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FLASH1 Rookie Author Twin Cities Posts:55 Points:243,575 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 5:52:21 PM Ignore FLASH1 Report Abuse Does anyone else have problems with Costco's winter gas? I have noticed (and my mechanic backs me up) that the check engine light lights up on my 2004 Yukon XL when Costco adds the winter additive. I wind up running Holiday or a like fuel. I have also heard from Suburban, Sierra, and Silverado owners who have the same experience. Anyone else?

FLASH1

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Twin Cities

Posts:55
Points:243,575
Joined:Aug 2003

Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 5:52:21 PM

Ignore FLASH1 Report Abuse

Does anyone else have problems with Costco's winter gas? I have noticed (and my mechanic backs me up) that the check engine light lights up on my 2004 Yukon XL when Costco adds the winter additive. I wind up running Holiday or a like fuel. I have also heard from Suburban, Sierra, and Silverado owners who have the same experience. Anyone else?

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

giwan All-Star Author Michigan Posts:625 Points:104,310 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 9:01:24 AM Ignore giwan Report Abuse Why do you believe you need to add this winter blend?
DoctorV Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,133 Points:227,045 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 8:59:24 AM Ignore DoctorV Report Abuse All winter gas is not the same.
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,928 Points:2,923,310 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 5:19:48 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse Its not only Costgo, its all gasoline blended with ethanol and their stupid winter blend. It causes at least a 1-4 mpg loss in gas milage.
rex0000 Sophomore Author Indianapolis Posts:164 Points:191,010 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2013 10:24:33 PM Ignore rex0000 Report Abuse Only shell for me, sir.
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,928 Points:2,923,310 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 8:39:42 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse All winter gas is basically the same whether it comes from Costgo or any place else.
EdPG Champion Author Boston Posts:12,326 Points:2,696,685 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 7:31:28 AM Ignore EdPG Report Abuse Run both cars on Costco Gas {2013 & 2007} NO PROBLEMS !
tdioiler All-Star Author Detroit Posts:933 Points:441,935 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:29:29 PM Ignore tdioiler Report Abuse Maybe in the cold weather the gas cap isn't sealing right. All the vehicles you list are supplied by the same cap manufacturer.
Mr1lung All-Star Author Phoenix Posts:944 Points:187,850 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 3:28:32 PM Ignore Mr1lung Report Abuse No issues
BUSSY Champion Author Dallas Posts:10,045 Points:1,565,190 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 2:10:50 PM Ignore BUSSY Report Abuse I have never used Costco gas.
Texacoguy Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,187 Points:75,810 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 1:53:20 PM Ignore Texacoguy Report Abuse Costco does not have a proprietary winter additive...
DoctorV Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,133 Points:227,045 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:01:26 AM Ignore DoctorV Report Abuse Maybe it's the ethanol in your gas? Or the source of the ethanol that Costco's supplier is using? http://www.mda.state.mn.us/Ethanol http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/renewable/ethanol/about.aspx Or maybe the Kirkland detergents Costco is using: http://www.costco.com/gasoline-clean-power.html
TXBruin All-Star Author San Antonio Posts:772 Points:488,575 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:30:57 AM Ignore TXBruin Report Abuse no
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,095,895 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Dec 29, 2012 10:47:30 AM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse Gas is Gas... Costco buys it gas from Chevron and Mobil... and Sometimes ARCO... They all buy from each other...
Z12 Champion Author Toledo Posts:3,755 Points:785,345 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 8:55:41 PM Ignore Z12 Report Abuse Never had problems
MIT05 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,307 Points:1,419,025 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 2:32:20 PM Ignore MIT05 Report Abuse Never use additive.
HeavyDuty_cache Champion Author Omaha Posts:13,062 Points:2,505,055 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 8:50:55 AM Ignore HeavyDuty_cache Report Abuse Thanks brerrabbit. I use Diesel Fuel and I have issues with most brands #2 (Winter) diesel. My MPG goes down by 2 or 3. Only when I use Kum & Go Diesel Fuel I have a little better luck. They use Power Service as their winter additive.
2Tall Champion Author Maryland Posts:12,965 Points:2,969,080 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 6:16:11 AM Ignore 2Tall Report Abuse no
borsht All-Star Author Oakland Posts:929 Points:218,230 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 4, 2012 11:31:37 AM Ignore borsht Report Abuse An excellent reply by brerrabbitTX. Sometimes symantics confuse the issue. Read his comments and understand that it is the vapor pressure of the fuel that is different. In very cold climates, there is much more butane in the blend. In the summer the blend is modified by removing much of the butane to increase vapor pressue. The enrgy value with high butane is a little lower pfer gallan, the same per pound. But the blend change has nothing to with additives, it is just the percentage of blend of the various distillates. All gasoline is composed of many distilates. The octane rating measures how it burns in comparison to a simple pblend of heptane and iso octane. Thank you brerrabbitTX
BUSSY Champion Author Dallas Posts:10,045 Points:1,565,190 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 4, 2012 10:14:04 AM Ignore BUSSY Report Abuse I don't use Costco gas.
valby Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,052 Points:454,865 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Dec 4, 2012 9:52:11 AM Ignore valby Report Abuse No
brerrabbitTX Champion Author Houston Posts:1,070 Points:18,785 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 4, 2012 9:26:55 AM Ignore brerrabbitTX Report Abuse I work for an oil Major in the Wholesale fuel group and deal with gasoline blends every day. There really is no such thing as winter additive for gas. There is for diesel. In diesel you either get ULSD #2 with a winterizer or in extreme conditions you may get #1 diesel which is really more like kerosine. Some places cut the #2 with some #1. For gasoline the difference between summer and winter is the RVP. RVP is reed vapor pressure and is the amount of pressure that results from heating the fuel to 100 degress and measuring the pressure. This pressure really has to do with the vaporization of the fuel. When gas is injected into engines it does not go in as a liquid but rather a vaporized mist of fuel. It burns more effciently and more completely that way and less is wasted through the exhaust. In the summer Federal regulations state that the RVP for gas must be 9.0 lbs or less. Certain areas like KC and Atlanta have 7.0 lb requirements. Others like Portland Oregon require 7.8 lbs. During the winter the RVP of gas goes up to 15.5 lbs. This means more vapors and easier vaporization of you fuel in your engine. The RVP also has to do with how fast you gas evaporates and therefore how many harmful emmisions gas puts off. Obviously in the summer you want lower RVP to limit emmisions, however in the winter for your engine to run right and start you need the higher RVP. The way they lower RVP in the summer is to remove the butanes from the gas stream. This costs money because it requires more refining. Hence the reason gas prices go up in the summer starting in May. RVP rules cease on September 15th every year thus the reason gas prices usually come down in the fall (absent a storm or other event). The butanes they remove from the gas in the summer is either sold at that time or in many cases stored till the fall and winter when they are reinjected into fuels to raise the RVP for the winter driving system. All fuels follow this pattern and therefore any one brand should not be effected by the changes that everyone makes.
Michael29644 Champion Author Greenville Posts:5,139 Points:870,000 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 8:56:47 PM Ignore Michael29644 Report Abuse My Crown Vic runs just fine on regular unleaded Costco gas year round. Of course I live in a bit warmer climate than you.
diesdown Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,746 Points:532,300 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 8:08:49 PM Ignore diesdown Report Abuse Not Costxo member.....and I will not use Sams gas either.
cheapguy135 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,122 Points:455,865 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 12:03:01 PM Ignore cheapguy135 Report Abuse Did your mechanic say what codes are present to cause the check engine light to come on? Maybe it's not fuel related. Besides, chances are that Holiday or other "like fuel" places are picking up their gas from the same terminals as Costco. The "winter additive" or cold weather vs. warm weather blend in a particular area or region changes for all fuels sold in that area, not just specific brands. [Edited by: cheapguy135 at 12/3/2012 12:04:28 PM EST]
kevrob1972 Champion Author Maine Posts:1,004 Points:634,225 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 11:10:22 AM Ignore kevrob1972 Report Abuse no.
hjl17 Champion Author Toronto Posts:2,964 Points:640,320 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 10:55:59 AM Ignore hjl17 Report Abuse no
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,928 Points:2,923,310 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 9:57:39 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse Buy your gas at a regular local station and you won't have this problem.
bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:15,171 Points:1,900,615 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 9:22:59 AM Ignore bluenvoy Report Abuse I'm not a Costo Member.
medic6133 Champion Author New York Posts:1,198 Points:239,440 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 9:22:42 AM Ignore medic6133 Report Abuse No problems for me around New Rochelle.
ggg452 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:1,710 Points:359,525 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 9:22:28 AM Ignore ggg452 Report Abuse I still believe gas is gas...The same delivery tanker stops into three of our area gas stations...
EdPG Champion Author Boston Posts:12,326 Points:2,696,685 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 8:58:01 AM Ignore EdPG Report Abuse I run Costco gas in both cars; a 2007 & 2013 no issue.
WEPSMAN Champion Author South Dakota Posts:10,609 Points:2,049,025 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 7:58:39 AM Ignore WEPSMAN Report Abuse No Costco here.
jes Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:16,295 Points:3,378,225 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Dec 3, 2012 7:35:50 AM Ignore jes Report Abuse No Costco's in my area.
OceanArcher Champion Author Mississippi Posts:5,843 Points:1,355,100 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 8:57:33 PM Ignore OceanArcher Report Abuse Gas blends don't appear to change any here in the deep south
maxstar Champion Author Chicago Posts:18,680 Points:837,245 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 8:36:13 PM Ignore maxstar Report Abuse No issues here.