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powerbook867 · Apr 2, 2008, 04:35 PM

I know most fuel comes from the same regional refineries, but I am curious if anyone's vehicle requires premium and if so does the Sam's club gas work well for you? Googled it and while there were limited responses, most said it was either "cheap" with no additives or just fine for their vehicles. My car requires premium...

The price seems great, but my "you get what you pay for" mentality has my spidey senses tingling...

turtle777 · Apr 2, 2008, 05:23 PM

How much cheaper is gas at Sam's compared to other local name-brand gas stations ?

Are you able to use any cash-back credit cards for the purchase ?

-t

Laminar · Apr 2, 2008, 05:55 PM

I have to use premium. I filled up at Wal-Mart one time and didn't notice any differences, but I wasn't specifically looking for them.

imitchellg5 · Apr 2, 2008, 06:01 PM

It probably won't matter a ton. Modern cars are pretty carefree with what you put in them. You can run a car that requires premium on regular, but performance will be reduced. My car requires 88 octane but I've put 87 in it several times without any issue really.

Laminar · Apr 2, 2008, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

It probably won't matter a ton. Modern cars are pretty carefree with what you put in them. You can run a car that requires premium on regular, but performance will be reduced. My car requires 88 octane but I've put 87 in it several times without any issue really.

I put 89 in my car, and it started knocking. Never again.

MacosNerd · Apr 2, 2008, 06:17 PM

I put the cheapest gas I can find, thankfully my Honda does not require any special grade of gasoline

powerbook867 · Apr 2, 2008, 06:29 PM

Thanks all for the replies. Not sure about the rest of the country, but it has been fluctuating dramatically in Kansas regardless of grade

These are premium prices...

Sam's today was 3.38

Shell up the street 3.55

I won't go below 91 for fear of knocking as well. The Sam's is conveniently located on my way home from work and I feel like giving it a shot, I just have to buy a membership. I'd be using gift cards to gas up since Sam's only takes Mastercard and Discover. We run things mostly on cash these days..

missingbite · Apr 2, 2008, 06:40 PM

At a 17 cent difference you will need to buy about 240 gallons of fuel before you even begin to see a savings. If you are going to use Sam's for more than just fuel that would be different. Just make sure you want to do that.

Gavin

mindwaves · Apr 2, 2008, 07:00 PM

Off topic, but I paid 3.67/gallon here for the cheap stuff.

imitchellg5 · Apr 2, 2008, 07:21 PM

Goodness, I have to go under 91 often, unless I'm in the area of certain stations. The highest in my area is 91 and it can be hard to find.
I paid 3.28 per gallon for premium, we have cheap gas.

ghporter · Apr 2, 2008, 07:23 PM

I have had uniformly BAD experiences with Wal-Mart gas, and Sam's Club almost certainly has the same stuff. Not only have I gotten dirty, water-soaked gas from Wal-Mart stations, I have problems understanding why the hugest retailer in the universe can't keep their gas prices relatively constant. I drive to school and then home every day past a fairly new Wal-Mart, and it's not unusual to see two different prices there on the same day-and the morning price will be VERY different from the previous evening's price. My regional grocery giant HEB keeps their prices almost entirely constant for weeks at a time, and I've never had any problem with their gas.

imitchellg5 · Apr 2, 2008, 07:25 PM

Heh, they do that at the Albertson's at my house. About a month ago I told myself I'd worry about gas on the way back from school about and not get it at lunch. Big mistake, on the way back it was $.08 more.

TheWOAT · Apr 2, 2008, 07:32 PM

ALl gasoline has to meet minimum standards for octane, quality and other things (like flash point etc etc). If Sams or Walmart sells gas that doesnt meet those standards, there are a couple agencies that would LOVE to squeeze some civil case money out of them (selling gas that doesnt meet standards is a violation, at least in California). That said, some stations get contaminated with water, usually in the winter or when it rains alot, and some stations have truck drivers dump the wrong octane in the tank. BUT, 91 octane is 91 octane.

missingbite · Apr 2, 2008, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by TheWOAT

ALl gasoline has to meet minimum standards for octane, quality and other things (like flash point etc etc). If Sams or Walmart sells gas that doesnt meet those standards, there are a couple agencies that would LOVE to squeeze some civil case money out of them (selling gas that doesnt meet standards is a violation, at least in California). That said, some stations get contaminated with water, usually in the winter or when it rains alot, and some stations have truck drivers dump the wrong octane in the tank. BUT, 91 octane is 91 octane.

Agreed. But 91 at Exxon is different than 91 at Citgo or Cheveron or anywhere else. It is the additives that make the difference. If Sam's or Walmart doesn't put in additives, then their 91 isn't worth using. I don't know what they do to their fuel as far as additives go.

Gavin

Mrjinglesusa · Apr 2, 2008, 08:28 PM

Not worth it for a $0.17/gallon difference. Assume, for the sake of argument that a fill up takes 20 gallons. You'll save a whole $2.40. And I doubt a fill up is 20 gallons so your savings is even less. The way gas prices are now, I don't even look to see how much it costs. Just pull in and fill it up. A $0.17/gallon savings makes little difference, let alone $0.10 or $0.05/gallon.

Laminar · Apr 2, 2008, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa

Not worth it for a $0.17/gallon difference. Assume, for the sake of argument that a fill up takes 20 gallons. You'll save a whole $2.40. And I doubt a fill up is 20 gallons so your savings is even less. The way gas prices are now, I don't even look to see how much it costs. Just pull in and fill it up. A $0.17/gallon savings makes little difference, let alone $0.10 or $0.05/gallon.

And at two tanks a week, that's $250 for the year. Maybe not a lot to you rich folk, but to those of us on a budget it makes a difference.

TheWOAT · Apr 2, 2008, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by missingbite

Agreed. But 91 at Exxon is different than 91 at Citgo or Cheveron or anywhere else. It is the additives that make the difference. If Sam's or Walmart doesn't put in additives, then their 91 isn't worth using. I don't know what they do to their fuel as far as additives go.

Gavin

Yeah, I believe Shell, Chevron and maybe Arco use additives, but you can still just use the basic stuff most of the time, then drop in the additives once in awhile if you believe those additives do anything.

OldManMac · Apr 2, 2008, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

It probably won't matter a ton. Modern cars are pretty carefree with what you put in them. You can run a car that requires premium on regular, but performance will be reduced. My car requires 88 octane but I've put 87 in it several times without any issue really.

Absolutely false. Modern cars are more finicky as to what you put in them. They have these things in them called computers, and sensors, and emissions controls, and variable valve timing, etc., etc. Yes, you can put lesser octane gas in a car that requires premium, but you'd better not do it too often. It's also a waste to put higher octane gas in a car that doesn't call for it, as it doesn't do anything but burn more of your money.

iMOTOR · Apr 3, 2008, 02:08 AM

Originally Posted by OldManMac

They have these things in them called computers, and sensors, and emissions controls, and variable valve timing, etc., etc.

That's precisely why modern engines aren't finicky about octane rating. The primary reason to use higher octane fuel is if your cylinders have higher compression ratio. Modern engines check for pre-ignition, and when it's detected, the ignition system retards the spark to prevent knocking. The older higher compression ratio engines that didn't have a knock detect circuit couldn't prevent pre-ignition.

Brien · Apr 3, 2008, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by mindwaves

Off topic, but I paid 3.67/gallon here for the cheap stuff.

3.55 over here in Fullerton... strange.

peeb · Apr 3, 2008, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

I have problems understanding why the hugest retailer in the universe can't keep their gas prices relatively constant.

I suspect this may have something to do with laws that stop people from selling gas below some calculated level. This is to stop Sams or whoever from selling at a loss for six months to drive independents out of business. My guess is that they are treading that line every day.