What gas are you using?

[Sportsbiz]

Top Tier 87 octane. I usually fill up at Unocal 76 near me as its historically the least expensive, but otherwise not brand selective so long as they have Top Tier gas. MPG is usually 17.5-18, built for overlanding (bed rack, RTT, etc), but otherwise stock JTR.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Always Chevron or Exxon Mobile. Chevron gives me more power and better milage.

Dyno tested? 87 is 87 with minor exceptions (and that's pretty detailed).
It's the additives and that's more to do with cleaning, and so on. Doubtful you'd get more HP or better mpg unless you had problems the additives were dealing with - like carbon, injectors, etc..
Also - because these used two tables for the fuel mixture - using a tank of Chevron and then using a tank of Exxon can't give any true results because it takes time for the PCM to deal with the changes. So one tank is impossible to detect real differences. Additives can matter for certain indications of how smooth it's running, but that's about it. Power - takes more than 1 tank in the long run.
And because ambient temperatures, winds and humidity at the time matter - good luck on proving a difference.

I usually fill up at Unocal 76 near me

Is that what used to be "Union 76" ? Haven't seen or heard of them in a long time around these parts.

I spent over a decade servicing the point of sale(cash register computer thingy), dispensers(the pump is in the tank) and tank monitoring gizmos. Mostly Gilbarco, Veeder-Root, and Veriphone with Tokheim and Wayne very infrequently. Gas is gas until the corporate brand and goobermint specifies a particular additive package. That package is blended in at the time of tanker fill. Tank monitoring systems are very precise and will allow the station managers to order only enough fuel as needed with no surplus. Water alarms are required with shutdown limits. Water trap filters are available but can be a PITA. Chevron owns the patent for a specific cocktail of cleaners. It is called Techron. It is the best in my experience and is also blended into the go juice coming out of the dispenser so you may find that after running Chevron for a tank or two, your engine may be a bit smoother. Your mileage will be higher with straight gasoline vs. ethanol blends.

Did I miss anything?

Just one thing - -

Ethanol is blended with the gasoline at the fuel terminal to make E10, E15, or E85, and then distributed by truck to the stations.
E15 is either sourced directly from a terminal or via a blender pump from the E10 and E85 tanks at a station.

Well done - great info @redrider.
It should also be noted that in Iowa, the Dept of Agriculture drives around in a specially equipped truck and checks pumps for output - a gallon had better be a gallon (I must GUESS that at that time, any water could be detected). I've watched the procedure several times. They seem to appreciate the interest as I stand there and watch after I'm done filling.

 

[Terry]

I usually fill up at Costco, but with the last two tanks in my new Rubicon I’ve been running Chevron regular. I have noticed it runs smoother with the Chevron gas. What is everyone else using and have y’all noticed any difference in mileage/performance from one gas company to another? For Rubicon owners, what is your average mileage?

I run the Chevron and Union 76 Mid-Grade and never a ping. Mileage sucks but I expected that.

 

[Terry]

Top Tier 87 octane. I usually fill up at Unocal 76 near me as its historically the least expensive, but otherwise not brand selective so long as they have Top Tier gas. MPG is usually 17.5-18, built for overlanding (bed rack, RTT, etc), but otherwise stock JTR.

We overland too and this morning I filled it up with 1/8 tank remaining and it was $85.45. I usually get anywhere from 17.0 to 17.5 mpg average.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I run the Chevron and Union 76 Mid-Grade and never a ping. Mileage sucks but I expected that.

What is their midgrade where you are? 89?

I actually bought my JT IN PART because the mpg would be superior to anything I have except my SX4 which of course is 3/4 ton lighter. My WJ got 18-19. My Silverado did hit 21 once doing several miles of 55-60 but otherwise it wasn't over 14-15 and did 11-13 towing.
So if the JT does 11-13 towing it won't be a bit worse than my Chevy.
My Ford did 12 - tail wind, head wind, loaded, unloaded, winter, summer, AC on, AC off, it was 12 mpg.
I noticed when towing my Chevy did a lot better on E85 - I could feel the power difference especially on hills and accelerating. Mileage was a bit less, but not really horribly. Kept track based on mpg differences and cost differences and used which-ever was going to be cheaper and better for the circumstances at hand. I wish this thing was flex fuel because it could gain HP using E85 if they tuned it right and I'd be all over that when towing.

 

[jbehrn]

It should also be noted that in Iowa, the Dept of Agriculture drives around in a specially equipped truck and checks pumps for output - a gallon had better be a gallon (I must GUESS that at that time, any water could be detected). I've watched the procedure several times. They seem to appreciate the interest as I stand there and watch after I'm done filling.

All states should do this. My brother-in-law’s brother does this in Louisiana. The fines for being off are astronomical!

 

[Mdsuits]

So far I’ve just used 85. Bone stock rubicon with a lil under 700 miles and I have gotten between 19-20 and that is with a ton of idling the first couple days.

 

[Terry]

All states should do this. My brother-in-law’s brother does this in Louisiana. The fines for being off are astronomical!

Here in the Peoples Republic of California there are weights and measures agencies on both a state and county level. We often see their vehicles in gas stations testing the measurement of gasoline but never have I seen or heard of them testing the octane. I do believe this is the responsibility of the California AQMD. Other than how your vehicle runs, on a specific tank of gas, how do we know what we just put in the tank. I've built several co-brand gas stations and it was an education. Fuel management is controlled by a Veeder-Root System that measures what fuel is in the tanks, and applicable AQMD (environmental) evaporation, and other aspects of the stations fuel dispensing and storage system. But not octane. I have been told by more than one owner that they make their money inside the store and not on the islands. The gas bring them in, the potato chips and soda make the cash register ring.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Can't easily test octane at the end point. It's expensive and requires specialized equipment.


https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/gasoline/octane-in-depth.php


From an article I had saved as a note or reference in a write-up I did years ago - octane isn't a chemistry test - not that I'm aware of, so I can see why there's no simple way of monitoring it at the end point (the tank/pump at your station) (there is a company that does routine testing of gas from pipelines and terminals, though)

Gasoline pumps typically post octane numbers as an average of two different values. Often you may see the octane rating quoted as (R+M)/2. One value is the research octane number (RON), which is determined with a test engine running at a low speed of 600 rpm. The other value is the motor octane number (MON), which is determined with a test engine running at a higher speed of 900 rpm. If, for example, a gasoline has a RON of 98 and a MON of 90, then the posted octane number would be the average of the two values or 94.

High octane gasoline does not outperform regular octane gasoline in preventing engine deposits from forming, in removing them, or in cleaning the engine. However modern high octane fuels may contain additional detergents to help protect high compression engines. Consumers should select the lowest octane grade at which the car's engine runs without knocking. Occasional light knocking or pinging won't harm the engine and doesn't indicate a need for higher octane.

 

[Sportsbiz]

Is that what used to be "Union 76" ? Haven't seen or heard of them in a long time around these parts.

Correct, one and the same. Quite a few around me.

 

[Bucephalus]

Dyno tested? 87 is 87 with minor exceptions (and that's pretty detailed).


.

Butt DYNO. Anytime I use other fuel I get less Milage. This has been the case in all my cars. I drive about 1k miles a week and I most definitely tell the difference. In a pinch I use bargain brands and there's no discernible power difference unless the gas is crap..but the milage is always less. From some reason I get crap mileage from Shell.

A bit off topic but the Ranger is a flex fuel vehicle, So I would use E-85 when it was around $1.12. It definitely gave me a performance boost but milage was way down. The Ranger had a broken gauge and I didn't want to go through the hassle of taken off the bed and dropping the tank. So I kept a jug around with extra gas and would just track the milage. Well after a month of using the E-85 the gas gauge started working and my oil changes were a lot cleaner. I kind of wish we had Flex Fuel like the old Jeeps

 

[Challenger85]

Mostly King soopers (Kroger) as an associate we often get extra gas incentives. Hell just this last week they gave me 1,000 points as a thank you. With our employee grocery discount I do 90% of my shopping there and use the points.

 

[foo.c]

I have some Exxon shares, so usually there.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have some Exxon shares, so usually there.

Heck, I might - I let a manager handle my money so what's what changes now and then.

 

[foo.c]

Heck, I might - I let a manager handle my money so what's what changes now and then.

Honestly it doesn't really make any difference to either Exxon or me, but it feels good.

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