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Shell gasoline saves gas?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by Stringer, May 4, 2006.

  1. Stringer

    Stringer New Member

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    The full story

    Now the question is, has someone tried that new gasoline with Prius and does it really improve MPG or is the record entirely based on the economical driving style (hard to belive with that car)? Oh, and I was unable to find any news about the new gasoline formula around Shell's US site, so I have no clue if you are using that yet or not.
     
  2. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    Google brings back stories from Singapore and Malaysia about the new formula, but none in the US.

    I guess we wait and see...
     
  3. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    53 in a jetta apparently. I think we need more data? Shell do you hear me. Give me about 10 fill ups and we shall see. On the other hand is the Kitchen too hot for you!!
     
  4. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Where does it document how they shoved more energy into a gallon of gasoline? I don't buy it. Just like we see a huge range in mileage from different Prius drivers - there is plenty you can do to stretch the miles on one gallon of gas. Can have very little to do with the fuel itself.
     
  5. jmpenn

    jmpenn New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 5 2006, 12:04 AM) [snapback]250064[/snapback]</div>
    Yeah. This is telling. "...used in conjunction with our FuelStretch programme - can help every driver, everywhere with simple techniques to achieve major savings in fuel consumption"
    Sounds like driver training to me.
     
  6. JackDodge

    JackDodge Gold Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whitestar @ May 5 2006, 01:14 PM) [snapback]250304[/snapback]</div>
    Like those diet pills that say to be 100% effective, you have to exercise and eat less :lol:
     
  7. kDB

    kDB New Member

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    wonder what kind of mods they did to the car. i would assume they stripped out as much weight as possible. and also they may have done an ignition kill mod with a manual. then pulse and glided. so they could accellerate, kill the ignition, then just pop the clutch when needed to start the engine again.

    a bit of a stretch, i know. but it is defintely not a stock VW.
     
  8. PriusDad

    PriusDad New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 4 2006, 09:04 PM) [snapback]250064[/snapback]</div>
    'Gasoline' is not a single formulation or molecule. Gasoline from different refineries will have different blends of the organic molecules that come under the umbrella of 'gasoline.'

    Testing a number of years ago already showed Shell's formulation to have a higher BTU content than other gasolines. The 'BTU' stands for British Thermal Units, and is a measure of the amount of usable energy content in the fuel. The higher the BTU content of a fuel, the more miles per gallon you will get.

    It is possible that Shell has come up with a new formulation that increases the BTU content of a gallon of gasoline. It's also possible that the new formulation has the same BTU content as the previous formulation, but burns more completely. Or the new formulation could have a combination of both higher BTU content and a more complete burn.

    Clearly, as members of this forum know quite well, driving style makes a huge difference in the mileage one can achieve. The only way to really tell if there is something to this new Shell formulation is for a driver with a given driving style to log a number of miles with this new gasoline and with another, and compare the results. Comparing one team's results using a new formulation and driving style to the results for an average driver using the current formulation is basically meaningless.

    Peter.
     
  9. ghostofjk

    ghostofjk New Member

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    Shell knows full well that there are way too many variables for their claim ever to be tested in everyday driving.

    The claim can only be verified with bench-testing, using the same engine(s) with all testing conditions controlled.

    What would be hard about doing that, Shell? :rolleyes:
     
  10. ceric

    ceric New Member

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    I showed this piece of topic to my wife and she refused to believe it.
    According to her, and myself as a witness, Shell gas gives our Odyssey the worst mpg compared with 76 and Chevron. She is the driver of our Odyssey for busing kids around (a lot of short drives). Her routines are quite fixed. Very few unusual routes. According to her, when fuel light comes on, she usually see about 210 miles with Shell gasoline and about 220-230 with 76 and Chevron (all with grade 89). I have seen it myself a few times. This is by no means scientific but we are still tracking this. <_<
     
  11. PriusDad

    PriusDad New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ceric @ May 8 2006, 12:41 AM) [snapback]251365[/snapback]</div>
    Check your ethanol content for the Shell gas. High ethanol content will lower mileage. I think Shell are one of the first to have switched to the higher ethanol content to replace MTBE as the oxygenate. If this is the case, the mileage will definitely be lower. But you will see the Chevron and 76 go down too when they complete the switch.

    Also, Chevron gas has Techron, which is a cleaning agent. If your valves have deposits on them, the Techron will help clean the valves and improve mileage.

    I tend to prefer Chevron gas myself, but it's so damn expensive. Note that you can buy Techron separately and add it to whatever other gas you tend to use. This will give you some of the cleaning benefits, though not as much (or as consistent) as using Chevron all the time.

    Peter.
     
  12. tomdeimos

    tomdeimos New Member

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    I've always used Shell because of the higher mpg. It has been consistantly over 2 mpg better than any other brand I have tried. But now with the ethanol it has dropped by over 4 mpg.

    I have switched to Mobil for now and mpg is back near normal, for the moment.

    If we all have to burn this ethanol stuff and get bad mpg I'd at least like to convert my car to run on E85 and get rid of most of the gasoline.
     
  13. Stringer

    Stringer New Member

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    Well, I have used the Shell's gasoline for three days now and haven't noticed any difference to the competive gasoline. At least not any difference to positive direction. My avarage with the current ambient temperature seems to be around 53mpg, which is fine but has nothing to do with the gasoline.
     
  14. RU EXP 2

    RU EXP 2 New Member

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    I was a die-hard Chevron user for years. I tried Shell and I got better milage. Went back to Chevron and noticed the difference .... between 48 and 50mpg. Shell I get between 50 and 52. Every now and then 53mpg. I use Shell now only. Peace Michael J
     
  15. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusDad @ May 8 2006, 12:54 AM) [snapback]251343[/snapback]</div>
    Exxon-Mobil has made a proposal to Continental Airlines about JET FUEL with a higher energy level.....so they could carry less fuel = less weight = longer range.