Ethanol gas, winter blend

alfon · 10-14-2009, 05:33 PM

I live in Oregon where this state mandates all year long a mixture of 10% Ethanol in gasoline sold in the state.

I would like to know if there is actually a winter formula with this gas as it is already thined out with Ethanol. Any more blending to thin it would give you even less MPG.

alfon

Mark57 · 10-14-2009, 05:55 PM

I don't know if Ethanol is part of the mix for you when talking about winter formulated gas but I don't believe it is here since we can buy non-ethanol winter gas. I do know for reformulated winter gas, lighter, low-boiling-point components are added to the gasoline to increase volatility. This makes your car easier to start and accelerates converter light-off, thus lowering emissions.It's all about lowering emissions in the colder heavier air. In my real world measurements, winter gas provides lower mpg's and that's in every vehicle I've ever owned.

We also get winter formulated gasoline here and also have an ethanol choice.

Edit: Check out this article on Gasoline Blending

drpoehls · 10-23-2009, 11:39 PM

Should I buy premium unleaded for my prius or will regular suffice?

JimboPalmer · 10-24-2009, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpoehls

Should I buy premium unleaded for my prius or will regular suffice?

From a MPG perspective, neither Gen I nor Gen II Prius got any better mileage on Premium, with some tests indicating a minor drop off compared to Regular. From a Horsepower perspective, Premium offered some advantage in hill climbs.

I am not aware that these tests have been run on Gen III, it is a new (to the Prius) engine.

I am happy with Regular.

Mark57 · 10-24-2009, 11:12 AM

I'd stick with the recommended 87 octane.

DaveinOlyWA · 10-24-2009, 11:32 AM

ya, there is still winter formula gas. in WA, we have same all year e-10. track your mileage. you most likely went to winter fuel sept 30 or soon thereafter. it varies from region to region. Sept 30th is our "first official frost day" here.

all summer long, i was averaging (mind you this is the MFD) 62-64 mpg. current tank is 59.5. so i have definitely lost some mileage here.
driving patterns have changed slightly due to the fact that i am using 2010 to commute to work, but that only means i am using gas faster. the type of driving has not really changed much.

now, the change in weather i feel accounts 2-3 mpg, the rest is change in gas. we still have some days that are very mild, but still not getting the mileage i was before.

10-14-2009, 05:33 PM	#1
alfon Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: seaside, oregon Posts: 185 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: Navigation Thanks: 0 Thanked 44 Times in 15 Posts Friends: 0	Ethanol gas, winter blend I live in Oregon where this state mandates all year long a mixture of 10% Ethanol in gasoline sold in the state. I would like to know if there is actually a winter formula with this gas as it is already thined out with Ethanol. Any more blending to thin it would give you even less MPG. alfon

10-14-2009, 05:55 PM	#2
Mark57 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 212 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: #2 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 15 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Ethanol gas, winter blend I don't know if Ethanol is part of the mix for you when talking about winter formulated gas but I don't believe it is here since we can buy non-ethanol winter gas. I do know for reformulated winter gas, lighter, low-boiling-point components are added to the gasoline to increase volatility. This makes your car easier to start and accelerates converter light-off, thus lowering emissions.It's all about lowering emissions in the colder heavier air. In my real world measurements, winter gas provides lower mpg's and that's in every vehicle I've ever owned. We also get winter formulated gasoline here and also have an ethanol choice. Edit: Check out this article on Gasoline Blending __________________ Mark __________________ Best MPG to date, 66.1 over 321.0 miles, 11/09/09 My Fuelly page Last edited by Mark57; 10-14-2009 at 06:03 PM.

10-23-2009, 11:39 PM	#3
drpoehls Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Milwuakee, WI Posts: 4 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: No Package Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: Ethanol gas, winter blend Should I buy premium unleaded for my prius or will regular suffice?

10-24-2009, 11:12 AM	#5
Mark57 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 212 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: #2 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 15 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Ethanol gas, winter blend I'd stick with the recommended 87 octane.

10-24-2009, 11:32 AM	#6
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,377 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	Re: Ethanol gas, winter blend ya, there is still winter formula gas. in WA, we have same all year e-10. track your mileage. you most likely went to winter fuel sept 30 or soon thereafter. it varies from region to region. Sept 30th is our "first official frost day" here. all summer long, i was averaging (mind you this is the MFD) 62-64 mpg. current tank is 59.5. so i have definitely lost some mileage here. driving patterns have changed slightly due to the fact that i am using 2010 to commute to work, but that only means i am using gas faster. the type of driving has not really changed much. now, the change in weather i feel accounts 2-3 mpg, the rest is change in gas. we still have some days that are very mild, but still not getting the mileage i was before. __________________ My Blue 2010 : Last tank 541.9 @ 49.48 pump (56.7 MFD) 5.54 CPM, 21 MPH, Lifetime:5442.2 miles 56.5 MPG pump. (62.22 MFD) 4.72 CPM. Summer MPG 57.4 Winter: 49.5 My 2006 SPM: Last tank 376.6 miles @38.21 pump (40.8 MFD) 7.17 cpm winter mpg 49.64 summer mpg 53.41 lifetime: 42,563.5 miles 51.5 mpg pump (52.7 mpg MFD) 5.51 cpm My 2007 Zenn total "fuel cost" $166.58 on "about" 9599.7 miles. 1.74 cents per mile (granted i plug in for free at work!!) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

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