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Gained 1.6 mpg Switching to Shell Premium!

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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 01:52 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Tbird69
Everything about your calculations makes no sense, your comparing the mileage you got with discount fuel to the mileage your getting with quality fuel. You would have seen the same increase by switching from discount to Shell 87. The 3v 5.4 runs a compression ratio that allows for use of everything from 87-93 octane. It really doesn't matter which grade you use, it's the quality/purity of the fuel that makes the difference.
I fully understand what you are saying. No, I haven't tried regular 87 Shell yet either. I've mostly used HEB and Valero gasoline. Since you're from Canada you'll have no idea what kind of store HEB is. It's a fairly big chain located in central Texas that's fairly similar to a Wal-mart.

However, this is a work in progress and I drive at least 1000 miles a week. I've been running on Shell Premium for 3 weeks already. So, this is at least 3000 miles of driving I've done to make this compairison. Yes, I probably did go from sub par gasoline to the absolute premium, but I know I'm getting better gas mileage now and it's paying for itself. I'll try the 87 Octane Shell in the next few weeks.

Now, the big surprise to me was going to premium only makes sense when regular gas is priced at around $2.60 in my calculations.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by F150metoo
Your analysis is very informative, and because you covered 1000 miles, very believable. I am going to experiment with it.

I know that in my boat, which has a 5.0L V8 with two-barrel carburetor, if I decide to use 93 octane, I have to set the timing (by hand) to 10 degrees. If I decide to use 87 octane, the timing has to be a few degrees more. This is old technology. The new technology has knock sensors that can auto adjust the timing.

The higher the octane, the more precise the timing of the detonation, so the tighter timing can be set. The tighter the timing -- the more horsepower and fuel economy. I always though that in miles per dollar, 87 octane will always win -- but now am having to rethink the issue. I prefer 93 octane because it is cleaner burning.
I've tried premium in a 2001 Explorer with the 5.0L V8 and I didn't notice much of an improvement at all. So, I'm thinking the newer engines can benefit from adjusting the timing.

I'm just reporting on the typical mileage I get on the highway driving 1000 miles a week for work. I'll have more data after my trip to Colorado this week.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Tbird69
I gained 2 MPG by taking the lead out of my shoe.
You continue to do that. In Texas we have higher than normal speed limits. My calculations where based on the type of driving I do. My truck with 3.73 gears won't stay under 2000 rpms unless you are going below 60mph. The speed limit on a 2 lane hwy in Texas is 70. Some interstates have the speed limit set at 80. What are they set at in Canada?
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by ohboy44
I'll have to try this too.
I remember years ago when I had a 91 Explorer and gas was cheap. I switched to premium because of a rotten egg smell it had in the winter.
The smell went away and the mileage went up, but doing the math it was the same price for miles driven.

I thought your .30 cent price difference didn't make sense so I check on "gasbuddy.com" and the price for premium around here is only .20 cents higher then regular. So the savings will be even higher.
The premium I've been getting has been about .30 cents higher than regular. I've seen some places that were only .20 cents higher, but I decided to go with the worst case scenario.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by runnerboy
i actually noticed an increase from going from Shell's 89 octane to their 87 octane. I use to get around 12 but now i get about 13...and even got 14 on the last tank.

i might have to try the premium gas now.

youre only getting 14 with that man? wtf?

i rolled my teaneu cover back down and the chip got reprogrammed at 36000 mile work and now im gettin 17-18 mpg every fillup.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 02:46 PM
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I have a spreadsheet of over 2 years, 50,000 miles that says the same thing. I have posted it on here several times and usually get poo pooed about it, but I have the numbers to show it. I used to think all gas was the same, it isn't. I get the best mileage out of Shell. I have tried the other major brands we have and they rank in this order Shell-Texaco, Conoco, Exxon. The non branded is at the bottom pretty close to Exxon. I also get enough better with the Shell 93 (about 12%) over the 87 to more than offset the difference in price. The nice thing about it, the Shell rarely cost any more than the so called discounts.

I have the 5.4, 3.55 gears and have been running the Edge for about the last 20,000 miles. I get 19.2 plus or minus on the highway, running 75-85, lots of 2 lane passing. The engine is at 2000 rpms at 75 mph.

I was a non-believer till I proved it to myself.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 02:56 PM
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I refuse to buy from any mobil gas anymore.
Theyre gas sucks, and for some reason, they think that can charge about 5 cents more than every else, but people still go to it.

I only buy from Kwik-Fill now.


 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 02:59 PM
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In my 100% stock 5.4L, I get better MPG with 87 octane than with mid-grade or premium. It doesn't seem to have any more get-up-n-go with higher octane either. I keep track with my lap-top GPS navigation.

What I have noticed is that 87 octane from the local Servco gives better MPG than any other local stations (BP, Texico, Shell).
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by bluejay432000
I have a spreadsheet of over 2 years, 50,000 miles that says the same thing. I have posted it on here several times and usually get poo pooed about it, but I have the numbers to show it. I used to think all gas was the same, it isn't. I get the best mileage out of Shell. I have tried the other major brands we have and they rank in this order Shell-Texaco, Conoco, Exxon. The non branded is at the bottom pretty close to Exxon. I also get enough better with the Shell 93 (about 12%) over the 87 to more than offset the difference in price. The nice thing about it, the Shell rarely cost any more than the so called discounts.

I have the 5.4, 3.55 gears and have been running the Edge for about the last 20,000 miles. I get 19.2 plus or minus on the highway, running 75-85, lots of 2 lane passing. The engine is at 2000 rpms at 75 mph.

I was a non-believer till I proved it to myself.
I was a non believer until now. I'm saving up for the Troyer XCal2 and we'll see what kind of an improvement that would give me. My truck runs at 2200 RPM at 80 and I have 3.73 gears.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 03:16 PM
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Shell = Chevron. Ever notice that it says shell with techron? who else has techron
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by memsu
I fully understand what you are saying. No, I haven't tried regular 87 Shell yet either. I've mostly used HEB and Valero gasoline. Since you're from Canada you'll have no idea what kind of store HEB is. It's a fairly big chain located in central Texas that's fairly similar to a Wal-mart.

However, this is a work in progress and I drive at least 1000 miles a week. I've been running on Shell Premium for 3 weeks already. So, this is at least 3000 miles of driving I've done to make this compairison. Yes, I probably did go from sub par gasoline to the absolute premium, but I know I'm getting better gas mileage now and it's paying for itself. I'll try the 87 Octane Shell in the next few weeks.

Now, the big surprise to me was going to premium only makes sense when regular gas is priced at around $2.60 in my calculations.
The speed limit on Canadian highways is 100 KPH (62 MPH). I respect the fact that your running an experiment to see what gets the most bang for your fuel dollar. I shouldn't have said your calculations don't make sense. What I should have said was that an improvement in MPG when going from discount to premium shouldn't have been a surprise.

BTW my comment about taking the lead out of my shoe was just me being a smarta$$. You took it and made a valid point, now is my face red.:o
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 05:13 PM
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Originally posted by Tbird69
The speed limit on Canadian highways is 100 KPH (62 MPH)
On secondary highways, the main highways in Alberta are 110 KPH (69 MPH)

On topic, I find that I get better mileage out of Esso regular gas in comparison to Petro Canada regular gas.
 

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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Patman03SprCrw
Shell = Chevron. Ever notice that it says shell with techron? who else has techron
Yep, I know it's the same, but no Chevron's around here except on the interstate, and they are way too pricey.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2007 | 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by cndcowboy
On secondary highways, the main highways in Alberta are 110 KPH (69 MPH)

On topic, I find that I get better mileage out of Esso regular gas in comparison to Petro Canada regular gas.
Pffft! Alberta, nothin' but a bunch of cow ropin' cowboys out there! 110 on the highways eh, which means people do about 120-130 most days? Here 110-120 is the norm.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 12:00 AM
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Originally Posted by memsu
...what kind of store HEB is. It's a fairly big chain located in central Texas that's fairly similar to a Wal-mart.
Okay, NOW I know you are as full of chit as the cow pasture down FM 518... Have you ever stepped foot into an HEB store? How is a large grocery store similar to a major discount store? Sure Wally world has groceries in the Super Walmart stores... But they also have sporting goods, apparrel, an extensive auto section, etc... I guess that is about the same as saying that Walmart is a store kind of like Home Depot...
 
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