Top Tier Detergent Gasoline

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Top Tier Detergent Gasoline is a gasoline detergent standard in the United States.

Contents

[edit] History

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced the minimum gasoline detergent standard [1] in 1995 and soon after most gasoline marketers who had previously provided higher levels of detergents reduced the concentration level of detergents in commercial gasoline to meet the new standard. Whether the higher detergent level were necessary remains disputed.

In 2004 BMW, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota established a proprietary standard for a class of gasoline called Top Tier Detergent Gasoline with increased levels of detergents. Volkswagen/Audi joined the consortium in 2007.

[edit] Availability

In 2004 the standard was adopted by just a few gasoline distributors, Chevron[2], QuikTrip, Kwik Trip, Conoco-Phillips, Shell, Entec Stations, and MFA Oil Company. Since then many gasoline distributors have met the proprietary standard and it can be found in numerous gas stations all over North America.[3][4] Aloha Petroleum, KwikTrip, KwikStar, Somerset Refinery Inc., Tri-Par Oil Company, Shell Canada, Chevron Canada, Sunoco Canada and Petro Canada have since received Top Tier recognition. [5]Meeting this standard allows gasoline marketers to differentiate themselves from their competition. All stations selling the brand must meet Top Tier standards before the brand is qualified. [6]

[edit] Why Detergents in Gasoline

While General Motors' "field guru" Andrew Buczynsky says that no one has identified the exact molecule in gasoline that causes engine buildup, he says that top tier detergent gasoline will remove the deposits.[7] Without some level of detergents engine deposits form in most vehicles and this causes reduced fuel efficiency, acceleration, and power as well as increasing emissions and rough idling.

Top Tier standards also require the presence of ethanol in concentrations between 8 and 10%. [8]

[edit] What Vehicles Will Benefit from Using This Gas

According to its marketers, all vehicles will benefit from using Top Tier Detergent Gasoline over gasoline meeting the basic EPA standard. Deposits will reputedly be minimized on fuel injectors, intake valves, and combustion chambers.[9]

New vehicles will supposedly benefit by keeping their engine clean and running optimally, older vehicles may benefit with increased engine performance and prolonged vehicle life.

Using this gas is purported to have the following benefits over gasolines just meeting the EPA standard:

  • Improved fuel efficiency
  • Reduced driving upsets (rough idle, stalling and surge)
  • Improved acceleration
  • Increased engine power
  • Reduced emissions

[edit] Criticism

Several car manufacturers believe that using top tier detergent gasoline has an impact on all vehicles. Some critics believe that using top tier detergent gasoline is only critical on high-end vehicles; otherwise, using engine cleaner every 100,000 miles should clean up any carbon buildup.[10][11] Other critics say that top tier detergent gasolines cause little or no decrease on the amount of buildup on a car's engine.[12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gasoline Detergent Additives Enforcement and Recordkeeping Requirements | Fuels and Fuel Additives | US EPA
  2. ^ Chevron - Top Tier Gasoline
  3. ^ TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline Marks One Year
  4. ^ Shell Canada Limited - TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
  5. ^ Top Tier Gasoline
  6. ^ Top Tier Gasoline
  7. ^ Webster, Larry. [http://www.caranddriver.com/features/columns/c_d_staff/larry_webster/your_car_is_a_temple_so_put_in_the_good_stuff_column/(page)/1 Your Car is a Temple, so Put in the Good Stuff]. Car and Driver Magazine. August 2005. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  8. ^ Top Tier Gasoline
  9. ^ Top Tier Gasoline
  10. ^ Magliozzi, Tom; Magliozzi, Ray; Berman, Doug. Click & Clack: A Real Gas. The Washington Post. 2007-09-02. Page G02. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  11. ^ Allen, Mike. Finding Top Tier Gas. Popular Mechanics. 2007-12-07. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  12. ^ Healey, James R.; Woodyard, Chris. Can discount gas crimp your ride?. USA Today. 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2008-04-14.

[edit] See also