Bad mpg? Tips on how to pump gas !
03-10-2011, 05:47 PM
#81
and personally i rather not worry about those last couple of cents, then to get frost bite
(but also what does the additional heat take to warm up (not so much in the car, since it just uses the heat from the engine, but say you drive straight home, and turn the heat up a couple of degrees to warm up)
03-15-2011, 11:17 AM
#84
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ok so here is an update after 4 fill ups...
2 fill ups were at 100% gas....out of which 1 was when it was colder that usual +at night, so it was really cold....1 was when weather was warmer than usual + at 3 PM, so it was warmer than before and also a tanker filling the station up...
the other 2 fill ups were using 10% ethanol....in the same weather and gas station filling conditions....
i got the following miles in the tank....the tank was filled up when the range went to 0 (plus minus 5 miles) in all cases
100% fuel + cold = 370 miles/tank
100% fuel + warm + tanker = 364 miles/tank
10% ethanol + cold = 355 miles/tank
10% ethanol + warm + tanker = 358 miles/tank
i drive the same amount of highway + city everyday....
i thought using 100% fuel was awesome...car did seem a little nimbler...but this could be in my head....but the difference between 100% fuel (shell) and 10% ethanol added (sams) is like 30cents/gal....which is like 5 bucks/fill up...so u pay 5 bucks more every fill up and get like 10-15 miles/tank more....i dont think its worth it.....
edit: also wanted to mention, all the fill ups i used only the 1st tick at the nozzle....i dont squeeze the nozzle to the max....i spend the time checking my engine oil+tranny oil+tire pressure....also a visual at the brake fluid + coolant + ps fluid....
2 fill ups were at 100% gas....out of which 1 was when it was colder that usual +at night, so it was really cold....1 was when weather was warmer than usual + at 3 PM, so it was warmer than before and also a tanker filling the station up...
the other 2 fill ups were using 10% ethanol....in the same weather and gas station filling conditions....
i got the following miles in the tank....the tank was filled up when the range went to 0 (plus minus 5 miles) in all cases
100% fuel + cold = 370 miles/tank
100% fuel + warm + tanker = 364 miles/tank
10% ethanol + cold = 355 miles/tank
10% ethanol + warm + tanker = 358 miles/tank
i drive the same amount of highway + city everyday....
i thought using 100% fuel was awesome...car did seem a little nimbler...but this could be in my head....but the difference between 100% fuel (shell) and 10% ethanol added (sams) is like 30cents/gal....which is like 5 bucks/fill up...so u pay 5 bucks more every fill up and get like 10-15 miles/tank more....i dont think its worth it.....
edit: also wanted to mention, all the fill ups i used only the 1st tick at the nozzle....i dont squeeze the nozzle to the max....i spend the time checking my engine oil+tranny oil+tire pressure....also a visual at the brake fluid + coolant + ps fluid....
Last edited by swoosh; 03-15-2011 at 11:19 AM.
03-15-2011, 11:36 AM
#86
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^^^^ 5 bucks more a fill up but less wear on your car as well so depends on how much the added maintenance down the road costs. If you don't keep cars more than 5-6 years then this probably isn't a factor.
03-15-2011, 11:42 AM
#87
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Here is a tip I just started observing lately 
Stop driving 80mph and drive 70mph. I went from getting 21.5-22.5mpg to around 24.5-25.5. I can only state this on half a tank so far but pretty sure it should stay the same as my route is the same everyday as there are no other roads I can take.
Stop driving 80mph and drive 70mph. I went from getting 21.5-22.5mpg to around 24.5-25.5. I can only state this on half a tank so far but pretty sure it should stay the same as my route is the same everyday as there are no other roads I can take.
03-15-2011, 11:52 AM
#88
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Here is a tip I just started observing lately
Stop driving 80mph and drive 70mph. I went from getting 21.5-22.5mpg to around 24.5-25.5. I can only state this on half a tank so far but pretty sure it should stay the same as my route is the same everyday as there are no other roads I can take.
Stop driving 80mph and drive 70mph. I went from getting 21.5-22.5mpg to around 24.5-25.5. I can only state this on half a tank so far but pretty sure it should stay the same as my route is the same everyday as there are no other roads I can take.
i get 24-25 mpg thoughout....i do 60% highway and 40% city....if i do all highway i do end up getting 33mpg....yes i do have picture proof
03-15-2011, 12:35 PM
#89
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Well from what I have heard it causes the internal parts to start corrode faster than 100% gas does.
03-15-2011, 12:51 PM
#91
Hey guys, I just got back from my auto class and my professor shared a couple helpful tips on how to get every gallon of gas that you pay for. Correct me if Im wrong but again, these tips come from a guy who used to work for a pipeline for 31 years. I'm sure many of you already knew about these but I figure it would be helpful to some.
- Try to pump your fuel in the early morning when the ground temp is still cold => Colder temp= denser gas.
- When you are pumping, DO NOT squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. Keep it at the slowest mode, which will minimize the vapors that are created while pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return, and if pumping fast, some will become vapor which gets sucked up and back into the underground tank.
- Most important: its best to fill up when your tank is Half Full or Half empty. Less space/air => less evaporation.
- When you see a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks, Do Not fill up because you will most likely be getting all the mixed up fuel with dirt and other liquid on the bottom.
I hope these tips become helpful to some of you guys, especially those who's complaining about their bad mpg
- Try to pump your fuel in the early morning when the ground temp is still cold => Colder temp= denser gas.
- When you are pumping, DO NOT squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. Keep it at the slowest mode, which will minimize the vapors that are created while pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return, and if pumping fast, some will become vapor which gets sucked up and back into the underground tank.
- Most important: its best to fill up when your tank is Half Full or Half empty. Less space/air => less evaporation.
- When you see a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks, Do Not fill up because you will most likely be getting all the mixed up fuel with dirt and other liquid on the bottom.
I hope these tips become helpful to some of you guys, especially those who's complaining about their bad mpg
03-15-2011, 01:20 PM
#92
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http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1i/bl412i.htm
Q. Hi Vincent, I really liked your writing on ethanol, you really know your stuff. I've learned a lot. This is the best introductory write-up I've come across. I am looking into getting a Fiat 126BIS, and running it on ethanol. I hear that ethanol can rot rubber components in engines; gaskets etc. since they are derived from crude oil.
Some refer to it as a sort of "drying out" process. Is this so? Also, does ethanol damage catalysts?
Yours faithfully,
John
A. A 10% blend of ethanol and gasoline will not harm any engine or fuel system component. However, the ethanol has a cleaning effect that will remove rust and other junk from the fuel system. This necessitates frequent fuel filter changes until the fuel system is cleaned out.
No modifications need to be done to allow an engine to run on a 10% blend of ethanol and gasoline. There is, in some areas, an 85% blend of ethanol and gasoline that does require engine modifications.
Actually there is no rubber used in the fuel system. All the fuel lines are made of Neoprene which is impervious to degradation by gasoline or other additives.
Some refer to it as a sort of "drying out" process. Is this so? Also, does ethanol damage catalysts?
Yours faithfully,
John
A. A 10% blend of ethanol and gasoline will not harm any engine or fuel system component. However, the ethanol has a cleaning effect that will remove rust and other junk from the fuel system. This necessitates frequent fuel filter changes until the fuel system is cleaned out.
No modifications need to be done to allow an engine to run on a 10% blend of ethanol and gasoline. There is, in some areas, an 85% blend of ethanol and gasoline that does require engine modifications.
Actually there is no rubber used in the fuel system. All the fuel lines are made of Neoprene which is impervious to degradation by gasoline or other additives.
03-15-2011, 01:59 PM
#94
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i never liked that site for some reason 
03-15-2011, 02:01 PM
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Here is a tip I just started observing lately
Stop driving 80mph and drive 70mph. I went from getting 21.5-22.5mpg to around 24.5-25.5. I can only state this on half a tank so far but pretty sure it should stay the same as my route is the same everyday as there are no other roads I can take.
Stop driving 80mph and drive 70mph. I went from getting 21.5-22.5mpg to around 24.5-25.5. I can only state this on half a tank so far but pretty sure it should stay the same as my route is the same everyday as there are no other roads I can take.
... Nah, I'll stick with 80 mph. Worth the extra couple of dollars 
03-15-2011, 02:03 PM
#96
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i say 75 is the perfect compromise....good gas mileage....no chance of a ticket on the highway (here the speed limit is 70)....so its like a WIN WIN situtation 
03-15-2011, 02:11 PM
#97
99 TL, 06 E350
My 99TL uses more gas if I use SHELL compared to ESSO.
And this happens all the time and not a one time thing.
There's something in the SHELL gas that making may car like a pig. When I use ESSO, my cars seems to sip it.
And I drive consistant with both gases.
And this happens all the time and not a one time thing.
There's something in the SHELL gas that making may car like a pig. When I use ESSO, my cars seems to sip it.
And I drive consistant with both gases.
03-15-2011, 02:55 PM
#98
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I wasn't trying to be a smart about it and thanks to you I learned something today.
03-15-2011, 03:07 PM
#100
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I have heard that....am using Mobil1 EP 5w-20 with M1 filter and i did want to use seafoam....i am going to be switching to Redline with Fram filter (better flow, courtesy Inaccurate)....Redline has better cleaning agents than M1 and hence imma kiss seafoam goodbye in the next 2k miles
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