Mid Grade gas makes noticeable difference on my Ranger

[sgtsandman]

Right, there's a separate diesel nozzle and that one for gas handles all three grades of gasoline

I’ve also seen some, not common, with five. The fifth offering is E15. Along with the three gasoline grades and diesel. I forget what the octane rating was. It was a weird number and the nozzle and panel color was blue. The first time I saw it, the brain took a few seconds to process what it was.

 

[sgtsandman]

I have one more tank to run through but the performance and mpg gain aren't promising for the cost outside of expecting to doing a lot of towing or hauling. The performance and power is indeed a bit better but not at $0.70 per gallon increase in fuel cost from 87 octane to 91 octane. The mpg gain might drop that a bit but not by a lot. I am averaging 16.77 mpg on 87 and 18.43 with 91. I'll try 89 octane next and see what it does. That is $0.40 more than 87 octane right now.

Price wise right now, 87 is $3.899, 89 is $4.299 ($0.40 price step), 91 is $4.599 ($0.30 price step), and 94 is $4.649 ($0.05 price step).

 

[Lefty]

I have one more tank to run through but the performance and mpg gain aren't promising for the cost outside of expecting to doing a lot of towing or hauling. The performance and power is indeed a bit better but not at $0.70 per gallon increase in fuel cost from 87 octane to 91 octane. The mpg gain might drop that a bit but not by a lot. I am averaging 16.77 mpg on 87 and 18.43 with 91. I'll try 89 octane next and see what it does. That is $0.40 more than 87 octane right now.

Price wise right now, 87 is $3.899, 89 is $4.299 ($0.40 price step), 91 is $4.599 ($0.30 price step), and 94 is $4.649 ($0.05 price step).

Thanks for getting back on this. I'm still on my first tank but I think my numbers will agree with yours. I know it costs more, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to stick with it anyway. I like that extra little performance boost.

 

[sgtsandman]

Thanks for getting back on this. I'm still on my first tank but I think my numbers will agree with yours. I know it costs more, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to stick with it anyway. I like that extra little performance boost.

Other than the mpg calculations, it’s all being done by “butt dyno”. So the benefits may be more that I realize. Also, it seems that the price spread is more equitable in some areas than others. So the benefit may be more affordable and worthwhile. There is a definite benefit, just not worth it for what I do and the price jump where I live.

I think experimentation is worth it in the end even if I don’t directly benefit from it.

 

[JoshT]

I’ve also seen some, not common, with five. The fifth offering is E15. Along with the three gasoline grades and diesel. I forget what the octane rating was. It was a weird number and the nozzle and panel color was blue. The first time I saw it, the brain took a few seconds to process what it was.

The Buc-ee's in town has some with 5 fuels and 3 nozzles. I think all of the pumps there (120) have atleast 2 nozzles, one for the normal 3 grades of gas and the other for diesel. Some of them have those two nozzles plus a third for DEF. There are a few of the stations that have the normal 3 grades, plus ethanol free on a separate nozzle I think, but I can't recall if those have diesel too.

Somehow, even with 120 pumps, you still have to wait in line fairly often. It ain't like its the only gas station in the area.

I can't speak to how mine does with different grades of gas. I suppose I should find out some day. I've even got a tuneraround here somewhere with both 87 and 91 performance tunes on it, but I haven't used them in years. Should probably give it another try too since I seem to have finally gotten my engine issues fixed for good. I really don't care how it does on the mileage between the different grades. It kind of doesn;t matter as long as it getts better than the F-100's ~10 mpg, and cheaper fuel than the F-250's diesel. It's not my daily anyway, it won't beat the Forte's 27-29 mpg in my daily commute, or it's 33+ on the interstate. The Forte would probably do better, but I like curvy roads and have a heavy foot.

 

[sgtsandman]

The Buc-ee's in town has some with 5 fuels and 3 nozzles. I think all of the pumps there (120) have atleast 2 nozzles, one for the normal 3 grades of gas and the other for diesel. Some of them have those two nozzles plus a third for DEF. There are a few of the stations that have the normal 3 grades, plus ethanol free on a separate nozzle I think, but I can't recall if those have diesel too.

Somehow, even with 120 pumps, you still have to wait in line fairly often. It ain't like its the only gas station in the area.

I can't speak to how mine does with different grades of gas. I suppose I should find out some day. I've even got a tuneraround here somewhere with both 87 and 91 performance tunes on it, but I haven't used them in years. Should probably give it another try too since I seem to have finally gotten my engine issues fixed for good. I really don't care how it does on the mileage between the different grades. It kind of doesn;t matter as long as it getts better than the F-100's ~10 mpg, and cheaper fuel than the F-250's diesel. It's not my daily anyway, it won't beat the Forte's 27-29 mpg in my daily commute, or it's 33+ on the interstate. The Forte would probably do better, but I like curvy roads and have a heavy foot.

Since it looks like the increased fuel cost would be worth it when I making the truck work, any fuel usage benefit would be a bonus since fuel burn is going to be increased anyway.

I’m doing this more out of curiosity right now anyway. I have a good feel on how 91 octane is going to perform. Next is to see if I can get about the same performance out of 89 octane. If so, I can save myself $0.30 a gallon using the 89 octane.

As far as Buc-ee’s, I hear they are great. Never been to one since we don’t have one anywhere around here, even in the neighboring states I visit from time to time. I might have had an opportunity to visit one while in Texas but getting there and getting home was the priority. So, whatever big brand gas station was just off the Interstate is what we hit.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Since it looks like the increased fuel cost would be worth it when I making the truck work, any fuel usage benefit would be a bonus since fuel burn is going to be increased anyway.

I’m doing this more out of curiosity right now anyway. I have a good feel on how 91 octane is going to perform. Next is to see if I can get about the same performance out of 89 octane. If so, I can save myself $0.30 a gallon using the 89 octane.

As far as Buc-ee’s, I hear they are great. Never been to one since we don’t have one anywhere around here, even in the neighboring states I visit from time to time. I might have had an opportunity to visit one while in Texas but getting there and getting home was the priority. So, whatever big brand gas station was just off the Interstate is what we hit.

This thread has me doing some curious research....mostly the 3 grades coming out of one nozzle thing. I accidently picked 91 instead of 87 the other day and the pump made noises of doing things while I cancelled and re started the transaction.

Also been keeping an eye out for ethanol free/av gas/100+ racing fuel....without much luck. We don't even have 93 lol smh.

Local small airport has AV gas but I doubt they'd let me stroll in there and fill some jugs. Security is pretty tight anywhere civilized/industrialized in the ghetto city of Lost Angeles

 

[JoshT]

This thread has me doing some curious research....mostly the 3 grades coming out of one nozzle thing. I accidently picked 91 instead of 87 the other day and the pump made noises of doing things while I cancelled and re started the transaction.

Also been keeping an eye out for ethanol free/av gas/100+ racing fuel....without much luck. We don't even have 93 lol smh.

Local small airport has AV gas but I doubt they'd let me stroll in there and fill some jugs. Security is pretty tight anywhere civilized/industrialized in the ghetto city of Lost Angeles

Turns out I was curious too, so what is it that you're curious about?

I assumed three lines running into the island and a valve diverts the selected one into a single hose and nozzle out to the vehicle. You'll get the remainder in the single hose of what ever the last grade pumped was, but it's not enough to matter when considering the quantity usually pumped.

Looking into it more looks like I was part right and part wrong. You do get the remainder of the fuel in the single supply line from the previous pumper, and it isn't enough to really matter. You don't have three supply lines running into a valve and out a single hose. It looks like most with three ratings only have two tanks in ground, high grade and low grade. The valve is actually a blend valve and the third (mid) grade is mixed at the pump via this valve.

Am I getting hosed by regular at the pump?

About half a litre of the previous purchase goes into your tank

www.theglobeandmail.com

How Gas Pumps Work

You probably pass by several gas pumps on your daily commute, but you never pay them any attention -- until you need some gas, of course. Here's everything you'd ever want to know about them.

auto.howstuffworks.com

I was going to say don't count out the local airport, but then you said LA and I noticed Butbank, CA. <That was a typo, but I like it.> Yeah you probably aren't getting any 100LL from the airport there. The state would probably shudown the airport and throw everyone involved, working at the airport, and their extended family in prison with life sentences. To add insult to injury they'll shoot your dog in the raid because they want to be like their role models at the AFT. But don't worry though, you'll be safe, the MS13 drug smuggler you got thrown in a cell with will be released next week because it wasn't worth prosecuting or lack of evidence.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Turns out I was curious too, so what is it that you're curious about?

I assumed three lines running into the island and a valve diverts the selected one into a single hose and nozzle out to the vehicle. You'll get the remainder in the single hose of what ever the last grade pumped was, but it's not enough to matter when considering the quantity usually pumped.

Looking into it more looks like I was part right and part wrong. You do get the remainder of the fuel in the single supply line from the previous pumper, and it isn't enough to really matter. You don't have three supply lines running into a valve and out a single hose. It looks like most with three ratings only have two tanks in ground, high grade and low grade. The valve is actually a blend valve and the third (mid) grade is mixed at the pump via this valve.

Am I getting hosed by regular at the pump?

About half a litre of the previous purchase goes into your tank

www.theglobeandmail.com

How Gas Pumps Work

You probably pass by several gas pumps on your daily commute, but you never pay them any attention -- until you need some gas, of course. Here's everything you'd ever want to know about them.

auto.howstuffworks.com

I was going to say don't count out the local airport, but then you said LA and I noticed Butbank, CA. <That was a typo, but I like it.> Yeah you probably aren't getting any 100LL from the airport there. The state would probably shudown the airport and throw everyone involved, working at the airport, and their extended family in prison with life sentences. To add insult to injury they'll shoot your dog in the raid because they want to be like their role models at the AFT. But don't worry though, you'll be safe, the MS13 drug smuggler you got thrown in a cell with will be released next week because it wasn't worth prosecuting or lack of evidence.

True. All true. But I was talking about smaller than that...van Nuys or Whiteman airport. Now that I think about it, funny they can still call the latter that without being racist or something. Anyways I might have better chances there since the LAPD has plenty to deal with like crime and homelessness.
Up I Kern county they run av gas in their atv/utvs like it's nothing...whole different world 2 hrs outside of L.A.

 

[sgtsandman]

This thread has me doing some curious research....mostly the 3 grades coming out of one nozzle thing. I accidently picked 91 instead of 87 the other day and the pump made noises of doing things while I cancelled and re started the transaction.

Also been keeping an eye out for ethanol free/av gas/100+ racing fuel....without much luck. We don't even have 93 lol smh.

Local small airport has AV gas but I doubt they'd let me stroll in there and fill some jugs. Security is pretty tight anywhere civilized/industrialized in the ghetto city of Lost Angeles

Even low lead aviation fuel isn’t good for the catalytic converters. I’m not sure if there is other things to worry about. From what I understand, low lead aviation fuel still has about the same level of lead as the old leaded automotive fuel, if not more.

 

[superj]

we had to dump the wing tanks on a cessna once, when i worked civilian aviation. all the hotrod guys in the hanger lined up and we just ran a hose down.

it was small hanger though so it was only like two guys, ha ha ha. my 89 mustnag had cats so i chose to not run it but the guys who did said it was awesome

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Even low lead aviation fuel isn’t good for the catalytic converters. I’m not sure if there is other things to worry about. From what I understand, low lead aviation fuel still has about the same level of lead as the old leaded automotive fuel, if not more.

Avgas 100LL has roughly 4 times the lead content that the mogas (vehicle gas) with the highest lead content, Sunoco 260, had back in the day. The Sunoco was rated 104 octane. The "LL" in "100LL" stands for "low lead", but that's only by comparison with past grades of avgas that have not been available in decades. Needless to say, that amount of lead is really bad for catalytic converters.

Even NASCAR stopped using leaded gasoline. If you really must use a very high-octane fuel, you'll have to look at the alcohol-based racing fuels that have ratings of over 110 octane.

Avgas has been the biggest source of lead in the environment since leaded mogas was phased out in the 1990s. In the last few years, that has attracted a lot of attention and made light aviation a target. Substitutes without lead are coming; they will have a lot of stuff such as toluene to bump up octane. It would not be a surprise to see the new avgas made illegal to sell for use in street vehicles, and this enforced more tightly than now.

 

[sgtsandman]

Avgas 100LL has roughly 4 times the lead content that the mogas (vehicle gas) with the highest lead content, Sunoco 260, had back in the day. The Sunoco was rated 104 octane. The "LL" in "100LL" stands for "low lead", but that's only by comparison with past grades of avgas that have not been available in decades. Needless to say, that amount of lead is really bad for catalytic converters.

Even NASCAR stopped using leaded gasoline. If you really must use a very high-octane fuel, you'll have to look at the alcohol-based racing fuels that have ratings of over 110 octane.

Avgas has been the biggest source of lead in the environment since leaded mogas was phased out in the 1990s. In the last few years, that has attracted a lot of attention and made light aviation a target. Substitutes without lead are coming; they will have a lot of stuff such as toluene to bump up octane. It would not be a surprise to see the new avgas made illegal to sell for use in street vehicles, and this enforced more tightly than now.

That’s going to be a problem for the private aviation community since so many of the single owner planes are so old. New planes are so expensive the average person can’t afford them.

 

[JoshT]

Up I Kern county they run av gas in their atv/utvs like it's nothing...whole different world 2 hrs outside of L.A.

Yeah, but those are not street vehicles and I'm pretty sure they are emissions exempt. Whole different set of rules there.

That’s going to be a problem for the private aviation community since so many of the single owner planes are so old. New planes are so expensive the average person can’t afford them.

That's echos something if been saying for a while, but people just treat it like crazy talk.

I keep hearing "people" say don't worry, they won't ban your gas cars and toys. They don't need to ban them, they only have to make it difficult or impossible to buy them right fuel. They're already getting close with the low sulfur diesel being bad for the older trucks.

The powers the be don't care, they can afford new stuff that works with the new fuels, or to upgrade their old stuff to work. For the rest of us its another form of control and way to increase their elitism.

 

[superj]

exactly /\