Hello fellow Bonnie Owners-

After experiencing a rather strange behavior of my fuel gauge and reading about Shell Oil / Texaco refineries producing high-sulfur gasoline, I want to point out the following information:

The initial report described the situation occuring within the southern US, mainly in Louisiana and Florida. This is NOT the case! I live in the Northeast US and am finding the same issue here. A little research shows that most main petroleum suppliers have refineries located near the Gulf of Mexico with underground distribution networks (steel pipes about 1 to 3 feet in diameter buried underground) that carry the refined petroleum products (gasoline, diesel, heating oil, kerosene, etc) to regional terminal sites for further distribution. Central Pennsylvania is home to a few of these sites and they receive what is known as "wholesale product" from any number of refineries. Most local gas stations get their deliveries from the terminal, sold at "spot prices" and are not branded until they are in the truck. At that point, it becomes the brand (Sunoco, Exxon, BP, Shell, etc).

OK, long discussion with a short result. Be cautious about the fuel being used even if it is not pumped from a Shell or Texaco pump. In a pinch, they can get a delivery from the terminal that may have received product from that particular refinery, and also note that some of that high-sulfurous gasoline may still be in the 1000 mile distrubution line awaiting further delivery.

Hope this sheds some light on this issue.


Mark D. Jones, PE
Harrisburg, PA
2000 SLE

What strange behavior was being manifest?

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=19491

Thanks...

As stated before, this is an intermittent chronic problem from coast to coast. GM is well aware of the problem, and has issued statements about it. It is NOT isolated to one region, although that particular instance may have been just the latest major case, or slightly different somehow.

I NEVER put Shell in any GM vehicle. Union76 and Chevron are my only 2 sources. We even have some independents here that use Shell. You have to ask to know what you're getting.

What about Conoco? About every station here uses either Shell (now) or Texaco... :?

Just curious but why do you stay away from Shell. Personally I do not use Shell but there is a Shell station that is convenient to me on my way home and the price is pretty decent.

The above link explains.

I've been buying my gas from Citgo lately. Don't know if their gas is good or not. I see their stations all over around here though.

TrueWildMan
Thank you. It'* a bitz when I do not read very well or just skim topics.