in ON and the best additive package. BTW Beaver uses Shell refinery gas.

[mau108]

It is true all gas comes from 4 refineries. But the refinereies are comapany specific. The process for gas resellers and stations is as follows.

1. Truck picks up gas at one of the refineries.
2. Truck drives to no-name station and fills underground tank
3. Station owners add there magic package of additives that makes their gas unique.

The only factors affecting quality of gas are

1. Condition of stations underground tanks (do they have water or dirt in them)
2. Contents of the additive package

I perosnally think that shell has the best refinery in ON and the best additive package. BTW Beaver uses Shell refinery gas.


I heard the additives are added when the trucks are filling up with the gas so even at the same name gas station you can have different additives or at least different concentration.

[dealsaddict]

When I buy gas, I want to get the biggest "bang" for my money, literally. Additives don't bang at all.

[Pete_Coach]

It is true all gas comes from 4 refineries. But the refinereies are comapany specific. The process for gas resellers and stations is as follows.

1. Truck picks up gas at one of the refineries.
2. Truck drives to no-name station and fills underground tank
3. Station owners add there magic package of additives that makes their gas unique.

The only factors affecting quality of gas are

1. Condition of stations underground tanks (do they have water or dirt in them)
2. Contents of the additive package

I perosnally think that shell has the best refinery in ON and the best additive package. BTW Beaver uses Shell refinery gas.
Station owners do not put additives in. This is done exclusivley at the refinery. A few additives are capable of being added as they are loaded on the truck but the vast majority are required to be added during the refining and processing process.
It is for sure that Billy's Gas, Beaver Gas, Stinson Gas or any of these independents are getting Shell one time and Imperial the next and even on occasion, Sunoco. It all depends who gives them the best deal the day then need gas, and they do phone a central dispatch and ask what is available.
If you notice, most fuel delivery trucks no longer have the company logo emblazoned on them, they are "undercover" :cheesygri trucks that can deliver to any station. Used to be a time when Esso and Petro Canada and Shell used to have big trucks all over the place. Not so much anymore (there are a few but most are unmarked).