Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions and comments are important to us. Browse through our frequently asked questions below.
Your questions and comments are important to us.
Browse through our frequently asked questions below.
About ARCO's Quality TOP TIER™ Gas
TOP TIER™ gas meets or exceeds all EPA, CARB* and ASTM standards for quality and provides what modern cars need to run well. The additive levels in ARCO gas are sufficient to help keep fuel injectors clean.
*CARB standards are met at all California ARCO fueling locations.
*To learn more, visit www.toptiergas.com.
Octane rating is a measure of a gasoline’s resistance to knock. The higher the rating, the greater the knock resistance. Today’s engines have knock sensors to sense the onset of knock and a computerized engine management system that adjusts the spark timing. This computerized “detuning” of the engine can prevent knock in the first place. That’s all well and good, except that a detuned engine has less power, resulting in less efficient use of gasoline.
As engine technology evolves, requirements for premium gas may also evolve. Furthermore, as cars age, they can develop an increased octane requirement. ARCO offers a range of gas for today’s vehicles, so the best thing to do is consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for its recommendation on gas selection.
If you use ARCO gasoline, there’s no need to use additional additives in your vehicle. All ARCO gasoline contains an additive that works to help keep your car engine running smoothly.
You should consult your vehicle’s 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.
Technical information on ARCO gasoline is available from ARCO Customer Relations. Call us at 1-800-322-ARCO (1-800-322-2726). Or visit us here.
As of June 1, 2013, Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company LLC (a subsidiary of Tesoro Corporation) acquired all of the rights, title and interest in the ARCO trademark.
Payment & Card Questions
ARCO accepts Cash and Debit cards. In addition, ARCO PumpPASS prepaid cards are easy to get and easy to use—plus, they make great gifts! The ARCO fleet card program provides a number of helpful tools for businesses.
Credit cards are accepted at participating ARCO locations across the states of Washington and Oregon, as well as the Las Vegas and Fresno areas.
There are costs involved with accepting and processing payment cards. There is a 35-cent processing fee for debit cards only, in addition to any fees your bank may charge for this service. The convenience fee charged is not retained by the individual site operator. It is used to pay the debit processing fee charged to the sites by banks that issue the cards. For all other transactions there are no additional fees. This allows our consumers the flexibility of using a debit card while still providing value that our consumers expect.
*This 35 cent convenience fee is the amount ARCO® and ampm® charge for debit transactions. The amount of this convenience fee may change from time to time without prior notification.
Mobile Wallet is an alternative to traditional payment methods (card, cash or check) that allows consumers to purchase gas or merchandise using their mobile device.
Mobile Wallet uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. These technologies utilize radio frequencies to identify and transmit data between the reader and the mobile device. When the mobile device is close to the Mobile Payment Reader at the pump or inside PIN Pad, the payment data is transmitted via RFID and NFC technology.
When you're ready to pay:
- Select the Debit key.
- Launch the Mobile Wallet application on your phone.
- Select the debit card you would like to pay with. Note: Most ARCO stations only accept Debit Mobile Payments.
- Place your mobile device within 1-3 inches of Mobile Payment Reader on the PIN Pad or dispenser and hold it there for 2-5 seconds.
- Follow all prompts on the PIN Pad or payment screen.
You did it! No need to swipe your card or pay in cash, your mobile device does it all!
If you continue to have issues, contact the Mobile Wallet Provider or Bank which issued the card used to report it.
Using your mobile wallet is as secure as traditional payment methods. It uses codes to ensure your payment information is never stored on our payment system. Refer to your mobile wallet provider for additional security information.
No. This additional payment functionality will NOT affect what type of card(s) or payment methods* are currently accepted at ARCO stations.
*Most ARCO stations only accept debit cards.
Applications currently on the market included Apple Pay®, Samsung Pay®, and Google Pay™. These applications can be utilized on iPhone® 6 and 6+ (or newer iPhone versions), Apple Watch®, Samsung™ Galaxy S6/S7/Note5, and Android™ phones.
Additional Information
ARCO gasoline stations are located in 15 states across the US — Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and we continue to expand to other states. 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.
As of June 1, 2013, Treasure Franchise Company LLC (a subsidiary of Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company LLC), became a subfranchisor for ampm franchises in Arizona, Nevada, and the following counties in California: Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.