The “low cost” gas stations arrived a few years ago to stay. What’s more, their proliferation is evident, becoming the most used refueling stations by a large number of drivers, and even more so now that the price of fuel is through the roof. Now, there are many myths and questions surrounding cheap fuel, such as if it is bad or if it can damage the vehicle’s engine. We tell you why there is such a difference in price between some gas stations and others and we solve some doubts about it.
There are two types of gas stations: the traditional ones and the “low cost” ones. We could even list a third group, which would be the gas stations in the large shopping centres, although in this case we are going to put them in the same bag as the “low cost” ones due to their similar operation.
The difference in the price of fuel between a premium, or conventional, gas station and a “low cost” can range around 10 cents per liter, in some cases more and in others less. It seems little, but when we transfer this figure to hundreds of liters the difference grows and grows.
All the fuel sold in our country comes from the same refineries. In them the treatment is exactly the same, following well-defined quality standards. After the treatment applied in the refineries, it is distributed to the different CLH logistics centers, where it is stored in large warehouses and where the different brands (Repsol, Campsa, BP, Meroil… and all the “low cost” too).
Therefore, at this point the fuel is exactly the same for everyone. The same. There’s no difference. Now, when the fuel is loaded into the tanker trucks, the differences begin: the additives.
The big difference between the fuel of the “top” brands and the cheap ones is found in the additives that each of them adds to gasoline or diesel. The fuel itself is the same, but there are a number of chemicals that some brands add to the fuel to keep the lines clean, increase combustion efficiency or improve injection.
Repsol, Campsa, Cepsa, BP… all the major oil companies add their own fuel additives to improve efficiency and help prolong engine life (or so they say). The “low cost” brands, to a large extent, do not do this and offer their customers a good quality fuel, which meets all quality standards, but “without extras”.
Is refueling at low-price gas stations harmful to the vehicle? No. As we have mentioned, both the diesel and the gasoline that comes out of the CHL centers is of good quality and is fully recommended for the vehicle. The only difference is that it does not contain additives, so it does not help “clean” the engine.
The fact of incorporating additives to the fuel, logically, makes its price more expensive. There we have the first difference in price between a “top” gas station and a “low cost” one. But there is more…
In general, “brand” gas stations offer other services in addition to refueling. The vast majority have a shop, a washing tunnel or “Kärcher” type hoses… even a toilet and even a cafeteria. Not to mention the workers: at the register, at the pumps, the cleaning team… All of them with their salary, of course.
In the “low cost” gas stations there is none of that. There are generally no staff, no shop, no toilets, and much less maintenance. In addition, at low-cost gas stations, you will usually not find 98-octane gasoline or premium diesel either, which translates into even easier logistics.
The absence of all these factors means that the profit margin per liter of fuel can be lowered. In addition, the policy of these gas stations with attractive prices is to attract as many drivers as possible. In this way, although the profit margin is tighter, more money is made by selling more. You arrive at the pump, pay at a machine, put your fuel, and go.