gas quality
#1
gas quality
I have been noticing lately a decline in performance even with the 93 octane (Exxon) Is there something going on with the gas??? Has anyone else been having this problem?
#3
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I've always heard that there is a "summer" and "winter" formula/blend, but don't know if it's true or what the difference is.
#5
Registered Member
Most likely, you have a "winter" blend which may very well be an oxygenated fuel.I have noticed in the past that those types of fuel show an increase in power with an attendant reduction in fuel economy, so perhaps you particular concern involves something else.
#6
2005TL(6MT)
Originally Posted by SouthernBoy
Most likely, you have a "winter" blend which may very well be an oxygenated fuel.I have noticed in the past that those types of fuel show an increase in power with an attendant reduction in fuel economy, so perhaps you particular concern involves something else.
Increase in power? I've always noticed a very consistant 10% decrease in fuel economy and a reduction in power also. This is with three different cars, all Honda family though.
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#8
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Try Shell V-Power. I find that gives the best throttle response and is all I use.
See www.toptiergas.com, then click on RETAILERS
See www.toptiergas.com, then click on RETAILERS
#9
Interesting link, DMZ. Too bad there isn't a website that lists various gas stations and whose gas they are using. For example, a mid-western store (Meijer) uses Total gas. Makes me curious what Walmart, Sams Club, Costco, etc. are using.
#10
Registered Member
Originally Posted by clsdave
Increase in power? I've always noticed a very consistant 10% decrease in fuel economy and a reduction in power also. This is with three different cars, all Honda family though.
I attributed this to the ECU receiving increased OX content in the exhaust and compensating by increasing the fuel shot to keep the mixture from going too lean.
The same thing happens during winter with cars but for other reasons. A cubic foot of atmosphere contains a higher level of OX in the colder months than it does in the warmer months. This is one more reason why cars develop more power and get less mileage in the winter than in the summer where the reverse is the case.
#11
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Most big cities use different gas in the winter. If you live in a small town away from large cities its not a winter blend. I know from snowmobiling. We always filled up when we got Up North Wisc or U.P. Michegan.
#12
Drifting
Oxygenated gas should never give you an increase in power, because ethanol has a lower energy density than gasoline.... IIRC, federal law requires that the dispensing pump have a sticker on it identifying if it contains oxygenates. So if it's a winter blend, there should be an "E-10" or "10% Ethanol", or "Contains MTBE" sticker on the pump.
What state do you live in? One of the reasons I NEVER buy gas in Oregon (aside from not being able to pump it myself), is because Oregon has no quality control laws. Even dateline did a piece on Oregon gas many years ago.
Here in Washington State, every gas station must get regularly inspected by the Department of Weights and Measures, where they measure the pump accuracy, as well as fuel quality, and a certification sticker is placed on the pump if it passed, showing the date it was tested.
Oregon doesn't require jack. They showed that many stations had pumps that were inaccurate and always (surprise surprise) were pumping in the gas station's favor. Some stations had the 87 and 91 connected to the same holding tanks. Some stations had unusually high sediment and/or water in the tanks as well....
I know this is true, because I witnessed it first hand. One time I got 10 gallons of gas... The pump read 10 gallons, which in that car, should put my gas guage at 3/4. But it only put it barely between 1/4 and 1/2.
What state do you live in? One of the reasons I NEVER buy gas in Oregon (aside from not being able to pump it myself), is because Oregon has no quality control laws. Even dateline did a piece on Oregon gas many years ago.
Here in Washington State, every gas station must get regularly inspected by the Department of Weights and Measures, where they measure the pump accuracy, as well as fuel quality, and a certification sticker is placed on the pump if it passed, showing the date it was tested.
Oregon doesn't require jack. They showed that many stations had pumps that were inaccurate and always (surprise surprise) were pumping in the gas station's favor. Some stations had the 87 and 91 connected to the same holding tanks. Some stations had unusually high sediment and/or water in the tanks as well....
I know this is true, because I witnessed it first hand. One time I got 10 gallons of gas... The pump read 10 gallons, which in that car, should put my gas guage at 3/4. But it only put it barely between 1/4 and 1/2.
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Originally Posted by darksky
Interesting link, DMZ. Too bad there isn't a website that lists various gas stations and whose gas they are using. For example, a mid-western store (Meijer) uses Total gas. Makes me curious what Walmart, Sams Club, Costco, etc. are using.
#14
Drifting
Originally Posted by darksky
Interesting link, DMZ. Too bad there isn't a website that lists various gas stations and whose gas they are using. For example, a mid-western store (Meijer) uses Total gas. Makes me curious what Walmart, Sams Club, Costco, etc. are using.
However, even if they get their gas from say Chevron or something, that still doesn't mean you are getting "Chevron" gas. The detergent/additive packages are added to the gas when the trucks are filled, not at the refinery or whatever. That means your grocery store gas, even if they bought from Chevron, is not going to have the same detergents/additives as gas at an actual Chevron station.
#15
Drifting
Originally Posted by steve9207
I'm not sure if Shell switches to a Winter Blend formula, but if they do, I haven't noticed a difference.
In my experience, on every car I own, when I used oxygenated gas, my fuel economy went down significantly.
#16
Registered Member
Originally Posted by avs007
Oxygenated gas should never give you an increase in power, because ethanol has a lower energy density than gasoline.... IIRC, federal law requires that the dispensing pump have a sticker on it identifying if it contains oxygenates. So if it's a winter blend, there should be an "E-10" or "10% Ethanol", or "Contains MTBE" sticker on the pump.
What state do you live in? One of the reasons I NEVER buy gas in Oregon (aside from not being able to pump it myself), is because Oregon has no quality control laws. Even dateline did a piece on Oregon gas many years ago.
Here in Washington State, every gas station must get regularly inspected by the Department of Weights and Measures, where they measure the pump accuracy, as well as fuel quality, and a certification sticker is placed on the pump if it passed, showing the date it was tested.
Oregon doesn't require jack. They showed that many stations had pumps that were inaccurate and always (surprise surprise) were pumping in the gas station's favor. Some stations had the 87 and 91 connected to the same holding tanks. Some stations had unusually high sediment and/or water in the tanks as well....
I know this is true, because I witnessed it first hand. One time I got 10 gallons of gas... The pump read 10 gallons, which in that car, should put my gas guage at 3/4. But it only put it barely between 1/4 and 1/2.
What state do you live in? One of the reasons I NEVER buy gas in Oregon (aside from not being able to pump it myself), is because Oregon has no quality control laws. Even dateline did a piece on Oregon gas many years ago.
Here in Washington State, every gas station must get regularly inspected by the Department of Weights and Measures, where they measure the pump accuracy, as well as fuel quality, and a certification sticker is placed on the pump if it passed, showing the date it was tested.
Oregon doesn't require jack. They showed that many stations had pumps that were inaccurate and always (surprise surprise) were pumping in the gas station's favor. Some stations had the 87 and 91 connected to the same holding tanks. Some stations had unusually high sediment and/or water in the tanks as well....
I know this is true, because I witnessed it first hand. One time I got 10 gallons of gas... The pump read 10 gallons, which in that car, should put my gas guage at 3/4. But it only put it barely between 1/4 and 1/2.
#17
HaHa Did you know New Jersey and Oregon are the only two states in the country that won't let you pump you own gas. NJ claims it's too dangerous for you. I have noticed that when the mileage goes down so does performance and visa versa. I use Exxon and believe it or not the gas varies from one station to the next. I drive out of my way to goes to one that is very busy. That way the gas is fresher and I notice a difference. I just wanted to know if what I'm experiencing with the change to winter fuel ( mileage & throttle response/power decline) is normal. Please let me know.
Originally Posted by avs007
Oxygenated gas should never give you an increase in power, because ethanol has a lower energy density than gasoline.... IIRC, federal law requires that the dispensing pump have a sticker on it identifying if it contains oxygenates. So if it's a winter blend, there should be an "E-10" or "10% Ethanol", or "Contains MTBE" sticker on the pump.
What state do you live in? One of the reasons I NEVER buy gas in Oregon (aside from not being able to pump it myself), is because Oregon has no quality control laws. Even dateline did a piece on Oregon gas many years ago.
Here in Washington State, every gas station must get regularly inspected by the Department of Weights and Measures, where they measure the pump accuracy, as well as fuel quality, and a certification sticker is placed on the pump if it passed, showing the date it was tested.
Oregon doesn't require jack. They showed that many stations had pumps that were inaccurate and always (surprise surprise) were pumping in the gas station's favor. Some stations had the 87 and 91 connected to the same holding tanks. Some stations had unusually high sediment and/or water in the tanks as well....
I know this is true, because I witnessed it first hand. One time I got 10 gallons of gas... The pump read 10 gallons, which in that car, should put my gas guage at 3/4. But it only put it barely between 1/4 and 1/2.
What state do you live in? One of the reasons I NEVER buy gas in Oregon (aside from not being able to pump it myself), is because Oregon has no quality control laws. Even dateline did a piece on Oregon gas many years ago.
Here in Washington State, every gas station must get regularly inspected by the Department of Weights and Measures, where they measure the pump accuracy, as well as fuel quality, and a certification sticker is placed on the pump if it passed, showing the date it was tested.
Oregon doesn't require jack. They showed that many stations had pumps that were inaccurate and always (surprise surprise) were pumping in the gas station's favor. Some stations had the 87 and 91 connected to the same holding tanks. Some stations had unusually high sediment and/or water in the tanks as well....
I know this is true, because I witnessed it first hand. One time I got 10 gallons of gas... The pump read 10 gallons, which in that car, should put my gas guage at 3/4. But it only put it barely between 1/4 and 1/2.
#18
I also wouldn't be surprised with the price of oil that stations are monkeying around with the grades. Maybe 93 octane really isn't 93. I heard they can really get in trouble if they're caught, but I guess they figure chances are they won't. What can you do
#19
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Shell V-Power if around, if not, use BP. If neither, just fill up enough to get you to one of those. I've done a lot of research and like the guy above said, you don't want to put crap with additives in your engine like many other companies use.
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^^
Isn't Shell V-Power loaded with "additives" - detergents, etc.
Isn't Shell V-Power loaded with "additives" - detergents, etc.
#21
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Originally Posted by lowgrowl
I also wouldn't be surprised with the price of oil that stations are monkeying around with the grades. Maybe 93 octane really isn't 93. I heard they can really get in trouble if they're caught, but I guess they figure chances are they won't.
There have been a few times where my TL doesn't seem to quite have the power it should. This sort of thing was much more noticeable with my ex-Accord, an '89 SE-i Coupe that my former Honda mechanic advanced the timing on 1½ degrees to optimally run on premuim fuel 93 instead of 87 that it was recommended for. With that car, I knew every time I screwed by a respective gas station.
I still throw in a bottle of Gumout Fuel System Ceaner every tankful of gas that runs through before an oil change keeping everything as clean as possible despite sticking to the Top Tier brands.
#22
I like to whistle in my
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i actually noticed an increase with Exxon. I averaging 430 mi. per fill up now
Before i was maxing at around the 340 mi. with others. I noticed that the Mileage estimator is constantly adjusting depending on speeds and I'm getting more trips to work without having to stop for petro
Before i was maxing at around the 340 mi. with others. I noticed that the Mileage estimator is constantly adjusting depending on speeds and I'm getting more trips to work without having to stop for petro
#23
Drifting
Originally Posted by lowgrowl
and believe it or not the gas varies from one station to the next. I drive out of my way to goes to one that is very busy. That way the gas is fresher and I notice a difference
#24
Originally Posted by avs007
Very true... The Shell station 3 miles down the road is running 10% ethanol winter blend... The shell station just a few blocks the other way from my house is not running winter blend.
How do you know that the station is not selling winter blend?
#25
All NY and NJ gas station use 10% ethanol during the cold season.
Sadly, we don't really have control over our gas, plus with the gas prices guaranteed to up to 4 bux for regular next week (cnn business money report), we are all screwed regardless.
Sadly, we don't really have control over our gas, plus with the gas prices guaranteed to up to 4 bux for regular next week (cnn business money report), we are all screwed regardless.
#26
Drifting
Originally Posted by lowgrowl
How do you know that the station is not selling winter blend?
Since washington has regular inspections, they put their own certification on the pumps, that provides another checks-n'-balances...
So in my particular case, the station 2-3 miles away has a "10% Ethanol E-10" sticker on the pumps... The one a few blocks from my house doesn't.
#27
Drifting
Originally Posted by TeknoKing
All NY and NJ gas station use 10% ethanol during the cold season.
#28
Safety Car
Originally Posted by DMZ
Try Shell V-Power. I find that gives the best throttle response and is all I use.
See www.toptiergas.com, then click on RETAILERS
See www.toptiergas.com, then click on RETAILERS
#29
Instructor
Get Shell v-power or chevron 91 or 93 octane, case closed. Those are the only 2 that I have put in my car since day 1, except a road trip one time across country.
#30
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Originally Posted by erick3
hm...really? i get worse throttle response w/ v-power FOR SURE; chevron w/ techron!
2. Chevron is not available in NY
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