13 Gas Brands That Are a Waste of Money

You might think that what gas goes into your car doesn’t matter, as it will run the same no matter what. However, that isn’t true, as the gas you use does matter, and there is a difference in quality between many gas brands.

The quality of gasoline can significantly impact your vehicle’s lifespan. The higher the quality, the less frequently you are likely to go to a garage to have any problems rectified. As stated by outlets such as Savvy Dime, the best gas brands are classed as “top tier,” and it might surprise you to learn which brands are not in that category.

We have selected 13 of the worst gas brands in America for this list and explained why you should avoid them. These are all on the lower-quality spectrum of gas brands, as they fail to meet the high standards we expect of them, and using them could result in more regular trips to the repair shop.

Circle K

Circle K is one of the biggest gas brands in the United States and a famous convenience store brand that has existed since the early 1950s. Yet its days as a top gas brand are over, as it has fallen out of the “top tier” once associated with it.

The general quality of Circle K has plummeted massively over the years. Automotive expert and founder of EVhype Rob Dillan said to Yahoo Finance that if you use Circle K, you can often find deposits in your fuel system and even suffer reduced mileage from your vehicle. Fuel additives form a part of the gas’s makeup, and Circle K hasn’t enough to make it a top-tier brand.

BP

Of all the gas brands in the country, BP is easily one of the most well-known. Yet remarkably, BP and its sister brand Amoco are two of the worst in the United States. According to Dillan, both these brands lack the additives to bring them up to a top-tier standard.

Due to this, they are unlikely to keep your car’s engine as clean as they should, and you could find excessive carbon deposits in the system after using either brand. Not only could this impact the engine’s performance, but you might even see decreased efficiency, making gas top-ups more regular.

Speedway

Speedway has undergone more than one ownership change in its history, and after its sale in 2021, it became part of the 7-Eleven Inc. group. However, this hasn’t reversed its fortunes, as it is still one of the worst gas brands in America.

Like its rivals and according to 24/7 Wall St, Speedway has fallen behind in the additives needed in its gasoline, meaning it has dramatically fallen behind. We must stress that Speedway is not the worst offender on the market, but if you can avoid using their gas, that would be best.

Safeway

Safeway is one of the most popular gas brands in the United States because of its convenience. The brand has gas stations right next to its grocery stores, meaning you can do your shopping and fill up your car all in one go. However, problems can arise from this because grocery store gas isn’t always the best quality.

Carbon buildup could become a problem in the long term when Safeway gasoline is used. If the buildup becomes too much, you could have serious engine issues and need to visit the repair shop unexpectedly. Grocery store gas is undoubtedly convenient, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into quality.

Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club is another trendy gas brand in the United States. Most of this is thanks to its competitive pricing, meaning many customers don’t look elsewhere before filling up their car. Yet, like the gas brands above, the quality of Sam’s Club isn’t what your vehicle is looking for.

Dillan says that regular use of Sam’s Club gasoline can result in future engine issues, thanks to a lack of higher-quality additives similar to those in other brands of gas. Even if it is cheap, sometimes it is worth shopping around and paying more for that higher-quality gasoline.

Murphy USA

Murphy USA Gas is convenient for many to fill up your car after heading to the grocery store. That is because most of the over 1,500 Murphy USA gas stations in the country are located next to a Walmart store, but as we know, being next to a grocery store doesn’t reflect in quality.

The main reason to avoid Murphy USA is the lack of higher-quality additives. Murphy USA is expanding its empire after announcing it had agreed to purchase QuickCheck convenience stores in December 2020. It is ranked 214th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. corporations by revenue.

Pilot Flying J

With only 750 locations in the United States and Canada, we would forgive you for not hearing about Pilot Flying J’s gas station locations. That is because the brand primarily caters to trucks, with truck stops making up a considerable part of its locations.

With the quality of their gasoline setup and trucks in mind, it’s probably best that regular motorists avoid any Pilot Flying J locations. The quality just isn’t up to the standard of many cars, and the company does well enough catering for trucks nationwide. The quality isn’t up there compared to gas stations catering for vehicles.

Amoco

Despite now being owned by BP, you might expect Amoco to differentiate itself from its sister company and offer better-quality gasoline. Sadly, Amoco doesn’t do that despite once having one of the highest gasoline standards in the United States.

As Dillan explained, it suffers from the same fate as BP with lower-quality additives, which do little to keep your engine clean and prevent the buildup of carbon deposits. Amoco effectively follows whatever parent company BP does, meaning there is no real chance of it improving its gasoline quality anytime soon.

Sheetz

The amusing name might give you a clue about Sheetz gas station’s gas quality. The red gas stations are throughout the United States, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. A key advantage over its rivals according to The Kanso is that Sheetz offers relatively cheap gasoline for the consumer.

However, even though Sheetz tries to keep the quality of gasoline high by using detergent additives, it hasn’t forged an excellent reputation. The gas is not top-tier certified, although sourcing gas from major refineries means it is at least trying to make its product as high-quality as possible.

No-Name Brand Gas Stations

While most gas stations in the United States have their own brand and ownership, a smattering do not have a significant gas brand behind them. These are independent gas stations, and while they are worth supporting to keep them in business, it’s not always clear where they get their gas from.

This can lead to wildly varying degrees of quality, and there’s a chance the gasoline has the bare minimum of additives, which could be a disaster for your engine. Thankfully, you will find these particular gas stations only in more secluded locations or off the beaten path.

KwikTrip

KwikTrip is a gas brand that claims to comply with top-tier standards. However, if you look at the official list of top-tier gas stations, KwikTrip is absent. In 2022, customers noticed that top-tier certification stickers were being removed from their pumps.

The gas station chain was facing a problem with an additive shortage from its supplier, which was beginning to significantly impact the gasoline it sold. While KwikTrip was hoping to rectify this and boost the quality of its gasoline again, it still has not returned to the top-tier list, suggesting that it is still suffering additive problems.

RaceTrac

RaceTrac is one of the most recognized convenience store chains in the United States. Its stores are primarily located in the company’s southeastern region. RaceTrac also has a large number of gas stations, but sadly, it does not make it onto the official list of top-tier gasoline providers.

Like with many companies, RaceTrac’s gasoline can cause serious engine issues for consumers. This can involve frequent stalling of the engines and slow-running cars, even with a full gas tank. In extreme situations, owners have even paid for mechanics to remove gasoline from their engines thanks to its low quality.