More MPG with Shell???

[ScottY]

The manual calls for regular, 87 octane.

[bulldog]

I just use regular (87). On my second tank it still seems to give 2 MPG or so more. It has been very cold and I had to run a number of very short trips, but still better than with Chevron.

[barbaram]

haven't seen a chevron station here in jersey.....!

[Ken Cooper]

Put in Shell for the first time the other day. So far, based on displayed mileage, mileage has gone down a few tenths. But, there are so many variables that affect mileage I guess it's really too early to say one way or the other.

[8AA]

Since 1989 I have not purchased Exxon gas, so I don't know what kind of mileage it might provide. I have sensed that Shell does provide slightly better mileage, but I don't know why it might make a difference. It could be the amount of ethanol that they are using, but due to the cost, I'm sure that all the distributors are only using the minimum required amount.

Just short of using a dynanometer, I'm not sure how someone could accurately test the mileage; as others have said, there are a lot of variables that would happen during normal driving.

[benighted]

I've noticed that shell gives me better MPG than Chevron.
and Aarco is a lot cheaper than Shell but I find the cost per mile is almost identical.

[John in LB]

I believe in the Chevron product and can't really comment on the Shell product.

However, here is a link to an excellent article published by Chevron explaining fuel economy and how it relates to gasoline. The end result is that there is variability in MPG between batches of gasoline and that the differences observed could very well be within the error band of uncertainty.

Either way, the article is superb reading.

http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/f...n/fuel_economy/

[bomber991]

I keep track of my fuel economy at www.austingasprices.com. I don't drive a prius, but over the past year I've gassed up at mainly Shell, but also Exxon, 7-11, and HEB. The verdict, no significant or insignificant change in gas mileage from using one or the other.

The highest mpg for the year, excluding the road trip, was 27.90, during the summer in June, and the lowest was just last week, which has also been the coldest week in the past year, with me getting 25.12.

[bulldog]

I think the difference will really depend on a region by region basis, pending the plant where it gets blended. So far it looks like my 3rd tank on Shell here in the SF Bay Area will give me at least 2 MPG more than Chevron.

This might very well change again in the summer. However it seems I'm not the only one who notiiced this by the responses on this thread.

[cwerdna]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John in LB @ Jan 24 2007, 07:37 AM) [snapback]380038[/snapback]</div>

I believe in the Chevron product and can't really comment on the Shell product.
...
Either way, the article is superb reading.

http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/f...n/fuel_economy/
[/b]

I've been filling up w/Shell a lot because of their Shell Mastercard rebate (5% credit when buying Shell gas towards future gas purchases; you got 3x rebates for the 1st 60 days yielding 15% credit!). I haven't noticed any significant difference in fuel economy between brands.

Yes, that article is most excellent. That should go in a Prius knowledge base area or be part of a sticky!