Clark Howard

Is Chevron with Techron gas really better for your car?

By Mike Timmermann
By Mike Timmermann

Chevron is out with a series of new advertisements that claim its gasoline is the best for your car’s mileage.

The secret ingredient is called Techron, a fuel additive that the company says contains powerful detergents that will keep vital engine parts clean.

RELATED: 7 things to know before you buy gas at Costco Wholesale

Chevron claims gasoline with Techron can boost your miles per gallon

Techron.com says in big, bold letters: "IT'S PROVEN. No gas gets better mileage than Chevron with Techron or Texaco with Techron."

Chevron with Techron mileage claim

The website says Techron’s effectiveness has been tested by the company’s team of chemists and engineers, but Clark.com couldn’t find details of any independent study to support Chevron’s gas mileage claim.

Unbeatable mileage claim:

"Your engine's performance can affect your mileage. Gasolines with Techron clean up grimy deposits that can interfere with fuel combustion — which can boost your miles per gallon."

We reached out to Chevron’s media relations department about a week ago, but no one has replied to provide more information.

Convenience Store News, an industry publication, reports on its website that Chevron increased the level of additives in its fuels two years ago and tested them against leading competitors.

We’ll update this story if Chevron responds to our request for details about how it can back up the claim in its new campaign.

AAA: Top Tier gasoline IS better for your car 

Meanwhile, you should know that all gas contains some engine-cleaning detergent additives, but gasoline that meets Top Tier standards has a higher concentration of detergent added to it.

AAA has studied Top Tier gasoline extensively and determined that detergent additives really do make a difference. The group said Top Tier gasoline kept engines "remarkably cleaner" than lower-quality fuels.

Chevron is among the many Top Tier licensed retail brands. See if your gas station is on the list!

Money expert Clark Howard says Top Tier gas doesn’t have to cost you extra because discounters like Costco and QuikTrip sell it across all grades of fuel — even the cheap stuff!

"The most important thing about the AAA report is that many of the nation's giants of gas discounting sell Top Tier gasoline, including Costco and QuikTrip. There are many who decide to buy gas only at major oil company stations, believing their gas to be superior. However, you can have what the study finds is the best gas at the lowest prices."

If you buy Chevron with Techron, have you noticed a difference in your gas mileage or do you think it’s just marketing hype? Let us know your experience in the comments below!

RELATED: Buying gas from a station on this list is better for your car

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