500 mile octane test

My experience is it is more about temps than winter blend. As soon as we get some warm days my mpgs go back up. Colder engine burns more fuel. Want to test theory take your thermostat out.

 

That probably plays a role too and according to the AAA, winter blend hurts mpg a little so combined together, it's less mpg than summer blend in summer temps
https://newsroom.aaa.com/2013/06/what-is-the-difference-between-summer-and-winter-blend-gasoline/

 

87 octane for the trip back. Traffic on the way home was a lot lighter so I stayed at higher speeds a little more but that came with a lot less acceleration getting around people. I did get caught behind a whole line of slower cars the last 25 or 30ish miles. Was at 13.9 and after going the ways at the speed limit, it ticked to 14.1 just as I pulled into the driveway. Really not much difference from high to low octane really.

 

Winter fuel economy while travelling may not be that different once you account for the extra idle time. I hate having the fuel economy monitoring stuff in a vehicle, because it always tanks my average in the winter. Winters in this state are 6 months average, so for half the year the computer is getting inaccurate mileage info and it FUBARs the DTE calculations for everything.

 

if he's doing the same thing that I do, Publix (The grocery store) does a deal that if you spend $50 or more you can get $10 off a $50 gas card. who doesn't spend at least $50 at the food store?! we do it every chance we get. I probably have a stack of gas cards that put my manhood to shame.

 

Hahaha that’s great.

 

Yeah I know about that but we do not have Publix stores here in Utah ha ha haaa. So what seems the Best for good gas is Maverick but that is still not as good as a 50 for 40 we have Costco and Sams Club but the gas from Sams is Unknown and I have had issues with it and Costco is just to darn far out of the way for the fill ups on 2 different rigs

 

so you want like 3 cards? haha

 

honestly, the publix is more expensive than some stores, so we probably aren't coming out ahead, but since publix is the only store that the wife will shop at (apparently it doesn't "smell funny" like the other ones I try to go to) I try and do the deals when I can.

 

Yes I been to Publix stores several times when I was in Tenn, and I did notice that they are clean along with a bit of a confusing layout because they move everything around constantly Just Like Wegman's up in Upstate NY (best stores ever).

 

I go to Publix a lot. I didn’t know they had fuel cards.

 

Huntsville is where we stashed Wehrner von Braun. Legend has it, the topography/climate was similar to home.

 

Their subs are legit.

 

It's on the gift card racks. Their circular deal paper thing will have the coupon on the front page.

 

publix, gas card week. you get $50 gas cards for $40 when you buy $50 worth of groceries. We buy the 5-6 shell cards with our american express to get another 6% back, then I use my shell rewards at the pump and take off another .05 per gallon.

 

All that octane rating measures is knock or pre-ignition resistance and nothing more. The higher combustion ratio for an engine the more prone it is to pre-ignition when the fuel is injected into the cylinders. This has been known for a century and is not rocket science.

With computer controlled ignition systems found in all cars and trucks manufactured in the past 30 years, if there is pre-ignition sensed then the computer retards the spark for each cylinder to prevent damage. If a vehicle engine is designed for 90 octane gas and there is 87 octane in the fuel tank then the engine spark will be retarded and the engine will produce less power and so fuel economy will be reduced. If 93 octane fuel is put in the fuel tank there will be no increase in power and no improvement in fuel economy.

Ethanol or E85 is a different matter. The energy content ethanol is 76,100 BTU/US gal as compared to 114,100 BTU/US gal for gasoline. A vehicle that is flex fuel only means that its internal tubing and seals can resist damage from the ethanol fuel.

 

Just to chime in: I drive 76.5 miles one way every day to work. I’m in the automotive service business. I get roughly 14.7. I drive 90 mph. Higher alcohol content mixture, or a “winter blend” of fuel is used starting mid-late fall, & we’ll see upwards of 1-2 mpg drop because of it. Customer that buy new cars in that same time frame usually complain that their car isn’t getting anywhere near what is advertised. Been dealing with it for 15+ years.

Hammer down!

 

Where are you driving 90mph for 70 miles without tickets crawlin' out your butt?

 

Years ago I did a test doing the same trip (8 times-450 miles) in similar conditions to keep the test as accurate as possible. The higher octane was a hair better but the ethanol free was about a .75 gain per gallon. I was able to average 21.5 while towing 2k at 65mph for an entire tank with ethanol free. I could barely touch 20 with normal ethanol gas and no trailer. Would like to do the same test on my Tundra...

 

Actually there is ZERO difference in fuel efficiency due to octane on Any engine that does not have sensors to adjust ignition timing due to higher octane. Toyota does not spend any extra money it does not have to.

My acura would gain 2 mpgs with premium compared to regular due to the octane sensors, woohoo!