Bad gas milage....help

The gas station I fuel up at regularly just changed fuel to "may contain up to 10% ethanol" My mileage has taken a nose dive since.

 

@Mtkrawlr07 - just changed? Somewhere in the state was still selling straight gasoline? I want some...

 

Yep, up until about 3 weeks ago no ethanol, which is why I always went there.

 

What area do live in? I'm in the Flathead.

 

Southwest near Broadwater Co. Good to see some fellow MT's here!

 

I'm in the Flathead too . My mileage sucks on the winter blend. Hopefully they change out at the end of April

 

As far OP's query, you have a 4wd vehical. Expect better mileage around 10k miles or so, may be more. Takes a while for the drive train to break in.

 

I feel you buddy. I am in the same boat. Actually worse. 16.5 is the best Ive ever gotten and that was once. I consistently get 14.5.

Just saying. Wish I had an answer too. Right now I'm at 6700 miles and I'm attributing it to about 90% city driving and this so called winter gas.

 

Feel your pain brutha. My 08 2wd EC stock average 400 miles a tank. I got a 14 4wd EC and average 315 miles a tank. And I drive 60 under 2k Rpm everywere

 

Happened to me fall of 2015. Wasn't happy. Lost 2-3mpg. Just in time for winter too.

 

I'm in Gallatin County!

 

I have a 2015 DC OR and with 85 octane I will average 16.5-17.5mpg and with 91 octane I average 19-21 mpg depending on terrain. I started getting better fuel economy after 5,000 miles and noticed that the tonneau cover helped a little as well. Only had 85 octane in truck twice once from dealer and once when that was all that was available at a gas station.

 

Owners manual calls for 87.

 

http://www.pure-gas.org/

 

I know however it wasn't what the dealer put in i asked. I get good gas milage with 91 which is what Toyota calls for on the supercharged (mine is not supercharged) 4.0L. The computer will compensate for octane variations and it will not hurt anything to run higher octane. Most fuel injector cleaner increases the octane. I also prefer quality gas from stations like shell.

 

Is yours boosted? Higher octane ignites easier to accommodate high compression engines. That's it.

Is the fuel you are using non ethanol? Non ethanol will increase MPG for most. But at a higher price, it may not be enough increase to be worth it. That has to be calculated.

http://www.carsdirect.com/car-buying/will-a-higher-octane-level-increase-a-cars-fuel-mileage

 

No mine isn't boosted and yes the fuel here is 10% ethanol. I went with the higher octane not thinking that it would increase fuel economy however noticed better fuel economy. Some of the fuel stations here have non-ethanol fuel in 91 octane only I have yet to find one though. The airport down the street has non ethanol fuel in 93 octane, but in not going to try it.

Next tank I will put 87 in and see if I get the same average. Most of my driving is on that same road to and from work at 65 mph.

 

The high octane here (93?) is ethanol free - all others have 10%. I've tried and the mileage doesn't offset the cost.

 

That's not true. Higher octane is more stable. I started running 91 when it got hot and started pinging. Then found out there was a TSB. Kept running 91 since. My ass-dyno says it drives better.

My ass-dyno also doesn't care what your ass-dyno reports. 91 is $0.20 more a gallon. A difference of $4.25 in a full tank. If that is breaking your wallet I'm sorry about your career choice.

@Colorado Tacoma constantly switching fuel grade is no good. ECU is constantly needing to adjust to different fuel behavior. I'd say 1-3 full tanks of a particular grade to see a difference