Is the discount store gasoline (Sams Club / Cosco) any different than the branded stuff sold by the oil companies? I have always wondered. The branded gasoline is almost always more expensive that the discount stores and hence raises these doubts.
There is only one way to know so I decided to test the MPG in my recent road trip.
Driving conditions:
Route – TX 77 and US 59 from Houston to South Padre Islands
Temperatures: Mid 70s with occasional rains
Car: 2006 Hyundai Sonata V6
Approximate distance travelled: 1100 miles
The results for MPG for 3 types of gasoline used are as follows:
Sams Club – Distance travelled = 339.4 miles in 13.84 gallons = 24.52 MPG
Valero - Distance travelled = 354 miles in 13.96 gallons = 25.35 MPG
ExxonMobil - Distance travelled = 335 miles in 13.13 gallons = 25.51 MPG
This shows that the branded gasoline from Valero and ExxonMobil is marginally better than that of Sams club. The difference in MPG is ~ 4%. This small difference can be attributed to number of factors such as minor traffic instances, number of starts and stops or minor traction loss due to the rains.
Given that the Sams club gas is ~7% cheaper that the branded gas the minor difference in mileage should be acceptable.
[Caveat - the long term effects of discount gas on the engine are questionable]
Yes, but have you considered that it can be the other way round? As in, the small difference came out good for Sam's club which is actually 8% worse?
ReplyDeleteBUt yeah I agree with the general principle of your blog.