Is there a government agency that checks the quality of fuel at gas stations? Are octane ratings checked?

[feedback]

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The recent rollback of fuel prices was highly welcomed by consumers.

My friend, who owns a 2013 Toyota Vios 1.3J, noticed a recent change in his gasoline consumption which coincided with the lowering of prices.

He regularly opts for one of the "top three major" gasoline brands and the premium grade of gasoline (95 octane rating) instead of the regular unleaded gasoline (93 octane rating) because he gets higher mileage at about 12+ km/liter. There was a time before that he tried the lower priced regular unleaded gasoline (93 octane rating) but it only gave about 11+ km/liter. This lower mileage was also noticed when he tried cheaper "premium" gasoline from other gasoline brands aside from the "top three major" gasoline brands.

In his last two full-tank loads with the same premium grade of gasoline (95 octane rating) from the same one of the "top three major" gasoline brands, his average mileage was only about 11+ km/liter. With the same driver and the same driving habits and routes, it seems that the gasoline quality may be worth looking into.

Is there a government agency that checks the quality of fuel at gas stations? Are octane ratings checked?

Presently, he loaded the premium grade of gasoline (95 octane rating) from the another of the "top three major" gasoline brands and is now experiencing an improvement in mileage. He plans to try another branch of the previous one of the "top three major" gasoline brands because it may just be due to the branch rather than the brand. Another plan is to try the last of the "top three major" gasoline brands for comparison purposes.

Since he is still doing the comparisons, the branch and brand will not be named for now.


UPDATES: (These observations were based on the same driver and the same car used so driving habits are constant)

High mileage (12+km/L from 95 octane rating gasoline) - Petron Consolacion, Petron F Cabahug, Petron Talamban, Petron Canduman, Caltex Mandaue, Petron SRP, Petron Banilad, Petron Escario

Lower mileage (11+km/L from 95 octane rating gasoline) - Caltex F Cabahug (twice tested), Shell F Cabahug (once tested), Caltex Pardo (once tested), Petron Wireless (some incidence of lower mileage), Shell Mandaue, Caltex North Reclamation


For now, Petron Consolacion 95 octane rating gasoline is continuously being patronized by my friend and he promises to inform us if there are new observations. He tests the other brands other branches whenever there are inconsistent mileage performance observed.


Aside from the cleaning agents and performance benefits mentioned in the thread, does the mileage matter?

If 95 octane rating gasoline costs P38/L now and you average 12km/L, then a 12km trip will only cost you P38 at P3.17/km

If 95 octane rating gasoline costs P38/L now and you average 11km/L, then a 12km trip will only cost you P41.45 at P3.45/km

If 93 octane rating gasoline costs P37.50/L now and you average 11km/L, then a 12km trip will only cost you P40.90 at P3.41/km

This means that after driving 210kms, you can treat yourself to a P50 meal from your savings

Adding only P0.50/L to upgrade from 93 octane rating gasoline to 95 octane rating gasoline, provides an additional 1 km worth P3.17

You can try to do the math and probably also conclude that 95 octane rating gasoline is more efficient and economical in actual driving experience (car manuals usually recommend regular unleaded gasoline; Toyota Vios 1.3 manual recommends 91 or higher octane rating)

[kazki]

Higher octane rating does not necessarily mean better mileage. This is a common misconception by people... or just a placebo.

Follow your factory manual on what fuel to use - disregard all that "commercial" non-sense of higher octane etc...

[Flak128mm]

Gasoline consumption on cars, has plenty of factors to consider and not merely focused on the gasoline. Ang dako ug factor ani kay ang mannerism sa pag drive sa driver.

[Doge]

IMO wala mana sa octane rating, naa na sa kabuk.aton sa tiil sa gas pedal ug frequent hard braking asta pud sa aircon so dili jud na nimo ma put ang blame sa gasolina.

+1 ko sa ni ingon nga dapat ang naa sa manual ang gamiton nga gasolina ayaw padala sa hype sa uban premium gasoline

[KH0UJ]

Higher octane rating gasoline self cleans the combustion chamber of the engine thus optimized power output, ako man gyud mismo tig tune-up sa akong mga sakyanan very noticeable gyud ang carbon deposits sa regular unleaded ug 97+ octane gasoline, normal man gyud na nga murecommend ang car manufacturers sa unleaded fuel para dili malunhat ang makina nila kay it saves them headaches within the warranty period, (Tricky is`nt it?)

Nindut man gyud ang higher octane gasoline gamiton kay aside sa mu self flush sa carbon deposits sa mismo makina optimized pud pirmi ang acceleration sa mismo sakyanan pero mao lagi makapalunhat sad sa makina labi na ug medyo dali ka mahagit nga driver

New Car + Higher Octane Gasoline + Gradual Driving = Very long engine Life Span

[kazki]

Higher octane rating gasoline self cleans the combustion chamber of the engine thus optimized power output, ako man gyud mismo tig tune-up sa akong mga sakyanan very noticeable gyud ang carbon deposits sa regular unleaded ug 97+ octane gasoline, normal man gyud na nga murecommend ang car manufacturers sa unleaded fuel para dili malunhat ang makina nila kay it saves them headaches within the warranty period, (Tricky is`nt it?)

Nindut man gyud ang higher octane gasoline gamiton kay aside sa mu self flush sa carbon deposits sa mismo makina optimized pud pirmi ang acceleration sa mismo sakyanan pero mao lagi makapalunhat sad sa makina labi na ug medyo dali ka mahagit nga driver

New Car + Higher Octane Gasoline + Gradual Driving = Very long engine Life Span

Boss, I think the purpose of recommending a specific octane rating from the manufacturer is to make the car last... this coupled with regular servicing maintenance and responsible driving.

From my own understanding, it is only cars with high compression which really need the higher 97+ octane rating (some even require 100 RON, which is fairly common in Japan). You may get better response with higher octane petrol but you really won't get any better mileage.

Back on topic - TS, did you find your answer already? I think octane ratings may be checked by the main suppliers themselves... but I'm not totally sure on this.

[KH0UJ]

Boss, I think the purpose of recommending a specific octane rating from the manufacturer is to make the car last... this coupled with regular servicing maintenance and responsible driving.

From my own understanding, it is only cars with high compression which really need the higher 97+ octane rating (some even require 100 RON, which is fairly common in Japan). You may get better response with higher octane petrol but you really won't get any better mileage.

Back on topic - TS, did you find your answer already? I think octane ratings may be checked by the main suppliers themselves... but I'm not totally sure on this.

Yes I agree nga ang recommended octane rating sa car manufacturer mupalong last gihapon pero ang MTBF sa CAT medyo dali2x ra gyud, kung unsay projection time sa manufacturer mao sad unlike if you use 97+ nga halos ma times 3 ang life span sa catalytic converter compared sa unleaded gasoline, in my own experience I ended up directing my CAT due to semi clog na, pag disect nako wa nay kabutangan ang takuling as in puno gyud, and I think you know unsay power sa semi clogged exhaust

I dont really like my engine to be like this after 3 years of use...



I want my engine to be like this after 3 years of use...

[sprinter_kamote]

BTT: same here, wish there are ways to check. I'm not expecting anything other than getting what I paid for

[Kristiano]

regarding diesel, storya ni sa uban na sagolan ug tubig ang diesel... nya idk where nko nadunggan or nabasahan na ang water pra stabilizer sa diesel... nya maapil mn sa pump?
i saw sa forums sa naay water indicator/tester from Shell to detect water from fuel...

[KH0UJ]

regarding diesel, storya ni sa uban na sagolan ug tubig ang diesel... nya idk where nko nadunggan or nabasahan na ang water pra stabilizer sa diesel... nya maapil mn sa pump?
i saw sa forums sa naay water indicator/tester from Shell to detect water from fuel...

bro diesel fuel itself is a hygroscopic fuel, it tends to absorb moisture naturally, by and by magtubig gyud na ang tank reservoirs sa gas stations, naa nay mga special moisture filtering devices ang fuel pump mismo sa mga gas stations, supposed to be every quarter na sila dapat mag ilis kay mutubig gyud na ang diesel, for some reasons dili maka ilis ang ubang gas stations on time mao nang mapunta sa mga end users maglumba ug check engine ang mga CRDI nga mga sakyanan, ang uban gyud mga stuck-up ang mga injectors, so dapat unta ang mga gasolinahan dili mag tipid2x ug ilis ug moisture absorber filters kay di lalim kung mga stuck-up na ang mga injectors pirti gyung mahala....