A car is not a luxury, but a means of transportation. This phrase from the famous novel “The Golden Calf” has not lost any relevance today. Own transport means convenience and freedom of movement, and in the difficult epidemiological situation of recent years, it also means safety. Most Russian families have cars, and some have not one iron horse, but two or more.
Every car needs fuel. Electric vehicles have not yet become widespread in our country, and traditional gas stations continue to service hundreds and thousands of cars. Some cars use diesel fuel, but most run on gasoline.
Rating of gas stations by gasoline quality
- Gazpromneft 8%, 50 votes
50 votes 8%50 votes - 8% of all votes
- Shell 8%, 49 votes
49 votes 8%
49 votes - 8% of all votes
- Rosneft 7%, 48 votes
48 votes 7%
48 votes - 7% of all votes
- Route 7%, 47 votes
47 votes 7%
47 votes - 7% of all votes
- ESA 7%, 46 votes
46 votes 7%
46 votes - 7% of all votes
- BP (British Petroleum) 7%, 45 votes
45 votes 7%
45 votes - 7% of all votes
- Neftmagistral 7%, 45 votes
45 votes 7%
45 votes - 7% of all votes
- Tatneft 7%, 43 votes
43 votes 7%
43 votes - 7% of all votes
- Lukoil 7%, 42 votes
42 votes 7%
42 votes - 7% of all votes
- Bashneft 6%, 41 votes
41 votes 6%
41 votes - 6% of all votes
- MTK 6%, 40 votes
40 votes 6%
40 votes - 6% of all votes
- Sibneft 6%, 39 votes
39 votes 6%
39 votes - 6% of all votes
- TNK 6%, 38 votes
38 votes 6%
38 votes - 6% of all votes
- Slavneft 6%, 37 votes
37 votes 6%
37 votes - 6% of all votes
- Phaeton Aero 6%, 36 votes
36 votes 6%
36 votes - 6% of all votes
Total votes: 646
05.04.2020
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Bashneft
The Bashkir gas station network includes 544 gas stations located in 15 regions of Russia. Only gasoline produced by . The fuel quality is poor and prices are high. Consumers do not like the level of service and imposed participation in promotions (especially those related to the accumulation of bonuses, which ultimately turn out to be dummies). You can often find reviews on the Internet that employees clearly do not add gasoline and also do not clean the containers well, which is why debris is found in the diesel engine.
Lukoil
Lukoil supplies 100 countries around the world with its own gasoline produced at the Nizhny Novgorod oil refinery. Currently, the network includes 5,138 gas stations. Precisely their prevalence is the main advantage of Lukoil gas stations - they can be found in all regions, along all roads of our country. Of the minuses: not the best quality of fuel, rude staff, outdated equipment. Another surprising thing is the inflated price of fuel, which is slightly compensated by a convenient bonus system (beneficial for those who constantly refuel at Lukoil gas stations).
Tatneft
Tatneft bottles fuel produced at the Moscow oil refinery, so prices at gas stations in the capital are slightly lower than in regional ones. The quality of gasoline at these gas stations leaves much to be desired. Customer service is probably one of the worst. At many more Tatneft gas stations (especially those remote from large cities) the equipment is completely indecent - non-working pistols are found everywhere.
BP (British Petroleum)
In Russia, BP (British Petroleum) is represented by a small network of 125 gas stations. Most of them are in the Moscow (46) and Leningrad regions (17). Single gas stations are also found in the Novgorod, Pskov, Smolensk and Tver regions. Prices are high, but quite consistent with the quality of fuel (better than most competitors). The gas stations themselves are well equipped, according to European standards. There are complaints about underfilling, but not as many as at other gas stations.
Neftmagistral
Neftmagistral opened its gas stations in 2001. The company immediately took a high position in the rating of gas stations for the high quality of the gasoline poured. The cost of a liter is quite reasonable - for example, 95 gasoline in Neftmagistral costs almost 4 rubles. cheaper than Lukoil. Alas, there were some downsides too. At gas stations there is often underfilling, which cancels out the benefit of a good price.
ESA
ESA is a young company with a small number of gas stations throughout Russia (compared to giant competitors like Lukoil or Bashneft). Perhaps due to insufficient prevalence, management can still sufficiently monitor the quality of each gas station. Gasoline here meets most of the Rosstandart parameters, underfilling is rare, and the staff are mostly polite. Alas, the price of fuel is a minus for ESA. Gasoline costs more here than at most other gas stations.
Route
The highway is a small network of gas stations, which has a little more than 50 gas stations, mainly concentrated in the Moscow region along the largest roads. The quality of gasoline here is high (purchased from Gazprom Neft factories). The main disadvantage is the high price of all types of fuel and related services.
Rosneft
Rosneft is the leader in gasoline retail trade in Russia. It bottles fuel from its own plants in the Ryazan, Yaroslavl and Saratov regions. Gasoline is of high quality, it contains the lowest amount of MTBE, detergent additives are not found in regular diesel, and in small quantities in improved fuel. Prices are quite high (especially in comparison with regional non-chain gas stations).
Shell
Shell is the leader in the number of gas stations in the world. The network includes over 44 thousand gas stations in 75 countries. Shell is the leader in the retail sale of premium gasoline. This fuel is of high quality, but is also very expensive. Regular gasoline, alas, can with a stretch be called “average” - both in quality and in cost.
Gazpromneft
Gazpromneft has dozens of gas stations in 29 regions of Russia. It is a clear favorite among drivers due to its good fuel quality, rare cases of underfilling and fairly polite service. The prices are high, the bonus system is inconvenient. The disadvantages are also frequent queues at gas stations.
MTK
MTK is a small network of gas stations. The coverage of regions is still insufficient, so the company is not able to compete with the leaders. Unfortunately, this is also hampered by the fact that people remain dissatisfied with the quality of service (for example, gas stations refuse to show customers a product passport, although such a document is required to be provided upon request). But the quality of gasoline is one of the best.
Sibneft
Sibneft can boast of a good product: the company’s factories use powerful equipment, thanks to which it is possible to obtain raw materials at a greater depth than its main competitors. The disadvantage of Sibneft is that it has a small network and gas stations along the route are difficult to find. Interestingly, the company itself is not yet seeking to expand its influence. But the prices at their existing gas stations are very affordable.
TNK
Since 2022, TNK has been a division of Rosneft, which bought it. Is it any wonder that they pour gasoline there of similar quality and set exactly the same prices for standard and improved fuel. The network of TNCs is not very wide - in total there are about 600 gas stations in Russia and about 120 in the CIS countries.
Slavneft
Slavneft is a Russian-Belarusian company operating since 1994. Today, the main stakes belong to Rosneft and Gazprom Neft. Retail sale of gasoline through its own gas stations is not the main goal of this production company, so there are very few Slavneft gas stations. In 2009, most of them were sold to Sibneft. The remaining gas stations sell high-quality gasoline at reasonable prices.
Phaeton Aero
Phaeton Aero sells oil produced at the Kirishi and Yaroslavl refineries. Gas stations of this brand were created in the early 1990s and are mainly concentrated in the Leningrad region. The service at these gas stations is very good, there is practically no underfilling. Prices are average, but the quality of fuel could be better.
Rosneft
pros
- High-quality fuel assessed by foreign experts
- Regular quality checks of gas stations
Minuses
- Poor service at some stations.
Rosneft is one of the few organizations that has received a license from British Petroleum. This suggests that the quality of this brand of gasoline is comparable to its European counterparts. The main difference between Rosneft and other participants in this TOP is customer feedback. All complaints from gas station visitors are processed, and inspections are regularly carried out at the gas stations themselves. And although drivers still leave complaints about this company’s gas stations, the level of dissatisfaction is falling every year.
Criteria for determining the quality of gas stations
All data in this article is based on specific fuel quality tests. We used two options: we sent samples to the laboratory and tested them at home. Both methods are available to each of you. Please note that documents received from experts may prove non-compliance with the standard, which may be a reason for going to court at the gas station where low-quality gasoline was purchased. Home research is not proof - it is useful so that you yourself know about bad fuel and do not turn to unscrupulous gas stations.
Environmental class
To check the fuel for environmental friendliness, first of all you need to look at the presence of a Euro-5 certificate - it is given only for compliance with the standard of eco-purity of the petroleum product. Another indicator of quality are various awards such as the “Ecological Label”. Both, for example, are present in gasoline at Lukoil gas stations.
When choosing a gas station, pay attention to the environmental class of the fuel sold. Preference should be given to No. 4. If the class is not indicated at all at the gas station, it is not worth the risk (probably, class 1 or 2 gasoline is added there, which are considered “dirty” and are not able to pass certification under the Euro protocol).
The environmental friendliness of gasoline can be checked using a laboratory method. Experts identify the amount of sulfur, methanol and hydroxyl radicals. Large networks do not abuse these substances. But small regional gas stations, for the most part, fail the test for the environmental friendliness of additives - for example, at the Primoil gas station in AI-92, 13.3 microns/kg of sulfur was found instead of the required 10 microns/kg; at the Lesozavodsk gas station this substance is generally 27.1 microns/kg.
Octane number
When choosing gasoline, you should be guided not by the price, but by the recommendations of your car manufacturer. When it allows different octane numbers, pour any type of fuel into the tank. If not, only the appropriate one. In all the gas stations we examined, no deception was found with the indication of the octane number - it exactly corresponds to the prescribed index on the column. This was confirmed by documents received from the laboratories where we submitted samples (you cannot check it yourself at home).
Quality of service
This is the simplest parameter for assessing the performance of any gas station - it is obvious to every client. It is enough to come to a gas station and look at the behavior of the employees - how polite, responsive (ready to help), respect consumer rights (give receipts, show documents for goods upon request, etc.). The serviceability of the equipment and the absence of delays at the cash register are also taken into account. Comfort and appearance of gas stations are also important: ease of entry/exit, cleanliness, sufficient lighting, etc.
Even leaders can have problems with quality of service. For example, at many Lukoil gas stations, employees are openly rude to customers, and Gazpromneft cashiers are too slow, so queues form constantly.
Price policy
The cost at gas stations must be looked at for a specific region. For example, at the capital’s Trassa and Tatneft gas stations, the pricing policy is democratic in order to lure customers away from competitors. But in remote regions, the price, on the contrary, will seem a little too high, as it is outbid by small private owners. We cannot analyze all areas, we will give only a couple of examples:
- In terms of price in Moscow and the Moscow region, the lowest prices at the time of writing were at gas stations Gazpromneft, ESA; the lowest are Opti, Trassa, Neftmagistral.
- In the Volgograd region, the most expensive gasoline is from Gazpromneft, the lowest prices are from Tatneft and CNG filling stations.
- In St. Petersburg, Gazpromneft and Kirishaftoservis have a high price; low – at PTK and Rosneft gas stations.
Correspondence between the paid and actual volume of fuel
Underfilling is a serious problem for both chain gas stations and small private owners. There are two ways to determine that an insufficient amount of fuel has been filled into the car tank. You can fill up your car's full tank right at the gas station. If, with a capacity of 50 liters, the refueling meter shows, for example, 65 liters, then the deception is obvious.
The second way to check is to fill several canisters of the same volume at once. The fact is that when filling one tank, underfilling may not appear, since it can be “set”, for example, to add 330 ml for every 10 liters of fuel. If you fill two identical containers equally, then such a violation will be easily detected.
TNK
pros
- Qualified personnel
- No queues
Minuses
- Presence of equipment failures
TNK gas stations have an impressive number of customers. There are times when low-quality gasoline is poured into tanks, causing many problems with the engine.
How to check the quality of gasoline at home
At home, you can actually check gasoline purchased at a gas station for several parameters - dilution with water, the presence of resins and oils. No special ingredients, analyzers or other devices with indicators are required for such measurements - everything is extremely simple.
Color
There is an easy way to determine the presence of additives one drop at a time - apply it to white paper and wait 10-15 minutes. The color of a dried stain of good gasoline should be light. A brown, acidic or charcoal tint indicates low-quality or old fuel.
Dilution with water
The trick of diluting gasoline with water will be revealed by ordinary potassium permanganate. Take some fuel and drop this substance into it. In good fuel, potassium permanganate will simply dissolve without affecting its color in any way. If there is water in it, then purple stains will appear on the surface.
Presence of resins and oil
Apply some fuel to the glass and set it on fire. High-quality gasoline will burn intensely and will not leave any traces. If there is an excess of resins and oils in the composition, then after combustion there will be whitish stains or a residue similar to rust on the glass.
Shell
pros
- Availability of high-quality environmental fuel
Minuses
- Lack of own carriers
Shell is among the TOP best gas stations not only in Russia, but also abroad. The compliance of gasoline with all international standards and excellent interaction with the engines of modern and old cars make the fuel of this company in demand. Shell hires intermediaries to transport fuel.
The best gas stations on the M4 highway
The Tula region is affected by its proximity to Moscow, so there are the same gasoline leaders here as in the capital. Moving closer to the South, the situation with the best in fuel quality, prices and service changes. For example, in the vicinity of Voronezh the leaders are Gazpromneft (fuel supplied from the Astrakhan plant) and Rosneft (fuel from the Ryazan oil refinery). Closer to Rostov, it is better to refuel at gas stations of Gazpromneft, Shell and Bashneft. Residents and guests of the Krasnodar Territory prefer to refuel their cars at Rosneft (gasoline is supplied from the Saratov Oil Refinery).
Neftmagistral
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The company opened in 2001 and quickly took one of the leading positions in the ranking. The company is trying to develop not only the quality of gasoline, but also the quality of service, making its gas stations modern and comfortable.
The brands available to customers are: AI-80, AI-92, AI92+, AI-95, AI-95+, AI-98, Diesel.
Advantages:
- low prices;
- attentive attitude towards their clients, polite staff;
- quite developed network.
Flaws:
- There is often underfilling of fuel, which offsets the low cost.
The fuel complies with Euro-5 standard. Gas stations have shops and cafes where you can relax during the journey.
Which brand of 100 gasoline is better?
Gasoline with a hundredth octane number appeared at gas stations relatively recently; consumers are not yet very well versed in how to check its quality. According to experts, the leader in this segment is Lukoil Ecto 100. Its density is 746.9 kg/m3. It contains 7.8% oxygenates, 4.1 mg/kg sulfur, 0.46% benzene, and 0.01% additives. Weaving G-Drive is in second place in popularity. It is denser than Lukoil (749 kg/m3). It contains 10.6% oxygenates, 5 mg/kg sulfur, and 0.028% additives.
How to choose a quality diesel engine?
It is very difficult to determine the quality of diesel by visual method; here, just like with gasoline, a laboratory test is required. The main thing you need to know is that if the substance has acquired a cloudy color or is completely frozen, it means that the gas station either filled it with bad diesel, or sold summer diesel instead of winter diesel. The damage from such errors is significant. The fact is that during the use of summer diesel fuel, condensation begins to accumulate in the tank, which, due to different densities, settles at the bottom, creating a kind of plug. And when the temperature outside drops below freezing, it turns into ice and harms the entire system.
The production and quality of diesel is also regulated by state standards: R 55475-201 - “Winter and Arctic dewaxed diesel fuel. National standard" and GOST 305-2013 - "Diesel fuel. Interstate standard".
According to these standards, diesel fuel must become cloudy at a temperature not lower than -22 C, and the filterability temperature must not be lower than -32 C. The latter indicator determines the limit for the free movement of fuel through the filter element.
Also one of the key requirements is environmental safety, which is regulated by document TR CU -10/2011.
There are several types of diesel fuel in accordance with the degree of environmental friendliness:
- Euro 6 is a recently introduced European standard, which is not yet in effect in Russia. It is considered the most stringent and environmentally safe due to the exhaust recirculation system specially created for it, which implies that the exhaust contains only water and harmless gases.
- Euro 5 - has been in force since 2009 and is recognized as mandatory for all diesel vehicles produced by the global automotive industry;
- Euro 4 is the minimum standard for Russia, which the international community intends to abandon in the near future.
- Euro 3 is an outdated standard for diesel fuel, which is no longer used in production due to non-compliance with new requirements.
There are also divisions into classes according to the level of sulfur content: K2 (not 500 mg per 1 kg), K3 (not 350 mg per 1 kg), K4 (not 50 mg per 1 kg), K5 ( less than 10 mg per 1 kg).
Diesel supplied to the Russian Federation must have an environmental safety rating of at least K5. However, in reality this is not always the case.
Criterias of choice
- Scope of use - diesel fuel is used for railway transport, in agricultural and military equipment, in automobile transport with a diesel engine, as well as on sea and river vessels.
- Cvetan number - if in a gasoline engine ignition is stimulated by a spark, then in a diesel engine this process begins due to the compression force. The color number displays how quickly the mixture of fuel and air ignites in the engine cylinders. On average, this indicator varies in the range from 40 to 55, the optimal value is 48-51, the minimum recommended is 45. With indicators less than 40, the fuel is considered to be of poor quality. In Europe, the color number must be at least 54-56.
- Density - the volume of fuel in the generator depends on density indicators. If the density corresponds to the norm, then this contributes to the release of a sufficient amount of thermal energy. The norm for summer diesel fuel is 863.4 kg per m3, for winter diesel fuel is 843.4 kg per m3, for Arctic diesel fuel is 833.5 kg per m3.
- Flash t0C - determines the safety of using fuel. For diesel fuel in general use, this figure is not b. 40 C.
- Sulfur content - the sulfur content is especially strictly controlled, as it is not only dangerous to the environment, but also leads to corrosion, carbon deposits and wear of the engine and the entire system. The mass fraction should not exceed 2000 mg per 1 kg. However, if the level of sulfur compounds is too low, the fuel loses its lubricating properties and the addition of appropriate additives is required.
Which gas stations are underfilled: anti-rating of gas stations
No one is going to blame the entire company for underfilling fuel. This sin is observed at individual gas stations. But, judging by my own experience and reviews on the Internet, underfilling of more than 100 ml is observed at most gas stations of the following giants:
- TNC;
- Route;
- Neftmagistral;
- Tatneft;
- Rosneft.
ESA, Shell and Lukoil turned out to be the cleanest in terms of underfilling. Only a few dissatisfied customers accuse these gas stations of obvious fraud with the amount of fuel distributed.
Lukoil
pros
- Having your own gasoline supplier
- High degree of fuel purity
- Possibility of purchasing Ecto plus gasoline
Minuses
- Relatively high prices
Lukoil is one of the giants of the fuel market. The fuel supplied to these gas stations is produced using deep distillation units. In this regard, all the company’s products meet Euro 5 standards. Despite the relatively high cost of gasoline, the quality of gasoline from Lukoil has always been at its best. By the way, some customers of these gas stations complain about batches of low-quality fuel, but, apparently, such cases are isolated.
Is Russian fuel different from European fuel?
Naturally, the quality of Russian fuel differs from the quality of European fuel. What is this connected with? With the fact that Russian oil refineries have not yet switched to the production of gasoline and diesel fuel that would meet Euro III and Euro IV standards. However, the demand for these types of fuel is still very low, since there are still very few engines that meet these standards in the Siberian region. It should be noted that in terms of its physical qualities and octane number, Russian gasoline is in no way inferior to European fuel. Moreover, the Russian market has developed a clearer classification of gasoline brands by octane numbers than in Europe. At the same time, Russian gasoline is inferior to European gasoline in such important indicators as benzene and sulfur content. For example, in Europe the benzene content in gasoline should not exceed 0.8-1%. In Russian fuel, higher concentrations are allowed - up to 5% benzene. It is benzene that is the main cause of increased carbon formation in the combustion chamber of the engine, which in turn leads to a deterioration in its efficiency and also reduces the environmental performance of the engine.
British Petroleum
BP is one of the world's most famous gas station chains. It is also popular in Russia. The company has its own oil production capacity. British Petroleum petrol is recommended by leading car manufacturers. Both abroad and in Russia, the quality of fuel from the British network leaves no doubt. However, the network has relatively high prices.
British Petroleum
7SibNeft
Although SibNeft's activities were initially limited to the Tomsk region, now the gas stations of this network have spread throughout the Russian Federation. In 2013, the company developed a new fifth-class Prime fuel with improved characteristics. This fuel is claimed to reduce engine maintenance costs, reduce the rate of engine oil contamination and increase spark plug life. In addition, it is more environmentally friendly.
What is octane number?
The main indicator of the detonation resistance of a combustible material. Indicates the amount of gasoline's ability to resist ignition. It is tested in research laboratories using special equipment - 1-cylinder units with a variable level of fuel compression.
Such installations operate at 600 rpm. The air and mixture temperature is 52 degrees Celsius, and the ignition timing is 13 degrees.
Is it possible to fill in 92nd gasoline instead of 95th?
What kind of gasoline should I put in my car if the instructions say 95, but I really want to save money? Alas, only the 95th. You don’t want to be denied warranty repairs if there’s a breakdown, do you?
As soon as you fill the car with fuel with a lower octane rating, it will begin to “be capricious”: make clicking sounds reminiscent of the knocking of valves. This indicates detonation processes occurring inside the engine. Another sign of detonation is when the engine continues to run after you have already turned off the ignition. You can't expect anything good in this case.
To avoid serious damage and expensive repairs, it is advisable to drain low-octane gasoline from the tank as soon as possible and fill the car with fuel that fully complies with the manufacturer’s recommendations. If a breakdown does occur, the service center will quickly understand what happened. In this case, you will have to carry out all repair work at your own expense.
If you have an ECU, the negative consequences are minimized, but then you will significantly lose power. Is there any point in such savings?!
Top 1. Atan
Rating (2021): 4.90
932 reviews from resources taken into account: Yandex.Maps
The best network by number of gas stations
The Crimean network of Atan gas stations has more than 100 stations. This is the largest and most popular gas station among Crimeans and guests of the peninsula.
- Characteristics Price AI-95: 53.99 rub.
- DT price: 52.95 rub.
- Number of refills: more than 100
The most prominent network of gas stations in Crimea is steadily expanding - new Atan gas stations regularly appear on the roads. The company owns its own network of oil depots in all regions of Crimea. Upon arrival at the base, each batch of petroleum products is checked, and before transporting the fuel to the gas station, its density and temperature are monitored. Numerous reviews from drivers confirm that the quality of the fuel here can be trusted. There is a gas station. True, drivers complain that the gas in the tank fits 5-6 liters more than the volume of the tank itself. At gas stations there is a bistro where you can count on delicious coffee and a fresh snack. In Stopmarket stores you can find something for your car, hygiene, buy groceries or a toy. As elsewhere, prices here are higher than in regular supermarkets. A flexible bonus system allows you to receive 1-2 bonuses for every ruble spent, and accumulated points are spent at the rate of 100 bonuses = 1 ruble. In reviews, people also praise the perfect cleanliness of the toilets at the network’s gas stations.
Advantages and disadvantages
- A large number of gas stations
- Flexible bonus system
- Gas filling
- Service level
Not always the exact amount of refill
Gazpromneft
pros
- Availability of own research centers
- Obtaining a passport for each batch of gasoline
- Good value for money
ConsChance of facing underfilling
Gazpromneft is the company that has managed to outperform its competitors in terms of the quality of the fuel it sells. Each fuel truck of this company is equipped with a GPS tracker, which indicates conscientiousness; they note the positive dynamics of the engines of their vehicles and the competent staff of gas stations. At the same time, taking into account all the innovations introduced by the company, gasoline prices remain affordable. The best diesel fuel can be found here, since its production is based on gas condensate, which contains thickening agents, which allows it to be used at very low temperatures.
Tatneft
pros
- A large number of stations in the capital
- Strict control of all gasoline batches
ConsLack of own factories
In Moscow, drivers can come across a huge number of Tatneft gas stations. High-quality gasoline at these gas stations is far from uncommon. has great prospects: it is expanding its stores, setting up cafes, and improving the quality of fuel. At the same time, the company does not hesitate to talk about the presence of additives in gasoline, which indicates its honesty. And as you know, the key to the success of any organization is openness.
