Fuel mileage... any one else notice this?

[Bob & Sue]

I have actually noticed this on all three of the cars. The difference now is we drive the truck and the convertable more then in the winter. I feel like a 100 mi difference is extreme. Seperate cars and sep odometer so I would not think they both went south at the same time. Just did a tune up on the truck and replaced the air filter in the car last fall(we don't drive it in the winter). Don't know why my mileage has gone to crap? Can't blame it on different octains either. Have tried the lot with little difference...

If you've done all that something is wrong I'd at least take one of them in for a diagnostic test if they find something wrong it'll pay for it with the fuel savings 100 miles loss on a tank is extreme. You might even try a shop that has a portable analyzer to run plugged in for a couple days to get a better idea of whats going on.

 

[Blueone]

Since last fall I have noticed that for example in my silverado 1500 pick up that I used to get 300 miles on a tank of fuel... now in the past few weeks I'm lucky if I get 200 miles.

I have the option of E85 in my suburban. The differance between using E85 and regular gas is a 10% drop in fuel mileage.

 

[Iprof]

Last October I drove from my house to Florida then home in December the fuel cost was 170.00 down and 167 home. I went back down in January and it cost 170 but when I came home in April it was a lot but the cost of fuel had gone from 3.25 a gallon to 3.95 a gallon. I used about the same amount of fuel coming home. The computer in my car had me at 26.9 miles to the gallon going down and 25.9 coming home. I use 87 grade in my car

Ken

 

[comsnark]

supposedly E10
as prices go up the ethanol content tends to follow...major brands are stricter to the 10% content
than the "cheapie" stations (ie. walmart, admiral, swifty, clark, murphy, costco) ...I have had it checked..up to 18.5% in some
In the "non brand" staions sometimes the additives don't mix well either.
stick to the major brands and the fuel will be much more consistant quality :wink:

How do you check the ethanol content?

 

[mrclark321]

Being on the border I usually fill up in the states because gas is cheaper and lately have been travelling to the boat in St. Clair Shores to work on it, I have been averaging around 18 mpg according to the computer on the truck. Thursday I had to drive to Toronto but had to fill up in Canada for gas and on the trip I averaged 20 mpg again according to the computer on the truck. Found this quite odd

 

[Bob & Sue]

Our state is really on top of checking alcohol % over 10% is a large fine and will ruin an engine the reason is you need to use larger amounts ie larger jets in carb or injectors as % goes higher. I have a pyrometer to check content but never have used it to check gas we use it to check nitro to alcohol percentage for a race car.
Here's a link to by home type for the boat.

http://www.fuel-testers.com/order.html

 

[moparlvr4406]

How do you check the ethanol content?

I have a kit with graduated cylinders
you mix the fuel with water and the reading of the water will increase when ethanol is present
and give a close percentage of the ethanol....a little crude but works well

this is the basic procedure with a different kit

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/ethanolTest.html


or you can buy this style kit
http://fueltestkit.com/