<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulldog @ Jan 24 2007, 09:55 PM) [snapback]380489[/snapback]</div> It's not that crappy gas from Shell - its the fresh air in Morgan Hill !!! It has more oxygen and less nitrogen... Making your tires more bouncy! :lol: The real secret... little Shell elfs come at night and add a 1/2 gal of gas into your prius... they would put in more but the bladder stops them from doing it... Me: I get great mileage just because our air here in Los Angeles is so hydrocarbon rich that we are literally getting gas for free from the air... (you guys up there call it smog... ) B)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John in LB @ Jan 25 2007, 01:19 AM) [snapback]380523[/snapback]</div> Now if we could just do that. Pump in smog, extract unburned hydrocarbons and process them cheaply enough into usable fuel of some kind and sell it to the rest of the northern coast. Just think! All the fuel needs for the West coast north of California satisfied by L.A.'s smog. Apply for a patent. Lol. Dave M.
Since it is gettign warmer the gas mileage is going up. I changed to Mobil1 at the last oil change and my last 2 taks were 49.8MPG and 54.8MPG. Anyway I will do one or 2 more tanks with Shell and switch back to chevron fo 5 or so tanks and see how it pans out. I think the formulation has changed already for the warmer weather, so I will see what happens. I'm still not sure why gas companies would change fuel for the mild winters here in teh SF bay area and SOcal.
I discovered a year or two ago that using Shell gas gave me a cheaper per-mile cost for fuel on my 94 Lexus. The mpg increase was reliably 2-3.
I switched to SUNOCO HiTest.. I was going 580 on 11 gallons... Down here in Fla Shell is comp priced with mobil... I guess I could start giving my money to chaves at citco.
This is very interesting. I am on my third purchased tank of gas (since buying the car). The first two times, I filled up with Chevron and averaged 56 mpg. This last tank, I filled up with Shell and have noticed an increase of 2 mpg. I thought at first that this may be due to the vehicle being past the "break in" period. Now that I am seeing this thread, there may be some brand factor to it. I will have to see with the next couple of tankfuls.
Anyone know much about BJ's gas? We have a membership and its on my commute, so I have been using thier gas regularly for several years now in my Jetta (and I usually save 5 to 10 cents/gallon over other brands). I'm trading the Jetta in for a new Prius next week and am wondering if there's any reason not to continue using BJ's gas. One of the reason's I ask is that I once had a mechanic tell me that BJ's gas was no good. I never heard anyone else say anything about it though and never experienced any problems. I'd appreciate any input. Shell is not available here in western NY.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulldog @ Mar 19 2007, 11:59 PM) [snapback]408813[/snapback]</div> Because it is the law in [arnold mode on] Cal Lee Foreign Ya! [arnold mode off] and a bunch of other states too.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Highly ImPriused @ Mar 20 2007, 02:44 PM) [snapback]409123[/snapback]</div> I'm not a petroleum engineer but for a product to be labelled "87 octane gasoline" it has to meet certain standards. BJ's shops around and buys the cheapest gas it can find from any refinery. I don't think the gas is bad. Based on the higher prices in your area, how many more mpg would the name brand gas have to produce for you to break even compared to your mpg on BJ's? Check out sponsored credit cards for the brands in your area. They may offer a rebate on their products.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Mar 20 2007, 05:37 PM) [snapback]409302[/snapback]</div> It's not the gasoline itself that's at issue - they are all exactly the same. The issue is the additive package that each company adds to the gasoline. BJ's adds the minimum required detergent package required (a generic version). Companies like Chevron put a lot of effort and engineering to make exclusive additives that are significantly more effective than the generic version or their competitors. In Chevron's case, their additive package is called Techron and it is one of the best, if not the best, at keeping injectors, valves and cylinders clean for optimal combustion and performance. A dirty system will increase emissions and ultimately reduce mileage (over 1000s' of miles). In a bad case, you will have to replace parts, like the injectors - costing you far in excess the money you save on the gas.
Thanks for the replies. So I take it, John, that you would advise against using BJ's gas? Is there documentation anywhere on what BJs adds to their gas compared to other brands and what the effect may be on engine performance. I wasn't able to find much by googling other than some anecdotal stuff.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Highly ImPriused @ Mar 21 2007, 09:18 AM) [snapback]409621[/snapback]</div> To be absolutely fair, I am on the west coast and am not familiar with BJs'. There are telltale signs however, such as: - the low price vendor, others are always more expensive - ask your favorite mechanic - somebody who takes engines apart - their opinion of good versus bad gad. those guys can tell the difference
Well back to topic. I have now ran consistently 3 tanks Chevron and then 3 tanks Shell, after alternating tank for tank between the 2 brands. The results are that I get 2 MPG more with Shell than I get with Chevron. I filled at the same stations adn running 3 tanks in a raw eliminated the pump errors when filling up. Others should try it in the SF Bay Area and see what they get.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulldog @ May 2 2007, 06:51 PM) [snapback]434461[/snapback]</div> I am a chevron fanatic... but I am going to give Shell a try... just for the heck of it (it's going to kill me - as my 2 cars have never (I mean ever) had anything but Chevron in them. I can't believe it will make a real difference... but I am just too curious to not try it. Bulldog - do us a favor and try it on your "other" car - and see if you find the Shell improvement to be universal.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John in LB @ May 3 2007, 02:36 AM) [snapback]434599[/snapback]</div> Yeah I am/was a Chevron fanatic too (since it is pretty close to our house). I just happened to stumble on it as I was byt the Shell station and filled up, then it triggered me to check it out more. This might just be the case in my area, reason why I posted. To see if other people are experiencing it as well, and that seems to be the case. Best to run a couple of tanks and see. My "other car" is in the shop being customized as we speak, so it will be a while before I have it back to see. Unfortunately it gets used mostly offroad, which makes any MPG tracking impossible to say the least. My girlfriend is not very interested in running these experiments with her vehicle.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John in LB @ May 3 2007, 04:36 AM) [snapback]434599[/snapback]</div> Before you start buying gas at Shell stop and pick up their credit card application. The current promotion is a $20 credit after the card is used twice in 60 days. I now buy Shell exclusively (haven't gone anywhere it's not sold). My 2000 Intrigue gets almost 25mpg (24.9+ mpg) period. Gas and weather make zero difference. Some cars are just more sensitive to variables.
I can attest to this. I have a spreadsheet of all my gas purchases and found that everytime I fill up with Shell, I get more MPG. Just to experiment, in the last 3 fill ups, I used Shell exclusively. My MPG numbers were all consistently high and grouped together, 474 miles, 486 miles, and 480 miles. I usually look for a gas station the moment the last pip begins to blink and there usually is one within 2-4 miles. Curious, I tried Valero afterwards. I know already that I won't reach the mileage that I usually get out of Shell based on where the fuel gauge is now vis-a vis the odometer miles. For example, after filling up with Shell, I get around 145 to 150 miles before the first Full Tank pip disappears on the gauge. I only got 80 miles with Valero. I drive 50 miles roundtrip and drive pretty consistently.
Interesting. It seems unlikely that the additive package would affect MPG (if it did, Shell would certainly advertise it), and the base gasoline is probably very similar if not the same. I wonder if the ethanol content varies; a higher ethanol % would decrease the mileage, but I would think that the variance wouldn't be that much.
Whatever the case, I'm going to try shell for a few weeks. I've been going 500 miles a tank with chevron pretty consistently. Well I get to the beep at 500 anyway. I will post results.:hungry:
I have only filled it up once with Shell a while ago and I thought I got better mileage too! It was during the break in so lots of variables but in the Tampa Florida the Shell's seem to be going by by. Used to alot but have been taken over. Lots of BP stations everywhere now so I usually roll into one of them but next fill up will be a Shell. Thanks alot for reminding me.
