There used to be a lot of mystery and hokum around fuel additives. Are they needed? Even if they do any good, such as reducing engine wear, it will probably occur well after fleets have turned over their vehicles. A BloombergBusinessweek article lays out some questions about Techron, Chevron’s much-touted additive.
According to the article, most major automakers and gasoline producers, including Chevron, are part of the “Top Tier” program, which certifies that gasolines contain an adequate amount of cleaning agents.
“It’s been documented that Top Tier gas is a whole lot better in terms of cleaning up the engine,” says Gary Pipenger, vice president of fuel analyst Research Laboratories. “What drives people like me crazy is the marketing fluff that follows from there.”
Best bet. Ignore the additives. Buy major brand gasoline. It’s well know that refineries trade gasoline among themselves to overcome shortages or excesses. Read the complete article in BloombergBusinessweek.
