Man Goes To Chevron. Then He Realizes Plus And Supreme Are Coming From The Same Pipe: 'Don’t Be Fooled'

Plenty of drivers, especially those who drive luxury vehicles, pay extra for premium gas to make sure their cars are running as they should. 

A former gas station worker claims that people are getting scammed when they use this mid-grade oil. While he positions himself as an expert on the topic, it seems he doesn’t quite have all the context, and commenters are calling him out on it.

Is Mid-Grade Or Premium Gas Worth It?

In a TikTok with over 90,000 views, content creator @buckneket, who says he used to run a gas station, claimed that some gas stations are tricking you by showing different fuel levels to make more money on the same product. 

Standing at a Chevron pump, he explained that most gas stations offer four fuel options: regular, mid-grade (Plus), premium (Supreme), and diesel. But when he looks at the mechanical dials on the side of the machine that tick up every time a gallon is dispensed, there are only three. 

"There's diesel, Plus, and Supreme and regular," he says. "Where's the fourth one? There is no fourth."

He claims Plus and Supreme are being dispensed from the same physical pipe. 

"Please don't be fooled," he says. "If you're getting plus, you're getting supreme."

But the video doesn't tell the full story. 

What’s The Difference Between Gas Grades?

The main distinction between fuel grades is octane rating, a measure of how resistant the fuel is to engine knock, which occurs when the air-fuel mixture in an engine cylinder ignites outside its normal combustion cycle. 

Here's each grade and what they’re used for, according to AAA Club Alliance:

• Regular (87 octane): The standard option for most everyday cars with conventional engines. If your vehicle doesn't call for higher octane, this is the most cost-effective choice.
• Mid-grade (89-90 octane): A middle-ground option for vehicles that benefit from slightly higher octane to reduce mild engine knock without the price tag of full premium.
• Premium (91-94 octane): Designed for high-performance, turbocharged, or high-compression engines where knock resistance matters most. Required, not just recommended, for certain luxury and sports vehicles.

What most drivers don't know is that the base gasoline at most stations comes from the same generic stock: crude oil refined into generic fuel, stored in shared tanks and pipelines, then purchased by individual brands that add their own proprietary blends of additives. 

The additives are what differentiate one brand's fuel from another, not the crude oil itself. 

In many cases, mid-grade is simply blended from regular and premium at the pump rather than stored as a separate grade in its own tank.

Why Are The Names Different?

Progressive notes that the labels for premium-grade fuel, which can include names like "Plus," "Super Premium," "Ultra," and "Ultimate,” vary from station to station and state to state. 

There's no universal standard for what a station calls its mid- or upper-tier grades. What one station calls "Plus" at 89 octane, another might market as something else entirely.

Commenters React

“Plus is a mixture of regular and premium. When you choose plus it mixes both,” a top comment read.

“I have never seen the counters good content,” a person said.

“Man at this point I’m tired of worrying about different stuff,” another wrote.

“Hahaha he made a video saying he knows about gas stations and was wrong about day 1 info,” a commenter added.

Motor1 reached out to @buckneket for comment via TikTok direct message and comment.and to Chevron via email We'll be sure to update this if they respond.