[sb001]

First off I actually do not have a Honda Pilot, my sister does which is why I registered here. I drive an 05 Accord EX sedan, so some Honda related topics still apply. But I was banned from the DriveAccord forum because of completely discriminatory practices of the admins over there, so I'll post this here.
I have had this car for about 3-4 months now and have always had a CEL code P0420 "catalyst below threshold." I just ignored it because it didn't seem to affect the car's drivability. Up until now I had used a Pilot gas station (ironic isn't it) to fill up, since it was convenient to my work place and the cheapest around except for Sam's Club. But lately the Shell station up the street brought their price down to within a couple cents / gallon, so I decided to use them instead. Holy cow! After about 5 drive cycles my CEL has completely gone away, and my fuel mileage average has increased by about 2pmg. I have never been one to believe that one fuel brand really made that much difference over another (i.e. "top tier" fuels like Shell over generic stuff like Pilot, Caseys, Love's etc) but this seems to be indisputable proof.
Too bad I can't post this over in the Accord forum since they don't believe in fairness, but at least posted here it may be of use to anyone who has had an annoying evap/catalyst code (possibly O2 related) on their Pilot. Give it a couple of fillups with Shell and see if you experience the same result.

 

[Tacoma'03Pilot]

I have never been one to believe that one fuel brand really made that much difference over another (i.e. "top tier" fuels like Shell over generic stuff like Pilot, Caseys, Love's etc) but this seems to be indisputable proof.

It's not. Go back to what you previously believed.

Gas is gas. It's all coming from the same refinery (or several, depending on where you live), and they are masters at just barely meeting the state standards.

What's different is the additive that is put in when it goes onto the truck for delivery. If the Top Tier additive worked for you and it makes you feel good, that's great, but be wary of the "snake oil" premise of most "cures in a bottle".

 

[sb001]

It's not. Go back to what you previously believed.

Gas is gas. It's all coming from the same refinery (or several, depending on where you live), and they are masters at just barely meeting the state standards.

What's different is the additive that is put in when it goes onto the truck for delivery. If the Top Tier additive worked for you and it makes you feel good, that's great, but be wary of the "snake oil" premise of most "cures in a bottle".

Then why magically after I filled up with it the first time (never used before) did my CEL light that has been on continuously since I bought the car suddenly go out and hasn't come back since? Please explain that part of my experience.
Coincidence? If so, please inform me what changed at the same time to get the CEL light to go off.

 

[Tacoma'03Pilot]

Coincidence? If so, please inform me what changed at the same time to get the CEL light to go off.

Don't know. I know nothing about you, your car or your story beyond the facts you relate.

That's just the facts about where your gasoline comes from. If you think something is worth what you pay for it, then buy all means make yourself happy. But don't confuse your happiness with "indisputable proof" of anything beyond your willingness to promote a gasoline brand.

 

[aggrex]

Give it a couple of fillups with Shell and see if you experience the same result.

No harm in trying a few tankfuls of Shell gasoline in the hopes to resolve an issue. My only experience with Shell gasoline was with the LOML’s premium fuel recommended Nissan. She had a heavy foot and insisted she could tell I didn’t refuel with the good stuff (Shell 93+)….

 

[TexAg91]

It's not. Go back to what you previously believed.

Gas is gas. It's all coming from the same refinery (or several, depending on where you live), and they are masters at just barely meeting the state standards.

What's different is the additive that is put in when it goes onto the truck for delivery. If the Top Tier additive worked for you and it makes you feel good, that's great, but be wary of the "snake oil" premise of most "cures in a bottle".

Not sure I’m following your logic, but agree it is a higher additive/detergent standard that make a fuel “top tier”, and that is what makes it different. Those additives/detergents reduce carbon build up. I’ve only run top tier in my cars, and never had a problem. Still on the factory original O2 sensor/and PCV valve, fuel injectors, on my 2006 Civic with 150,000 miles. Costco has the lowest price in my area, and it is also a top tier fuel…best of both worlds.

BTW, Honda Recommends Top Tier fuel.

TOP TIER™ is recommended by the following:

Audi	BMW	GM	FCA
Ford	Honda	Toyota	Mercedes-Benz
Navistar	VW	Detroit Diesel

Vehicle and equipment manufacturers write and enforce the standards

TOP TIER™ Gasoline Brands

www.toptiergas.com

AAA: Not All Gasoline Created Equal

Tests show quality gasoline keeps engines 19 times cleaner

newsroom.aaa.com

 

[TexAg91]

Delete—double post

 

[Jack Vogt]

Not a lot of Top Tier gas around me and I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to get it. Car runs great, no issues at all. It’s kind of like oil, people swear their brand makes a huge difference. Do what works for you but there’s a whole lot of marketing type around gas and oil. Don’t be fooled.

 

[Nail Grease]

I’m a believer in Top Tier fuels. Not so much in Valero. But Shell, Exxon, Mobil, Chevron are on the top of my list. I rarely use anything more than 87 octane.

 

[briantii]

I generally don’t buy into the additive games, but top tier seems pretty legit with manufacturers recommending it and some studies back up it’s use.

 

[sb001]

Don't know. I know nothing about you, your car or your story beyond the facts you relate.

That's just the facts about where your gasoline comes from. If you think something is worth what you pay for it, then buy all means make yourself happy. But don't confuse your happiness with "indisputable proof" of anything beyond your willingness to promote a gasoline brand.

You don't have to know anything about me my car or my story to answer my question. My request of you to provide suggestions about what caused the CEL to turn off stems completely from you insisting that it wasn't the gas I bought. I mean, if you are SO SURE it wasn't that, you must have some alternate suggestions about what it was... otherwise your theory has zero credibility.
And since you made this accusation in both of your posts, let me enlighten you: I buy stuff for two reasons: Because I know from experience that it works, or that it's a good value. Not because I am fooling myself into THINKING it works or THINKING it's a good value just to make myself happy. And no one ever said anything about snake oil or cures in a bottle- except YOU.
We clear now? Are you done with trying to be Mr. Know It All with absolutely zero support to back up your claims? Good. Now, RMPL.

 

[Tacoma'03Pilot]

My request of you to provide suggestions about what caused the CEL to turn off stems completely from you insisting that it wasn't the gas I bought.

Wow. That's a lot of energy over a tank of gas.

If you see your experience as "indisputable truth" that one tank worth of an additive to Shell-branded gasoline cleared your cat and significantly improved the fuel economy in an '05 Accord, then good for you. Disagreeing with your conclusion isn't intended as a personal attack or an insult, and if my posts struck you that way, then I apologize for my lack of clarity.

Unless someone lives on the Gulf Coast, it's very unlikely that their local "Shell" station sells anything actually refined by Shell. Most of their former refineries were sold off because motor fuel is a low-profit commodity. Gas is just gas.

It's true that the additives are different. Top Tier is obviously popular. But to @TexAg91 's point, Top Tier from Costco is indistinguishable from Top Tier from anyone else. Chevron would have you believe that their Techron additive (which also qualifies as Top Tier) is worth even more. But it's not magic. It's just gas.

I'm glad your light went out. I hope it stays out, regardless of what you choose to put in the tank.

 

[Nail Grease]

I do believe that fuel additives can help engine performance. Especially if you drive a short commute each day (city street driving). Using an injector cleaner or fuel system cleaner has proven to remove carbon deposits and makes the fuel burn cleaner. If your favorite gasoline station doesn’t use additives, you might pour in these.

 

[xGS]

Top Tier from Costco is indistinguishable from Top Tier from anyone else.

Is your assertion valid for premium grade fuel from Shell?

 

[Highspeedbail]

I looked it up last night but Wawa isn't top-tier gas ... I wonder if Ethanol free stuff that I pump makes a difference?

The Wawa's by me remind me of ChikFila with how busy they are. Not double wrapped but busiest gas stations in the area by far.

A quick Google search shows Wawa buys their gas from Sunoco and Valero.

Dunno.

 

[sb001]

Wow. That's a lot of energy over a tank of gas.

If you see your experience as "indisputable truth" that one tank worth of an additive to Shell-branded gasoline cleared your cat and significantly improved the fuel economy in an '05 Accord, then good for you. Disagreeing with your conclusion isn't intended as a personal attack or an insult, and if my posts struck you that way, then I apologize for my lack of clarity.

Unless someone lives on the Gulf Coast, it's very unlikely that their local "Shell" station sells anything actually refined by Shell. Most of their former refineries were sold off because motor fuel is a low-profit commodity. Gas is just gas.

It's true that the additives are different. Top Tier is obviously popular. But to @TexAg91 's point, Top Tier from Costco is indistinguishable from Top Tier from anyone else. Chevron would have you believe that their Techron additive (which also qualifies as Top Tier) is worth even more. But it's not magic. It's just gas.

I'm glad your light went out. I hope it stays out, regardless of what you choose to put in the tank.

Problem is you have never come back with any "irrefutable evidence" since that seems to be your thing supporting your side of the story either. So I'll say this: Hope posting your disagreement on here gives you a sense of happiness and purpose as well.

 

[Cbayman]

Go back to Pilot gas and see if the P0420 returns.

 

[scorrpio]

Yeah, I am a top-tier believer. Generally, Exxon, Mobil, BP, Sunoco or Shell for me.

 

[Daltongang]

I looked it up last night but Wawa isn't top-tier gas ... I wonder if Ethanol free stuff that I pump makes a difference?

The Wawa's by me remind me of ChikFila with how busy they are. Not double wrapped but busiest gas stations in the area by far.

A quick Google search shows Wawa buys their gas from Sunoco and Valero.

Dunno.

That's not to say that you Wawa gas that you buy doesn't meet top tier standards. One codicil in being listed as a Top Tier provider is "All retail locations within the licensed country must meet the high standards of the TOP TIER™ program."

TOP TIER™ Gasoline Brands

www.toptiergas.com

Not having a Wawa around these parts I don't know if they are a corporate owned station or a franchise owned station. From my research it seems that Wawa is a franchise operation. Here we have Quik Trip that is also a franchise operation. Part of the requirements for owning a QT franchise operation includes only selling Top Tier certified fuels.

 

[Blackcat]

I also agree with the idea that premium gas makes the engine run better. My experience is from my daily driver Corsica, in the '90s. I was buying cheap gas, but then the engine started running poorly, so I would buy a tank of Mobil premium, and the engine would run better. I remember old commercials on TV touting their "detergent" gas. I figured that I could add a bottle of detergent to do the same thing, (clean the injectors) and it would cost $4-5, but filling with the premium gas cost about the same $4-5 over the cost of the cheap gas. I would then go through 3 tankfuls of cheap gas, then need to buy a tank of premium to run better again.