Discussion on winter blend gas

[eagle33199]

Information on winter blend doesn't appear to be very accessible after running a few google searches. We all know that the winter blend reduces your fuel economy, but i'm wondering what the details are. anyone with information, thoughts, or ideas, please chime in.

First, does the winter fuel change from area to area? for example, is there a difference between two BP stations, if one is in Ohio and the other in Minnesota?

Second, does the winter blend differ between brands/stations? for example, does BP have a different blend than Chevron? (i'm guessing the answer to this one is yes - do we know how that difference effects the mileage?)

Any other information?

The reason i bring this up is fairly obvious - we all are seeing a decrease in our mileage with winter gas (and cold temperatures). While i haven't had my Prius long enough to really track trends (only 8 months), but one of my friends (who also used to live in ohio but now lives in MN like me) has had is Camry for a number of years, and tracks his mileage. while we can't take all the variables out of it (like conditions in his commute, temperature differences, etc), he's seeing an 8-10% difference in his gas mileage now compared to a year ago when he was in Ohio, which naturally brings up the curiosity.

[Marlin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Dec 1 2006, 01:17 PM) [snapback]356217[/snapback]</div>

First, does the winter fuel change from area to area? for example, is there a difference between two BP stations, if one is in Ohio and the other in Minnesota?
[/b]

From a 2004 Slate Magazine article...

What Is Summer-Blend Gas?

Because overlapping federal and local requirements call for different recipes in different locales and seasons, there are approximately 20 distinct "boutique blends" of gasoline sold in the United States. [/b]

[john1701a]

Yes, Yes, and Yes.

Winter fuel differs from area to area, from brand to brand, and information is extremely difficult to find.

Since I have 6 winters and over 125,000 miles of data from Prius driving in Minnesota, there really isn't much more to know anyway. You'll observe major efficiency differences between summer & winter, but it averages out to a pleasing MPG of about 48.5

[IsrAmeriPrius]

This California Energy Commission web page describes some some of the different gasoline blends used around the United States, including the various winter formulations:

DEFINITIONS OF MOTOR FUELS AND REFINED PRODUCTS

[jimgraffam]

I suspect that my station here in Massachusetts must already have the winter blend. Last tank well... tanked. I was thinking "What the..." until it dawned on me.

[eagle33199]

John, being from MN too, do you know what the winter blend is here? My friend just found on a cooper mini site that the winter blend is 15% ethanol across the state, not sure how accurate that is...

[NicNicholson]

I wonder how much driving with our headlights on affects mileage...

It may be that it is not just the winter blend that is doing it.

[VABeachPrius]

Does "winter blend" have more additive in it then gas with E10 that would cause more of a reduction in fuel economy than "summer blend" with E10?

[john1701a]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Dec 1 2006, 01:35 PM) [snapback]356334[/snapback]</div>

John, being from MN too, do you know what the winter blend is here? My friend just found on a cooper mini site that the winter blend is 15% ethanol across the state, not sure how accurate that is...
[/b]

Nope, not true. The 2013 mandate for E20 just passed clearly documented that we only use a blend of 10 percent currently.

[DaveinOlyWA]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jimgraffam @ Dec 1 2006, 11:07 AM) [snapback]356282[/snapback]</div>

I suspect that my station here in Massachusetts must already have the winter blend. Last tank well... tanked. I was thinking "What the..." until it dawned on me. [/b]

well ya... probably for about 6 weeks or so. in a much milder climate, the Pacific Northwest, we went to winter blend on oct 13th... Friday the 13th to be exact. it was announced here. your region would go to winter blend at a different time, but based on your area, population density, and weather, you may have done it before us.


as far as headlight use, i did extensive tests on my 04 the first year i had it and results were inconclusive. the variation in mileage was within the normal deviation.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VABeachPrius @ Dec 6 2006, 05:34 AM) [snapback]358373[/snapback]</div>

Does "winter blend" have more additive in it then gas with E10 that would cause more of a reduction in fuel economy than "summer blend" with E10? [/b]

yes. winter gas would freeze if not for anti-freeze (not ethylene gycol) components that are added. they do take up space, but dont burn. this reduces the amount of energy in a gallon of gas by 3-8% depending on location

according to a "Modern Marvels" show the #1 cause of reduced gas mileage in winter is the increased density of cold air which can reduce efficiency by as much as 15% in some areas (probably Minnesota, North Dakota and Alaska)