Chevron Gas

[aughtsix]

I have used Chevron gasoline, off and on for 25+ years and always found it to be a great fuel in any vehicle I drove.

Up until this year, I have used either BP or Chevron 98% of the time.

Now, the last three times I have filled up with Chevron gas, my Explorer will not start the next morning. The only way it will run, is to hold the gas pedal down slightly and hold RPM's up above 500. I have to go to a gas station, NOT Chevron, and get a few gallons of gas in a gas can and bring it home and put in tank. I bounce the car around to mix the gas up and then start car and hold gas pedal down for a few minutes until the new gas mixture gets in the cylinders. After that it runs fine.

The first time this happened was earlier this year. I had filled up at a Chevron station in Cartersville, GA on GA HWY 20. I drove to Alpharetta, GA, 60-70 miles. Next morning car would not start had to go through above mentioned procedure. I stopped buying Chevron gas for a few months. Finally. I bought some Chevron gas on I-85 outside of Columbus, GA on 6-23-07. Arrived home that night, next morning, car wouldn't start, same symptoms, same procedure to get it running again. Didn't buy any Chevron again, until yesterday, 9-02-07, filled up with Chevron gas in Piedmont, Ga at the corner of U.S. 278 and GA hwy 9. Guess what happened, 9-03-07, today???? Car will not start, unless the afore mentioned procedure is taken!!! What gives???

The vehicle is a 1998 Ford Explorer, OHC 4.0 V-6. New spark plugs and wires and fuel filter in the last 8 weeks!

Any one else have any problems with Chevron??

Any ideas, other than to not buy Chevron???

 

[tipdrill]

This is very strange. I haven't had a problem with Chevron in my '00 SOHC. I have, however, had a problem at QT. After i fill up it seems as if it starts hard.

subscribing
-free bump-

 

[Millertime1987]

Well my first question would be are those normal stations you normally go to. Cause if anything the gas that they have in the tanks could be old, or they could have moisture in it and a fuel additive to take the moisture out would be needed.

Otherwise i am not sure.

 

[IZwack]

This isnt so much a problem of Chevron gasoline, but rather the station itself. Some old gas stations develop moisture in the storage tanks (sometimes from faulty equipment/systems) and I think that if you pump gas while the station's tank is almost empty, then a percentage of the liquid your pumping into the tank is not really gasoline. Ive witnessed one vehicle throw an OBD code after pumping from such a station. So its not really Chevron, its the station. I fill up with Chevron on all my vehicles (out of convenience more than anything else) and I've had no problems (including one diesel vehicle which are more sensitive to moisture content) .. but this particular station is very new.

 

[pumpkin]

I use Chevron, Phillips 66 or Shell. (http://www.toptiergas.com. Ford is not one of the automakers listed but I also have Honda & a Toyota product)

Three different Chevron stations during the year, same problem. Coincidence? Kind of hard to diagnose something if everything is fine when not using Chevron gas. I say just stay away from it for good. However, I'm willing to bet you'll be doing that bouncing thing again eventually.

 

[unclemeat]

gasoline is gasoline dont be fooled, 95% of the time the sign out front has nothing to do with who made the gas you are buying.

It is never a good idea to buy gas when the tanker is unloading.

Older tanks are so regulated that they are normally not a problem, and there are very few old underground storage tanks anymore.

I would check my fuel filter and add an injector cleaner or fuel dryer to you gas tank then see what happens.

 

[TheJackal]

I used to use Chevron gas regularly. After a while, I began to have trouble with slow start-ups. The Explorer just had a tune-up not too long ago and I noticed when using other gas it seems to run better.

I'd go back to using Shell gas, my dad actually works for them, but ever since the "sulfur gas recall" I'm not so fond of them, either...

so now I use Exxon, and I haven't had any trouble.

Just my $.02.

 

[aughtsix]

Thanks

Thanks, to all, for all the inputs!

I should mention that, two of the stations, I used to frequent quite often. All three stations are on heavily used roadways. Two are about 35 miles from me, in opposite directions. The third is about 80 miles south of me.

I never fill up where a station is getting a fresh load of fuel. I realize, what you see on the sign, may not be what goes in your tank.

I do use a gas treatment regularly. Marvel Mystery Oil. I have used it since the mid 60's. Every gas powered thing I have ever owned. BSA, Triumph, Yamaha, and Harley scooters. Briggs and Stratton, chainsaws, outboard motors, not to mention every car or truck, you name it. All get a regular dose of it.

I have driven this Explorer for 125,000 miles. Had this trouble once before about four years ago. Bought some gas in Central Illinois, in a freezing snowstorm. Unrelated of course.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I'm suprised the Marvel's has not caused an injector problem.

Also the a bad IAC will cuse the problem you are having.

 

[jimbo74]

what is the weather like? worse climates tend to screw with stuff..... is it really humid, does the car get cycled form hot to cold? that type of thing

 

[xFatcatx]

My dad use to drive tankers. He would hall the same gas to all different stations. Its all the same. The only difference with Chevron with "Techron" is 1 quart of addative to every 1000 gallons that the truck driver adds directly to the tanks at the gas station. My dad and his coworker both added the addative straight to the tanks in thier broncos and it didnt make a lick of difference. I buy the cheapest gas I can find. It all comes from the same place.

 

[gijoecam]

IMHO, the failures are mere coincidence. If there was, in fact, water in the gas, it would not simply go away by adding a couple gallons of fuel from another source to the tank. IMO, there is an underlying mechanical issue there with the vehicle itself, not the fuel.

-Joe

 

[aughtsix]

Dan Whitaker... Have you experienced trouble with Marvel Mystery Oil?? Just curious, I know several poeple who use it as I do. Thanks

Jimbo..I live around Rome, GA, about 60 miles NW of Atlanta. No huge climate changes.

GI Joe..No troubles with Explorer from around March to June, not using any Chevron, and from June to September, again no Chevron, between the mentioned dates. And I drive 1000 or more miles a month. I think I would have had some other problems. I drove over 300 miles yesterday and filled up with BP when I left home and again just before returning home and Explorer is running great! 22 MPG yesterday

Thanks for all comments!!!!

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Dan Whitaker... Have you experienced trouble with Marvel Mystery Oil?? Just curious, I know several poeple who use it as I do. Thanks

I have never used it but with it being a type of oil it's possible after a period of time for it to clog an injector.

 

[Space Truckin']

After carefully analyzing this thread, the answer became clear. The problem is either the gas or it is not; because all gas is the same except when it is not. But there is no need to worry; you will have this problem again.

On the plus side, at least this forum provides a diverse range of opinions.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

After carefully analyzing this thread, the answer became clear. The problem is either the gas or it is not; because all gas is the same except when it is not. But there is no need to worry; you will have this problem again.

On the plus side, at least this forum provides a diverse range of opinions.

And this is helpful how?

 

[Space Truckin']

And this is helpful how?

I was simply pointing out that there does not seem to be a consensus for a solution and taken as a whole the range of conflicting ideas is somewhat comical. It appears more data is going to be required to solve this and people have submitted a variety of logical and contrasting ideas to think about until it happens again. In the absence of an immediate solution, these divergent ideas are the next best thing available and this forum deserves credit for that.

What is detrimental about that?

 

[celly]

Believe what you want to believe about all gas being the "same", but I know from experience that it's not. If I fill up anywhere around town but Shell, my 99 Ex with 5.0 gets moody. Tends to run very well once started, but it does start hard.

Recently I did a 2000 km road trip and used all sorts of gas. With a full tank, I never had an issue, but once it would run down, I noticed some hard starting (only once did I use Shell on the road and no issues). I got back with about 1/2 tank (of another brand) and my Ex didn't start well at all when I got home. I got down to 1/4 tank, I scored about 1/2 tank of 91 V Power from the same station I always frequent and she started up instantly without hesitation. (I use 91 because of my custom tune a la SCT XC2 flasher).

I know of others that have noticed their cars run better and more efficiently with Shell gas as well.

 

[aldive]

I know of others that have noticed their cars run better and more efficiently with Shell gas as well.

I did a test on Shell gas last year ( based on their advertisement ).

I drove from here to Atlanta ( 510 miles ) on one tank of Shell and refilled with BP/Amoco ( my usual brand ) for the return trip.

The mileage was virtually the same.

I have yet to find any one gas that is better on mileage and have had no starting issues with any gas.

 

[celly]

I have yet to find any one gas that is better on mileage and have had no starting issues with any gas.

That's you Al. Everyone has different experiences. I get better starting, better performance and better mileage (measured using the Message Center) with Shell gas. I swear by Shell now and I never did before. I actually go a bit out of my way to use it now. I know of another Calgarian from another Explorer board who feels the same way, except he's got the 4.0 OHV.