Gas being watered down?

CathydsRNA

Cathlete
My car calculates miles per gallon and I have been keeping track of it since I bought it almost 2 yrs ago. I noticed on my last refill that my car is now burning gas less efficiently and I am getting 4 miles less per gallon than I have in the past (as recent as 2 weeks ago). My drive has not changed and I am suspecting watered down gas. Am I being paranoid? Anyone else notice this recently?
 
Could be the addition of ethanol to your fuel. This varies from state to state, but here in IL a lot of our fuel has up to 10% ethanol in it, and it does decrease fuel efficiency. Also, could be your car - maybe you need an engine tune up, or your tires are under-inflated or any number of maintenance items - a lot of things under your hood can decrease fuel efficiency. Legally, they cannot "water-down" fuel, except with the addition of ethanol (in some states). There are regulations and specifications that dictate the composition of fuels being sold to consumers, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. :)
 
I don't think they water it down. But did you ever wonder how much you really get when the pumping almost completely stops at the end and your waiting for like 5 minutes just for the last .30 to go in?


materialsgirl-

Gotta love your chocolate pac-man in your signature. Too cute. :)
 
Thanks. I think it must be the EtOH. My mpg calculator in the car doesn't need me to plug in how much gas is in the tank, it calculates fuel burn constantly when the car is running, down to the last drop of gas and so knowing how much is in the tank is not relevant. Before my fill up, I was averaging 23 mpg for city driving. Right after fill up and through the entire tank I was averaging only 18.2 mpg for my same commutes. I keep a record in my car and my mpg had been fairly constant since my first tank of gas. It switched suddenly with my last fill-up. I am filling up today and we will see if it changes. I have 20,500 miles on the car and it was just in for its 20,000 mile check-up and tune up and my tires are OK and so I don't think the car's efficiency changed immediately following my last fill up. I still am betting that the gas is from a supplier that is dilluting it with something (or watering it down), probably EtOH as Emily has suggested. It still boils down to the same thing, not only have prices gone up but they may have gone up more than you think if they are diluting it... even if it is being diluted to a max level mandated by the federal government. I am getting less gas, or so my suspiscions still are. Thanks everyone.
 
DH and I were just discussing gas last night. He told me something I didn't realize (and I don't think a lot of others know this either). Did you know that beyond the normal "grades" of gas, we also have like 20 (or more) different kinds of gas? It's called "boutique fuel". I googled the topic, and it's interesting reading to say the least. Here's a link with a map of the US you might find interesting:

http://www.knowledgeproblem.com/archives/001324.html

Could be your states requirements for "boutique gas" have changed.

Jamie
 

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