Placebo Effect? V-Power "Nitro" After 113 Miles

But that often is a false theory......because the engine does not "knock" with the lower octane fuel either, at full advance.

 

Probably true, for modern engines, since the introduction of unleaded fuel.
TBH, I'm not sure if the Atkinson cycle knocks or if the Prius even has a knock sensor ?

 

Labeling inconsistency. Nearly every pump in the USA is marked as "up to 10%" so they don't have to clarify.

This has practical advantages for manufacturing. They can produce a low octane gasoline for uncut use at high elevation, then cut it with some ethanol to make regular, and more still for higher grade.

 

Ethanol-free is available at some stations, but usually it will be specifically labeled as ethanol free and around here actually has a completely separate hose for it. I tried it in my car and saw a 5 mile per gallon increase. The problem is it cost more to the point that the increase in fuel mileage did not cover the increase in cost. And it is only available at one specific station so is rather inconvenient to get.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I've got an additional problem with that: if your 5 mpg increase is accurate and replicable, that's a solid 10% increase, which puts a very large "elephant in the room": why are we adding a 10% gasoline substitute that's decreasing mpg by 10%. I would suspect/hope your mpg increase is less, or at the least that the Prius is maybe an outlier, more prone to mpg decrease with ethanol addition than the average. If this is the norm, how the heck did we get here?

 

It's added to make less pollution. Also its an inexpensive way to increases the Octane rating..
My numbers were correct. I ran several tanks.. and saw.. 3-5mpg increase. I drive 800-1000 m miles a week. And my driving is pretty consistent.
But the fuel cost more per gallon to the point it was basically break even.
It's probably better for the car... But it's not better for my wallet... And since only one station in town has it, and that station closes at midnight.. and use the car at night mostly.. it was a hassle to keep it in the car.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

If you want to try ethanol free gas.. this web site can help you locate one... They are not everywhere.. so may not be one close to you.
But you can try it... And if the price is right.. or you don't buy that much fuel it may be worth it to you.

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

700 miles is possible with a Prius on a gas tank.
this is really not that uncommon. but i do agree with you that normally the needle moves around 100 miles

 

Where I am, in Florida, all grades have "up to 10% ethanol." One station sell ethanol free stuff, I think 90 octane, which gives you about 3% better mpg with a modern engine with closed loop mixture control. The E-0 costs about 40% more, not a good deal. There are a few engines, like 50+ year old outboard motors that have shellac coated cork carb floats, which really need the ethanol free gas.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

In a modern car, E0 should give only about 3% better mpg than E10. If the difference is greater (or smaller), something is wrong.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Did you fill to the first click? - It actually looks like you've got a broken gauge.

 

I wouldn't worry - check what happens when you refill next. There are a few funny things in the computer. I put in ½ a tank once, taking it to a bit more than ½ - the Distance to Empty assumed I'd filled it up completely - though over the next 200km it sort-of sorted itself out, but was wildly wrong till the next fill.