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TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline Brands

TOP TIER™ Detergent Gasoline is a fuel performance standard based on Deposit Control Additives and designed to minimize carbon deposit build up on critical engine components like air intake valves and injectors. It also prohibits the use of organometallic additives known to damage catalytic converters. Initially developed by a smaller group of leading automotive manufactures, the sponsor group has grown to its current number of ten.

The TOP TIER™ logo recognizes a retailer’s participation in the program and indicates their commitment to supplying fuel meeting the TOP TIER™ requirements.

Developed by automotive manufacturers and supplied by participating fuel retailers, the goal is to provide our common customer, the vehicle owner, with a higher quality fuel.

  • All retail locations within the licensed country must meet the high standards of the TOP TIER™ program.
  • All gasoline grades must be treated with an approved TOP TIER™ Detergent Gasoline additive at the correct concentration.
  • The TOP TIER™ logo must be prominently displayed at the stations for easy consumer recognition.
  • TOP TIER™ licensed retailers agree their gasoline will not contain organo-metalic additives (such as MMT or Ferrocine) known to be harmful to after-treatment systems.
top tier approved gasoline

Licensed TOP TIER™ Gasoline Retailers must adhere to the rigorous fuel detergency performance requirements. Be assured, the performance standard applies to all octane grades sold in each of the retail outlets, even if a TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline sticker is not found on the pump. Please contact us if no pump sticker is found on licensed brands.

Automakers Recommend

Some of the leading automakers sponsor the TOP TIER™ Program and recommend its consistent use in vehicles to minimize carbon deposit build-up and keep engines operating as designed. The number of sponsors has grown over the years and now includes BMW, General Motors, Stellantis, Ford, Honda, Daimler Truck, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Navistar and Audi.

Minimize Deposits

Deposits that form in engines and fuel delivery systems can cause performance issues such as reduced fuel economy, increased emissions and drivability problems such as hard starting, hesitation and stalling. TOP TIER™ Approved Gasolines use additives tested and shown to minimize deposits.

Emission System Protection

TOP TIER™ prohibits the use of organometallic additives that are known to damage emissions aftertreatment systems.

Automakers Recommend

Many of the leading automakers sponsor the TOP TIER™ program and recommend its consistent use in vehicles to minimize carbon deposit build-up and keep engines operating as designed. The number of sponsors has grown over the years and now includes BMW, General Motors, Stellantis, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Navistar and Audi.

Many of the leading automakers sponsor the TOP TIER™ program and recommend its consistent use in vehicles to minimize carbon deposit build-up and keep engines operating as designed. The number of sponsors has grown over the years and now includes BMW, General Motors, Stellantis, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Navistar and Audi.

Fuel Standards & Detergency

In the United States, fuel standards are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 1996 EPA established a gasoline deposit control additive program to ensure that all gasoline used in the United States contains additives that limit the formation of such deposits. This is known as LAC (Lowest Allowable Concentration). Over the next 8 years, automakers saw evidence that detergency levels should be higher for optimum performance and introduced the TOP TIER ™ Performance Standard in 2004.

In the United States, fuel standards are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 1996 EPA established a gasoline deposit control additive program to ensure that all gasoline used in the United States contains additives that limit the formation of such deposits. This is known as LAC (Lowest Allowable Concentration). Over the next 8 years, automakers saw evidence that detergency levels should be higher for optimum performance and introduced the TOP TIER ™ Performance Standard in 2004.

Minimize Deposits

Deposits that form in engines and fuel delivery systems can cause performance issues such as reduced fuel economy, increased emissions and drivability problems such as hard starting, hesitation and stalling. TOP TIER™ Detergent Gasolines use additives tested and shown to minimize deposits.

Deposits that form in engines and fuel delivery systems can cause performance issues such as reduced fuel economy, increased emissions and drivability problems such as hard starting, hesitation and stalling. TOP TIER™ Detergent Gasolines use additives tested and shown to minimize deposits.

Emission System Protection

TOP TIER™ prohibits the use of organo-metallic additives that are known to damage catalytic converters.

TOP TIER™ prohibits the use of organo-metallic additives that are known to damage catalytic converters.

Retailers Join the Program

Fuel marketers and retailers voluntarily join the TOP TIER™ program and agree to supply fuel meeting the Performance Standard using TOP TIER™ approved additives at a specified concentration. TOP TIER™ retailers supply fuel meeting the requirements at all their stations in all octane grades offered.

Fuel marketers and retailers voluntarily join the TOP TIER™ program and agree to supply fuel meeting the Performance Standard using TOP TIER™ approved additives at a specified concentration. TOP TIER™ retailers supply fuel meeting the requirements at all their stations in all octane grades offered.

The Goal

Automotive manufacturers develop performance requirements based on evolving engine technology, fuel marketers and retailers choose to enroll and be recognized as a supplier of gasoline meeting the TOP TIER™ requirements. Working together to improve customer satisfaction!

Automotive manufacturers develop performance requirements based on evolving engine technology, fuel marketers and retailers choose to enroll and be recognized as a supplier of gasoline meeting the TOP TIER™ requirements.

Working together to improve customer satisfaction!

A Higher Fuel Standard

Is TOP TIER™ Better?

What is TOP TIER™ gasoline?

TOP TIER™ Request to Purchase Decals

Fill out this form to obtain the information necessary for purchasing TOP TIER™ decals.

Center for Quality Assurance
Attn: TOP TIER Licensing Program | 4800 James Savage Road | Midland, MI 48642 USA

Becoming a TOP TIER™ Licensee

Fill out this form to obtain the information necessary for becoming a TOP TIER™ Licensee.
For TOP TIER™ Approved Diesel qualification, provide information on use of 10 micron (absolute) filters for low-flow dispenser pumps and 30 micron (or less) filters for high-flow dispenser pumps.

Center for Quality Assurance
Attn: TOP TIER Licensing Program | 4800 James Savage Road | Midland, MI 48642 USA