Originally Posted by Franc Rauscher
Colder weather will let you get away with a lower octane fuel
Octane has nothing to do with miliage but, with electronic retardation systems the EMS may run a richer, less fuel efficient mixture.
Ethanol will also give you lower mpg's as it contains less energy per gallon. However it improves Octane and allows for the cold air compression increase. Each engine map will operate differently Ford, Lexus, Camry etc but our little 3.2's ought to operate the same.
I'm surprised MDaniels gets lower milage in cold weather. The fuel should be denser as well as the air yet it should pack more power per gallon and per Cubic feet of air volume. Perhaps he is running rich to compensate.
I used to get 27 MPG highway. After my tunes I get 29.5.
Shell v power 93 unless I can't find it.
BP 92 seems to run fine and give me the same milage.
I run sans Ethanol whenever I can. It is simply immoral to burn food in our cars.
roadster with a stick
yeah, it's interesting about the cold weather resulting in less MPG's. I've had 2 FI motorcycles and they've both experienced at least a 20% drop when it gets colder. My friends have had the same situation on theirs too, and my wife's 2002 Tribute as well as my now expired Ford Explorer did too. Anybody in the north also see this. It may be of course more ethenol in the fuel mandated by Minnesota law for colder temps. I don't know. But as I mentioned before, I've had no issues with 87, I usually will run 89 if I go to my normal station but just for s's and g's I'll run some 91 and report back. I'd have to drive all over just to find 93 so that ain't gonna happen. But we'll see what 91 does.