Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post

Nerys · 03-22-2010, 07:20 PM

but I am losing MORE than 10% of my fuel economy. Energy content is not really relevant. There are other factors that determine how a fuel will burn.

For example most older cars are actually UNABLE to ignite ethanol at all. Instead the gasoline ignite at the "spark" moment and later the flame front burns the ethanol. ie delayed burn vastly reducing the efficiency of the entire system (newer cars are programmed with a hotter "spark" to compensate for this difference)

3.2% is only on paper strictly speaking and ignores the very complex reality of our engines.

My jeep went from 22-23 to 19-20 that well over 10%
My Voyager went from 28 to 20 thats well over 10%
My Clubwagon went from 19 to 14-15 well over 10%

My metro should EASILY hose 60mpg without even trying.

now I max at 45-48mpg 50-51mpg if I slow down to 45mph (stock in 1994 it would have busted 60mpg at 55mph without you having to try very hard)

this is way way way over 10% difference. I have 4 other vehicles all seeing similar 15-20% FE loses from ethanol.

This is not for long term. The purpose is to either confirm or deny the massive loss I am seeing is from Ethanol addition.

if the test indicates this to be the case the next step would be to travel a distance to a non ethanol gas station (there is one about 2 hours from me) but I don't have the $200 or so dollars that experiment would cost me so I need to confirm if its worth doing first)

if that test ALSO confirms the issue the next step is to get political and force them to stop using ethanol.

at this rate if the ethanol is the source of my problems it means I am buying 572 MORE gallons of gasoline every year NOT LESS so ethanol (in older cars) is INCREASING our demand for oil not reducing it.

sure I guess if everyone was rich and could afford to just buy brand new cars this would not be an issue.

I can not and will not "throw" away my cars because the corn industry wants to lobby for more money.

I tested my local premium and it also had ethanol at 10% Where did you hear or see premium not having ethanol?

03-22-2010, 07:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Nerys Grrr :-) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Levittown PA Posts: 800 Cherokee - '88 Jeep Cherokee 90 day: 19.44 mpg (US) Ryo-Ohki - '94 Geo Metro Xfi 90 day: 50.15 mpg (US) Vger 2 - '00 Plymouth Grand Voyager SE Ninja - '89 Geo Tracker 90 day: 30.27 mpg (US) Thanks: 12 Thanked 31 Times in 25 Posts	but I am losing MORE than 10% of my fuel economy. Energy content is not really relevant. There are other factors that determine how a fuel will burn. For example most older cars are actually UNABLE to ignite ethanol at all. Instead the gasoline ignite at the "spark" moment and later the flame front burns the ethanol. ie delayed burn vastly reducing the efficiency of the entire system (newer cars are programmed with a hotter "spark" to compensate for this difference) 3.2% is only on paper strictly speaking and ignores the very complex reality of our engines. My jeep went from 22-23 to 19-20 that well over 10% My Voyager went from 28 to 20 thats well over 10% My Clubwagon went from 19 to 14-15 well over 10% My metro should EASILY hose 60mpg without even trying. now I max at 45-48mpg 50-51mpg if I slow down to 45mph (stock in 1994 it would have busted 60mpg at 55mph without you having to try very hard) this is way way way over 10% difference. I have 4 other vehicles all seeing similar 15-20% FE loses from ethanol. This is not for long term. The purpose is to either confirm or deny the massive loss I am seeing is from Ethanol addition. if the test indicates this to be the case the next step would be to travel a distance to a non ethanol gas station (there is one about 2 hours from me) but I don't have the $200 or so dollars that experiment would cost me so I need to confirm if its worth doing first) if that test ALSO confirms the issue the next step is to get political and force them to stop using ethanol. at this rate if the ethanol is the source of my problems it means I am buying 572 MORE gallons of gasoline every year NOT LESS so ethanol (in older cars) is INCREASING our demand for oil not reducing it. sure I guess if everyone was rich and could afford to just buy brand new cars this would not be an issue. I can not and will not "throw" away my cars because the corn industry wants to lobby for more money. I tested my local premium and it also had ethanol at 10% Where did you hear or see premium not having ethanol?