Gavin Newsom's office urges drivers to avoid branded gas designed to 'rip you off' — but studies show it's worth the price

At the bottom of the post are two images from different areas of California, each with the current price per gallon of a Chevron station versus a generic gas station. While the Chevron stations had prices between $6.39 and $6.49 per gallon, the non-brand competitors were just shy of $5.80 per gallon.​

Overall, California has the highest gas prices in the country at $6.13 per gallon versus the national average of $4.55, according to AAA.

Newsom’s office concluded its politically tinged PSA arguing that, “Big Oil is already making billions off Trump’s Iran War; don’t let them rip you off even more by overpaying for the brand name.”

The social media diss against Chevron is part of an ongoing battle with the Big Oil company. For instance, as AP News reported, California-area Chevron stations recently posted signs reading, “California politicians are choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and lower costs.”​

When asked about these signs, Chevron spokesman Ross Allen told AP News that they were part of a “consumer education” program dating back three years to inform Californians about their energy situation.​

And just a few months ago, Chevron president Andy Walz threatened to leave the Golden State, telling Bloomberg that if Sacramento lawmakers didn’t “abandon the tax on refineries,” then “they won’t have any refineries in 10 years.”

Data from the California Energy Commission shows that losing Chevron refineries would put a massive strain on local supply. Chevron’s El Segundo Refinery handles 18.14% of California’s crude oil capacity, while the Richmond Refinery processes another 16.54%.

The facts on fancier fuel​

While Newsom’s office has a point that California’s gasoline ultimately comes from the same refineries and pipelines, that doesn’t mean paying up at the pump is always a bad idea.

​It may save you a few dollars in the short term, but research from a new AAA study shows there’s real long-term value to splurging on Top Tier gas.

Introduced in 2004, Top Tier gasoline is a specific type of fuel that contains higher levels of detergent additives intended to keep engines cleaner and reduce carbon buildup. The program was created by major automakers like GM and Toyota, and brands that meet this standard must pass stricter performance requirements than the minimum EPA gasoline regulations.​

Although consumers might be skeptical, AAA showed this is far from a marketing ploy. The engines they tested using non-Top Tier gas brands had 19 times more engine deposits than those with Top Tier after 4,000 miles.

The data was so compelling that AAA now “urges drivers to reconsider their priorities when selecting a gas station.”

Is Top Tier worth your top dollar?

Interestingly, AAA survey results show that two-thirds of U.S. drivers agree that fuel quality varies between gas stations. But that belief isn’t enough to take action for most.