Shell gas

Yes. In the New York Metropolitan area Shell has the same signs. And yes, I think it does affect the gas mileage. - Marvin

 

Indianapolis Shell stations have the "may contain up to %10 ethanol" sticker on the pumps. I've noticed a slight hit to my MPG when I fuel up at Shell.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Jul 26 2007, 06:27 PM) [snapback]485747[/snapback]</div>

The ethanol sticker may be standard in NJ. I can say that I haven't taken an mpg hit because of their gas. I can't say with certainty that their gas has improved my mpg as there are too many factors. Use their credit card and get the 5% rebate. After the rebate, is there cheaper gas?

"Usually" the MFD is off 1 or 2 mpg but has been off up to 20%. Almost always the MFD is higher, but not this last tank. 60 or 66 mpg is very good.

 

It seems like ALL the stations now say "contains ethanol". I have the willies over this :blink: !

May be the new "summer" blend?????

My tanks vary too much because I don't have a station I use all the time to fill up so there are too many variables to make a generalization.

 

Shell has had the signs in Houston for a number of months now, including the "winter" (whatever that means in Texas). So I don't think summer/winter blend has anything to do with it.

FWIW, I've noticed a hit in my MPG (vs. last year's) that I can't explain by any other factor.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Jul 26 2007, 05:27 PM) [snapback]485747[/snapback]</div>

I just did a trip up to Wisconsin from AL and back through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky , Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi. All of the gas stations had stickers that say the fuel may contain up to 10% ethanol. Remember that MTBE is being phased out as an oxygenate in gasoline due to water contamination problems. It is being replaced by ethanol for summer blend fuels by most companies.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Jul 26 2007, 03:27 PM) [snapback]485747[/snapback]</div>

Yes, the Shell station I go to in San Jose, CA has that. I think virtually every gas station I go to in the Bay Area has such a sticker.

 

Many states have banned MTBE as a fuel additive, which means gasoline producers are effectively required to use 10% ethanol to replace it as an oxygenate. In NJ that has been the case for over a year.

http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.act...contentId=35692

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/mtbe/mtbe-report.htm

As a boater this was a big deal, due to the way ethanol behaves in fuel in the marine environment. The switch-over required filter replacement and other precautions, as the ethanol would bind to water and other contaminants that may have been in fuel tanks for years. Also, some boats had fiberglass tanks where the resins were attacked by the ethanol, destroying the tanks.

It isn't just Shell stations (though maybe their E10 signs tend to be more prominent), and if you live in one of the many states that have banned MTBE, you may have been using E10 for longer than you realized.

 

Not sure about other states, but the regulation here in Virginia is that all gas stations within a certain mile radius of a city/suburb must sell gas with 10% ethanol. I have no idea what that radius is. However, if I go just outside of town, then essentially all gas stations will have straight petro gas (with no ethanol added).

Fortunately for me, there is a Shell station (which is considered just outside of town and therefore has no ethanol) that is fairly close to my house. Therefore, I've been using the "good stuff" (non-ethanol gas) since I bought my Prius back in March of this year. I also use this Shell gas for my lawn equipment, outboard motor, etc...

The best part is that this Shell station is usually less expensive than even the cheapest station in town (which again must use ethanol). This is obviously because gas with ethanol is more expensive to produce. Thus, I get "higher quality" gas for less money and I get better fuel economy at the same time! Life is good!

 

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(catgic @ Jul 30 2007, 01:57 PM) [snapback]487510[/snapback]</div>

Somebody wasted a whole lotta time typing up a page of fluff just to post a "stab at humor" style photochop?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fred S @ Aug 17 2007, 04:18 PM) [snapback]498003[/snapback]</div>

Good work catgic. If the National Enquirer had an Auto section they would pick this up.

 

catgic, you're a total nutcase. I mean that in the most
complimentary way, of course..
.
_H*

 

From my understanding, gas stations have been using ethanol as additive for several years now to make the gas burn cleaner, so you've probably been using ethanol in your tank without even realizing it. I think the stickers are probably just part of some new legislation requiring disclosure, or perhaps part of the lobbying power of the industry.

I personally don't use Shell (or Exxon or Mobil or a few others) after reading a lot of information on their ethics and practices (look up the Ken Saro-wiwa execution in Nigeria). I think part of our responsibilities of liberating ourselves from foreign oil dependency is to keep large multi-nationals accountable for their actions. :angry:

Is ethanol the answer for the future? I think that's a big fat "NO", but taking a small mpg hit to at least reduce our foreign crude use is perfectly acceptable to me, especially since, as Prius owners, we are now getting at least twice, sometimes 3 or 4x the gas mileage we used to.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(doyourealize @ Aug 18 2007, 09:30 AM) [snapback]498284[/snapback]</div>

The name on the pump is no indication of where the gas, let alone the oil originates. If you are buying gas at a "no name" station they are buying the gas from whoever they can at the lowest price. It's going to come from the same refinery. It might even come on the same truck. In Maryland there used to be a Texaco gas station. The only truck that was ever seen delivering gas was labelled "Ewing Oil". JR is still pumping it out of the ground.

 

I know the ethonal blend is mandatory here in TX from 1 Oct to Mar 31 (during the winter). I have not noticed them doing it during the summer. I usually see the sign out during the winter months stating ethonal mix and I usually take a MPG hit but only around 6 MPG.

 

<div align="left">
I was just looking at the Wiki article on gasoline and they claim ethanol doesn't have to be posted on the pumps. They also claim the 2005 Energy bill requires all USA gasolines to be ethanol blends.

I am finding up to a 3% difference in energy content between the best and worst of the summer brands:
2.97% - Exxon 87
2.60% - Shell 87
2.60% - Shell 87
2.23% - Chevron
1.37% - Shell 93
0.00% - BP 87, reference and lowest energy content

There is at best, a weak correlation with specific density (using API scale hydrometer
0.09% - Exxon 87
1.28% - Shell 87
1.45% - Shell 87
1.28% - Chevron
0.00% - Shell 93
1.28% - BP 87, reference and lowest energy content

To see even this weak density correlation takes three separate measurements from each sample to get the density slope and project the density to 70F. This is not a reliable or fast indication of relative energy per gram for different samples.

Bob Wilson
</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Aug 18 2007, 07:29 PM) [snapback]498479[/snapback]</div>

I'm aware of all that. It's not about trying to make sure I get the "cleanest" gas (environmentally or ethically), since I know it all comes from the same refinery, but to send the message to the companies that I do or don't appreciate their track records of greed. Our dollars may be the only vote that counts with these companies, and I'd like mine to go to ones with better ethics.

 

I've found an exxon station without any ethanol sticker on the pump... so who knows?