Top Tier is a premium detergent gasoline standard sponsored by leading automakers. It contains higher levels of cleaning additives than the minimum federal requirements, helping to prevent carbon buildup and maintain engine performance.
Which Gas Stations Sell Top Tier Fuel?
Top Tier gas is a certification awarded to fuels that contain a higher concentration of engine-cleaning detergents than the minimum government standards require. Leading automakers recommend using these brands to prevent carbon buildup and maintain fuel efficiency.
Today, while most gas stations are no longer full-service, they still resemble the gas stations from the early 1900s.
Yes, all grades of Shell gasoline are officially certified as Top Tier™ Detergent Gasoline, meaning they exceed the industry's minimum detergency standards to help prevent carbon buildup and keep your engine clean.
Both Shell and Exxon produce exceptionally high-quality, reliable gasoline, but they differ slightly in their specific additive packages. Neither is universally "better," as both are Top Tier Gasoline certified and exceed the industry's minimum engine cleanliness standards.
Top Gas Stations for High-Quality Fuel
The number of gas stations has been declining for decades
Fast forward to 2013, and station numbers had decreased by 25% or almost 50,000, and by 2020 that number had shrunk to 115,200. A 2019 report by BCG predicts that 80% of conventional gas stations could be driven (pun intended) out of business by 2035.
In 1949, congress passed a statute titled the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act, which prohibited gas retail customers from pumping their own gas. To this day, New Jersey is the lone state that maintains this law, and requires a professional to pump your car's gasoline.
Yes, you can safely mix different octanes of standard gasoline (e.g., regular 87 and premium 91). The resulting fuel will just have an octane rating somewhere in the middle. However, you should never mix diesel with gasoline, or use high-ethanol fuels (E85) in non-compatible engines.
Below are a few major gasoline retailers that offer TOP TIER gasoline:
Higher-octane fuels can stand more compression before automatically combusting. New Shell V-Power unleaded is a 99RON octane fuel. By comparison, regular Shell unleaded is 95RON.
Yes, Top Tier gas is absolutely worth it. It contains up to 3 times the detergent additives required by federal law. This extra cleansing power keeps your engine's fuel injectors and intake valves remarkably clean, helping you avoid costly engine repairs.
The best top-tier gas brands consistently exceed the EPA’s baseline detergent requirements by up to 30%, keeping engines 19x cleaner. Industry experts and enthusiast consensus consistently rank Shell and Chevron as the gold standard, closely followed by Mobil and bulk retailer Costco.
ICYMI: Sunday is usually the cheapest day to buy gas, followed by Monday. Tuesday and Saturday require caution. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are highest.
No, 93 premium gas is not "better" than 87 regular for most vehicles. The octane rating (93 or 87) measures fuel stability, not quality. Always use the octane rating recommended in your owner’s manual; using a higher grade than required provides no extra benefits or performance and wastes money.
Rhode Island was the most recent state to join the list of states pledging to ban the sale of gas-powered cars, joining Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. According to the site, the District of Columbia has also made the commitment.
After 2035, gas cars will remain on the road for decades, but new gas vehicle sales will be banned in multiple states and countries. You can still legally drive, buy, and sell used gas cars, though they will gradually become more expensive to fuel and maintain as demand shifts to electric vehicles (EVs).
Pumping your gas with the engine running can lead to a fire.
How does this happen? When you grab the pump and start filling up your tank, gas vapors are emitted. Running cars produce a large amount of heat and electricity. When gas vapors run into heat or electricity, they can ignite and cause a fire.
11 Gas Station Chains That Have The Cleanest Restrooms
Yes, gas cars will eventually go away, but the transition will be highly gradual, likely taking decades before they are completely off the roads. While sales of new gas vehicles are being phased out in many regions, millions of existing vehicles will remain in use for a long time.
Gasoline for passenger vehicles is being primarily replaced by electricity stored in batteries, with hydrogen fuel cells and synthetic e-fuels serving as future alternatives for heavy-duty transportation and classic cars.
Top-rated U.S. gas stations vary by what you value most. For the best overall experience, food, and clean restrooms, brands like Buc-ee's and Kwik Trip consistently sweep national consumer polls. For fuel quality and engine reliability, you should look for TOP TIER certified brands.
Buy Fuel in the Morning or Late Evening
Fuel is denser when cool, giving slightly more energy per litre during the cooler parts of the day. Filling up in the early morning or late evening can be slightly more economical. Over time, these small gains can add up, particularly for commercial drivers who refuel daily.