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Finding truth about gas mileage and air pollution
Contributed by: Gerry Benner on 9/29/2007

Years ago I noticed that I was getting 24.6 miles to the gallon in my car, and then after the winter gas hit the gas stations, my gas mileage went down to 21.4 miles per gallon (MPG). So, in fact, I'd have to burn more gas to go the same distance I went in the summer (about the same percentage more, as compared to the percent reduction in pollution that was claimed).

Over the years, especially while carpooling with my son to work, we noticed that the car did not run as well during the winter months, but as soon as the summer gas came back, the car ran fine again. So, I waited for the winter gas to come back, and sure enough, the problem reappeared with the first tank of winter gas.

This year I'm planning to do another mileage test. Currently I'm getting around 440 miles for every tank of gas (also calculating MPG to the decimal). I thought that it might be a good test if we all monitored the miles we go in one tank of gas, and then compare it (sometime in mid November) to the mileage we get driving with winter gas. You too might also discover that your gas mileage has reduced by 10 to 15 percent.

Now, being fair, I have to ask myself: Could I be warming up the engine more during the winter months? Could it take longer for the engine to warm up to the proper operating temperature? I have to admit, that there are a lot of variables. Even my test of buying gas from different gas stations has produced a 2 MPG difference during my summer month driving tests, and this is with the exact same driving pattern.

I've done my own tests over the years; but I'm only one sample - one data point. I can draw some conclusions (or rather guesses to what the data are telling me), but it would be better if there were others who ran the same test under somewhat controlled conditions to determine if there is in fact a big lie out there that's telling us that we must burn winter gas to reduce pollution. In reality, we're burning a gas that provides less pollution, but we're using more of the gas to drive the same distance - possibly balancing out any gain we achieved.

If you're willing, fill up your tank and zero out your trip mileage. Then when you fill up again (at the same low point on the gauge), record your tank mileage. Do the same thing in late November and see if there is a difference. I'll report back then and let you know my findings.

March 2008 Update - Update on Winter Gas Mileage
This winter provided an average of 380 miles per gas tank. I got a low of 357.5 miles and a high of 392 miles per tank of gas. Conservatively I'd say that I got 50 miles less per tank of winter gas (compared to summer gas). For my car that is a diiference of 2.4 miles per gallon.
Now that we're into March, I believe our gas mileage per tank of gas will improve. I look forward to once again getting 440 miles per tank.

August 2008 Update -- Many gas stations sell mixed gas during the summer, so I only get 380 miles (if that) on a tank at those "cheapo" stations; however when I fill up at a non-ethanel station (off of Arapahoe as I drive to Boulder), I get over 400 miles per tank. So cost-wise, if I pay an extra 5 cents a gallon (55 pennies), I get to drive an extra 20 to 40 miles. Or in other words, I get to drive just as far on 11 gallons of non-ethanel as it would take me on 12 gallons of ethanel gas. To be fair, there are a lot of mixtures out there, so you'll have to run your own tests. I'm just sharing my findings. Hopefully it helps you save some money at the pump. ... Gerry


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Submitted By: Michael Rule
posted on 10/6/2007 @ 6:39:27 AM
Rated Story
Hmmmm. maybe an increase in the ethanol put in during the winteer? I'm just guessing.
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Gerry Benner

Thornton , CO

Gerry Benner has posted 8 stories and 10 comments since joining on 3/5/2007. Gerry Benner 's average story rating is 4.75.
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