Tires, MPG & Fuel Operating Costs

Ehhhh, it's a truck, what did you expect? Big tires, little tires, it's still a gas gussler!

 

The shaitty ethanol fuel absorbs water.. if that's what you mean by "keeps it out of fuel system".

 

Everyone, relax. You could be living in Hong Kong.

https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/

I suspect that if you can afford a 3rd gen tacoma that gasoline makes up a very modest part of your budget.

 

Exactly my point, E10 effectively dries your fuel system by allowing the ethanol to absorb any water in the system and then pass it harmlessly through the engine. Is that an issue for you?

 

Yes, vapor lock is an issue I've experienced in other vehicles (not the Tacoma) and I don't like the fact that pure gas is not available near metro areas due to population density.

 

Yeah, I experienced vapor lock in my 1966 Plymouth Valiant; anything more recent?

 

Yes. The temps don't have to be overly hot especially if the fuel lines have 90 degree bends.

 

I guess my point is, have you ever experienced vapor lock in a relatively modern car, regardless of OAT?

 

Just because it is a truck is no reason gas mileage has to be bad. I got over 25 mpg in my 1985 Toyota 2wd manual. EPA est. for 2022 SR5 says 18 city 22 hwy. EPA ratings for Toyota have usually been lower than actual throughout the years.

 

I don't run TPMS in my winter set. The light will come on after a specific amount of time/distance, can't recall which. I think it is after like 30 mins? I live in a smaller community with everything within a 10 min or so drive. I won't see the light all winter unless I need to head onto the highway - aka not annoying at all. I also store my summer tires with the sensors on a tire rack on the wall next to my truck in the garage, so it's possible the truck still detects the sensors when it is started? Not sure on that though.

 

@DanoTay - haha… I am making the exact same switch

 

Not only is switching from prem gas to regular going to compensate in my monthly budget for the gas price increase, my Tacoma will soon accommodate the inflation of monthly overall budgets that everyone is currently experiencing, as my Tacoma loan will be paid off in June 2022, leaving extra $ in my pocket. Well, inflation will see to $ not being mine for long.

 

Yes.

I see you have a single piston aircraft as your avatar. The vast majority of pilots would NEVER consider running ethanol gas (even IF they could get STC'd for it) because of the risks of vapor lock (except maybe the little rotax engines popular in Europe.) Drifting over to the side of the road isn't an option and not being able to restart a power plant can mean gliding to the crash site.

You like ethanol gas? cool. I like the gas with more energy and less water absorbing corn in it.

 

There's nothing better than the proper style of tire for the conditions in which you are driving and safer. Initial cost of another set of tires and rims is offset by the how long they last.

 

That isn’t the ethanol, that is the much higher fuel pressure and better insulated fuel system.

 

Sure, but I personally don't like the idea of of driving on 20 year old set of tires at highway speeds. I suppose if they are stored well you could probably get 7-10 years out of them before the rubber becomes brittle.

 

And I would never run any fuel with ethanol in any aircraft with an engine designed based upon 1940s technology. The question I asked you was, "Have you ever experienced vapor lock in a relatively modern car, regardless of OAT?" I'll take your non-answers as an answer of "No". Long story short, trying to avoid using E10 in your car is a worthless exercise.

 

Exactly, which is why running E10 in a modern car is an absolute non-issue.

 

Do you work for the corn lobby by chance? Like I said.. enjoy your diluted fuel. I'll enjoy mine.

 

Really? No, up until my mid-60s I worked in the automotive industry, specifically as a forensic engineer for Chrysler, then Daimler-Benz, and then for Volvo. You don't have to believe there are significant benefits to E10 over 100% gasoline, but that does not in any way negate the benefits.

And for what it's worth, while I am a fan of E10, I am definitely not a fan of increasing the ethanol content of fuels beyond that point except for specific racing applications.