[kungfuandy]

For some reason the last two months I have been getting significant increases in gas mileage. I have changed nothing about my driving habits, routes, or gas selection and have seen my average go from 340 miles a tank to 400. I actually think I've been driving a little harder since the weather has been so good. I broke my own road trip record yesterday when I got 28.2 mpg in the 50/50 mixed highway city driving that I drive day to day. The only thing that I can think of is the induction cleaning I had in May when my service advisor recommended it. Anyone else had a similar experience? I hope this keeps up when I install my exhaust manifold, downpipe, rear diff mount, and rear sway bar later this month. If not, it was good while it lasted.

 

[TiGraySpeed6]

...significant increases in gas mileage...
..from 340 miles a tank to 400...
..50/50 mixed highway city...

you suck & I hate you.
Really.

I'm overjoyed to see anything over 275 miles. My few all highway miles road trips got me up to about 320 for the tank, again all highway cruising. How the heck are you averaging 340? Are you on Kilometers, not Miles??

340-400 miles on a tank? on 15.6 gallons? OMG I sooo hate you.

 

[bova80]

gas stations run better gas during the summer months, doesn't have all the additives they put in it during the winter.

 

[blkchry6]

you suck & I hate you.
Really.

I'm overjoyed to see anything over 275 miles. My few all highway miles road trips got me up to about 320 for the tank, again all highway cruising. How the heck are you averaging 340? Are you on Kilometers, not Miles??

340-400 miles on a tank? on 15.6 gallons? OMG I sooo hate you.

I need to fiil up today ... maybe tomorrow. Currently at 360 miles on this tank and I figure I have about 2.5gal left. :hide: (This tank has been mostly highway milage though)

 

[TiGraySpeed6]

you folks are awesome...
that mileage just impresses the hell outta me

I soooooo can't do that, I have no will-power at all
My driving style is plenty smooth & all, I just like to be, well..., there.
Towards that end I love using (read: abusing) the gobs of great forced induction torque that mine has. Suffice to say, there's lots of "Wheeee!" moments while riding with me.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

gas stations run better gas during the summer months, doesn't have all the additives they put in it during the winter.

That's not exactly how it is, but it's the right idea.
However, that transition should have occurred before the previous two months.

What the hell is an induction cleaning!? Seafoam?

 

[bova80]

actually here the gas is different between june and september

 

[priceprince]

Yeah I've been noticing better mileage in the summer months as well. I've never noticed it with any other car near as much as the MS6. I'll get 50-60 more miles per tank in the summer months.
Groceries, care to enlighten us about the difference? I always thought it was like bova said, with some kinda mystery additives in the winter that make the gas pissy.

 

[AtTheDriveIn]

Don't they oxygenate the fuel during some time of the year or something? I notice a wee difference during the summer on gas use.

 

[shadesofgray19]

I always thought it had to do with air fuel ratio. In the winter, the colder denser air has more oxygen in it and therefore requires more fuel, less oxygen in the summer and a need for less fuel. Another good thought is that your car takes more time to come up to operating temps in the winter and during this time the car runs richer (not positive on richer or leaner).

I'm not buying the whole gas theory as I think most places run the same type in winter and summer now and you would get better gas in the winter as smog and ozone is not as common then.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

actually here the gas is different between june and september

Well, it does vary per region. So, you may be right. But, the transition may begin in late April to early May.

Main difference between winter and summer blend is butane. Butane content is reduced in summer months. They add butane to maintain a certain RVP of the gasoline, which is a pressure measurement of its tendency to vaporize.

 

[superskaterxes]

<----- averaged about 27-29 all highway from NJ to denver haha

 

[jd42]

There are several reasons cars tend to achieve better fuel economy in the summer. This thread has hit on most of them:

• Different fuel blends (depending on region). Summer blends tend to be better for economy
• Warmer air is less dense = less oxygen per unit volume. Thus the ECU can lean out the mix and still achieve the proper fuel/air ratio.
• Warmer temperatures mean less drag in the drivetrain. The transmission and differential fluids thin out and yield slightly better efficiency
• For people that don't check tire pressures regularly, higher temperatures result in higher air pressure, which tends to lower rolling resistance of the tire
• Cold temperatures mean longer car warm up times, and longer times before the cats and O2 sensors reach operating temp. The longer the ECU remains in open loop, the lower the overall efficiency.
• Driving through snow ans slush places more drag on the vehicle than hard smooth pavement
• People tend to drive more long highway trips in the summer than the winter. Short in-town trips will definitely be less efficient.

 

[jvoss65]

Fuck, my mileage has been going down.

I've notice I have gone from 21mpg per tank to 20mpg. I live in the city and rock 99% city driving. Fucking love my clutch!

 

[IHeartGroceries]

I'm sure the infamous carbon deposits don't help with efficientcy.

OP, do you get fuel from the same station every time? Like, your not switching from conventional to reformulated unknowingly or anything?

 

[Spazdog]

I guess the additives in the gas depend on where you live.

In emission counties in Texas, summer fuel has an additive to slow evaporation..... and 10% ethanol (if you are lucky) and oxygenating additives that destroy older fuel systems...etc.... it's pretty much crap.

It was definitely noticeable when I filled up in the boondocks of Oklahoma. My car really likes gasoline with just gasoline in it.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

I guess the additives in the gas depend on where you live.

In emission counties in Texas, summer fuel has an additive to slow evaporation..... and 10% ethanol (if you are lucky) and oxygenating additives that destroy older fuel systems...etc.... it's pretty much crap.

It was definitely noticeable when I filled up in the boondocks of Oklahoma. My car really likes gasoline with just gasoline in it.

It varies between region and it's also a variable in that different oil companies may use different additives to meet the laws requirement.
The oxygenated fuel is RFG, and ethanol is used as an oxygenate.
The rural gas your car likes is conventional; a better gasoline with fewer environmental restrictions.
And yup. Don't always count on your E10 being a 10% blend. I work on the blending systems at work, and they aren't very efficient. Though, the automation systems used in most terminals have diagnostics that can prevent overblending.
Last, in your area, the gasoline you can pump into your car were very likely refined at the same refinery, and are virtually the exact same, save for the rather sparse amount of additive different companies inject into their brand of gasoline.

 

[Spazdog]

Last, in your area, the gasoline you can pump into your car were very likely refined at the same refinery, and are virtually the exact same, save for the rather sparse amount of additive different companies inject into their brand of gasoline.

Interesting.

I have noticed that I almost never see a tanker truck labled "Shell" or "Chevron" or "BP" whatever. The only labled tanker trucks I see on a regular basis are Suncoast. (and Reeder but that's because I work in that part of Ft Worth and those are probably full of off-road diesel or kerosene or something) I don't even know if Suncoast is a refiner or just delivers fuel.

 

[Eminent.Six]

Maybe there has been a shift in the tectonic plates and all of your driving is now downhill.

Wait..yup, I just Googled it. That's what it is.

You're welcome.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

Interesting.

I have noticed that I almost never see a tanker truck labled "Shell" or "Chevron" or "BP" whatever. The only labled tanker trucks I see on a regular basis are Suncoast. (and Reeder but that's because I work in that part of Ft Worth and those are probably full of off-road diesel or kerosene or something) I don't even know if Suncoast is a refiner or just delivers fuel.

It is rare to see a branded truck. And honestly I don't know why that is.
I don't know alot about how the distribution and marketing works. Suncoast is a local distributor who dispatches their own tanker fleets around the area.
I office out of FTW. Over on Sylvania Ave there's an Motiva terminal we office out of.

Sorry for the hijack...