Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone else noticed a significant decrease in their gas mileage?
For the last few months I've noticed my mileage has gone to sh!t.
My Suburban is getting almost 100 miles fewer per tank, & My Honda CRV's mileage has decreased by about 50 miles per tank!
The only thing I can really attribute it to is the increased, mandated, use of ethanol in our gas. I realize that the ethanol burns cleaner, but is it really helping our environment when I have to burn this much more fuel? I can't see how.
Cheers?
Max
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"And the rest is all in his head"

Not noticed this with my F-150, but could be that ethanol isn't mandated in my area?
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Brad Chambers

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

>>Not noticed this with my F-150, but could be that ethanol isn't mandated in my area?

I track my gas mileage obsessively for each of my vehicles. How do your driving habits compare with what they were a few months ago? Often you get better gas mileage in the summer because you're traveling (herping) more, increasing your highway time and therefore your gas mileage. Also, with colder weather you may need to check your tire pressure.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Now you did it Max! You opened up a can of worms for me. I can tell you that HELL YES and I have verified it that this is a problem and it IS why mileage is lower. Also, and the biggest thing with me is my Chevy Blazer (which now is up to 392,000 miles plus on it) has been having repetetatve problems regarding my fuel injector over the last year. I have literally gone through at least 9 fuel injectors and all of this started happening after they started adding 10% ethanol to the gasoline, which now is at every dam*** gas station in Houston. I did alot of research on this problem and found I am not the only one this has effected. The bad part of it all is my Blazer being a 1994 model, in the manufacturers great wisdom, they decided to redesign all injectors so the ethanolalcohol doesn't effect the injectors. ALL MODELS EXCEPT FOR 1993 AND 1994. Obviously they think no one has a model that old and is still driving it. That's so nice isn't it? Well, I have stressed out the manager at NAPA because when the injector dies, I bring it right back for a replacement as they have a years warranty on it for free replacement. Last time I was in there, he said this would be the last injector he would replace. I told him, NO, it is not! Until the manufacturer starts re-designing injectors for my year model, you will see my growling face every few thousand miles when the injector craps out!
This has been a thorn in my as* ever since this crap started happening with the ethanol addative. Our government always knows what is best for us don't they?
I figure to reach my 500,000 mile mark, I only have to go through about 35-40 more fuel injectors. Yeehaw!

Wayne

Sorry 'bout that Wayne
Yeah, my driving habits haven't changed, I've done regular tune-ups, & my tires are usually on the over-inflated side.
I was talking with another herper friend who mentioned that the ethanol eats away at the fuel line. Swell.
He, also, said that ethanol has a higher octane (which should be a good thing) - So...I'm thinking that the grade of gasoline they're selling us is probably really crappy so that they can still sell it as 87 octane

Gotta love our leaders (That's sarcasm for anyone who thought I was serious).
Max
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"And the rest is all in his head"

You can thank the 10% ethanol... I am down on milage up in price..

I would like to take a moment to thank everybody for that.

Lance
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Herp Conservation Unlimited

I also need to thank everyvody because the 10% ethanol has reduced my vehicle performace / response as well...

Lance
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___________________________
Herp Conservation Unlimited

Yep, My van is down from 23-25 mpg (just five months ago) to 15-17 now. Even our new prius (well new in june but has 40,000 on it now) is down from 47-52 to 42-45 now.

L8r

When we were still in Wyoming, I was getting 19mpg on the Yukon. Right after we moved back to Texas last August I begin to notice a drop in fuel economy. Dropped all the way down to 14-15 miles per gallon. That's about 100 miles per tank less. At first, I thought maybe it might have something to do with changing altitude or such, but apparently the real problem is likely the ethanol content. With the price of gas, I may have to park it and get a bicycle.
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Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
www.southwesternherp.com