Any solution for Winter Blend Gas MPG drop

[Jeeperjamie]

This will be my first full winter driving my JT. I've noticed a slight decline in mpgs over the last 4 or 5 tanks of gas. It's steadily dropping and I think has leveled out at between 17.9-18.2 mpgs. That's about a .5 to .6 decrease compared to what I was getting on the warmer months and I'm guessing it's because of winter Blend Gas. Is there a solution for gaining the mpgs back during the winter months. It's a not huge drop but any drop I don't like. Have never really paid much attention to it because my JKU only got about 14 mpgs and it was so terrible that I just drove it. Any suggestions, tricks,trips you guys know of to get those mpgs back during the winter months.

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[AustinL911]

I think some of it is also due to the cooler, denser air. More air = more fuel needed to maintain stoichiometry. That's my theory, anyways.

 

[wannajeep]

Any suggestions, tricks,trips you guys know of to get those mpgs back during the winter months

I'm not saying this sarcastically: combine trips. Make extra effort to plan ahead and not run out to do a separate errand with a separate trip. I haven't measured this, and I don't necessarily practice it, but I'd bet it saves more gas more faster than any other method.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I'm not saying this sarcastically: combine trips. Make extra effort to plan ahead and not run out to do a separate errand with a separate trip. I haven't measured this, and I don't necessarily practice it, but I'd bet it saves more gas more faster than any other method.

I have a pretty set routine everyday, pretty much 7 days a week. I run the same route in my jeep because a few of the buildings I have cleaning contracts on require me to go to them everyday to inspect them and those buildings are just up the road from my Full time job. I don't really take vacation either, probably been 10yrs since I took a vacation other than the time we get off from work, which is 2 days for Thanksgiving and two for Christmas. What I'm saying is my route is pretty set everyday and nothing has changed in the last 4 or 5 fill ups other than North Carolina starts the winter Blend Gas around the middle of November, based on what a friend of mine told me who delivery's gas.

I'm basing it on that and the mpgs staying pretty much the same since I have added everything to it in July, so roughly 5 months of driving and it hasn't dropped below 18.4 mpgs and it only dropped that low because of idle time in a backed up drive thru. I'm normally 18.7-19.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I think some of it is also due to the cooler, denser air. More air = more fuel needed to maintain stoichiometry. That's my theory, anyways.

Could be, but we had some colder days at the end of October first of November and I didn't see a change. Only noticed it over the past 2 to 3 weeks that it was slowly becoming obvious it was becoming harder to maintain the mpgs in the Jeep. I noticed this somewhat in my JKU and it was always in the winter months between December and February. Didn't matter as much to me in it though because I was getting crappy mpgs already and figured I couldn't get enough back to matter.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Get a storage tank from a bulk gasoline distributor. Buy in bulk and fill up from the tank. Have it topped off before they switch to the winter blend.

 

[LostWoods]

I think some of it is also due to the cooler, denser air. More air = more fuel needed to maintain stoichiometry. That's my theory, anyways.

Winter gas typically has less energy density (by 2-3% from what I've read) as well so the power gained from boost season cancels out.

 

[kevman65]

You can try some octane boost.

The added chemicals to help prevent freezing rob the octane level.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

What about higher Octane gas. I've considered running 93 for the winter but I've been running regular 87 since day one, don't want to mess anything up or start hearing the engine pinging. Would that help 9r be counter productive?

 

[johnparjr]

I wouldn't complain if it got 17-18mpg I would throw a party

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

. . . Any suggestions, tricks,trips you guys know of to get those mpgs back during the winter months.

Spend Winter in Florida.

 

[MrZappo]

You can try some octane boost.

The added chemicals to help prevent freezing rob the octane level.

What does octane have to do with mileage in a low compression engine?

And as far as running premium, if you got better mileage with it wouldn't the significant extra cost negate the benefit anyways?

Also, higher octane fuel would never cause pinging. Why would you worry about that?

Honestly, if there was a way to improve mileage with winter gas, it would be well known. The answer is as stated above. There is less energy per fluid ounce. That's it.

You have a fixed amount of weight to move and lower energy density fuel to move it with.

This is a math problem. Nothing more.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

What does octane have to do with mileage in a low compression engine?

And as far as running premium, if you got better mileage with it wouldn't the significant extra cost negate the benefit anyways?

Also, higher octane fuel would never cause pinging. Why would you worry about that?

Honestly, if there was a way to improve mileage with winter gas, it would be well known. The answer is as stated above. There is less energy per fluid ounce. That's it.

You have a fixed amount of weight to move and lower energy density fuel to move it with.

This is a math problem. Nothing more.

Higher octane did cause pinging in my 2010 JKU, it never liked the stuff. Everytime I ran it in my JK thinking it would be better it started pinging. It ran best on regular 87, that's why I asked. Plus I get ore fuel perks with higher octane, it's about 27 cents more per gallon but I get between 19 to 25 cents a a gallon back running premium gas compared to 9 cents on regular so the price difference isn't that significant when you compare 8t that way. It's not a huge difference and I was just asking the question to see if anyone had a answer. I'd rather not run 93 in it if I can avoid it.

 

[Gvsukids]

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15339380/the-vapor-rub-summer-versus-winter-gasoline-explained/

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15339380/the-vapor-rub-summer-versus-winter-gasoline-explained/

This is nuts. Makes one long for the old days when you just had the worry about leaded gasoline.

But, thanks for the info.

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