Gasoline Quality Requirements for Prius

[jayman]

Originally posted by Frank Hudon@Feb 9 2006, 10:56 AM
I've totally given up trying to get good mileage from Shell, Arco, Mohawk and most of the cheap stations. In the wifes car she used to use Mohawk and it was costing her about 2 miles to the gallon. Spend your money as you see fit but run a spread sheet so you can prove it to yourself.

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Frank:

Oddly enough, with the Mohawk stations here in Manitoba, I still get "good" fuel economy. When I first got my Prius, I tried Esso, Shell, Canadian Tire, Co-Op, etc. I consistently got 1-2 MPG lower at Co-Op, and their unleaded gas REEKS. I run it in my 1984 Ford F-150, it doesn't have emissions controls and could care less what it burns.

Hey, why aren't you at work?? I'm gonna tell ....

jay

[Frank Hudon]

Originally posted by jayman@Feb 9 2006, 08:13 AM
Frank:



Hey, why aren't you at work?? I'm gonna tell ....

jay

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wrecked my ankle, in physio trying to get to walking on it again.

[Frank Hudon]

Originally posted by SomervillePrius@Feb 9 2006, 08:12 AM
I don't understand how you can compare FE this way! There is simply too many varients!

A car gets different FE tank to tank! Look at the data over at greenhybrid.com as a reference. Big factors are of course how many long/short trips you do but the temperature makes a big difference as well and the drop you are seeing could simply be the temperature getting colder (as your good tank was in september).

So no, I don't see how 3 "random" tanks of gas proves anything. If you used 1 gas station for several tanks and then (the next year) used another one for the same period then maybe you could tell if there was a difference

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5.43
5.53
4.58
5.2
4.63
6.09
4.94

[darelldd]

First off, I buy gas at the most expensive place I can because the last thing I want to see is lower gas prices...

Secondly, as others have said, most gasoline in a given area comes from the same place. Yes, each company makes their own brand of additives, but no, you shouldn't worry about them. I'd worry WAY more about the fact that you're burning gasoline at all!

[aaf709]

Originally posted by SomervillePrius@Feb 9 2006, 06:08 AM
What other have said... it's ALL  the same from the cheapest corner outlet to the flashiest station. The difference is only marketing hype... so support whomever you feel comfortable with... I like to support local mom and pop stores (as long as I can fill-up myself).

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Modern Marvels last week was on Gasoline. It showed the process from well to gas station. What was interesting was that only 5% the pipelines in the US are dedicated pipelines (meaning Chevron oil well to Chevron refinery to Chevron pipeline to Chevron distributation site to Chevron gas station). The remaining 95% are shared. A "pig" is run in between to separate the loads and any additives are added at the distributation site of that particular brand. It was then said most of the difference is Advertising.

When showing the future of gasoline, they showed some hybrids, including a Prius.

[Frank Hudon]

there's 3 refinery's here Chevron, Shell, Imperial Oil, I consistanly get good mileage from Chevron and Esso (Imperial) my primary station is Chevron about 1/4 mile away from the refinery.

[Rancid13]

Originally posted by aaf709@Feb 9 2006, 09:53 AM
Modern Marvels last week was on Gasoline. It showed the process from well to gas station. What was interesting was that only 5% the pipelines in the US are dedicated pipelines (meaning Chevron oil well to Chevron refinery to Chevron pipeline to Chevron distributation site to Chevron gas station). The remaining 95% are shared. A "pig" is run in between to separate the loads and any additives are added at the distributation site of that particular brand. It was then said most of the difference is Advertising.

When showing the future of gasoline, they showed some hybrids, including a Prius.

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I saw that episode...love that show. I usually get my gas at Chevron b/c there's one right near my home and another 20 yards from my work, and it's usually ~5 cents more than the nearest Arco, but without the 45 cent transaction fee at Arco for using a debit card. Otherwise I'm not the least bit picky about what kind of gas I use. When I picked up my Prius at the dealer last night, the sales guy made a point of saying that the Prius is practically made to operate using 87 octane (not premium) and it doesn't matter where one fuels up.

[Frank Hudon]

Originally posted by Rancid13@Feb 9 2006, 09:37 AM
I saw that episode...love that show. I usually get my gas at Chevron b/c there's one right near my home and another 20 yards from my work, and it's usually ~5 cents more than the nearest Arco, but without the 45 cent transaction fee at Arco for using a debit card. Otherwise I'm not the least bit picky about what kind of gas I use. When I picked up my Prius at the dealer last night, the sales guy made a point of saying that the Prius is practically made to operate using 87 octane (not premium) and it doesn't matter where one fuels up.

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keep a spreadsheet on your gasoline useage. Date, mileage, tank mileage, fill quantity, MFD tank mpg, calculated mpg, $, temp, and location of station. You can also include other date like your oil changes and tire rotations etc. Then if you see a change in mpg you can look at the sheet and see if it's really some thing to be concerened about or just that you changed stations or brands or some thing is wrong with the car.

[Bob Allen]

I'm working on a secret process to make gasoline out of used plastic bags, food scraps and dead ball point pens. Will posts results when the smoke clears.

[Frank Hudon]

Originally posted by Bob Allen@Feb 9 2006, 10:46 AM
I'm working on a secret process to make gasoline out of used plastic bags, food scraps and dead ball point pens.  Will posts results when the smoke clears.

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better yet methane from dog doo, decomposted and captrue the methane and compress it and use a gas mixer carb to burn it in your Prius. I won't bother but if you want to spend your weekends picking up dog doo go for it Bob