Comfort is one of the main requirements put forward by motorists. Many parameters are responsible for a comfortable ride, not the least of which is the quality of the fuel. The modern market for oil and gas products includes hundreds of offers from various suppliers. However, it is precisely this factor that makes it difficult to decide on the most optimal choice. This material describes the criteria for independently determining which gas station has the best gasoline.
There are often cases when, when changing the type or brand of fuel, the driver encounters behavior that is unusual for his car: the engine takes a long time to start and stall, tapping noises are heard while driving, and the car itself moves jerkily, as if the fuel gauge needle was approaching zero. If such problems did not bother you before, but made themselves felt along with the change of petroleum product, this may indicate both the low quality of the latter and its non-compliance with the passport of a particular vehicle. Below is the relationship between fuel characteristics and their direct impact on engine performance.
Octane number is a comparative indicator that determines degree of resistance of a particular grade of commercial gasoline to detonation. In this case, detonation should be understood as the spontaneous ignition of fuel as a result of a thermal explosion during compression of the fuel mixture. This process is typical when the octane number, and therefore the detonation resistance, is low. The following signs are noted:
- power drawdowns;
- sharp sound;
- increased smokiness of exhausts;
- rapid combustion of fuel.
When the use of low-octane fuel that does not meet vehicle requirements is systematic, possible local engine damage. In particular, exhaust valves can burn out because the mixture detonates before they can close. This process can be recognized by a characteristic metallic sound. In addition, the pistons and cylinder head gasket may be damaged.
Advice! If you have any doubts about what kind of gasoline to refuel with, you should look at the inside of the fuel tank door - often the information is duplicated there too.
The use of high-octane gasoline allows you to increase engine power in the usual operating mode. However, not all vehicles are designed for this type of fuel. When refueling a car with high-octane gasoline, the engine of which is designed to use low-octane fuel, a kind of reconfiguration of the fuel system occurs. Fuel combustion occurs with a “delay,” which ultimately leads to a significant decrease in the power characteristics of the engine, instead of the expected improvement. This also threatens wear of the cylinder-piston group due to the increase in temperature.
When the amount of actual resins goes beyond the norm, they settle on the elements of the combustion chamber. Over time, the injectors become clogged and carbon deposits form on the spark plugs. Among other things, this can lead to so-called glow ignition, which starts an uncontrolled combustion process. Due to premature combustion, the pressure and temperature in the cylinders increase. Because of this, with each cycle, ignition occurs earlier and earlier until one of the parts fails.
The glow ignition is accompanied by a dull knocking sound. However, even an experienced driver cannot always distinguish it by ear. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the power: at high rotation speeds, power drawdowns of up to 15% are observed. This can be noticed when the throttle valve is fully open.
Due to the increased sulfur content in gasoline, oxides are formed during combustion - compounds of minerals with oxygen, which, when exposed to high temperatures, can cause corrosion, and when interacting with moisture, form sulfuric acid, which further enhances corrosion. This leads to wear of the gas exhaust system, as well as lead-bronze bearings, up to their destruction.
Acidity
Another factor leading to the development of corrosion activity, is increased acidity. This increases the tendency of gasoline to form deposits in the combustion chamber and the fuel system as a whole. According to GOST, the acidity indicator for different brands of gasoline is:
- AI-91: 3.0 mg KOH;
- AI-93: 0.8 mg KOH;
- AI-95: 2.0 mg KOH.
The specified standards correspond to 100 ml of gasoline. I wonder what During fuel storage, its acidity increases, but still rarely reaches critical values.
Advice! There is a direct relationship between the tar content of gasoline and its acid number - the more tars, the higher the acidity. At the same time, the octane number decreases. This must be taken into account when choosing fuel.
Methods for determining quality fuel
If a driver has doubts about the quality of gasoline, there are two options for checking it: in the laboratory and at home. In the first case, an official document is issued containing all the inspection data, as well as a general conclusion. If the examination reveals that fuel indicators do not meet the standard, this may be a reason for going to court at the gas station where the sample was purchased. In this case, all costs are borne by the oil refining company.
If the results turn out to be within the acceptable norm, then there is no question of compensation and the client will have to pay for the laboratory services himself, and this is not always cheap. Therefore, below are the basic methods for checking gasoline yourself.
Method #1: Checking the Color
The practice of coloring gasoline dates back to the Soviet Union, when a red pigment was added to fuel containing the toxic additive tetraethyl lead. Such markings were necessary to visually highlight more toxic fuels. Currently in Russia, According to GOST, unleaded gasoline must be transparent. However, some companies, in particular Lukoil, tint gasoline grades in different colors so that they can be visually distinguished. So, in 2001, at Lukoil gas stations you could buy A-80 in red and A-92 in bluish. However, due to the increase in the number of counterfeits that passed off the color of gasoline as its brand name, management decided to curtail the campaign.
Interesting! The Ukrainian oil refinery company WOG still produces colored fuel. Thus, the Mustang brand has a green tint, which is its calling card.
In connection with the above, it is better to refuel at those gas stations that sell uncolored gasoline without turbidity and sediment. It is worth noting that high-quality fuel may have a pale yellow tint, but in no case saturated tones.
Method No. 2: Check for dilution with water
There is another way to determine quality by color. However, this time you will have to “conjure”. For the experiment, you will need a transparent container and ordinary undiluted potassium permanganate. If upon contact with gasoline it begins to appear pinkish tint, this directly indicates the water content as part of the fuel. It is important to remember the ratio of reagents: if you add too much manganese, even gasoline can turn pink. Therefore, it is recommended to calculate the proportions based on the ratio of gasoline and reagent 20:1.
Method No. 3: Check for the presence of resins and oil
It is easy to establish the presence of oil in fuel: all you need to do is blot the paper in the test sample and let it dry. If after drying there remains a greasy mark on it, then it contains oil. Some experimenters apply a drop of the sample to the skin, but this method is categorically not recommended, since in addition to degreasing, you can get dermatitis and even eczema.
As for sulfur, it is better to check its content in gasoline in the open air, away from flammable objects. To conduct an experiment, you need to stock up on a glass slide. You should drop a little fuel liquid on it and set it on fire. If the gasoline is of high quality, then a white mark will remain on the glass surface. But resinous gasoline is characterized by stains from yellowish to rich brown shades.
TOP 10 gas stations by gasoline quality
Car owners are constantly busy with the question of which gas station has the best gasoline. Most drivers have already identified their favorites through experience. And for those who are still looking for standard fuel, we offer the following rating of gas stations based on the quality of services provided. For comparison, the following indicators were used:
- quality of petroleum products and compliance with technical specifications or GOST;
- service;
- price;
- availability of additional services;
- client programs and promotions.
To test gas stations and determine the most profitable among them, we took as a basis weighted average prices for AI-95 fuel in Moscow and the regions(for gas station networks not represented in Moscow and the region). AI-98 gasoline was used to check for compliance with the actual octane number.
| Brand name | Gas station network | Price | Octane number AI-98 (laboratory examination) | Fuel standard | Client program | Customer Reviews
(max. 5) |
| Rosneft | >2800 | 45.30 | 98.2 | Euro-5, Euro-6 | :
— 1 point for 2 liters of fuel; — 1 point for 20 rubles of other purchases; — 1 point = 1 ruble - registration is free. |
4.1 |
| >2600 | 46.35 | 100 | Euro 5 | :
— 1 point per 50 rubles for fuel and other purchases; — 1 point = 1 ruble; - registration is free. |
4.3 | |
| Gazprom Neft | >1200 | 45.80 | 98.6 | Euro 5 | :
— “Silver” status: 3 b for 100 rubles; — “Golden” status: 4 b per 100 rubles; — “Platinum status”: 5 b per 100 rubles; — 1 point = 1 ruble; - registration is free. |
4.1 |
| TNK | >600 | 45.80 | 98.2 | Euro 5 | See the terms and conditions of the PL for Rosneft clients. | 4.2 |
| Tatneft | >550 | 44.89 | 98.6 | Euro 5 | :
- 500 - 1999 rubles = 1.5% discount; — 2000 — 4999 r = 3% discount; — >5000 = 4.5% discount; — 1 point = 1 ruble; — registration: paid (depending on the region). |
4.1 |
| Shell | >250 | 46.29 | 98.6 | Euro 5 | Several types with different conditions. | 4.5 |
| B.P. | >100 | 45.89 | 98.4 | Euro 5 | "BP Club": — “Green” status: 1 b per 100 rubles of fuel; — “Gold” status: 2 b for 100 rubles; — “Platinum” status: 3 b for 100 rubles; — when purchasing in cafes and shops, points are doubled, taking into account the status; — 1 point = 1 ruble; - registration is free. |
4.4 |
| Bashneft | >500 | 43.65 | 98.8 | Euro 5 | Some . | 4.4 |
| Route | >50 | 46.99 | 98.4 | Euro 5 | Mobile loyalty program: — 2% cashback on purchases immediately after checkout; — 3% cashback on all purchases over 50,000 rubles; — 4% cashback for RUB 200,000; — 5% cashback for RUB 1,000,000; — 1 point = 1 ruble; - registration is free. |
4.5 |
| Gazprom | >400 | 45.99 | 98.2 | Euro 5 | "Moving into the future": — starting discount 2%; — 1 liter of gasoline = 1 point; — 2 l DT = 1 point; — 1 point = 1 ruble; — 1000 b = 2.5% discount; — 2500 b = 3%; — 5000 b = 3.5%; — 10,000 b = 4%; — 20,000 b = 4.5%; — 50,000 b = 5%; — registration: 250 rub. |
3.9 |
Based on the data provided, the reader is recommended to determine for himself the best network of gas stations, based on personal priorities. It should be noted that all applicants who took part in the formation of the rating have gasoline quality that meets modern standards.
Brands such as Rosneft, Lukoil and Shell deserve special attention, since so far only they are working to improve fuel quality and final transition to the Euro-6 standard. However, for those who do not know who to give preference to - Rosneft or Lukoil, or perhaps it is difficult to decide between Shell or Lukoil - only one piece of advice can be given: pay attention to the octane number.
Important! If the octane number is significantly higher than normal, this may indicate the presence of harmful additives to artificially increase it, which will subsequently negatively affect engine performance.
Interestingly, the most transparent gasoline is found at Rosneft and Shell gas stations, while the “brightest” (dark yellow) - at Lukoil. However, according to surveys, this brand is preferred by more than 40% of car owners in Russia.
Reasons for the appearance of low-quality fuel at gas stations
First of all, it should be remembered that there are companies that independently extract raw materials (Gazpromneft and Rosneft), and there are those that buy it from them. There is also such a thing as “subsidiaries” operating under a license from a holding company. The latter include, for example, TNK, BP and Bashneft, which are owned by Rosneft. Therefore, it is not surprising that fuel of the same quality can be purchased under nominally different brands. It may differ only in brand name and price. Sometimes - with additives.
As for transnational companies operating in the Russian Federation, one should not hope that Shell or British Petroleum will be the same as in Europe or America. Least, raw materials for fuel of these brands are purchased from domestic refineries. For example, Shell does not have its own carriers at all, so in Russia its duties are performed by the company AVTEK, which receives gasoline in Ufa, Kapotnya, Yaroslavl, and Ryazan.
Moreover, at the same gas station each time there may be fuel from different places. They transport it in the same fuel trucks, as a result of which a new batch may arrive with traces of the previous one. And it doesn’t have to be the same brand of gasoline. Although company employees exclude the possibility of mixing samples, arguing that there is a special sensor inside the container, such a risk cannot be dismissed.
Considering all of the above, it remains to focus the attention of motorists on the data presented and recommend purchasing gasoline at gas stations of oil producing companies that have committed themselves to improving fuel quality and are interested in regular customers. This will be indirect evidence of good gasoline and high service.
Choosing a suitable gas station that has both fuel of acceptable quality and not exorbitant prices is often no simpler task than choosing a car, because the duration and safety of operation of the components of your vehicle, as well as the security of your wallet, depend on these parameters. Therefore, we present a quality rating of gas stations for 2018-2019 in Moscow and the region.
What is quality gasoline?
Why fill your car with decent gasoline and how to determine which is better? We answer the first question: low-quality gasoline negatively affects the engine starting procedure, quickly disables the spark plugs and damages the components of the fuel system. Remember that the longer you save and choose gas stations that offer low-quality gasoline, the greater the risk you expose your car to.
Gazpromneft
The gas station network from the largest Russian company does not leave millions of car owners indifferent throughout the country. All fuel complies with the Euro 4 standard, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of your car’s components.
In addition to the gasoline and diesel fuel available at all gas stations, Gazpromneft, as expected, also offers gas. Gas stations are almost always equipped with corners for relaxing or buying a snack on the road, and the professionalism of the employees is beyond criticism.
Rosneft
A major player in the Russian fuel market not only provides a license to sell BP petroleum products, but also has the widest network of gas stations throughout Russia. Own production, as well as the status of the most important state corporation, guarantees consumers the quality of fuel. And their gas station also has, perhaps, the most delicious coffee.
Lukoil
A widely recognized leader among domestic suppliers of petroleum products. The fuel complies with Euro 5 standards and constantly wins awards for the environmental characteristics of its gasoline, and customers usually stay with Lukoil for a long time after the first use.
A big advantage compared to many competitors is the breadth of the offer of petroleum products, which allows you to refuel any car without fear of losing its performance. Prices at gas stations of this company are quite high, but the excellent quality of gasoline here is complemented by excellent service and additional services, and therefore you have to overpay a little.
We hope that our review of which gas stations to buy fuel from will help you choose the right gas station network to suit your taste and budget, and will also keep the key technical elements of your vehicle safe and sound. Good luck on the roads and don’t skimp on the most important things.
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It’s not for nothing that the proverb has such a reputation that Moscow is under a mountain for all of Russia: everything is rolling towards it. Ivan Turgenev
Moscow takes all the best. Any non-Muscovite will tell you this. And even today, when the same China-Taiwan-Hong Kong reigns on all the shelves of the country, the moon in the capital is still more attractive for many... And gasoline, of course, is better?
Let’s check this by comparing Moscow fuel and, let’s say, regional fuel. The focus is on the most popular, 95 gasoline. Let’s ignore the obviously dubious gas stations, of which there are plenty in Moscow, and take the famous, chain gas stations. Each time we fill one canister in Moscow, and the second somewhere further away, several hundred kilometers from the capital. In total, we have eight fuel samples of four types in our hands. Let's see how reputable a brand depends on registration.
IDEAL COUPLES
The samples were checked for basic physical and chemical parameters (FCP), which are standardized by the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union No. 013–2011 “On the requirements for automobile and aviation gasoline, diesel and marine fuel, jet fuel and fuel oil” (TR CU). And since the document does not regulate all parameters that are significant for the engine, we added a few more checks on our own. Details are in our help. Let us recall, in particular, that for A95 gasoline the octane number determined by the research method must be no less than 95 units, and by the motor octane number - no less than 85 units. No one has canceled the old GOST standards - we are guided by them.
Should all gasolines have the same characteristics, if not with each other, then at least in pairs (metropolitan and regional)? It would be nice, of course, but it’s unrealistic. There are measurement errors and differences in shelf life - in general, we don’t expect a perfect match. Although we hope so.
GASOLINE FOR FIFTH CLASS
Judging by the results, all gasolines fully comply with the requirements of the Technical Regulations. Great! But there are interesting nuances. The most interesting situation is with BP gasoline. Both are of excellent quality, and the manufacturers did not skimp on octane: the fuel is closer to 98 than to 95. But at the same time, the two samples are completely different in fractional composition! Consequently, the “barrels” of base gasoline for different “bipis” are not registered at the same address. Although both are honest “class 5”. Shell has a similar situation. Both fuels meet the requirements of the CU TR, and in terms of octane they are again closer to 98. However, in Moscow they sell class 4 gasoline with a small margin of benzene content, but in the Zubtsovsky district of the Tver region they sell “class 5.” Well, who said that all the best is in Moscow?
LUKOIL AND LUKOIL IN AFRICA
LUKOIL and Rosneft are clear leaders in terms of stability of fuel quality! The difference in the main parameters of samples taken from different gas stations lies within the measurement error, while everything passes according to the Technical Regulations with a very good margin.
The good news is that Rosneft gasoline contains no olefinic hydrocarbons: this means that during long-term storage the properties of the fuel will be stable. And there is record low sulfur in it - noticeably less than in all the others. It is clear that gasoline from both LUKOIL and Rosneft is an obvious and proven “class 5”.
Gasoline brands are indicated according to cash receipts, the location is in random order.
Was there a sensation? In this case, we are very happy about it. The conclusion is this: it is absolutely not necessary to go to the capital in the hope of buying better fuel there. It's the same everywhere. Equally good. Congratulations on this.
LLC "LUKOIL-Tsentrnefteprodukt", gas station No. 524
Moscow, Hospitalnaya embankment, 2/1
35 rub. 02 kop.
LLC "LUKOIL-Tsentrnefteprodukt", gas station No. 469
Tver region, village. Zakharovo, 223rd km M9
ECTO Plus (95), class 5 according to TR 34 rub. 62 kopecks.
Moscow gasoline cost 40 kopecks more than country gasoline, which turned out to be even slightly better than capital gasoline: the octane number is higher, and the sulfur content is three times lower! Both correspond to class 5.
JSC "RN-Moscow", AZK-59
Moscow, Nastavnichesky lane, 17
AI-95, class not lower than 4: 34 rub. 40 kopecks.
JSC "RN-Tver", MAZK 21
w. Moscow - Riga, 318th km
AI-95-5: 3 3 rub. 15 kopecks
Two excellent gasolines that easily met the requirements of class 5. Note that the check from the banks of the Yauza modestly promised class no worse than fourth, and the price was 1 ruble. 25 kopecks higher than between Moscow and the Pushkin Mountains.
"VR Maryina Roshcha"
Moscow, st. Sheremetyevskaya, 62
95 ULT, class 5: 35 rub. 59 kopecks
MAZK-021 "VR Piskarevsky", LLC "RN Northern Capital"
St. Petersburg, Piskarevsky pr., 27, bldg. 1
AI95 Ultimate, class 5: 35 rub. 09 kopecks.
The St. Petersburg VR is fifty dollars cheaper than the Moscow one. At the same time, the octane number of gasoline from the banks of the Neva is slightly higher than in the capital. And the differences in the fractional composition indicate that the fuels were produced using different technologies. That, however, did not prevent both of them from meeting the requirements of class 5.
Shell Oil LLC, gas station 11004
Moscow, Bolshaya Olenya st., vl. 20
VPower AI-95, class 5: 36 rub. 99 kopecks
Shell Oil LLC, gas station 11021 Shell Nosovo
Tver region, Zubtsovsky district, 187th km of highway M9, Nosovo village
Updated: 10/09/2019 11:46:04
Expert: David Weinberg
*Review of the best sites according to the editors. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
Every car owner knows how much the quality of gasoline affects the driving characteristics of the car. The octane number is slightly less than the nominal one - and that’s it, the engine cannot raise the speed to a normal level. In addition, low-quality gasoline can negatively affect the condition of the car - and if you regularly refuel with the wrong fuel, the engine will very soon fail.
For car owners who want to refuel only with fuel that meets all standards, we have prepared a rating of the 10 best gas stations in terms of gasoline quality.
Rating of the best gas stations by gasoline quality
| Nomination | place | gas station | rating |
| Rating of the best gas stations by gasoline quality | 10 | 4.1 | |
| 9 | 4.2 | ||
| 8 | 4.3 | ||
| 7 | 4.4 | ||
| 6 | 4.5 | ||
| 5 | 4.6 | ||
| 4 | 4.7 | ||
| 3 | 4.8 | ||
| 2 | 4.9 | ||
| 1 | 5.0 |
10th place: Bashneft
The Bashkir network of gas stations "Bashneft" is characterized by acceptable quality of gasoline. Gas stations of this company operate throughout Russia. Basically, Bashneft gas stations bottle their own produced and processed gasoline, which is exported from the Ufa oil refinery.
The quality of gasoline is uniform and equally acceptable throughout the country, except for individual gas stations in the Ulyanovsk region. However, it is still not recommended to refuel vehicles sensitive to the octane number of fuel at Bashneft. But for engines that are resistant to the effects of not always high-quality gasoline, the one presented at these gas stations is suitable.
It is worth noting that Bashneft gas stations regularly receive negative reviews for the quality of service and infrastructure. So if you want to take a rest after a long journey rather than refuel, then you should choose some gas station.
9th place: Lukoil
Lukoil also has its own gasoline supplier. It is obtained at the Nizhny Novgorod oil refinery. This production center has recently been modernized and is now equipped with new deep distillation units that are capable of producing fuel that meets Euro 5 standards.
However, the quality of gasoline at Lukoil gas stations is constantly changing. There are batches that are characterized by a high degree of purity and correspond to their octane number, thanks to which the car drives smoothly and confidently. And sometimes they are of poor quality, leading to jerking and other problems with driving.
At Lukoil gas stations, in addition to standard fuel, you can purchase Ecto Plus gasoline. Of course, it is a little more expensive, but worth it. The quality of this gasoline is usually at a high level. Special additives are also added to it, which extend the life of the engine and ensure environmental friendliness.
8th place: Tatneft
The Tatneft gas station chain purchases gasoline from the Moscow oil refinery. And this is an important plus for residents of the capital and surrounding areas. They are provided with high-quality fuel at reasonable prices.
But residents of the regions are not so lucky. At Tatneft gas stations, they may encounter low-quality fuel that literally sits stale. Thus, it is regional drivers who say that after refueling at Tatneft they experience prolonged acceleration and uneven movement of the car. The capital's residents note the high quality of gasoline.
Similarly, residents of the capital were lucky with service, as well as additional services. Gas stations located inside the Moscow region, as well as along the busiest highways, have good infrastructure. Here you can pump up your tires, drink coffee, and just relax. There are no additional services at gas stations outside the main roads.
7th place: BP (British Petroleum)
The British company British Petroleum - or BP for short - cooperates with Rosneft on the Russian market. Both of these gas station networks receive gasoline from two oil refineries - Ryazan and Yaroslavl. And, apparently, this explains the uneven quality of fuel at BP stations.
Russian BP gas stations offer Ultimate quality fuel - with a high degree of purification, a nominal octane number and special additives that reduce engine wear and increase overall environmental friendliness. And in most cases it is like that. But sometimes, according to drivers, the quality of the fuel noticeably decreases - apparently, when changing supplier-refinery.
But BP gas stations offer a full range of additional services. Even small regional sites have a mini-market, friendly employees, you can pump up your tires - and in some cases, even vacuum the interior.
6th place: “Neftmagistral”
Gas stations of the Neftmagistral network could become one of the best in terms of fuel quality - it is always uniform and above average. In addition, they have a clear bonus program, thanks to which you can save significantly once in a certain period or even refuel your car for free.
However, everything is covered by one important “but”. According to reports from drivers, at gas stations of the Neftemagistral network such a problem as underfilling of fuel is regularly encountered.
However, according to reports from some car owners, some especially old gas stations use metal containers for storing gasoline. Because of this, the quality of the fuel decreases. New containers made of composite materials have been installed only at some stations.
Due to underfilling of fuel and not always uniform quality, the Neftemagistral gas station network is placed only in 6th place in our rating.
5th place: "ESA"
The EKA gas station network is a practically independent and fairly young transport company. Therefore, its employees try to monitor the quality of gasoline. True, fuel is purchased from factories that belong to competing companies - Gazpromneft and Rosneft. In addition, it is extremely difficult - in fact, almost impossible - to find an EKA gas station outside the Moscow Ring Road.
EKA gas stations are characterized by high quality gasoline. More precisely, it is consistently high, that is, when moving from one site to another, there is no risk of “running into” fuel with a low octane number or poor purification. In addition, ESA is characterized by an adequate pricing policy.
On the other hand, the pricing policy is by no means uniform. At some EKA gas stations, gasoline may be unreasonably expensive. Therefore, it is best to constantly fill the tank at the stations of this network and participate in the loyalty program - and then you can save money or get fuel at “normal” prices.
4th place: “Track”
The Trassa gas station network, as the name implies, is based on the largest transport routes in our country. And it's clear that on long journeys - like the M4 - fuel quality is critical. Nobody wants the car to stop accelerating or start moving jerkily in traffic in sections at a speed of 90-120 kilometers per hour.
Therefore, at the Trassa gas station, the quality of gasoline is consistently high. The company purchases fuel from a Moscow oil refinery owned by Gazpromneft.
But with the pricing policy, “Track” made a little mistake. In the Moscow region, where most of the gas stations of this network are located, there are also less expensive sites. Thus, on average, fuel at the Trassa gas station costs 10-30 kopecks more than its competitors. When filling a full tank, the overpayment can be quite significant.
3rd place: Rosneft
The Rosneft gas station network is one of the largest transport companies in the country. It owns several oil refineries, as well as a huge number of gas stations. Fuel is brought to them from the Ryazan, Yaroslavl and Saratov oil refineries.
That is why the quality of gasoline they supply is high, but at the same time unstable. That is, at one gas station the fuel may be excellent, at another - a little worse, at a third - a little better, and so on. And it is precisely because of this small number of “bad” stations (about 1 out of 10) that this network takes an honorable third place in our rating.
The pricing policy at Rosneft gas stations is adequate. In addition, it has a loyalty program, that is, if you regularly purchase fuel here, you can get additional discounts. Most gas stations offer additional services, from mini-cafes to tire inflation. A nice bonus is the cleanliness - even in the toilets.
2nd place: Shell
Shell gas stations are the place to go for premium gasoline. Of course, it is somewhat more expensive than usual, but the price is worth it. Premium fuel has a stable octane number, a high degree of purification, and is also supplemented with special additives that reduce fuel consumption and vehicle wear. Thus, Shell is the choice of motorists who care about their “iron horse” and are willing to spend money on it.
But regular fuel at Shell is of “above average” quality. And this is not at all justified by the relatively high cost - a liter of classic AI-92 or AI-95 at these stations can cost 10-40 kopecks more than its competitors.
However, if you refuel regularly and have a special bonus card (including an electronic one), you can save money. Even on premium fuel.
1st place: Gazpromneft
Gazpromneft offers not only consistently high quality fuel with an honest octane number and no evidence of underfilling, but also many additional services. So, at these gas stations there is always a small minimarket, the opportunity to pump up tires, vacuum the interior or even wash headlights. Therefore, many motorists choose this particular network.
We recommend purchasing branded G-Drive fuel. This is a completely traditional AI-95, only it has undergone additional purification. Special additives are also added to it, which have a positive effect on the driving characteristics and reliability of the car.
However, other types of gasoline at Gazpromneft are also good. And this is precisely where lies an important drawback that you will have to come to terms with.
Due to the combination of price and quality, Gazpromneft gas stations are very popular among motorists. And therefore, at the stations there are often queues, relatively long service and not always clean. The employees simply do not have time to cope with all the visitors.
The price of fuel is adequate. And thanks to bonus programs, you can save additional money.
Attention! This rating is subjective in nature, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
Updated 12/17/2018.
Almost every gas station chain has its own loyalty program, skillfully using which you can significantly save on fuel. The purpose of today's article is to compare the cost of gasoline in popular gas station networks, taking into account their bonus programs.
There are actually quite a few gas station networks, but most of them are not represented in all regions, so it is not entirely correct to compare their fuel prices with each other.
I suggest stopping at the following gas station chains: Lukoil, Gazpromneft, TNK and Rosneft, Tatneft, BP. Short-term stocks will not be taken into account for comparison.
I would like to note right away that at these gas stations you can simultaneously receive points from loyalty programs (to do this you need to show the card to the cashier before purchasing) and cashback when paying with a profitable bank card. Points are exchanged for a discount at a rate of 1:1.
Gazpromneft. Bonus program “On our way”
In order to become a participant in the “On Our Path” bonus program, you can purchase a Gazprom Neft bonus card for 199 rubles. at the gas station (it is important not to confuse it with Gazprom gas stations - this is another network of gas stations, also quite large, but in Moscow, for example, there are no such gas stations).
Depending on the level of spending at gas stations over the past month (with presentation of a loyalty card), the following will be credited to the bonus account:
● or 3% points – Silver status (for purchase amounts from 0 to 5999.99 rubles);
● or 4% points – Gold status (for purchase amounts from 6,000 to 11,999.99 rubles);
● or 5% points – Platinum status (for purchases over 12,000 rubles);
However, buying a Gazprom Neft bonus card and maintaining the turnover of spending to receive a discount is still not our method. We'll take a different route. You can apply for a co-branded card “Gazprombank-Gazpromneft”, which has an irreducible Gold status in the “On Our Way” bonus program:
The banking functionality of this card is of no interest (1 point per 100 rubles when paying by card, which is equivalent to a 1% cashback); it is better to use the Gazpromneft-Gazprombank card simply as a bonus (show it to the cashier before paying at the gas station).
The regular price of a non-registered Gazprombank-Gazpromneft card is 200 rubles/year:
But we don’t care much about the regular price; with the promotion, until December 31, 2017, you can get a Gazprombank-Gazpromneft Unembossed instant card for free:
A prerequisite for receiving a free card, according to the rules of the promotion, is to write an application for the transfer of wages to Gazprombank:
However, this application does not oblige you to anything, there is no requirement to transfer your salary, you just need to fill out an application, and you will be given an unnamed card with a bonus application (the bonus application is activated at the gas station when purchasing over 100 rubles).
To be honest, filling out the application itself also turned out to be optional; at the end of February 2017, I simply came to the Gazprombank branch and said that I often refuel at the Gazpromneft gas station, and there they recommended that I apply for a co-branded card. Marinka, without any questions, gave me a free, unnamed Gazprombank-Gazpromneft card.
The bonus application of the card is in no way connected with the banking functionality and continues to work even if you close the card (of course, there is no need to hand it over to the bank), or if its validity period expires:
Let me draw your attention once again to the fact that in order to credit bonuses to your bonus account, you need to show the card to the cashier before paying; you can pay with another card with cashback at the gas station:
UPD: 03/23/2018
The promotion for the free distribution of Gazprombank-Gazpromneft cards in 2018, unfortunately, did not last. For now we are just waiting for new profitable offers from the bank.
UPD: 06/04/2018
Since 06/01/2017, the Gazpromneft gas station network has noticeably worsened its “On Our Way” bonus program. If previously points were awarded as a percentage of the cost of fuel (for silver status - 3%, for gold - 4%, for platinum - 5%), now points are given in terms of each liter of fuel. So, on a silver status, 1 liter of 95 will be given 1 point, on a gold status - 1.25 points, on a platinum status - 1.5% point.
For comparison, according to the old rules, refueling with 95-octane gasoline costs 1,000 rubles. on gold status, 40 points would be awarded, according to the new rules it would be (1000:45 rub./l.) * 1.25 = 27.77 points. Accordingly, the more expensive gasoline is, the lower the final cashback will be.
The lifespan of bonuses that will be awarded after July 1, 2018 is also being reduced from 36 to 12 months.
If you received a free Gazprombank-Gazpromneft card as part of a promotion, please note: From 06/01/2018, SMS information on this card will become paid (59 rubles/month), and it was automatically connected to all cards upon issue. You can disable this service at the Gazprombank office:
TNK and Rosneft. Bonus program "Family Team"
At TNK and Rosneft gas stations there is a bonus program “Family Team”. To receive a Family Team loyalty card, you need to make any purchase at these gas stations. The card is issued free of charge (more precisely, a set of three cards is issued, one of which has banking functionality).
Banking functionality is provided by the All-Russian Regional Development Bank (RRDB) or the Far Eastern Bank:
True, there is little point in the banking functionality of the “Family Team” card when paying for goods and services for every 200 rubles. will give 1 point, which is equivalent to 0.5% cashback. The only use I see of this functionality is to go through identification at a bank to receive 100 bonus points as a gift:
Therefore, the “Family Team” card should be used only as a bonus (show it to the cashier before paying):
The bonus account is credited with 0.5 points for the purchase of each full liter of fuel and 1 point for every 20 rubles spent on related products at the gas station:
You need to be careful with TNK gas stations; some of them have a different bonus program, not “Family Team”, but “Astra”.
UPD: 12/17/2018
The “Family Team” bonus program from Rosneft has many different partners, sometimes there are quite good offers there.
Until the end of December 2018, in your “Family Team” personal account (in the “Promotions” section), you can exchange useless Aeroflot miles, of which many have already accumulated a lot, but not enough to buy a ticket with, for “Family Team” program points. Let me remind you that 1 point corresponds to 1 ruble discount at Rosneft gas stations.
The course is not the most attractive, but something is better than nothing. 1,500 Aeroflot miles correspond to 500 Family Team points. Points become available for use after 14 days.
Lukoil. Licard bonus program
You can get a Lukoil bonus card for free at gas stations:
For every 50 rubles spent on the purchase of fuel or other goods at a Lukoil gas station, 1 point is added to the bonus account. The card must be presented to the cashier before payment:
The purchase amount is rounded down to a multiple of 50 rubles:
Lukoil has co-branded cards with Otkritie Bank and Uralsib. I still don’t understand why they exist; I can’t get anything profitable from them:
B.P. BP Club bonus program
At BP gas stations there is a bonus program “BP Club”:
You can get a bonus card for free at BP gas stations:
The card has a banking application from RRDB, which is just as useless as the Family Team card (1 point per 200 rubles spent at any merchant outlet).
It is wiser to use the “BP Club” card only as a bonus, i.e. show it at a gas station before purchasing:
BP has several statuses for scoring points:
● at the Green level (when purchasing less than 300 liters of fuel over the past 90 days), for every 100 rubles spent on fuel, 1 point is awarded, for related products - 2 points per 100 rubles;
● at the Gold level (when purchasing from 300 to 600 liters of fuel over the past 90 days), for every 100 rubles spent on fuel, 2 points are awarded, for related products - 4 points per 100 rubles;
● at the Platinum level (when purchasing more than 600 liters of fuel over the past 90 days), for every 100 rubles spent on fuel, 3 points are awarded, for related products - 6 points per 100 rubles;
When calculating points, mathematical rounding rules are used:
Tatneft. Discount card "Fixed discount"
Tatneft simply offers to buy its bonus discount card for 170 rubles. (or 190 rubles at the gas station of Tatneft-AZS-Zapad LLC). The card is valid for 12 years. Discount card holders are entitled to a 3% discount on gasoline and 6% on gas products:
The Tatneft discount card must also be shown to the cashier before purchase; it is better to pay for gasoline with a card with a good cashback at the gas station.
UPD: 12/14/2018
The basic discount on fuel using a discount card at Tatneft gas stations was reduced from 3% to 1.5% when purchasing petroleum products and from 6% to 3% when purchasing gas products:
Also, information appeared on the official website of the Tetneft gas station that a discount on a discount card is not available when paying for fuel with a card. True, you don’t have to tell the cashier that you are going to pay with “Halva”...
UPD: 01/12/2018
The Tatneft gas station chain has launched a new bonus program "Tatneft Bonuses", where you can get up to 8% bonuses in addition to regular cashback on a bank card:
To participate in the promotion, you need to register in the bonus program any bank card that you will use to pay for gasoline or that you will present when paying in cash.
For the first purchase of fuel using a registered card, you are entitled to 8% bonuses (the purchase must be worth at least 1,500 rubles). As of December 14, 2018, Tatneft no longer issues increased bonuses for the first purchase. Also, in the first three months from the date of registration, an increase of 1% is given to the standard bonus scale.
The amount of bonuses depends on the amount of the check and the turnover of expenses for the previous month. It is most profitable to refuel for 1500 rubles. and more at a time. So, if the turnover of spending last month is up to 4999 rubles, 3% will be credited to the bonus account, if the turnover of spending last month is from 5000 rubles. up to 10,999 rub. – 4%, with a turnover of spending last month of 11,000 rubles. - 5%:
Bonuses are credited at the time of purchase:
1 bonus corresponds to 1 ruble discount. While bonuses can only compensate for the full cost of refueling, you must inform the cashier in advance of your desire to pay with bonuses:
If there is no movement on the bonus account within 6 months, bonus points are canceled:
For now, the bonus program is valid only in Moscow, Moscow, Tver and Voronezh regions. However, Tatneft promises a gradual increase in the geographical coverage of the bonus program:
UPD: 03/23/2018
It is important to note that you cannot simultaneously receive a discount on the Tatneft discount card and bonus points; you need to choose one. It is also worth noting that points are not awarded when paying using a smartphone or watch:
UPD: 12/14/2018
Tatneft’s new bonus program has a “Bring a Friend” promotion. Each invitee will receive 50 bonus rubles as a gift after the first refueling, and the inviter will receive 7% of the friend’s bonus amount in the first three months.
Which gas station has the cheapest gasoline?
It's no secret that the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel differs even at gas stations of the same network in the same city, and the difference is not just a few tens of kopecks, but several rubles.
To identify the most profitable gas station network, ideally, you need to take the average cost of a certain brand of gasoline at all gas stations. However, the average cost will not give anything to the average client; he is interested in the price of fuel in the areas where he is most often located.
There is a fairly convenient mobile application for these purposes. multigo.ru, in which you can find out the cost of any brand of gasoline at specific gas stations near a given point.
For example, let’s take the area of the Dubrovka metro station in Moscow, where gas stations of all five gas stations are represented, whose bonus programs we reviewed in the article:
So, in the area we are interested in, the minimum price for AI-95 is:
● at Lukoil gas stations – 39.40 rubles/l.
● at Gazpromneft gas stations – 38.95 rubles/l.
● at Rosneft gas stations – 39.00 rub./l.
● at BP gas stations – RUB 39.79/l.
● at the Tatneft gas station – 39.00 rub./l.
The cost of gasoline at a gas station, taking into account the bonus program and cashback
Let's calculate what the final price of a full tank of AI-95 for a small car (V=40L) will be, taking into account all the bonus programs of different gas stations.
A full tank of AI-95 at a BP gas station.
5th place.
Fuel cost without discounts: 39.79 rubles/l*40l=1591.6 rubles.
From this amount you need to subtract 5% cashback from KEB 1591.6 * 0.05 = 79.58 rubles.
We also subtract 16 rubles from the total cost, which will be credited to us under the BP Club bonus program; we will assume that we have a minimum Green level (1 point for every 100 rubles, taking into account mathematical rounding, we get 16 points).
In total, a full tank of gasoline at a BP gas station cost us 1591.6-79.58-16 = 1496.02 rubles. (if we had Platinum status, it would be 1591.6-79.58-48 = 1464.02 rubles)
The final price of 1 liter of AI-95 at the BP gas station is 1496.02/40 = 37.4 rubles/liter.
A full tank of AI-95 at a Lukoil gas station.
4th place.
Fuel cost without discounts: 39.40 rubles/l*40l=1576 rubles.
From this amount you need to subtract 5% cashback from KEB 1576 * 0.05 = 78.8 rubles.
We also subtract 31 rubles from the total cost, which will be credited to us under the Licard bonus program (1576/50 = 31.52. Taking into account rounding, we get 31 points, which can be exchanged for a 31 ruble discount).
In total, a full tank of gasoline at a Lukoil gas station cost us 1576-78.8-31 = 1466.2 rubles.
The final price of 1 liter of AI-95 at the Lukoil gas station is 1466.2/40 = 36.66 rubles/liter.
A full tank of AI-95 at a Rosneft gas station.
3rd place.
From this amount you need to subtract 5% cashback from KEB 1560 * 0.05 = 78 rubles.
We also subtract 20 rubles from the total cost, which will be credited to us under the “Family Team” bonus program (40*0.5=20 points).
In total, a full tank of gasoline at a Rosneft gas station cost us 1560-78-20 = 1462 rubles.
The final price of 1 liter of AI-95 at the Rosneft gas station is 1462/40 = 36.55 rubles/liter.
Full tank of AI-95 at the Tatneft gas station.
2nd place.
The cost of a Tatneft discount card is 170 rubles. We will not accept it for calculations, given that its validity period is 12 years, the price looks insignificant.
Fuel cost without discounts: 39.00 rub./l*40l=1560 rub.
From this amount we subtract a 3% discount on the discount card 1560 * 0.03 = 46.8 rubles.
We calculate cashback from KEB from the discounted amount (1560-46.8) * 0.05 = 75.66 rubles.
In total, a full tank of gasoline at the Tatneft gas station cost us 1560 - 75.66-46.8 = 1437.54 rubles.
The final price of 1 liter of AI-95 at the Tatneft gas station is 1437.54/40 = 35.94 rubles/liter.
A full tank of AI-95 at a Gazpromneft gas station.
1st place.
Fuel cost without discounts: 38.95 rubles/l*40l=1558 rubles.
From this amount you need to subtract 5% cashback from KEB 1558 * 0.05 = 77.9 rubles.
We also subtract 62.32 rubles from the full cost, which will be credited to us under the “We’re on the Way” bonus program for “Golden” status: 1558*0.04=62.32.
In total, a full tank of gasoline at a Gazpromneft gas station cost us 1,558 - 77.9-62.32 = 1,417.78 rubles.
The final price of 1 liter of AI-95 at the Gazpromneft gas station is 1417.78/40 = 35.44 rubles/liter.
Conclusion
In the case considered, the Gazpromneft network turned out to be the most profitable. ( UPD: 01/12/2018: Thanks to new bonus program refueling at a Tatneft gas station is no less profitable, especially at high speeds). But I think each of you will get your own sign of profitable gas stations, taking into account your usual route. In addition, there are many good regional gas station chains with their own bonus programs that were neglected in this article, for example, EKA, Bashneft, Trassa, Astra, Shell, Neste oil, etc. .
The main thing I wanted to say is that you just need to present your bonus card before paying, and pay with another card with cashback. You can also participate in several loyalty programs (especially if participation is free) and use the gas station network that currently offers any additional interesting goodies.
I hope my article was useful to you; write about any clarifications and additions in the comments.
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