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Just filled up with new Mobil "Synergy" gasoline

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Coast Cruiser, Aug 24, 2016.

  1. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I think that new Synergy gas gave my Prius the "runs"...

    image.jpg

    Fuel em' up, guys & gals! The latest and greatest from the great folks at Mobil.
    (Makers of the BEST engine oil money can buy... "Mobil-1")
     
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  2. thunderstruck

    thunderstruck Active Member

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    If they really want to do something to improve mileage how about leaving the ethanol out instead?
     
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  3. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    Demulsifier - that's sooooo important!
     
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  4. SAronian

    SAronian Active Member

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  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I am thinking EPA measures CAFE MPG without ethanol. If so, the target 52.5 CAFE MPG rating is without ethanol. So adding ethanol only reduces "real world" MPG for us, the drivers. The vehicle itself gets credit for what it can do on E0 non-RFG high energy content fuel. YMMV. Basically legislative gobbledygook, if EPA really wants better MPG, loosen ethanol mandates and focus on real world MPG. As Prius drivers, we want to see 50+ MPG on our gauge and not be shot down a -5 MPG notch because we are not allowed to use the best energy fuels. Ethanol was mandated way before high MPG hybrid cars came to the market, so it was less visible MPG hit then. So I agree we may need to re-think EPA's fuel recipes. I have also felt the 1990 recipes may be out-dated for newer vehicles.
     
    #25 wjtracy, Aug 25, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2016
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  6. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    image.jpg

    My first hundred (city) miles with the new Mobil Synergy fuel. 64 MPG displayed. I've never gotten over 60 or 61 displayed. Just a coincidence? Who knows, and I'm not obsessed with MPG's. Just thought it was mildly interesting. Time will tell....

    (I still drive 100% in the PWR mode. 5-8 mph over the speed limit. AC running full-time. Haven't changed anything about my driving style. Maybe it's a result of the ultra-slick Turtle Wax Ice I'm trying.:LOL:)
     
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  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Time will tell...gotta give me state of residence before I can make any comment because I do not know if you are using CA CARB gaso or Oregon non-CARB etc. I am expecting more possible variation in non-RFG areas.
     
    #27 wjtracy, Aug 27, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
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  8. CZsp01

    CZsp01 New Member

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    Sounds like they hired someone new for marketing.
     
  9. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Darn. You caught me. :D

    I'm also a "hack" for Toyo Tires. The best performing, best handling, and without question the quietest tires on the road... Your Prius will never be the same! ;)

    I currently have 350 miles on this tank of Mobil Synergy gas. The MPG display shows 66.5. It's never been that high before. I usually average a constant 60. I haven't changed my driving style; still in the PWR mode.
    Don't speed, but not a hyper-miler either.

    I also had an oil change and they used Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic 0W-20 (which also claims to improve gas mileage.) The new gas and oil probably means nothing. Maybe the car and tires are just more broken-in at 5,400 miles. :D

    (Or maybe I lost 40 lbs! :ROFLMAO:)
     
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  10. alfon

    alfon Senior Member

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    I normally use Costco gas in our 2010 Prius and last fill up calculated was 58 mpg, 62 mpg indicated. I have used no name cheap rate gas,
    and name brands as well. I never noticed any discernible difference in mpg. The only time I noticed a definite difference is with regular gas with no ethanol which gave me at least 3-5 mpg more than ethanol blended gas. Now with our 2016 Volt I have been using 87 octane 10% ethanol blended gasoline.

    In fact with our Volt I filled up with cut rate gas, no name, regular and obtained 50.8 mpg just on gas in a trip down the Oregon Coast via Hwy 101, the highest mpg just on gas noticed in our Volt yet. Oregon is one of those states with Ethanol blended gas mandated, however you can buy Premium grade no ethanol gas for about 75 cents or more per gallon which is what most of the boaters use for their engine here on the Oregon Coast.
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think legislation dictates they have to add ethanol?

    Speaking of legislation: in my area (Coquitlam, BC, Canada) self-serve stations are not allowed. Presently I believe we're the only place in the lower mainland with this policy. Apparently there's a move afoot to discontinue the policy, which reportedly has been in effect since 1959, which I'd speculate was around the time self-serve was first introduced?

    There were some local politicians quoted saying they're not sure how or why the no self-serve continues. But yeah, would be nice: we've gassed up here maybe twice in the 25+ years we've been here.
     
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  12. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    image.jpg


    Is it really the Mobil Synergy gas? My best 500 city miles ever. Still in PWR mode. AC running on low. Normal driving--No hypemile. (Distance-to-empty says I have 182 miles left.) I wonder what would happen if I ever put it in Eco mode? :eek:

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    10-mile daily commute to the Nature Center..... Prius drivers must be "Vegans" and commune with the animals! ;)


    (Just don't tell anyone, on the way home I stopped and got a cheeseburger for breakfast!)



    I'm in sunny and hot Southern California. Where we never seem to get Winter! It's going to be 90-100 again this weekend. :(

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    First full tank report: Mobil Synergy Gasoline

    686 miles driven
    Display shows: 68.7 MPG
    Filled tank until pump clicked off: Total of 9.9 gallons
    Hand calculation: 69.2 MPG

    Notes: City driving. PWR mode. Obeying posted speed limits. AC/defrost on due to fog. Distance-to-empty at time of refuel: 26 miles. Best MPG I've ever gotten.

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    The morning commute.

    I'm going to quit right there. That good enough for this rookie. :D

    (It's time to go back to burning rubber! :ROFLMAO:)
     
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  13. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'm pretty sure my subconscious imprinted on the picture.
    So I'm expecting nightmares starring "Mr. Dirt".

    I'll be expecting him to pop up every time I hit the Prius hood release.
     
  14. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    CC I don't believe you have given me your state of mind (I mean residence). If it is other than CA, then there is a possibility that different stations could have different recipes and more variation in MPG. That being the case, you have found a good one, and that's what I'd also be looking for, except I live in an EPA standard recipe zone (RFG).

    ...hmm...Ok secret additive formula then...it's proven
     
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  15. GaryD1

    GaryD1 Active Member

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    I drove our two Eco down to 19 miles to go, got orange gas tank light but no warning, am wandering if Eco has this feature of getting the warning pop up screen? anybody?
     
  16. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

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    I believe there is data for some formulations, but it is difficult and expensive to come by as it involves running the ICE (BMW?) for a simulated 100,000 miles on a dyno and then completely tearing down the engine and physically measuring the resulting deposits on piston, combustion chamber, valves, etc. At the time I read that test, the Shell premium grade gasoline was tested and did in fact show less carbon deposits than an engine run on fuel without the additive package, IIRC.

    Maybe I'm too OCD for that approach, but also I have experienced build up of carbon in the combustion chamber on some of my 100,000+ mile vehicles that was severe enough that I was forced to switch first to mid-grade fuel and then to premium to avoid pre-ignition, and I deeply resented the extra cost of each gallon. I did de-carbonize motorcycle engines, but all the cars died from other causes before I had to disassemble their ICEs.
    In piston-powered aircraft, carbon build up can truly be a safety issue as pre-ignition slams the valves into their seats, which can cause damage and possible long-term engine failure, but true detonation can blow a hole through the top of the piston after just a few seconds, and that brings you down immediately, which can be very unpleasant.
    So personally I do buy top tier gas, and would like to have the 100,000 mile tear down information on the effectiveness of each gasoline's additive package to help choose if it were available .
     
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  17. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I'm not sure, Gary. I think it comes with the Nav? On my Three, I had to go into the "settings" on the big screen, and press a button to activate the low-fuel warning. I think it was in the navigation settings; Don't know why it was in that area.

    Last time I got the warning, I also heard a "ding", and then the woman saying I had low fuel. I didn't hear her talk this time. Maybe the audio was off at the time, and/or I wasn't using the Nav. I don't plan on letting my car get so low on fuel again, and I really have no idea if the Synergy gas is helping (or not) with the MPG. I kind of doubt it... but it's amusing to play with and try new things. :) (And the Mobil station is less than a quarter mile from my house. It's just convenient,)
     
  18. GaryD1

    GaryD1 Active Member

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    IC, will check that setting out and see if low fuel on/off is in there. My wife was driving last time orange light came on, she said it came on in the 35-40 miles to go range, I wasn't driving so can't confirm that.
     
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I never want to see that warning, or doubly so for my wife, driving alone. It's a game with no upside, lol.
     
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  20. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Agreed. I just made sure I was in a business district so I could duck into a gas station quickly, if needed.

    And for Gary, the little yellow fuel tank icon came on at T-Minus 36 miles to empty. :LOL: I drove another 10 miles then fueled up. After the pump clicked off automatically, I did my calculations for MPG. (It's not recommended to overfill the tank, but in the past I noticed I could usually squeeze one more gallon in there.)
     
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