Kroger Fuel Perks Tandem Gas Fill Ups - Change Octane?

[aliceindisneyland]

I have a question for those who use 2 vehicles and/or gas cans to get the full 35 gallon limit when using Kroger fuel points: When you stop pumping from the first car and start pumping into the second car/gas can, can you change the octane level, or are you stuck with the octane you start with?

We use Circle K if gas station makes a difference.

We filled up both cars today and it definitely saved us a lot of $, but while we saved $1 per gallon on DH's car, my car only saved .66 per gallon, because we set the pump to premium for DH's car and we didn't know if it would stop the transaction if we tried to change it to 87 for my car.

So we saved about $28 instead of $35. I know, I should not complain! But if I can change to regular after he gets his premium gas, I'll save another $7 per fill up!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Nope-you cannot change octanes during the same fill. I would probably just put premium in both to max out the savings.

 

[damiel]

We have the same issue and fill up the car that requires the higher octane first and then use the remaining 10 gallons in the car that takes premium. But be warned that this is against the rules.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

We have the same issue and fill up the car that requires the higher octane first and then use the remaining 10 gallons in the car that takes premium. But be warned that this is against the rules.

I don't believe it's against the rules where I am - the Kroger stores are Fry's. The wording from the program description: "Program discount is good for one purchase of fuel, up to 35 gallons."

Too bad you can't change between regular and premium. Thanks to both for verifying - I was too chicken to push the other button when we switched cars to find out; I thought it might end my purchase.

 

[tavettava]

Here Krogers has signs up that you can only use it on one vehicle. I wish we could do both of ours at one time.

 

[nicolejc83]

In case you didn't already know, using premium fuel in a vehicle that does not require it according to the manufacturers specifications can actually damage engine and fuel system components.

I would ditch the savings for the second vehicle or use a fuel can instead so you could fill the vehicle that requires premium again.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't believe it's against the rules where I am - the Kroger stores are Fry's. The wording from the program description: "Program discount is good for one purchase of fuel, up to 35 gallons."

Too bad you can't change between regular and premium. Thanks to both for verifying - I was too chicken to push the other button when we switched cars to find out; I thought it might end my purchase.

One purchase of fuel can't mean two different octaves, by definition. That requires resetting the pump, which makes the two vehicles two separate purchases.

 

[Lewisc]

In case you didn't already know, using premium fuel in a vehicle that does not require it according to the manufacturers specifications can actually damage engine and fuel system components.

.

This is a joke? You know It's not true. Using regular in a car which requires premium won't generally cause damage, the cars computer will adjust. Performance and fuel economy will be impacted. Using premium when not required will only hurt your wallet, not your car

 

[kymom99]

This is a joke? You know It's not true. Using regular in a car which requires premium won't generally cause damage, the cars computer will adjust. Performance and fuel economy will be impacted. Using premium when not required will only hurt your wallet, not your car

Edmunds and consumer reports both back up what you are saying.

 

[supersnoop]

This is a joke? You know It's not true. Using regular in a car which requires premium won't generally cause damage, the cars computer will adjust. Performance and fuel economy will be impacted. Using premium when not required will only hurt your wallet, not your car

I believe you are mistaken. Using high octane in a car that does not require it causes the fuel to be detonated at suboptimal compression, leading to an increase in carbon deposits.

And not all cars can adjust the timing as required when burning lower octane fuel. Granted, my 15 year old Camaro could handle it, but newer engines are often built to tighter tolerances. My two year old Lexus cannot but lower octane fuel.

 

[Lewisc]

And not all cars can adjust the timing as required when burning lower octane fuel. Granted, my 15 year old Camaro could handle it, but newer engines are often built to tighter tolerances. My two year old Lexus cannot but lower octane fuel.

You have it reversed. Computers and sensors on newer cars are generally programmed to allow use of regular fuel. Your two year old Lexus might not like lower octane fuel but many other cars are "premium suggested" not premium required.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

To settle the question of if your car can run safely on regular gas.............open up the owners manual and read it.

That will give you the best information on whether premium is "required" or "suggested" for proper operation of the engine.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

OK, I'm confused now.
DH always uses Premium gas for his Lexus (and I did read the manual because I really wanted that NOT to be required! )

My Highlander takes Regular gas.

So when filling up both cars, we have to use Premium gas as DH's car requires it.

I also have to use Premium gas in my car to keep the pump going to fill both cars [which is why I asked whether I could switch gas type in the middle of the transaction].

I do not believe there is any issue with me using Premium gas in my car that doesn't need it, except as pp pointed out, the fact that it costs me more money than using Regular gas.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I don't believe it's against the rules where I am - the Kroger stores are Fry's. The wording from the program description: "Program discount is good for one purchase of fuel, up to 35 gallons."

Too bad you can't change between regular and premium. Thanks to both for verifying - I was too chicken to push the other button when we switched cars to find out; I thought it might end my purchase.

Here Krogers has signs up that you can only use it on one vehicle. I wish we could do both of ours at one time.

This bolded is the wording at all our Kroger stations too. One purchase...no mention of number of vehicles. Tavettava, double check the wording on the signs at your Kroger station.

 

[kydisneyfans]

It's also 35 gallons per purchase here, not per vehicle.
Giant Eagle is per vehicle.
It could be different in various regions at Kroger though, each region has different ads and rules.

We've tandem filled for years, in fact on the 31st out of 4 sets of pumps on our side of the kiosk, all 4 were families doing tandem fills.

If Kroger stops allowing it, then more of my dollars will head back to Meijer.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

aliceindisneyland-- running premium every once in a while in a "regular gas" car is not a big deal. If, however, the premium fuel is put in the regular gas vehicle routinely, excessive deposits can accumulate in the combustion chamber because the regular gas engine does not have high compression.

High octane fuel actually burns slower than lower octane fuel. If it is unable to be completely consumed during the combustion process it can leave deposits behind............often on the spark plug surface.

You might also want to crunch the numbers and see how much economic sense it makes to pump the more expensive fuel into the vehicle. The increased cost per gallon may offset some or all of your savings on just that car.

btw....we always take our 2 cars in at the same time to fill up, but we are not affected by the premium/regular gas issue like some others may be.