It's not so much that I'm trying to find fault, it's that if you really are getting 10% or 20% more mileage with a different brand, and it's not a matter of comparing oxygenated (alcohol or MTBE added) fuel to 100% gasoline, then you're onto a very important discovery. Scientists the world over will want to repeat your results, and you'll get a Nobel prize out of the deal. So, I'm skeptical. Sorry, nothing personal.
Yeah, yeah, 10% 20% oxygenated, fartyenated....like I said, you're "book" smart from what I've read of your posts. But, fact is, somewhere i got FIFTY miles MORE per tank on somebody's gas. PS, you never answered me on HOW to check mileage. I'll assume MY answer to YOU was unexpectedly accurate to the way you check it. Or, do you use a giant dipstick in your gas tank?. Now, where in the fuck is my Nobel prize? PS-I take nothing personal(smily face)
Yes, you do check the mileage as I do it. Although I don't consider mileage changes from one tank to the next to be meaningful. I would take a running average of at least 5 tankfuls of each brand of gas. And to be a useful experiment, it would be best if you didn't know what brand of fuel you were using each time (have someone else fill the tank for you). The thing about science, is that you have to go to extra trouble to make sure you're not fooling yourself.
I'm guessing nothing was different on your car when you fueled up, but is there a chance the car was loaded with passengers, stuff, whatever and the rear was down lower than usual? Depending on tank shape etc. having the rear down lower could mean a gallon or so extra going in before the pump clicked off.
This thing's so good on gas, it takes a while between fillups. I've got about 100 miles to go before I see the results on Exxon. But, to recap Union-76 29 MPG (about 350 miles to the tank) Mobil- the same as above Chevron-32 MPG (380 miles on that tank) I should have results on Exxon this week, then it's on to Shell
Cool! Run five tankfuls of each, throw out the high and low numbers, average the rest, and we'll have some useful info.
Oh yeah, I will repeat the test on all brands after I do a tank of each for sure. BTW, i did a bit more driving this week than expected, and have exhausted my tank of Exxon. With a taste more freeway driving on this tank I got 29.8 MPG. Close to the first two brands, not as good as Chevron, and far from the elusive 35 MPG on the unkown brand from before I noticed a difference in brands. Stay tuned
Been a while since this thread has seen a post so I will move it up. When in college, I worked summers at the local Phillips refinery in Borger, Texas and I can attest as noted before that the local gas stations (regardless of brand) get their gas from the same refinery. One day while loading the "tar buggy" I happened to walk up to the "Texaco" trailer to grill him about how come "Texaco" gas comes from a "Phillips" refinery and what about the "secret sauce" they advertise that is supposed to keep your engine so clean. He walked me to the tractor and behind the seat sure enough he had a box of the "secret additive" that makes "Texaco" so great. It was freaking naphthalene (moth balls); about one cup full to each tank compartment. Another note I would like to add regarding the observations regarding Chevron gas. About the same time, I had a Chevy Beretta GTZ with a 200hp Quad 4 engine in it; One of the funnest cars I have ever had to drive, but also one of the most sensitive to fuel quality. As most know, when hammering on computer controlled engines, once deteonation is detected, the EMS begins to pull timing out like crazy. And on this particular combination (and probably because I drove the car like it was a rental) it was very noticeable. Chevron was the fuel of choice to allow this combination run its best. Last, and I will get out of everyones hair. I have had to make alot of trips from Victoria to Houston here lately with my wife's health issues. It is about 150 miles and when your in the car alone, you know, your mind begins to wander. For fun, I decided to determine what difference speed would make on fuel consumption using the cruise control and fuel mileage read-out on the wife's Expedition. On the same tank of fuel and over a 25 mile range, I measured fuel mileage at 75, 70, and 65 mph. Obviously the worst mileage was at the highest speed (16mpg) and the highest was at slowest speed (22mpg). The thing that shocked me was the difference, I gained 32% fuel economy for a 14% change in speed. Also, the reformulated gas they sell in Houston is garbage. Expect to lose at least 20-30% in fuel economy due to the high ethanol content. Hopefully some of this information is helpful or at least entertaining.
When Mr. Groucho executed his lease contract with his local auto dealer, did the vehicle that the lease was entered into (the one all this extensive fuel mileage testing is happening with) Was the tank full of fuel upon delivery? Is it possible to locate the source of the "golden fuel" (50+more miles per tank) through the leasing company/dealership. This is interesting.
one of my friends here in the UK done a similiar experiment - hes only got a little car though, think its about 1300cc... anyway he got 72MPG - yes thats SEVENTY TWO MILES PER GALLON just last weekend - thats the most i have heard of anyone getting in a car. that would be on 95, i think its the lowest we get here.
I literally watched the salesman fill my car the day I got it, across the street at a Union 76 station. However, I waited several tanks of gas, and over 1000 break-in miles before beginning my testing. BUT, while curious to how good my new car was on gas, it never dawned on me to keep track of the brand at that time. So, the one that netted me a bunch more miles is an unknown. If you saw my findings so far, I'm on Shell fuel right now and have a 1/2 tank left. I've gotten about 350 miles to several tanks. Some known, and some unknown brands. One tank of Chevron at 380 miles, and the mystery tank at 400. But, SEVERAL right at 350. I don't think I've gotten gas outside the brands mentioned earlier. So, after the Shell I'm considering another go at Chevron, since it's the only KNOWN brand to run away from the average 350 miles per tank.
Interesting but a bit confusing. I say conclude your findings on this matter, and go back to building those BADASS machines that keep coming out of yer shop.
I got a lil lost after part when you watched the guy fill the tank, and when you first started the fuel test. But then again mrs.racer756 says I have adult A-D-D.
I was responding to your asking if I knew what fuel the car came with. I do, but I didn't start the mileage tests til WAY after that fuel had been used up.
Not confused anymore. Anyway one of your buddies could have put a gallon of fuel in the car with out you knowing
I just thought I would post this since I have been using Chevron in my Focus for some 37k miles. I loaded the car up with 10 man tent, folding chairs, ice chest, clothes, tools and other crap, drove from Redding to Sacramento to pick up Strombergs97 (I had filled up with Chevron 87 before leaving), loaded his stuff and headed for Bonneville. We refueled just East of Reno, got 33mpg driving 70/75/80. When we fueled up East of Reno it was with Chevron and 87. We refueled in Wells, NV and to our surpise they only have 85/88/91 octane. We refueled with 88 (got 34mpg) and continued into Bonneville. We drove back and forth to the Salt Flats and into Wendover at least once of twice a day. We then left on the return trip and filled up somewhere in NV with Chevron 88 (got 35mpg). We again fueled up at the Chevron station just West of Reno and switched back to 87 (got 38mpg because Strombergs97 was driving and he does drive a little slow). I drove to Sacramento and then back to Redding( I was driving 75/80+). I just filled up today and found the mileage to 37mpg. Now 95% of this driving was on the 80 and I5 and my car was loaded down 95% of the time. The best mileage I had gotten before unloaded with just myself has been 40mpg. Although Chevron is 20cents a gallon more than the cut-rate and a few cents more than the other brands I swear by it and will not use anything else. My 2007 Focus has a Steeda Air system, Magnaflow cat back and lowered just a tad with 2.0L PZEV and 5spd and it has been on Chevron since new. You can rub your finger in the tail pipe and it is completely clean...................no black crap on the pipe. IMHO
Well I used to deliver pizzas every night while in college. I used Chevron and would average a steady 21 mpg driving like a maniac all night. I tried arco for awhile and had my mpg drop to 17-18. I had a p.o.S-10 chevy 4 cylinder five speed. I filled up every night after work and checked my mileage to figure out how much I really made that night from tips+the delivery charge paid to me for deliveries. Just thought it was an interesting bit. Wonder what the cab companies prefer to have running in their vehicles. State of California has Shell as their main fuel source for the fuzz. I avoid Shells by the way.-Weeks "The Great Depression, like most other periods of severe unemployment, was produced by government mismanagement rather than by any inherent instability of the private economy.-Milton Friedman, vote wisely!"
We had a friend that was trying to see how good of mileage he could get out of his Harley on our big group rides. We would stop for gas and someone would add a half to a gallon in his tank when he went inside to pay. Other times we would drain a little overnight at the motel. He about went mad trying to figure out how he could go from 35 mpg to 70+ mpg. It was freakin hilarious.
Did you keep note of the cost of each tank? I'm just curious if the gain in MPG also equates to a reduction in cost, and if it does work out, if it's much of a savings. I did some math when I got a diesel truck which is otherwise the same as my current truck and determined that because of the higher price of Diesel, I would save about 2 bucks a trip with it. So I haven't rushed to get the diesel going.
One of the guys that helps me with my Racecar, works at a large Chevy dealer in the SF bay area, he said that when cars come in with Oxygen sensor problems, the techs have to test the fuel for oxygen content, usually about a 1/4-1/2 gallon. When they finish, they place the fuel in the tank of a tech that has a full size chevy truck. This tech claimed he was getting around 70+ MPG with his truck. Then they all stopped putting the fuel in, and it went back to 12-14mpg. The unassuming tech spent many hours trying to figure out "what went wrong" with his truck. They let him "stew" for a few days before the truth came out. All in good fun.
hahaha! I had a 3.1L v6 beretta for my college experience, I did horrible things to that car that would make a rental cringe, my friends still talk about that one and it's been 5 years since its death! I didn't consistently write my mileage down but i did notice a difference between the Am/Pm gas and Chevron, it had a bit more pep and would go a little farther on the chevron stuff, I usually went for the cheap stuff, though, because I never calculated and studied the difference... you should see the mileage difference on a turbo diesel truck setting the cruise at 60-65-70-75. I've gotten anywhere from 16-23mpg unloaded/no trailer in my 93 Dodge Cummins 4x4 with an NV4500 5 speed and 33" A/T's. at speeds above 50 mph, aerodynamics seem to play a gigantic role in mileage.
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