When choosing what fuel to fill up with, most drivers take three things into consideration: the price, the gas station location, and the quality of the fuel.
With fuel prices on the rise, drivers are often finding themselves opting for the cheapest fuel but this may not always be what is best for your car. You may be wondering who has the better gas in 2022, Shell or Chevron?
Chevron and Shell are Top Tier fuels, this means they meet the high standards for cleanliness and performance set out by Top Tier. The two companies offer the identical quality of gas for drivers, but we’ve picked Shell as the winner due to slightly better customer service and benefits.
In this article, we will compare the two fuel brands and also take a look at Top Tier Gasoline and discuss its many benefits.
What Does Top Tier Mean in Gasoline?
All gasoline must meet certain standards to be sold to retailers and drivers, but some companies produce cleaner gas than others. Oil refineries often sell their gas to various companies, however, not all fuel that drivers put into their cars is the same.
Gas can come from the same refinery but be different at the pumps in the gas station due to different brands using different fuel additives. Gasoline alone can cause damage to modern-day vehicle engines and fuel additives are needed to prevent carbon build-up in the intake valves and fuel injectors.
Each gasoline company uses its own unique blend of fuel additives. Detergents and fuel stabilizers are two additives often used to help prevent the build-up of carbon deposits inside the engine.
When drivers use poor quality gasoline with a poor blend of additives the vehicle will suffer from bad fuel economy, reduced power, and irregular injection of fuel into the cylinders.
Over the years, fuel injection technology has changed and developed and the gasoline without plenty of additives was no longer up to the job. Gasoline without enough additives may power a vehicle but it was found to be causing carbon build-up and clogging the engine.
Top Tier Gasoline was founded in 2004 and is recommended by auto companies including Ford, Honda, Fiat, Chrysler, BMW, General Motors, and several other well-known names in the automobile industry.
Ten car companies recognized the need for cleaner gasoline in preserving the health of vehicle engines and together they back the standards set by Top Tier Gasoline.
It is important to note that Top Tier gasoline and Premium gasoline are not the same things. Top Tier is gas that meets specific standards for engine cleanliness and performance, whereas, Premium gas is high octane fuel.
Top Tier Gasoline uses higher levels of detergent additives than standard gasoline. These additional additives help to reduce carbon buildup throughout the engine and will improve the overall performance of your vehicle.
Here is a list of benefits of using Top Tier gasoline:
- Keeps valves clear of intake deposits.
- Better at cleaning the engine than standard gasoline.
- Improves fuel economy.
- Supports better engine performance over time.
- Prevents the negative effects of carbon buildup inside the engine.
What Are the Top Tier Brands of Gasoline
Over 50 gasoline brands in the USA meet Top Tier standards of cleanliness and can be sold as a Top Tier gasoline brand. Shell and Chevron are just two of the many Top Tier gasoline brands.
A full list of companies meeting this high standard for fuel can be found on the Top Tier website, but here are a few fuel companies that are meeting the Top Tier standards in 2023:
- Arco
- Beacon
- Chevron
- Costco Wholesale
- Exxon
- Mobil
- Shell
- Texaco
- Value America
With over 50 fuel companies selling Top Tier gasoline, you may be wondering who is selling the poorer quality fuel.
Often, off-brand gas stations will not be selling Top-Tier gasoline, this is because of its high price tag when it comes to production and purchasing. The big-name brands can afford to pay the extra to bring this better quality fuel to their customers across the country.
Gasoline companies can not just use any blend of fuel additives to become a Top Tier brand. If a fuel manufacturer or retailer wants the seal of approval as a Top Tier gasoline brand, their fuel and gas stations must meet the following standards:
- All of the gasoline grades must be treated with a Top Tier approved detergent fuel additive.
- The Top Tier detergent gasoline additive must be added at the correct concentration.
- Retailers must agree to not use organometallic additives, including MMT and Ferrocene.
- Every retailer location must meet the Top Tier program’s high standards.
- There must be a Top Tier logo clearly displayed.
If you want to know more about Top Tier fuel, have a look at this YouTube video:
Shell vs Chevron – Who Has The Better Gas In 2023?
Now we have looked closely at Top Tier gasoline and have established both Chevron and Shell sell this higher quality fuel, let’s take a closer look at these two companies to try and determine who has the better gas.
To decide which gas is best for your car really depends on what kind of vehicle you are driving and what engine it has. Different engines will require gas with a certain octane rating.
The fuel octane rating is used to measure the engine’s performance, it indicates the level of pressure the gas is able to withstand before it ignites. The higher the Octane rating, the more pressure the fuel can withstand and the more powerful drivers can expect to achieve.
Shell And Chevron Octane Ratings
Here is a list of the different grades of fuel provided by Chevron. We have also noted down each grade’s Octane rating to help you to make your decision:
- Chevron Regular – 87
- Chevron Plus – 89
- Chevron Supreme – 91
All Chevron gasoline uses Techron, an additive that improves acceleration, maximizes mileage, minimizes emissions, and protects engine parts from carbon buildup.
To help you compare, here are the Shell fuel grades and Octane ratings:
- Shell Regular – 85
- Shell Plus – 88
- Shell V-Power Nitro+ Premium Gasoline – 91
If you are unsure what Octane fuel to use, refer to your owner’s manual. It is important that you use the correct octane gasoline, as using a fuel with a rating that is too high or too low may impact your vehicle’s performance.
High octane gasoline is often recommended for engines that use a higher compression ratio, or use turbo or supercharging to inject more air into the vehicle’s engine. In these vehicles, Shell V-Power Nitro+ Premium would be the best choice.
Shell And Chevron Price
Fuel prices are constantly changing. As the price of oil fluctuates, so do the prices at the gas station. Shell and Chevron do not vary massively in price and both fuels are great value for money, thanks to the cleaning additives they use to protect your vehicle’s engine.
Chevron customers can save up to 7 cents per gallon by becoming Techron Advantage credit card members. Drivers can save even more when filling up with Chevron if they become Visa Techron Advantage credit card members.
Shell credit card members can also save money on their fuel, the reward system enables drivers to save between 5 and 10 cents per gallon.
FAQs
Is Shell gas better?
Shell gas is a Top Tier gasoline and is better than off-brand gasoline as it uses additives to keep the engine clean.
The Shell V-Power is a great choice for vehicles needing high octane fuel and can be beneficial for cars with turbo and supercharging injectors. Shell has regular, mid-range, and premium fuels, all of which adhere to the high standards set by Top Tier Gasoline.
What oil is better Shell or Chevron?
There is not much difference between Shell and Chevron fuel. The best option for you will depend on what Octane rating your car needs. Fuel prices are constantly changing and often when choosing between Shell or Chevron, it is a case of which gas station is closest or who has the cheapest fuel that day.
Chevron uses Techron to maximize engine performance and minimize emissions and Shell claims to be the best fuel on the market for protecting engines from gunk build-up.
Is Chevron the same as Shell?
Chevron and Shell are two different fuel companies. These two big names are competitors in the fuel industry but their fuel meets the same standards for cleanliness. Both Chevron and Shell are Top Tier gasoline fuels and they use a high level of detergent additives to keep their fuel as clean as possible
Which gas lasts the longest?
The best way to make your gas last longer is to use the correct gas for your car and to drive economically. It is argued that higher octane, premium fuel will last longer but this is only really the case if your car needs this fuel for its high-performance engine.
Using the correct octane gas and driving sensible – not flooring the accelerator – is the best way to make your fuel last longer.
Is Costco better than Chevron?
The gas sold at Costco meets the high standards set by Top Tier gasoline. This means that the fuel is not overly different from Chevron, both brands must meet high detergent levels and standards to be certified Top Tier.
Customer reviews online show little difference in satisfaction and performance between Costco and Chevron. You may save yourself a few cents by filling up at Costco but the fuel isn’t any better than that sold by Chevron.
Conclusion
In the debate of which fuel brand is better, Chevron or Shell, there is not one hands-down winner, but Shell inches ahead very slightly with better customer care and reduced gas cost initiatives.
When choosing who has the best gas, there really isn’t much difference between Shell and Chevron. The high octane premium range of their gasoline can vary in its octane rating and this may influence drivers of high-performance cars.
Both Chevron and Shell offer reward systems for their customers. Chevron customers can save up to 7 cents per gallon with the Techron credit card and Shell uses a similar initiative, with their credit card members able to save between 5 and 10 cents per gallon.
For more information, check out these other articles:
Why Is Sam’s Club and Costco Gas So Cheap?
How Much Does a Gallon of Gas Weigh?
Where to Find the Best 93 Octane Gas
FAQs
Does Shell have better gas than Chevron? ›
In short, both brands are equally good when it comes to quality. Considering that both Shell and Chevron are branded as top tier, it's easy to conclude that their gas meets the required performance standards.
Does Shell have higher quality gas? ›Shell Gasoline is also certified TOP TIER™, a higher standard for engine cleanliness and performance set by auto manufacturers.
Which gas station has best quality gas? ›- BP. See at BP.
- Chevron. See at Chevron.
- Mobil. See at Mobil.
- Shell. See at Shell.
- Marathon. See at Marathon.
As a chemical engineering, the most frequent question that I get asked is whether there is any miles per gallon performance difference between the different brands of gasoline. After conducting a controlled, but real life, test for 1 1/2 years the answer is: NO.
Is Chevron really the best gas? ›There's no such thing as “better gas.” Companies like Chevron try to tell you their gasoline is superior because it has Techron in it. However, all gas has detergents that prevent clogging in the fuel injector, and no brand of gas is better quality than any other for your vehicle.
Is Shell fuel better than others? ›Yes. Not only the normal petrol which is actually technically known as unleaded petrol, but even deisel is expensive in Shell fuel pumps. They are definitely better in quality compared to the PSU petrol dealers like Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum.
What are the grades of Shell gas? ›- Regular (85-88, usually 87)
- Mid-Grade/Plus (88-90, usually 89)
- Premium (91-93, usually 92)
The main reason for people going to Shell petrol stations is that they never cheat on quantity of fuel which is most common in all the other stations. How do you know gas pumps are really giving you what they say they are? For example, 2.53/gallon.
What are the benefits of Shell V-Power? ›...
- Helps to Reduce Engine Friction. ...
- Helps to Clean Intake Valves and/or Fuel Injector Nozzle. ...
- Helps to Clean Key Fuel System Components. ...
- Our best performance fuels.
In the consumer industry, brand often doesn't really matter, but when it comes to gas brands, it does. Gas brands differ according to detergent additives used to prevent carbon deposits from accumulating in your engine. “Top Tier” brands are known to use more detergent and/or additives than the EPA requires.
Which gas last longer? ›
Additionally, premium gas can increase fuel efficiency, potentially bringing better gas mileage for longer while decreasing emissions. Remember that these benefits are seen in vehicles that truly require premium gas and not necessarily in most other vehicles.
What premium gas is better? ›The main difference with premium is its octane rating — 91 or higher compared with 87 for regular octane. The higher octane gives premium gas greater resistance to early fuel ignition, which can result in potential damage, sometimes accompanied by audible engine knocking or pinging.
Do you get better mileage with Chevron? ›It's proven. Chevron with Techron delivers unbeatable gas mileage. Your engine's performance can affect your mileage. Chevron with Techron cleans up grimy deposits that can interfere with fuel combustion - which can boost your miles per gallon.
How do you save gas at Chevron? ›Earn 1,000 points to save $1.00/gal on your fuel purchase at participating stations. Pay using the mobile app or enter your phone number at the dispenser or on the pinpad inside the store. Must have a valid User Account to earn points.
What is special about Chevron gas? ›Chevron®, Texaco® and Caltex® fuels contain our Techron® additive, which cleans, restores and protects your engine's performance. Our Techron fuel additive helps keep critical engine parts clean, which can lower emissions, improve performance and maximize fuel economy.
Who sells top tier gas? ›- All Brands.
- Aloha Petroleum.
- ARCO.
- Beacon.
- Breakaway.
- Chevron.
- CITGO.
fuels and stations
Chevron's three premium brands – Chevron®, Texaco® and Caltex®. Find the closest service station.
No problem. Gasoline brands are very similar. About the only difference is the additives that are used.
Which fuel is the best fuel and why? ›Natural gas is the best option as a fuel for transportation as it is a cheap and clean fuel. Petrol and diesel release harmful gases. So, they are not suitable. Steam is generated mostly using coal, which also harms the environment.
What octane is Shell V-Power gasoline? ›Shell V-Power features enhanced octane quality. With an octane rating of 99 RON, Shell V-Power is designed to provide more power and improved responsiveness in many modern cars.
Does Shell V-Power clean your engine? ›
New Shell V-Power unleaded contains 30% more cleaning molecules than previous formulation, which helps to target dirt and helps to restore engine cleanliness by removing deposits that have already formed. Our new Shell V-Power Diesel is with boosted DYNAFLEX Technology for our best cleaning performance.
Which Shell gas is premium? ›Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline is an innovative premium formulation engineered with four levels of defense against gunk, corrosion, wear and friction to help keep your engine running like new.
What is the highest octane at Shell? ›vpower - 91 octane
With a special formulation, Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline delivers triple-action protection against gunk, wear, and corrosion for optimum engine performance.
Premium Unleaded (98)
Vehicle manufacturers design engines for a minimum octane rating. Always refer to your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations before filling up at the fuel station, as the type of unleaded fuel you use does matter.
Shell is an international energy company with expertise in the exploration, production, refining and marketing of oil and natural gas, and the manufacturing and marketing of chemicals.
Does Shell benefit from high oil prices? ›Shell has benefited from a surge in oil prices caused by embargoes on Russian oil imposed since the invasion of Ukraine, and Russia's decision to cut off gas supplies to continental Europe.
Does Shell Gas improve performance? ›Shell Gasoline is certified TOP TIER™, a higher standard for engine cleanliness and performance set by auto manufacturers. No other gasoline does a better job of protecting critical engine parts against deposits.
Is Shell V-Power the same as premium gas? ›In the United States, in around 2004, all Shell "Premium" gas was rebranded as "V-Power".
Does Shell V-Power give better mpg? ›Yes it is worth it as it definitely helps your vehicle perform better. All these branded petrol variants are better than normal fuel and an easy indicator is your fuel economy increases a bit. Other than that, if you can manage the extra money then definitely use it.
Does gas from different gas stations last longer? ›Lower octane fuels tend to burn much faster than higher octane varieties. The same is also true for those with a higher ethanol content. As a result, higher quality, premium gasoline will last longer and burn slower than the cheaper, regular kind.
What happens if you put 93 gas in a 87 car? ›
Engine computers can usually adjust their timing to account for the increased octane levels, so if you put premium gas in a regular car, you probably won't notice anything. However, some engines are not designed to burn higher-octane fuel, and you may see a reduction in performance and fuel economy.
Should I let my gas tank empty? ›Car care experts recommend not letting your fuel level drop below ¼ tank. There are a few reasons for this: It could leave you stranded. If you run out of gas, your car's engine will stop — and you'll be stuck whenever and wherever it happens.
What makes gas burn faster? ›Aggressive driving, exceeding normal speed limits and excessive idling increase fuel consumption.
What month is gas the most expensive? ›From refinery maintenance to consumer demand, seasonal fuel production affects gas prices at the pump. Traditionally, gas prices are at their lowest during the first week of February and then begin to climb, often peaking right before Memorial Day.
Is premium better for trucks? ›Is Premium Better than Regular Gas? In the vast majority of cases, no. In many cases, it's actually worse than running regular. Running premium gas in your vehicle isn't going to damage your truck in any way, but it won't likely won't increase performance or efficiency.
Can premium gas hurt my engine? ›First, in a regular car, premium fuel is only needed under specific conditions (intensive use for example), and has little to no impact on engine performance or efficiency. This is what various studies have revealed, including the one led by the American Automobile Association (AAA) a few years ago.
What grade of gas is best for my car? ›The best type of gas to put in your vehicle is whatever octane level your car's owner's manual specifies. Generally, here's what you need to know about octane gas types: Regular fuel is 87 octane. Premium is 91 or 93.
What mph gives best gas mileage? ›The Energy Saving Trust says that the most efficient speed you can travel in a car in terms of achieving the best fuel economy is 55-65mph. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly.
How much do you save with a Chevron gas card? ›Earn 2 cents per $100, 4 cents per $200, 6 cents per $300, 8 cents per $400 and 10 cents per $500 in eligible monthly spending, such as grocery, dining and travel purchases.
How much do you save with a Chevron card? ›...
Boost your fuel credits with non-fuel purchases.
| Spend Per Billing Period | Visa Spend Fuel Credits |
|---|---|
| $100.00 to $199.99 | $0.02 per gallon |
How do you save gas on Shell? ›
- Join the Fuel Rewards® program and get Instant Gold Status.
- Swipe your Fuel Rewards® card or enter your Alt ID when you fuel at a participating Shell station.
- With Gold Status, you will receive 5¢/gal in Fuel Rewards® savings on every fill-up.
“Though there is variation in daily gas prices across different states, the consensus is that filling up at the beginning or end of the work week, on Monday or Friday, is the best way to save money, says Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
How can I cut down on gas costs? ›- Turn Down Your Thermostat. You can save as much as 3% for each degree that you turn your thermostat down during the winter. ...
- Take Care of Your Furnace. ...
- Let the Heat Circulate. ...
- Keep the Cold Out. ...
- Cook Smart. ...
- Turn Down the Tank. ...
- Think Before You Wash and Dry Clothes.
Shell Gasoline is also certified TOP TIER™, a higher standard for engine cleanliness and performance set by auto manufacturers.
What is the difference between Chevron and Chevron with Techron? ›What is the difference between Chevron with Techron® at the pump and Techron® in the bottle? The main difference is additive concentration and rate of deposit clean up. Over multiple fill-ups, Chevron fuels with Techron® will help clean deposits on intake valves and minimize harmful combustion chamber deposits.
Where does Chevron get their gas from? ›For more than a century, Chevron has played a major role in helping meet North America's energy needs – finding and producing crude oil and natural gas from beneath the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, from the tight rock of Texas, Colorado and Alberta, and from the fields of central California.
Which gas is best for your engine? ›Premium is the highest octane fuel with a 91-94 octane rating. While most cars are fine running on regular gasoline, high-performance engines have features that require premium gas to run their best.
What type of gas is Shell? ›vpower - 91 octane
Shell V-Power® NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline sets a new standard in fuels innovation and redefines protection. With a special formulation, Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline delivers triple-action protection against gunk, wear, and corrosion for optimum engine performance.
Of course its all the same, only difference is what additives are put in by different vendors! Shell may put in different additives than esso. Also some “no name “ stations will just sell standard flat grade 89 octane fuel or hi grade 92 without any additives .
How do you know which gas is better? ›Gas stations in the United States generally offer three octane grades: regular (usually 87 octane), mid-grade (usually 89 octane), and premium (usually 91 or 93 gas). Check the sticker on the pump to know which you are getting.
Does Chevron gas clean your engine? ›
Chevron®, Texaco® and Caltex® fuels contain our Techron® additive, which cleans, restores and protects your engine's performance. Our Techron fuel additive helps keep critical engine parts clean, which can lower emissions, improve performance and maximize fuel economy.
Do all grades of Chevron gas have Techron? ›Different cars have different octane needs. but you can always expect to find the unsurpassed cleaning power of Techron in all grades of Chevron gasoline. The benefits of Chevron with Techron are numerous.
What is Shell premium gas called? ›What is Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline? Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline is an innovative premium formulation engineered with four levels of defense against gunk, corrosion, wear and friction to help keep your engine running like new.
Where does Shell gasoline come from? ›Crude oil pipelines transport crude oil from onshore and offshore production wells and from coastal shipping terminals to refineries and chemical plants. At refineries, the oil is processed into refined products such as gasoline, heating fuel, diesel and oil feed stocks.
Is Costco gas as good as Shell? ›Essentially, there is no big difference between Costco's gasoline and gasoline from other major suppliers like Shell or Chevron. All of the fuel comes from the same source and it is all TOP TIER™ rated and approved by the highest EPA standards.
Does premium gas keep your engine cleaner? ›Will premium gas clean my engine? No, premium gas isn't a secret sauce for cleaning your engine. The main concern in engine maintenance is carbon build-up, which can happen over time with all fuel types if you skip routine checks.
What detergents does Shell use? ›"V-Power" is the name of Shell's premium gasoline, and it contains the highest concentration of proprietary detergents of the three grades of gas you'll find at Shell stations. The brand name of those detergents is "Nitrogen Enriched Cleaning System," because "Shell specialty polymer compound" isn't cool at all.