The right fuels to use. Don't be foolish

I'm not up on the subject but some companies are selling natualgasoline or blending it with gasoline to cut costs.
Natualgasoline is mad from natural gas. It has lower heat content and will deliver much lower mileage plus other negatives.
The subject kind of snook up on me. I didn't know they were doing that.
I understand they don't blend it into premium or 93 octane gasoline though.

Maybe that why the Ford manual states, do not use higher than 87 octane fuel on a none flex fuel vehicle.

Lynnmor wrote:

Nagrompj wrote:

I find it interesting that what sounds like folks that have never been in a refinery or had anything to do with gas transportation have all of this figured out. Does anyone really believe that all gas octane blends come out of the same tank at the refinery and are then just labeled different at the pump?

I'm not guessing that every octane from 87 to 91 came out of the same tank, I'm telling you it dose as a FACT. The only gas that came from another tank was 93 octane. The ethanol is in another tank and is a additive to the gas as well as other things. ALL ADDIITIVES WERE ADDED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS FILLED AND WITH THE ADDITIVES THE OCTANE IS CHANGED!
Now that's how it is done at the fuel distribution yard where I worked, it may be different at other fuel yards.

I understand that adding more ethanol will increase octane, but lower MPG. I wonder if that is some of what is going on.

Exactly!
So if you want less ethanol just buy cheaper 87 octane gas.

Though the person who said "only so many Refrineries" is correct.

It is a fact that different companies use different formulations for their additivesm, also different comnpanies have different quality standard.

One name brand station in a town I used to live in the management got in trouble for topping off their storage tanks... WITH WATER from a garden hose.

The state of Michigan has regulations which allow a small amount of water in the underground tanks, and they inspect for it,, Clearly the station above had more than that.

Another name brand station, before it was sold to an overseas firm at least, had company rules that were much more strict than the Michigan law (They only allowed about 1/2 the water the state did) Plus in the winter they added a gas line freeze up preventive (HEET brand Gas Line antifreeze in fact)

I gassed up at one of their stations.. My Daughter's God Father laughed at me for paying that high price, and bragged about how much he was saving buying at an "off brand" discount station.... Till I used my Running just fine car to tow his would not start to the shop for a 300 Dollar repair job due to water in the gas.

Dog trainer. You are absolutely right. We use ethanol because algore was trying to buy votes for future elections.

You guys who think that the "cheap gas" comes from a different refinery than the other brand names are sadly mistaken.

Ask yourself...why when one refinery goes down for your region, ALL stations are affected in tat region...and sometimes its even more broad. There is more to it than just this, but this alone gets the point across.



The only difference is the additives the brand names may...or may not add. Including octane differences. It all happens when the truck is filled, as previously mentioned. Ask the next delivery driver you see...they can tell you all about it.

There is a possible bad tank with old gas at stations that do not see high volume. While rare, I'd be more concerned about this, than seeing any given name on the gas station sign.

Full of sound and fury! Signifying nothing.

It always seemed odd to me that different attempts to lower emissions always ended up lowering MPGs in the end if you lower emissions and then have an increasde in fuel consumption, the net effect is not cleaner air but instead morre dollars out of the consumers pocket but maybe I don't understand the math the way the politicians do.
I have never given too much thought to where I buy fuel but have noticed the lower the ethanol the better the truck likes it. I think there are just a few suppliers. We shop at Kroger when home and winn-dixie IN fL. There are significant incentives at both so that drives my decision.

Nagrompj wrote:

I find it interesting that what sounds like folks that have never been in a refinery or had anything to do with gas transportation have all of this figured out. Does anyone really believe that all gas octane blends come out of the same tank at the refinery and are then just labeled different at the pump?

I'm not guessing that every octane from 87 to 91 came out of the same tank, I'm telling you it dose as a FACT. The only gas that came from another tank was 93 octane. The ethanol is in another tank and is a additive to the gas as well as other things. ALL ADDIITIVES WERE ADDED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS FILLED AND WITH THE ADDITIVES THE OCTANE IS CHANGED!
Now that's how it is done at the fuel distribution yard where I worked, it may be different at other fuel yards.

I understand that adding more ethanol will increase octane, but lower MPG. I wonder if that is some of what is going on.

westend wrote:

Tom_Diane wrote:
All fuel has additives as per the government standards! One fuel is no better than another unless the retailer is lax on maintenance and the under ground tanks have more water accumulation in them!
I was visiting with my B-I-L who is a mechanic and were discussing gas mileage and he said that after about 1970 or so that gas no longer was pure gasoline. It has additives for cleaner emissions and the additives contribute to the lesser MPG in todays autos! We talked about the octanes and the Ethyl, Regular and Super levels of gas! Today, all gas is either got ethanol or it is unleaded, but neither is 100% pure gasoline as prior to the 70's
My choice of where I buy gas is based first on price and second, Is it in a flood plain?
For me, and its just the way I prefer to buy what I think is good gas is at a station at the top of a hill and not on the bottom, where rain will flood the drive and fill spots and not in a flood plain! Thats just me! I think its superstition or something! Beyond that, all gas is equal in respect to grades and octanes, So I look for price and convenience of location!

Did you or the BIL have any fine talking points about how gasoline is actually made or did you both reach the conclusion that it is those **** additives that are effecting your MPG?

I find it interesting that what sounds like folks that have never been in a refinery or had anything to do with gas transportation have all of this figured out. Does anyone really believe that all gas octane blends come out of the same tank at the refinery and are then just labeled different at the pump?

This Wikipedia article is a good general overview about the constituents of gasoline.

Why so defensive? We just had a conversation about it a few years back. I don't claim to be a expert on gasoline.
My point was supposed to be to the OP that there is not much difference in where the gas comes from but seems to be affected by what's in the underground tank once it arrives at the station! That's just my personal thoughts.
It's what happens to it between the refinery and the delivery point Also that gasoline is not 100% gasoline like the old days!

Our conversation was as I recalled it, was to the best of my memory! In the end, we both agree that the label is the only difference in the gas!