What to Expect

Fuel marketers can anticipate accessing these new standards on toptiergas.com by early January, with consumer availability of TOP TIER+ Approved Fuels later in 2025. The new standards affirm the commitment of TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels to delivering superior fuel performance and engine care.

New Gasoline Performance Standards

The current TOP TIER™ Detergent Gasoline Deposit Control Performance Standard is recognized for defining market-leading port fuel injected (PFI) engine intake valve and combustion chamber deposit cleanliness requirements.

Introducing the TOP TIER+™ Approved Gasoline Performance Standard will extend these benefits to newer, higher-efficiency gasoline direct-injected (GDI) engines. The new gasoline standard will include a GDI Fuel Injector Cleanliness Engine Dynamometer Test while monitoring for optimal emissions and combustion behavior.

Updated Diesel Performance Standards

Today’s TOP TIER™ Diesel Fuel Performance Standard has been streamlined into two levels of performance requirements for greater market flexibility:

• TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel Performance Standard has been revised to focus on detergency and contamination cleanliness requirements.
• TOP TIER+™ Approved Diesel Performance Standard adds enhanced fuel injection hardware wear protection and greater fuel storage stability to the base-level features.

Confidence for Consumers

“Our primary goal is to keep consumers and the optimal performance of their vehicle investment at the forefront when setting the program’s fuel performance standards,” explained Veronica Reilly, M.S., TOP TIER™ Program Manager, Senior Engineer, GEFL
General Motors. “This data-driven, high-quality fuel detergency program is sponsored by leading global automotive manufacturers, providing consumers with the confidence they need in their fuel selection.”

For additional information, visit www.toptiergas.com or contact Jim Kosmerick, Marketing Manager, TOPTIER@CenterForQA.com. 

The TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels Program is excited to announce the release of its new Station Finder mobile app, designed to enhance the fueling experience for consumers across North America and beyond. This innovative app allows users to easily locate fuel stations offering TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels based on their current location. The TOP TIER™ Station Finder app is available on the App Store or Google Play – Download now.

Key Features of the Station Finder App

• Location-Based Search: Users can find nearby fuel stations offering TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels with a convenient map feature.
• Brand and Fuel Preference: Filter results by preferred fuel brands and types, such as gasoline, diesel, or both.
• Amenities Information: Discover station amenities, with ongoing updates from station owners to provide the most current information.

“We are thrilled to offer this new tool to help consumers quickly and easily find TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels,” said Veronica Reilly, M.S., TOP TIER™ Program Manager, Senior Engineer, GEFL, General Motors.  “Our goal is to make high-quality fuel accessible, and this app is a significant step in that direction.”

Fuel retailers of any size can join the TOP TIER™ Program, which currently boasts more than 90,000 retail outlets in North America offering favorite brands of TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels. The program is also expanding rapidly throughout Latin America, with significant growth expected into 2025.

Advancing Fuel Standards for New Engine Technologies

TOP TIER™ Approved Fuel requirements are continually evolving to keep pace with advancements in engine technology. New performance standards, set to be released in early 2025, will focus on greater fuel injector cleanliness for high-efficiency gasoline direct injected (GDI) engines. Additionally, two streamlined standards for diesel fuel distribution will be introduced to better meet retailers’ diverse fuel quality needs.

The TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels Program is backed by leading automotive manufacturers and heavy-duty equipment producers, ensuring that consumers receive the highest quality fuel. Participating brands and additional information about the program can be found at www.toptiergas.com.

For additional information, visit toptiergas.com or contact William Studzinski, Program Manager, at TOPTIER@CenterForQA.com.

For an in-depth look at these advantages and more: check out the full video.

Read Full Article Here

“From day one, our vision for the TOP TIER™ Program was clear: set a new standard for fuel detergency that meets the evolving needs of modern engines and the consumers who rely on them,” said Veronica Reilly, Program Manager, Senior Engineer, GEFL, General Motors. “Twenty years later, we celebrate not only the achievements of the past but the innovations that lie ahead.”

A Standard Born of Innovation

The TOP TIER™ Program was developed to ensure high detergency gasoline that would significantly reduce the incidence of injector plugging and valve deposit concerns, minimize vehicle emissions, and help maintain optimal performance.  From the beginning, this voluntary program included rigorous yet attainable standards, including stringent California Air Resources Board (CARB) limits for Intake Valve Deposit (IVD) and Combustion Chamber Deposit (CCD).

Roaring Success from the Starting Line

The program prides itself on being a win, win, win for consumers, fuel marketers, and automotive manufacturers alike — a vision that garnered immediate support from major fuel marketers such as Chevron, Texaco, ConocoPhillips, QuikTrip, and Shell and today includes over 80 fuel brands.    Visit the TOP TIER™ website for the full list of your favorite TOP TIER™ brands.

Growth and Recognition Over the Years

Since then, the TOP TIER™ Program has undergone several revisions to keep pace with the release of ever-changing high efficiency engine technologies. In addition to engine technology, in 2010, the program required that all TOP TIER™ additives validate their performance at an ISO 17025 accredited engine testing laboratory. With the upcoming seventh revision slated for 2024, the program will integrate Gasoline Direct Injected (GDI) Engine technology standards with the existing Port Fuel Injected (PFI) engine guidelines.  And for diesel, the new requirements will be simplified and help fuel brands better differentiate their performance through the use of two optional levels of requirements.

An Expanding Sphere of Influence

The commitment to excellence has propelled TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline beyond North American borders, with international fuel marketers coming aboard.  There has been tremendous interest throughout the Latin Americas, and as of March 1^st, Costco has launched the first TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline brand in Japan.  

Looking Ahead — Innovation and Accessibility

In its 20th year, TOP TIER™ continues to blaze a trail as it prepares to introduce cutting-edge GDI and PFI engine technology Performance Standards. Complementing these engineering standards will be a greater emphasis on consumer awareness through digital marketing and social media presence and the launch of a new mobile phone app Station Finder to help busy Consumers find their favorite TOP TIER™ Approved Fuel brands while on the go.

A Testimony to Excellence

“We’re proud to mark two decades of TOP TIER™ as the gold standard in fuel detergent quality,” said Bill Studzinski, Center for Quality Assurance Program Manager. “Our ongoing mission is to ensure consumers have confidence that TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels have been independently validated for engine cleanliness and that the program’s automotive sponsors stand behind. The next phase of the program not only commemorates 20 years of innovation but also reinforces our commitment to future advances in fuel technology.”

For additional information visit toptiergas.com/history, or contact Cindy Esler, Marketing Communications, at cesler@CenterForQA.com. 

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About CENTER FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

The Center for Quality Assurance (CQA) develops, implements, and administers licensing programs for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specified materials such as oils, lubricants, transmission fluids, fuels, additives, and greases. By working with CQA, OEMs can focus on developing their next generation of equipment and material specifications, while CQA manages the programs that support those developments.  Through dedicated customer care and the pursuit of business excellence, our mission is to create and administer world-class licensing and quality control programs within the industries we serve.

TOP TIER™ FUELS PROGRAM – The TOP TIER™ Fuels Program was established by OEMs to develop fuel offering cleaner engine performance, lower emissions, and optimal fuel economy for drivers everywhere.

FCA ATF+4® PROGRAM – Marketplace demands and evolving transmission technology prompted FCA US LLC to establish a licensing program for advanced synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid – ATF+4.

IFC VEHICLE FLUIDS PROGRAM – Vehicle technologies are evolving at a faster pace than ever before, placing a greater emphasis on fluid performance, availability, and quality. OEMs established a licensing program to provide consumers with optimized fluid performance to meet advanced vehicle requirements.

NLGI HPM GREASE PROGRAM – The High-Performance Multiuse (HPM) Grease Program is a licensing and product certification program for greases used in various lubricating applications.

TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline has become a top choice for motorists seeking optimal performance and efficiency for their vehicles. With its comprehensive detergent package, this gasoline is designed to keep engines clean and running smoothly, resulting in improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.

Read AAA – GASOLINE QUALITY: MORE THAN JUST GRADE LEVELS here.

The TOP TIER™ Program, developed and overseen by some of the leading automotive and heavy-duty equipment manufacturers, upholds rigorous performance standards that Fuel Retailers must follow, as well as comply with regular audits conducted by an ISO 17025 certified laboratory.

A searchable list of all TOP TIER™ licensed brands, sorted by brand and country, is available with our Station Finder: https://stationfinder.toptiergas.com/

Mike Campbell, Vice President, Subaru of America, Inc., remarked, “At Subaru, we continually look for ways to ensure that our vehicles perform just as our engineers intended, and supporting the TOP TIER™ Program is an extension of that philosophy. We welcome fuel retailers to provide TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels to help our customers maintain their vehicles in peak condition while helping to minimize vehicle emissions.”

Now a member of the TOP TIER™ Program, Subaru joins Audi, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Daimler Truck, Mercedes-Benz, Navistar, Stellantis, Toyota and Volkswagen.  Together, these leading automotive and heavy-duty equipment manufacturers strive to develop and promote high-quality fuel performance standards that benefit vehicles worldwide.

TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels contain specific levels of detergent additives and quality controls to protect engines from deposit build-up, which helps maintain optimal vehicle performance and minimizes vehicle emissions. 

“We are pleased to welcome Subaru of America to the TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels Program,” said William Studzinski, Program Manager for the Center for Quality Assurance, Administrator of the TOP TIER™ Program.  “This sponsorship marks an important step for industry leaders like Subaru who are committed to promoting high-quality fuel detergency performance standards.  By becoming part of TOP TIER™, Subaru can now help shape future fuel quality standards.  

For additional information, contact Cindy Esler, Marketing Communications, at cesler@CenterForQA.com.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $165 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

About CENTER FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

The Center for Quality Assurance (CQA) develops, implements, and administers licensing programs for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specified materials such as oils, lubricants, transmission fluids, fuels, additives, and greases. By working with CQA, OEMs can focus on developing their next generation of equipment and material specifications, while CQA manages the programs that support those developments.  Through dedicated customer care and the pursuit of business excellence, our mission is to create and administer world-class licensing and quality control programs within the industries we serve.

TOP TIER™ FUEL PROGRAM – The TOP TIER™ Fuel Program was established by OEMs to develop fuel offering cleaner engine performance, lower emissions, and optimal fuel economy for drivers everywhere.

FCA ATF+4® PROGRAM – Marketplace demands and evolving transmission technology prompted FCA US LLC to establish a licensing program for advanced synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid – ATF+4.

IFC VEHICLE FLUIDS PROGRAM – Vehicle technologies are evolving at a faster pace than ever before, placing a greater emphasis on fluid performance, availability, and quality. OEMs established a licensing program to provide consumers with optimized fluid performance to meet advanced vehicle requirements.

NLGI HPM GREASE PROGRAM – The High-Performance Multiuse (HPM) Grease Program is a licensing and product certification program for greases used in various lubricating applications.

An article published by ABC4, a news station located in Salt Lake City, Utah, shed light on the rise in gas prices in Utah as the summer months approach. The author provided some useful tips to increase your fuel economy and help save money at the gas pumps, which highlighted TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline, stating that it is “overall better for your car” and will “also help make your gas go further.”

Read the article for tips on how to save money at the gas pumps here.