A strange thing is happening in the world of gas prices.

Discount prices at some gas stations aren't such a discount anymore and are being separated by less than a dime a gallon from gas prices at some name brand stations.

Naturally, the caveat in finding those prices is smart shopping and access to a state highway with a selection of gas stations. But the numbers are bearing this out, which can be seen by checking the map on GasBuddy.com before getting behind the wheel.

A survey of gas station on Route 22 in Union on Friday yielded a Sunoco and an Exxon priced at $2.19 a gallon, within seven cents a gallon of an unbranded Fuel Stop. Route 28 in Cranford was a little higher, with a Sunoco priced at $2.25 while a generic station named "Gas" was at $2.15, GasBuddy reported.

Unbranded gas stations, such as this Delta on Route 27 in Edison, are coming off a supply disruption which increased prices. This price seen on Thursday, had dropped by Friday.

On Route 27, a Shell Station was $2.15, A Delta at $2.10 and a BP at $2.19 on Friday. To put that in perspective, the average price of regular in the state was $2.25 on Friday, which dropped three cents a gallon from the previous Friday, according to GasBuddy.com. That price was $2.24 a gallon Monday morning.

The cheapest discounters were priced at $1.94 to $2.04 on Monday, with only two stations below the $2 mark, GasBuddy reported.

Unbranded gas stations are coming off the end of a supply pinch, caused by a Halloween fire on the Colonial Pipeline in Alabama, which disrupted supplies until it was restarted on Nov. 6.

That issue affected unbranded stations, bumping their prices up, said Tom Kloza, Oil Price Information Service global petroleum expert. Some of those price increases started to roll back last week.

A slide in the cost of both crude oil and wholesale gas on commodities markets helped that last week. Crude oil went down to $43.23 a barrel after poking over $45 in the middle of last week on the New York Mercantile Exchange, as reported NASDAQ. Wholesale gas also took

Wholesale gas also took a downhill ride all week, dropping almost a dime per gallon before landing at $1.29.

Does that make it worthwhile or a waste to tank up on the "good stuff," also known as "top tier" name brand gas?

"You will pay a little more for it, but it will be beneficial for (engine) valve and fuel injectors," said Richard Reina, product training director for CARiD.com, who's worked in the automotive industry for 30 years.

Reina cited a AAA study, which said that using "top tier" gas will allow drivers to avoid expensive engine and fuel system repairs in the future. That study was based on running engines on top tier and other gas and taking them apart to see if it made a difference in carbon deposits on engine intake valves and other parts.



Brand name oil companies worked with automotive manufacturers to formulate gas that goes beyond the minimum detergent standards set by the Environmental Protection Administration, Reina said. Drivers who keep their vehicle longer will be most likely to benefit from using better gas, he said.

Kloza said a different study disputed the AAA study.

"Every gas has detergent additives," he said. "Some branded gas put in more and get top tier status."

If a motorist is concerned about carbon deposits, they could use top tier gas on every third tank full, he said.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.