Like the title says I'm trying to find a way to counter the drop in MPG with the dang winter fuel we have here. I get 20-24 in town during the summer but this winter "eco-friendly" fuel cuts me back to 15-18. Happens every year and it just drives me nuts.

Any advice on additives or something?

1989 4runner, 22re, 5 speed, 4x4, 235,000 miles and yes it's in great working order other than the IACV.

 

300 gallon fuel tank in your back yard? This way you can stock up in the summer with the "good" gas.

But your right, Up until a few months ago, I never realized the fuel was different come winter time. PA does the same thing. Something about putting something in or taking something out to keep it from freezing.

 

Is it actually the fuel or the fact that it takes your vehicle longer to get to operating temp so it's running less efficiently during that time. (Add to that cold air=denser=more oxygen=more fuel no matter what)

Or a combo of both, either way, don't know how cold it gets where you are, but I have a oil pan heater on one truck and a block heater on the other. It will definitely help some because it warms up way faster when you first start it cold.

 

That's a good point, but in my case. It's probably a combo of both. In my case, I did research it a little more and did confirm the fuel mixtures do change up here in the winter.

 

Isn't there a nationwide website where you can find Ethy free gas?

That should net you 10% right there...

 

don't know, but your probably right about the 10%, but before too long, you won't find any ethy free.

I say propane FTW in that case haha.

 

Yes, its actually the fuel. They reformulate the fuel in the winter months, and thats what effects your gas mileage.

 

They raise the methanol content when It begins to get cold of meth. is alcohol so it prevents it from freezin up. I believe in winter months its close to 10% meth.

 

Even if they didn't change the fuel you would still get worse gas mileage in winter because your vehicle takes longer to get up to operating temperature so it runs less efficiently. You're just getting MORE worse mileage because of the fuel

But what I was getting at is that you can't do anything about the fuel part, but you can do something about the cold part by running an oil pan heater or block heater which will let your 4runner warm faster.

 

The oil pan heater is a good idea I just don't have a place to plug one in, I live in an apartment..... Although if I could get my garage cleaned out and find a place for the bike I could park the rig in there.

 

even with the block heater etc etc, your still paying the electric to run it. Is it really saving you money?

 

you know I have wondered the same thing. I suppose that it would matter what the wattage is on the heating pad that you get. I have been considering this one for a while now and haven't been able to make up my mind to whether it is really worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-24150-Wat...pr_product_top

seems like most people put them on a timer to turn on a couple hours before they head out for the day. How much is it to run a 150watt pad for 2-3hours?

 

I don't think it would use too aweful much... I'm not too sure also what would be better a water jacket heater, a heating pad on the pan, or an interior oil heater?

 

man, on the subject of winter gas, no kidding... didn't realize they did that out here in WA but all of a sudden BAM! 20mpg down to 18.... sucks....

also bummed that none of the ethyl free gas stations on that list are within range, ethanol no bueno.... methanol bueno....

 

You also need to factor in that the gear grease is a lot thicker when cold. And adds drag untill it warms up.

 

I went from 21-22mpg to 16mpg. Pisses me off.

 

I ride a motorcycle to work a lot during the winter and even on it the gas mileage drops 2-3 mpg on winter gas. I really think it's something we just have to live with.

 

here is an experiment on using block heaters to gain efficiency.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-warm-817.html

 

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=NM

Nothing near the OP, though. I wish we could get fuel sans ethanol nationwide...

 

The flash point of gasoline is about -97F, meaning that it will still burn at 97 degrees below zero. I don't know of any place on this planet that naturally gets below that, so winter mix has nothing to do with unleaded gasoline freezing.

It's actually the "summer blend" that is altered to reduce the amount of vapor given out when the gas is baking in the hot summer weather (in the jerry can in your garage or in your gas tank), which is why gas prices generally fall a little bit in the fall (less refining and mixing necessary to maintain "summer blend"). This keeps your garage from filling with noxious fumes or your car's evap emissions system from being overwhelmed and reduces smog.

Here's an article to read