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Im getting better gas mileage with ARCO...Weird

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by OCTaco, Jun 24, 2010.

  1. Jun 24, 2010 at 9:47 AM
    #1
    OCTaco

    OCTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey guys,
    My brother has been pushing me to swith from Shell V-Power to Arco 91 Octane. He and I are/were both avid users of shell v-power and never really like Arco. Anyways a few months ago he had to fill up with ARCO and appearantly gained about 30 miles to the tank by using it. He's been using it since and the increase in Mileage has been constant. So I decided I would give it a try. Here are my results.

    I usually get about 250-260to the 1/4 tand and fill up with about 16.4 Gallons.
    ARCO
    1st fill: 282 miles filled with 16.185 gallons
    2nd fill: 290 miles filled with 16.253 gallons
    3rd fill: 292 miles filled with 16.211 gallons
    4th fill: 287 miles filled with 16.177 gallons
    5th fill: 285 miles filled with 16.287 gallons

    I couldn't believe it so I decided to go back to shell this last time:
    result: 265 miles filled with 16.235

    Driving habits have all stayed the same. I haven't used the A/C and the city highway ratio has stayed practically the same. Weird?
     
  2. Jun 24, 2010 at 10:05 AM
    #2
    NAAC3TACO

    NAAC3TACO Middle aged member

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    Color matched door handles, Weathertech floor liners, bed mat, Durafit seat covers, tailgate clamp, 2016 TRD Sport 17" wheels with Yokohama Geolander AT tires , Toyota exhaust tip, Toyota/Yakima bike rail mount, Toyota wheel locks, Toyota hitch cover, Redline hood struts, unifilter on air pump.
    Does the Arco have ethanol in it?
     
  3. Jun 24, 2010 at 10:06 AM
    #3
    OCTaco

    OCTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    IDK? I guess I should check, but I dont think they do.
     
  4. Jun 24, 2010 at 10:12 AM
    #4
    CRfofiddyF

    CRfofiddyF Well-Known Member

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    you are getting better gas mileage because your engine is burning more gunk than gas! stay away from Arco if you want to keep your truck for a while.
     
  5. Jun 24, 2010 at 10:15 AM
    #5
    NAAC3TACO

    NAAC3TACO Middle aged member

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    Color matched door handles, Weathertech floor liners, bed mat, Durafit seat covers, tailgate clamp, 2016 TRD Sport 17" wheels with Yokohama Geolander AT tires , Toyota exhaust tip, Toyota/Yakima bike rail mount, Toyota wheel locks, Toyota hitch cover, Redline hood struts, unifilter on air pump.
    If the Arco doesn't use ethanol and the Shell does, that could be the difference in mileage. I know E85 gas hurts fuel economy, so I would assume E10 would too, only to a lesser extent.:notsure:
     
  6. Jun 24, 2010 at 10:34 AM
    #6
    OCTaco

    OCTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Before this truck I drove an 06 accord. Used arco since day 1, sold it at 155k. Never a problem.
     
  7. Jun 24, 2010 at 10:43 AM
    #7
    Black Rock Taco

    Black Rock Taco Well-Known Member

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    None, yet
    I've recently had a significant jump in my mileage. Here in NV and CA, they change the blend in winter vs summer to combat smog. The summer blend had always given my Chevy 1500 1-2 mpg better. This is my first summer since break-in on the Tacoma, but the MPG jump has been substantial. I buy several different brands.
     
  8. Jun 24, 2010 at 10:45 AM
    #8
    derekabraham

    derekabraham Living vicariously through everybody

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    Arco is all I ever use and I always get the best mileage with them. In states with no Arco, I usually use Shell or Sinclair and the mileage is usually about 1-2 MPG less.
     
  9. Jun 24, 2010 at 10:57 AM
    #9
    OCTaco

    OCTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    How many miles on your truck? Any issues? What's the oil like?
     
  10. Jun 24, 2010 at 11:02 AM
    #10
    NAAC3TACO

    NAAC3TACO Middle aged member

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    Color matched door handles, Weathertech floor liners, bed mat, Durafit seat covers, tailgate clamp, 2016 TRD Sport 17" wheels with Yokohama Geolander AT tires , Toyota exhaust tip, Toyota/Yakima bike rail mount, Toyota wheel locks, Toyota hitch cover, Redline hood struts, unifilter on air pump.
  11. Jun 24, 2010 at 11:10 AM
    #11
    derekabraham

    derekabraham Living vicariously through everybody

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    65,XXX, no issues. Oil is good.



    On my/my mom's old 98 Honda Civic: 212,XXX, no issues whatsoever. Ran on Arco it's whole life. It was totalled in an accident.
     
  12. Jun 24, 2010 at 2:36 PM
    #12
    OCTaco

    OCTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Is it possible that shell v-power has so many additives that it actually ends up hurting ur gas mileage? In other words, your getting less "actual gas" per gallon?
     
  13. Jun 24, 2010 at 2:38 PM
    #13
    NAAC3TACO

    NAAC3TACO Middle aged member

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    Color matched door handles, Weathertech floor liners, bed mat, Durafit seat covers, tailgate clamp, 2016 TRD Sport 17" wheels with Yokohama Geolander AT tires , Toyota exhaust tip, Toyota/Yakima bike rail mount, Toyota wheel locks, Toyota hitch cover, Redline hood struts, unifilter on air pump.
    I was thinking that same thing. What's with the Nitrogen additive? What the hell does that do?
     
  14. Jun 24, 2010 at 2:43 PM
    #14
    MxRacer190

    MxRacer190 Well-Known Member

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    sell.
     
  15. Jun 24, 2010 at 2:45 PM
    #15
    NAAC3TACO

    NAAC3TACO Middle aged member

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    Color matched door handles, Weathertech floor liners, bed mat, Durafit seat covers, tailgate clamp, 2016 TRD Sport 17" wheels with Yokohama Geolander AT tires , Toyota exhaust tip, Toyota/Yakima bike rail mount, Toyota wheel locks, Toyota hitch cover, Redline hood struts, unifilter on air pump.
    :D I think you're right. I'm surprised one of the gas companies haven't started selling "synthetic" or "hybrid" gas.
     
  16. Jun 24, 2010 at 2:51 PM
    #16
    tvbd56

    tvbd56 Epic Member

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    I remember seeing a commercial, I think it was suppousted to clean the intake valves or something like that because they show the difference between their gas's and other gas's intake valves.

    Which is probably complete BS
     
  17. Jun 24, 2010 at 2:57 PM
    #17
    06redtacoma

    06redtacoma Well-Known Member

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    on the selling thing a girl i dated for a while her VW bug called for premium gas, we were low on gas one day and in a hurry we drove passed a shell station and to a BP when i asked her why she didnt stop at the shell her response was that her car takes premium upon further probing she informed me that shell only sells v-power gas and her car has an inline motor, incapable of burning v-power fuel. i almost crapped my pants.
     
  18. Jun 24, 2010 at 3:28 PM
    #18
    THExBUSxDRIVER

    THExBUSxDRIVER Victory is reserved...

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    Not enough.
    Holy shit she takes the cake, did you know she was that dumb before you asked her out lmao
     
  19. Jun 24, 2010 at 3:31 PM
    #19
    Snipe

    Snipe Well-Known Member

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    Just how long is "for a while?

    Had my 79 Toyota 4wd pickup for close to 30 years and it ran Arco probably 98% of the time. :cool:
     
  20. Jun 24, 2010 at 3:42 PM
    #20
    solidcopy

    solidcopy High Speed, Low Drag

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    FYI, the gasoline you buy at a "name brand" station is likely exactly the same as the gasoline you buy at a discount station (e.g., ARCO, Wal-Mart, etc.) with the only exception being the proprietary additives each company adds to their brand of gasoline. Gasoline is refined and distributed at the wholesale level. If you followed a fuel truck you would watch it make stops at every gas station in town, regardless of what is painted on the side.

    Source:
    http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/experts/contactexperts.htm (see #2)

    In fact, the most important factor in buying gasoline is often how long the gasoline has been sitting in the tanks underground (water content). I would rather fill up from the Super Wal-Mart that gets fresh fuel delivered twice daily than drive outside of town to a small Shell station that *maybe* restocks premium every other week.
     

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