Why does gasoline, sometimes, get used up faster than other times if the car and amount of driving is the same

Question

Sometimes a full gas tank will go to the halfway mark in two days and other times it takes a whole week to reach the same level. I am not traveling more distance and the air conditioning is not on more. The amount of city driving is about the same. It is not due to a change in temperature. Could it be due to a "summer blend"? Could it be air in the gasoline? Since the gasoline travels across the country in a pipeline, and is transported to the station in a truck how is one to know what quality gasoline one is using? Do stations buy different blends of gasoline even though the octane rating is the same?

Answer 1

The "summer blend" I have been buying is 10% ethanol. Ethanol does lower your gas mileage. While air conditioning may be on the same amount of time, the outside temperature may affect how much gas it uses. During the really hot days, I notice my gas level drops more quickly. Also, a lot depends on how much you have to start and stop, which can really eat up gas. Develop the art of anticipating stops and easing off the gas when a stop is coming up. Smooth driving, gentle acceleration and deceleration, is the way to go. This saves both gas and wear-and-tear on the brakes. If you are stuck in traffic, all that idling will eat up gas, even though you are not going anywhere. So even though you cover the same distance, the exact traffic conditions you meet along the way each day can make a big difference. Time as well as distance factors into the gas usage equation.

Answer 2

You can't judge fuel consumption by the number of days, you can only judge it by distance driven. Keep careful records and you will quickly identify the reasons for your fuel economy fluctuating if it is actually fluctuating at all.

All gasolines are essentially the same and come from the same refineries. The only differences among the various brands are the additive packages. Certain additives are mandated by law (detergent additives, for example) and the differences advertised by the major producers are dubious at best.

The only other differentiator among gasolines is the anti-knock ability, specified by the octane number. Use the octane specified by the manufacturer in your owner's manual. Using a higher octane number is a waste of money.

Answer 3

Not even the engineers and experts in all drectly related feilds can explain it entirely. Sligt differeces in temp and other conditios can do it - for example. The other ans all expain parts of it. even the most sophisticated approaches don't get exat results --- and we don't have the nost sophisticated systems on our cars. Thete are times tha even the best aerospace and Formula 1enineers can'y explaion things that should be simple.
My old MGB with Austin sedan engine got 24 - 25 mpg open road at 55 mph. On hilly, curvy, riugh roads in Quebec, Canada, where I HAD to run 70 - 75 mph or more to keep up with traffic, it got 34 - 35 on different types of gas and in different temp ranges.
Once back in U.S. at 55 = 10 mpg less. Car was built for the higher speed rages. Still usually better to stick to same brnd and grade og gas - no usually "brand X" - but strange things happen!!!!!!

Answer 4

The BTU content of gasoline varies with blend. Temperature of the air and humidity also have a bearing on mileage. Driving styles and tire air pressure also are factors.

Answer 5

The gauge in the gas tank can not tell the volume has gone down until about 15% of the gas is gone out of the tank so you can never tell how much gas is in the tank between 85% and 100%, unless you just filled up your tank.....I have not the slightest idea how or why I know this...

Answer 6

Cheap gas. Some stations 'dump' cheaper gas into higher octane tanks in order to resell at the higher price. This is illegal but rarely caught.

Answer 7

The octane of gasoline has no longer something to do with gasoline intake. All pump gasoline has the same quantity of warm temperature output, meaning they produce the same quantity of potential. the in ordinary words large difference is, the better the volume, the a lot less of conceivable your engine will sparkknock. (this does no longer ensue even as operating 87 octane besides) As for gasoline intake, ethanol has been extra to gasoline to make it extra helpful. distinct shops frequently do purchase gasoline distinct agencies, regardless of the indisputable fact that the combos are very similar. Your information are very small, yet i will attempt to reply to this as perfect as i will. TO OPTIMIZE gasoline intake: ---> commence using once the engine begins. unnecessary idling pollutes the ambience, wastes gasoline, and easily accomplishes no longer something yet taking extra funds out of your pocket. ---> do not %. for each 5 miles an hour you bypass over 60mph, that is 25 cents in accordance to gallon lengthy gone down the drain. ---> reduce braking. in case you sense site visitors slowing down, bypass ahead and take your foot off the accelerator pedal. It saves gasoline and brakes. similar element for pink lights. ---> sidestep quick stops and begins. those demolish you MPG. common off, common on. ---> Use A/C on condition that you fairly have too. in case you roll down a window, it in ordinary words hurts your MPG by employing .a million. ---> do away with extra weight. ---> by no potential placed something on accurate of your automobile. ---> in case you DOUBLED your gasoline intake, you had to were doing something appreciably distinct for it now to not be talked about. desire this right here facilitates out.

Answer 8

Different formulations may have less energy and modern cars "tune" ignition patterns to compensate for the fuel quality.

People who expect ethanol to make cheaper fuel will be very surprised by the reduction in their mpg figures.

Answer 9

sometimes the gas does have more air in it. the blend of gas is different at every gas station.

Answer 10

Yes.