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Consumer FAQs

Consumers can be assured that TOP TIER Approved Fuels are high quality detergent additive fuels with performance verified at independent engine testing laboratories and sponsored by many global Automotive and Heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers. A fuel is TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline or TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel if it contains an additive package that has been tested and shown to meet the requirements set forth in the TOP TIER™ Performance Standards. The Fuel Marketer also agrees to other conditions when they become licensed, such as displaying the logo at the site (either on the dispenser or at the fuel point of purchase) and allowing random sampling for quality monitoring.

The TOP TIER™ Performance Standards were created to promote better fuel quality, thus maintaining engine performance so that engines run as designed.

TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline and TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel were created to help modern, state of the art engine technologies continue to run optimally throughout the full-life of the vehicle.

The TOP TIER™ Gasoline Performance Standard requires the use of independent engine laboratory tested fuel additives shown to minimize the build-up of carbon deposits that can reduce fuel economy, increase emissions and cause problems such as hard starting, hesitation and stalling. The TOP TIER™ Gasoline Performance Standard also prohibits the use of organometallic additives in gasoline that are known to damage emissions aftertreatment systems.

The TOP TIER™ Diesel Performance Standard requires the use of approved additive packages shown to reduce internal and external injector deposits, and includes specific modern-day engine requirements for:

1) lubricity to decrease wear on pumps and injectors
2) fuel stability to minimize oxidation degradation that can result in bacterial growth in gas tanks and sludge in engines, fuel injectors and fuel filters
3) particulate and water contamination to reduce fuel delivery system plugging and corrosion.

There are many factors that influence fuel quality. For gasoline powered engines, the requirements for TOP TIER™ Approved Gasolines primarily address engine deposits from low quality fuels and prohibit the use of organometallic components in fuel that could cause harm to emissions aftertreatment systems.

For diesel powered engines, the requirements for TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel address quality issues related to injector deposits, wear on pumps and injectors, fuel stability, and particulate and water contamination.

TOP TIER™ licensed Fuel Marketers are required to use TOP TIER™ Approved additives in all grades of gasoline sold at their stations.

Because of logistical issues unique to diesel fuel supply, the TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel Program allows Fuel Marketers to offer TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel at select stations only. In these cases, the TOP TIER licensed diesel marketers are also required to use TOP TIER™ Approved Fuel for all grades of diesel sold at their participating stations.

Your vehicle’s owner’s manual may also make fuel and fuel additive recommendations beyond the use of TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline or Diesel.

Fuel delivery trucks are typically equipped with separate compartments allowing them to carry different fuels on the same load to various customers.

Retail outlets enrolled in the TOP TIER™ Program are contractually committed to selling fuel that meets the TOP TIER™ Performance Standards. This means they are supplying fuel that contains an approved additive package at the right concentration that does not contain other additives known to harm engines. TOP TIER™ licensed Fuel Marketers are monitored for quality through unannounced random auditing and they are required to display the logo at the retail site, either on the dispenser or at the fuel point-of-sale.

All TOP TIER™ Licensed Brands are formulated to meet the stringent requirements for TOP TIER™ Fuels. We recommend any of the fuel brands enrolled in the program. Please check the TOP TIER™ fuels website and the Station Finder tool to locate TOP TIER™ fuels near you. Make sure to check your vehicle owner’s manual for other important fuels information.

TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline Brands
TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel Brands

Formulations are proprietary to each fuel brand, however, each TOP TIER™ Approved additive package is evaluated for compliance to the requirements set forth in the TOP TIER™ Performance Standards.

TOP TIER™ is a higher standard of fuel, which can benefit all internal combustion engines, so you can feel confident using it in any gasoline or diesel fuel powered vehicle or engine.

The TOP TIER™ Program does not have any direct data regarding the fuel sold on military bases. These stations are not enrolled in the TOP TIER™ Program. We encourage you to use their website “Contact Us page” to let them know that TOP TIER™ Fuel is important to you.

Some convenience stores do sell fuel brands that are TOP TIER™ licensed and meet the stringent requirements set forth in the TOP TIER™ Performance Standards. You can find the list of TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline Brands here, and Diesel Brands here. If the brand of gasoline or diesel on the signage or the dispensing pump is not on our brand list, the fuel is not TOP TIER™ Approved.

Although the technology and mechanical equipment for direct fuel injection differs from port fuel injection or carbureted fuel systems, the short answer is the “keep- clean” effect in these fuel systems may not differ greatly. The data and information that the sponsoring engine manufacturers have is not available in the public domain, but AAA conducted an independent investigation comparing the minimum EPA detergent levels to TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline. The full report is available for free download here. AAA did a great job showing where in the engine you can benefit from gasoline meeting the TOP TIER™ Performance Standard and even commented on GDI engines (see section 2 of their report on pages 9 and 10; and the sub-section on emissions found in section 5.3 – page 19).

TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline is highly recommended for consistent use in your vehicle. If TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline is not readily available in your area, please refer to your Owner’s Manual for recommendations on the use of a fuel system treatment to keep your engine fuel deposit free and performing optimally.

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TOP TIER™ Request to Purchase Decals

Fill out this form to obtain the information necessary for purchasing TOP TIER™ decals.

Center for Quality Assurance
Attn: TOP TIER Licensing Program | 4800 James Savage Road | Midland, MI 48642 USA

Becoming a TOP TIER™ Licensee

Fill out this form to obtain the information necessary for becoming a TOP TIER™ Licensee.
For TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel qualification, provide information on use of 10 micron (absolute) filters for low-flow dispenser pumps and 30 micron (or less) filters for high-flow dispenser pumps.

Center for Quality Assurance
Attn: TOP TIER Licensing Program | 4800 James Savage Road | Midland, MI 48642 USA