What gas companies do you use?
Please if you say "others" , list it
Please if you say "others" , list it
As for the octane issue, my understanding is that there is no need to run a higher octane than what is needed by your engine/tune etc. The higher octane usually has more addatives to improve the anti-knock (read as anti-preignition) properties. Because of these addatives it is actually likely that there is a slighty (although generally unnoticable) reduction in fuel economy. The advantage is that this gasoline can be used in an engine that is running hotter (as race tuned engines typically do) without the heat causing preignition. The result is that a vehichle that requires 87 usually see's no benifit from 89, or 93, or whatever because they arent opperating at a high enough temp for it to matter. Having said that, if randy says the ECM in the hemi compesates for 89 octane (ostensable increaseing output to take advantage of the higher octane gas?) I would belive it. He is very knowedgable about such things.
The question of brand is a whole different ball of wax and reappears periodically. The truth of the matter is that brand, like octane, almost always boils down to addatives. The gasoline at all your local stations is likely received from the same regional pump station or distributer. Some major cities have more than one, but the principle is the same. In reality the gasoline at all the stations is the same (or at least of unknown quaility). The difference between what you get at each stations is what addatives are added before the tanker rolls out of the distribution center. This is where there are some significant difference. The addative I am talking about here are all essentially detergents. These help prevent engine "sludge", etc., that we have all heard so much about from commercially. While this detergent actually reduced milage as well, it is again my such a negligable amount that it's not worth worrying about. This detergent issue is actually important enough that a group of large auto manucaturers have banded together to publish a list of "Top Tier" gasoline retailers based on the quailty of their detergents. I won't rehash all the requirements but you can read them and get a list of top tier retailers at this link:
http://www.toptiergas.com/
For my money the best addative is Techron (based on reviews I've read) produced by Chevron. Chevron also sells this addative to Texaco and Shell. You will see Techron advertised by Chevron (and now Texaco as they were purchased by Chevron) on their signs and in their commercials, but not by Shell. The reason for this is that Chevron sells the detergent to Shell but does not license them to use the name. This used to be the case with Texaco as well until Chevron purchased them.
The other consideration in terms of station is how well the company will stand behind their product if there is a problem. I got some bad gas at a loves truck stop south of toledo about a month ago that must have had some water in it. The result was that I ended up having to walk back up I-75 to the station at 3:00am and got nothing but the run around from them. I ended up buying two bottles of dry gas and catching a ride back to the truck. I poured the dry gas in and the problem corrected itself immediately. I've heard of other who had similar problem with gas from big name fuel companies, the difference was that they were immediately taken care of. Now I don't usually fill up at this type of station, but at 3am in the middle of northern ohio you don't always get much selection.
This turned into more of a novel than I intended but I hope it helps some folks out.
Conoco = no ethanol station by my houseWhat gas companies do you use?
Please if you say "others" , list it