What is Top Tier Gas and Is It Worth It?

What is Top-Tier Gas and Is It Worth It?

Top-tier gasoline is a type of fuel that includes detergent additives and is the name of a real gasoline standard rather than a marketing ploy. It's advertised as a way to keep your engine and other components clean, but is it worth the price premium?

It's a complicated answer. However, the variety of cars on the road this decade necessitates a variety of fuels, and newer vehicles with complex engine management systems, turbochargers, and superchargers have different requirements, and all of the above has made fill-ups more puzzling than ever.

Many drivers swear by top-tier gas to prevent engine damage and to break down existing deposits on engine components, while some claim it's little more than a gimmick from gas stations and automakers. However, the better the fuel, the greater the cost, and, for some cars, it's a waste of money.

There's a lot to digest, but, ultimately, there's a good argument not to fill your car with low-grade gas. Here's what you need to know about top-tier gas and if it's right for your car and driving situation.

What is Top Tier Gas?

Gasoline is separated into different octane ratings, which indicate the level of compression the fuel can withstand before degrading and causing a loss of performance or, worse, engine damage. Top-tier standards reflect the fuel additives beyond the octane reading, which minimize the build-up of impurities that could reduce performance and lead to premature engine failure.

Like the food we eat, the gasoline you put in your car is crucial. High-quality fuel will help your vehicle last longer, perform better, and get better gas mileage. A study of top-tier gas by the American Automobile Association (AAA) found it helps to keep engines clean and to maintain a better standard of engine performance.

The association's most recent study, in 2019, claimed that top-tier gas "left 19 fewer intake valve deposits" and had a modest cost increase over standard-grade fuel. Costs have changed, but the science hasn't altered much—high-quality fuel is better for your engine and can save money in the long run.

While it is generally more expensive, the benefits can save you money in the long run. Knowing what top-tier gas can do for your engine will help you decide if it's worth it.

There are several different varieties of gasoline, all of which are formulated for specific purposes or benefits. Top-tier gasoline was developed to help maintain the complex parts in modern powertrains and older ones reliant on fuel types long banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As engines grew more complex, they needed to stay as clean as possible, and top-tier gas was created to facilitate this process.

Top-tier gas includes several additives and detergents that clean the combustion chamber and fuel delivery system as they run through the vehicle's powertrain. That can help to prevent deterioration, oxidation, and the buildup of carbon deposits, reducing an engine's lifespan and performance. Many auto manufacturers even encourage customers to use top-tier gas to protect parts such as fuel injectors, intake valves, and ignition coils.

What Are the Benefits of Top-Tier Gasoline?

If you have a modern vehicle built by a major automaker, such as Audi, BMW, General Motors, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, or Volkswagen, you want to do everything you can to maintain the engine's performance. Top-tier gasoline is produced using a high fuel performance standard with the right level of detergent and additives for the best, cleanest burn in the combustion chamber. Knowing some benefits of using top-tier fuel instead of other gasoline brands will help you decide if it is right for you and your car the next time you fill up.

Cleaner Engine

The most important benefit to using top-tier gas is that it can help keep your engine clean and running smoothly. Over the years, carbon, debris and other deposits can build up within your car's engine and cause it to deteriorate.

If you use a non-top-tier fuel, you will only be contributing to the issue. The detergents in top-tier gas help to keep the engine clean, which has many different benefits regarding the engine's performance.

Protection for Emissions Equipment

Emissions components can be costly to replace, and low-quality fuel can release carbon deposits into them, speeding up the deterioration process. If they break down, your vehicle won't pass an emissions test and can't be registered in certain states, such as California or Massachusetts, or worse, it might not even start (if the catalytic converter is damaged, for example). Top-tier gas is designed to protect automotive emissions equipment and keep your vehicle running as cleanly as possible for a long time.

Fuel Efficiency

Any time your vehicle's engine has to work harder to put out the same amount of power, there is a loss of efficiency. Keeping costs low will always be necessary and, since top-tier gas keeps your engine clean, it will facilitate better fuel efficiency and more economical performance. While you will pay more at the pump, you could save money in the long run.

Increased Longevity

One of the benefits of keeping your engine as clean as possible is that it can increase longevity and help you make the most of your vehicle. Reducing carbon deposits and soot will lengthen the time the engine will run well.

An engine replacement is one of the most expensive automotive procedures there is, and most of the time, once the engine goes bad, the car will be totaled. If you want to save money on the overall cost of ownership, top-tier gasoline could be an excellent option.

The AAA study also revealed that top-tier gas used over a 1,000-mile course started to remove old deposits on components. That's helpful for owners of older or used vehicles with multiple owners who might not have been as concerned with the engine's condition. Unlike most human organs, it's a rare condition where moderate damage to significant components can be reversed without substantial repairs or replacement.

Other issues come up with older vehicles, especially those designed to run on leaded fuel that began to be phased out of the US by the EPA in the mid-1970s. Modern gas uses more ethanol instead of other additives to substitute the lead, which doesn’t necessarily affect an engine’s responsiveness, but has a detrimental effect on fuel lines and other synthetic items.

How is Top-Tier Gasoline Different From Premium Gasoline?

Most of the time, premium gasoline (91 octane or higher) is the most expensive and boasts the most benefits for high compression, supercharged, and turbocharged engines. However, high-octane fuel and Top Tier fuel are different. Premium fuel has a higher octane level, which means it creates more pressure in the combustion chamber and burns hotter, which can increase the total amount of horsepower your engine produces.

While some premium fuels have additives and detergents, they will be wrong for some vehicles' fuel systems. Check the owner's manual or sticker inside the fuel door before you use a different type of gasoline, and avoid mixing them. The top-tier brand of gas is specifically designed to keep your engine clean and is not a hotter-burning gas like premium is.

How Expensive is Top-Tier Gasoline?

Top-tier gasoline costs more than regular gas at the pump, but it's usually only about three cents more per gallon than regular gasoline. When you add up the potential savings in terms of engine maintenance and repairs that can come up due to carbon deposits and other debris, spending more at the gas station could be well worth it in the long run.

Which Fuel Retailers Sell Top-Tier Gasoline?

Several large fuel retailers offer top-tier gasoline at the pump. While many brands use their formula, they will all be held to the same standard when it comes to the additives and the desired outcomes. Look for top-tier signage at gas stations in your area.

Major brands that carry what's considered top-tier gas in the US include 76, Arco, Chevron, Citgo, Conoco, Costco Wholesale, CountryMark, Exxon, Fast Fuel, Marathon, Meijer, Mobil, Phillips 66, QuikTrip, Ranger, Shell, Sinclair, Sunoco, Texaco, and Valero.

For a complete list of retailers, you can also check out www.toptiergas.com.

Is Top-Tier Gasoline Worth It?

Studies continue to show that cost is the most significant deterrent to top-tier gas to consumers. As fuel prices become increasingly unpredictable, it's a price many drivers can't stomach every time. While it's passing the buck down the road and setting people up for more expensive repairs at a time when parts are also expected to become costly, this is the reality for many people.

Apart from sticking to regular maintenance schedules as listed by your vehicle's automaker and a mechanic, the fuel that goes into the car is critical. And if you're a classic car owner, constantly searching for quality parts and checking every mechanical component, low-quality fuel is counterintuitive.

Your vehicle's engine has quite a few sensitive components, many of which are involved in the fuel combustion process. As engine technology progresses, protecting these components and preventing deterioration and carbon buildup becomes even more critical. Using detergent gasoline with an additive package, such as top- tier gas, can mitigate against engine issues.

Engine problems are the most expensive repairs you can face as a car owner, so using more expensive gasoline with additives might be worth the price. It's a balancing act in 2025, but it's something to consider to prolong the vehicle's life and make regular repairs more palatable. And for those who treat their car like a beloved pet, would you skimp on the best insurance coverage or the quality food that could extend your time with them?

That might sound absurd to some, but everyone knows someone who spends a lot of money on gourmet cat food and lavish dog steps, right?