[Shotimes] Cold Weather MPG

[Ron Porter]

The whole gasohol/RFG "theory" of cleaner air only really works on non-efi
engines, like older cars with carbs, that can't readjust to conditions. The
big fallacy, though, is that it has always been claimed that these fuels
only drop efficiency & fuel economy 2-3%, but what we see (and even looking
at your experience), the loss is more like 10%. This being the case, our
exhaust pipes may be a bit cleaner, but we are burning MORE fuel.

As you say, though, theoretically and EFI engine can add more fuel to "make
up" for the loss in power when it reads more O2 in the exhaust. Your economy
still suffers big time, but performance could remain the same. This assumes
that there is enough flexibility in the system to allow more fuel throughout
all points of the power curve. I personally don't believe it happens.
Besides running & starting like crap, my '89 did not perform as well when I
lived in EPA-mandate-land in Louisville that had year-round RFG. When I
would gas up outside of the area, my BOS-equipped car felt stronger.

It's nice that some folks live in an area with a fuel choice, but more and
more folks don't. I believe that RFG and RFG-type fuels (like Summer gas
that we get) are more in the area of 15% oxygenate (ethanol/methanol).

Ron Porter

-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Paul Nimz
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 6:04 AM
To: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Cold Weather MPG


Living in a state that uses gasohol almost exclusively I can say it is a
good fuel system cleaner and it keeps the water out of your gas.  I do get
about 2 mpg less with it.  I can't say there is a performance hit as long as
there is ample fuel pressure and large enough fuel injectors to provide more
fuel.  I feel the extra O2 in the exhaust tells the PCM to enrich the
mixture hence the lower fuel mileage.  I would rather not use it but the
fuel supply system in Illinois is pretty well politically tied....

Paul Nimz
'97 TR SHO
'93 EG mtx SHO


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 2:45 AM
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Cold Weather MPG


> Gasohol is what I call "crap" fuel. The SHO doesn't need the octane, and
the
> only thing that alky in gas is good for is getting the octane
> up...........and putting more $$$ into ADM's coffers (fine if you're a
> stockholder, I guess)
>
> Alcohol only has about 40% of the BTU per volume that straight gasoline
> does, so when you run the typical 10% gasohol, that gas only has 94% of
the
> BTU level of pure (or what I call "real") gasoline. That affects both your
> mileage AND performance.
>
> In my observation, since all three of the SHOs I've owned have run just
fine
> on 87 octane, running 87-octane "real" gas will give you better
performance
> and economy than 90-94 octane gasohol.
>
> Higher octane is only to prevent pinging. If your car doesn't ping, higher
> octane is a waste of money.
>
> Ron Porter
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Ron DeReus
> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 10:32 PM
> To: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Cold Weather MPG
>
>
> Ok, then, what is everyone's feelings about gasohol?  Being the
corn-grower
> supporter that I am, and gasohol having 90-91 octane while being the same
> low price as 87 octane unleaded, this is what I have used exclusively for
> years in all my vehicles.  I use premium in the SHO for a while when I
first
> bought it until the list said it was unnecessary.
>
> Ron D.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of BJamesjr@aol.com
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 10:56 PM
> To: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Cold Weather MPG
>
>
> <PRE>I wonder if some of the perceived difference in mileage isn't due to
> different gasoline formulations used in different seasons.  I have
mentioned
> in the past how much better mileage I got on the interstates across New
> Mexico than I get on the freeways around Dallas, and I was told that it
was
> due to different gasoline formulations used in the big city (Dallas) vs.
> what
> they sell out in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico.
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