Frequently Asked Questions
Are there ARCO stations throughout the United States?
ARCO gasoline stations are only located in five western states—Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. If you are planning to visit any of these states or want to find the closest ARCO station in your area, check the Station Locator.Why is ARCO gasoline usually less expensive than other brands?
For many years, ARCO has had a unique business approach. Among major gasoline brands we're known as a "high-volume, low-cost retailer." More simply stated, the more efficient the company is, the more our customers save. And since we sell nearly twice as much gas at the average ARCO station as the industry average, our customers usually save 5 to 10 cents per gallon on average compared to other major brands.**Savings based on January–December 2009 Lundberg Price Survey weighted average industry differential street price for all three gasoline grades in the following markets: Los Angeles, San Diego, Bakersfield, San Francisco, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, Portland and Seattle.
Why is there a $0.45 convenience fee for the use PIN debit cards?
In an effort to balance the customer's need for convenience and value, PayQuick terminals are available on our islands. PayQuick is an easy way for customers to pay for their gas using cash, debit cards, PumpPass or GasPRO Plus Cards. There is a 45-cent processing fee for debit cards only, in addition to any fees your bank may charge for this service. For all other transactions there are no additional fees. This allows our customers the flexibility of using a debit card.For your convenience we offer the ARCO Debit MasterCard that links to your existing checking account and can be used anywhere debit MasterCard is. You will not be charged the 45-cent convenience fee on debit transactions when using this card at ARCO or ampm*. For assistance with an ARCO Debit MasterCard account, please call 1-800-959-3349.
*This 45¢ convenience fee is the amount ARCO® and ampm® charges for debit transactions. The amount of this convenience fee may change from time to time without prior notification. This offer valid only at participating ARCO and ampm locations.
Why don't ARCO stations accept credit cards?
We do not accept credit cards because in doing so, we would incur additional fees from the credit card companies on each gallon of fuel you buy. As most of our customers pay with cash, we do not accept credit cards as part of our strategy to sell good gas at a good price.For your convenience, you can now apply for an ARCO Debit MasterCard that links to your existing checking account and can be used anywhere Debit MasterCard cards are accepted. You will not be charged the 45-cent convenience fee on debit transactions at ARCO or ampm locations.
Is ARCO gas good quality gas?
Yes. At ARCO gasoline stations, we sell only high-quality gas. To guarantee that, we regularly test our gasoline and conduct quality surveys in all our regions. In addition, we also subscribe to several independent gas surveys, which are taken in each district. Not surprisingly, in every test, ARCO gasoline rates just as high, if not higher, than all the other major brands on key performance specifications.What do different octanes mean?
Different types of gasoline are rated on their ability to resist knocking. The actual octane number is a measurement that gauges the gasoline's ability to resist knocking. Higher octane levels indicate anti-knock potential. In most cases, light pinging or knocking will not cause power loss or severe harm to vehicles. However, heavy or prolonged knocking may cause engine damage and should be checked by an automobile mechanic.How do I know what octane is right for my car?
Check your vehicle owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommended octane rating. Unfortunately, the manufacturer's recommended fuel octane level does not always guarantee that a vehicle will perform absolutely knock-free. Due to normal production variations, there can be noticeable differences among engines, even of the same make and model. If your vehicle experiences heavy knocking while using fuel at, or above, the recommend octane level, we suggest you have your vehicle serviced.Do premium grades of gasoline really keep your car performing better?
Your vehicle should perform at its best when the appropriate level of octane is being used for the engine in which it is being combusted. There is no benefit to using gasoline of a higher octane than the engine requires to perform knock-free.Are over-the-counter fuel-additive treatments beneficial to my car's performance?
If you use quality gasoline, such as ARCO, there's generally no need to use additional additives in your vehicle. All ARCO gas contains an additive that works to help keep your car engine running smoothly. Under normal driving conditions, there should be no need to use additional fuel-additive treatments. If you do choose to use performance additives, we recommend that you first check your vehicle owner's manual for manufacturer recommendations.What is oxygenated fuel?
Oxygenated fuel is gasoline blended with oxygenates like ethanol. What that means is that the gas contains more oxygen so it burns cleaner, significantly reducing auto-exhaust emissions, particularly carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in older-model vehicles. Newer-model vehicles have sophisticated engine-control systems that minimize the benefit of having more oxygen in gasoline. In addition, refiners can make other changes to the composition of gasoline that achieves similar emission reductions without the use of oxygenates. Currently, federal regulations require oil companies to produce and sell oxygenated fuel year-round in many major cities in the U.S. State regulations also require oxygenated fuel in the winter for cities that have carbon-monoxide problems.Will ethanol in ARCO-branded gasoline change my car's performance?
BP's oxygenate choices in ARCO-branded gasoline reflect our commitment to gasoline quality. Tests by BP and others show that use of ethanol should not harm the engines and fuel systems of modern vehicles.How will ARCO gasoline with ethanol perform in my car?
Ethanol-blended ARCO gasoline should perform in engines similar to the way our previous gasoline did. With any oxygenated gasoline, there will likely be a slight reduction in performed fuel economy by approximately two to four percent.What about using ethanol-blended gasoline in smaller engines, motorcycles, snowmobiles and boats?
You should consult your owner's manual and/or the engine manufacturer. If the owner's manual prohibits the use of ethanol blends, consult with the manufacturer for the latest information.Can I use ARCO's ethanol-blended gasoline in my small aircraft?
No automotive gasoline can be used for refueling aircraft. However, some pilots and aircraft owners have obtained FAA certificates to use motor gasoline for their aircraft. Currently, the FAA prohibits the use of ethanol blends for this application.Can I use ARCO gasoline blended with ethanol in my antique car?
Most cars' fuel systems with either fuel injectors or carburetors manufactured since the early 1980s were made with materials designed to tolerate oxygenates including ethanol. Therefore, most modern cars should run just fine on ethanol-blended gasoline.For antique cars, owners should consult with the manufacturers for compatibility of ethanol blends with antique engine parts. If ethanol blends are used, regular inspection of the fuel-delivery system by trained mechanics should be undertaken.
