WTF - falling gas mileage...

[Digitalwiz]

i drive downhill everywhere i go and never shift out of neutral.

 

[mtbnole]

wow, this is an old thread and somehow came back to life.

I just yesterday was thinking it sucks getting 14mpg, as I filled up at the new Costco gas station near me. I've come to accept that because we wife's daily drive is so short and has so many stops, the computer has decided how to manage this style of driving.

the issue i have is that even on the highway, i'm barely getting 18mpg. I doubt that the computer would be biased so much to the daily driving that it would affect the highway performance, but i could be wrong.

Oh well. that's why i drive the TSX and get 30mpg on the highway.

 

[Okki]

In full disclosure, I've not compared the trucks computer to my actual readings, but historically I've never put much faith in the real time stuff. I put my actual mileage at time of fill up and the actual gallons dumped into the tank in a spreadsheet and I calculate actual mpg that way. it also allows me to add notes (like when I was in Ouray on the trails) so I can start seeing trends based on actual usage of the vehicle.

It also allows me to compare before and after modification (like the small gain I got when switching to my TRD rims and new tires).

It's a big, heavy brick on wheels people; I was not expecting stellar mileage when I bought it... but consider this... how many Prius'es have you seen out on the trail recently? :roadkill:

I mean... having to check the under body on that?

Okki

 

[Koz]

There are many variables that will affect gas mileage. The one most affected variable that you have control of is tire pressure. Improper pressure can result in the loss of several mpg. Through many years of experience trying different pressures I have found that a SUV of this weight gets better mileage using 40 psi (P rated tires). I also found when pushing the vehicle the handling to be a little better (without a negative affect on the ride or tire longevity).

Some other variables are elevation, temperature, road and traffic conditions, tune of the vehicle, mileage on the tires, driving style and even the time of the year (different gas formula blends at different seasons).

Koz

 

[Jivewalker]

Regarding ethanol free gas.

Here is a good website that lists SOME ethanol free gas stations.

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

I experimented with ethanol free in my Taco after some made claims of better mileage and improved performance / quiter engine.

IIt seems most E Free stations only have E Free premium. I ran my tank near empty and filled up with Ethanol free 93 twice. I noticed no difference in performance, mileage, or engine demeanor.

From what I've read, newer engines will adjust and tune themselves to accomodate different fuel types. Not sure of the validity of these claims.

I have found that lawn equipment lately requires a carb strip and clean yearly when running ethanol. finding 89 or below E Free has proven less easy.

 

[tacobill]

Don't forget to wax your vehicle.........slippery helps; just barely.

 

[evomind]

Here are some facts:

Supply Arrangements and Ownership Structures

Retailers pursue different marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage, and one key component is the nature of their fuel supply arrangements. Some choose to sell motor fuel under the brand of their supplying refiner, others choose to establish their own brand. Finally, there remain a few sites that are directly owned and operated by the major oil company or the refining company itself, but these are becoming much less common.


1.Major Integrated Oil Company Owned and Operated: Less than 2 percent of the 115,340 convenience stores that sell gasoline in the United States are owned and operated by the major oil companies. These retail locations receive product directly from the corporation’s refinery assets and their profit or loss is integrated into that of the corporation.

2.Refining Company Owned and Operated. Approximately 2.5 percent of convenience store gasoline retail locations are owned and operated by non-major refining companies. These also product directly from the corporation’s refinery assets and their profit or loss is integrated into that of the corporation.

3.Branded Independent Retailer: Approximately 44.5 percent are independently owned and operated and sell gasoline under the brand name of the fuel supplier. The business owners sign a supply contract to sell only one brand of fuel at any particular location. Branded retailers pay a slight surcharge per gallon for using the refiner’s brand, benefiting from the supplier’s marketing and ensuring a more secure supply of product. This surcharge can vary from contract to contract for any variety of reasons but in all cases, the refiner supplier establishes the retailer’s wholesale costs. Branded independent retailers benefit, however, when supplies are constrained by securing a higher level of priority for accessing product, although access to supplies may be restricted.

4.Unbranded Independent Retailer: The remaining 51 percent of convenience gasoline retailers are operated by independent business owners who do not sell gasoline under a brand owned or controlled by a refining company. These retailers purchase gasoline from the unbranded wholesale market, which is made up of gallons not dedicated to fulfill a refiner’s contracts. These retailers do not pay a marketing surcharge like their branded competitors do; consequently, unbranded gasoline is typically sold at all levels of trade for a lower price than branded gasoline. However, when supplies are constrained, these retailers have the lowest level of priority to access gasoline, often incur the largest wholesale price increases and may be completely denied access to product. Their wholesale costs are also established by the refiner supplier(s).

This data is valid and current.

To summarize, if you buy gas at a store with no "Exxon" "BP" "Amoco" "Shell" or other name brand signage it could be any of those name brands. The reason it is a bit cheaper at those locations with no name brand signage is no marketing fees and it could be any brand. I personally have bought gasoline at all four types of retail stores and have NOT noticed any corrolation between brands (or lack of) and fuel efficiency, especially not up to 15-20% difference as some claim.

Different brands of gasoline are very close to being the same because of government regulations on refining and additives. The "Techron" and "cleaners" are marketing strategies, nothing else. All gasoline blends have them per 1994 EPA regulations.

This data is from NCSA and is current through 2010. The number of wholly owned brand gasoline stores has decreased since.

Refined gasoline is not "all the same" but it is damn close. Good luck.

Right on.
There are only like 3 refineries or whatever you call it that supply all the nation's fuel for public consumption.

 

[mtbnole]

Don't forget to wax your vehicle.........slippery helps; just barely.

blast! how could i forget. :redbrick:

 

[Atlanta_man]

Refineries ? too many for me to count on one hand
List of oil refineries - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia