High gas prices and lower fuel economy

[Pflugerville Ag]

Okay, I know this isn't my imagination, but has anyone else seen a coorelation b/w rising gas prices and crappier fuel economy? My driving habits have been the same for years. I buy gas at the same gas station probably 90% of the time. My truck's maintenence is always up to date (fuel filter changes, oil changes, tire pressure, tune ups, etc). However, over the last year or so as gas prices have skyrocketed, I've noticed that my gas mileage has decreased.

Anyone else pay attention to this?

[whitelightnin_23]

I have noticed the same...

[aggie1997]

Can't really say. My truck is 6 years old and is still maintaining a fairly consistent fuel mileage. However, mine is a diesel. Don't know if that would make any difference or not.

[phatbc]

:wow:

[PJAggiegrrl]

Yep I have noticed the same thing with my car.

[Dustin00whoop]

All the terrorists running the gas stations have jacked with the pumps & you are getting charged for a gallon of gas but getting less than that.

[Pflugerville Ag]

All the terrorists running the gas stations have jacked with the pumps & you are getting charged for a gallon of gas but getting less than that.

You're definitely right about that. Lots of gas stations have been busted for that in Austin. Plus, my truck has a computer that tells me exactly how many gallons (to the tenth of a gallon) I have used since my last fill up. However, every time I fill up, it takes at least one gallon more to fill it up. Now I'm sure my truck's sensor could be off, but I'd bet the accuracy of my sensor over the honesty of a gas station.

[PJAggiegrrl]

yeah I have heard about that... i know when i went to louisiana i had to fill up there... and i know my car only holds 16 gals... but somehow it took 18 gals to fill up from empty... tells you how great that pump was.

[zrf2002]

if it is a recent model chevy (which i am sure it is since you are a chevy guy right?) then the sensor could very well be off.... the sensor on my wife's tahoe is jacked up and the fuel guage does not read correctly at all.... it will show close to a half tank on the guage when the tank is empty. we just set the trip every time we fill it up and do not drive more than 300 miles on a tank just to be safe and make sure it does not run out of gas..... i would get it fixed, but it will cost about $700 to replace the sensor.....

[KCAggie]

I have never really noticed but now that I think about it, what used to last me seven days a week, now only last six days.

[Pumchavas28]

Makes you wish Gas was free.... :sad:

[texags08]

Makes you wish Gas was free.... :sad:


If only...:sad:

[zrf2002]

Makes you wish Gas was free.... :sad:

yeah, that would be nice, but not realistic.... just makes me wish it was under $2.00/gallon or less... i remember filling up for $0.76/gallon back in '98 or '99... i was on E and it only cost about $18.00 for a full tank and now it costs over $70....:sad:

[Pflugerville Ag]

yeah, that would be nice, but not realistic.... just makes me wish it was under $2.00/gallon or less... i remember filling up for $0.76/gallon back in '98 or '99... i was on E and it only cost about $18.00 for a full tank and now it costs over $70....:sad:

Yup, I paid $.75 during the summer of '98 at an Exxon in Bastrop. My 20 gallon tank only cost $15 to fill up. Now my 29 gallon gas guzzler costs me damn near $100.

[PJAggiegrrl]

My 16 gal little car costs me like $60 to fill up :(

[adamrod]

Since they've started using ethanol blends of 10% ethanol, you will average a 1.5% reduction in fuel economy. 30% Ethanol reduces mileage by 5.1%. The loss is more on some cars, and less on others but might explain some of your reduction in range.

http://www.ethanol.org/pdf/contentmgmt/ACEFuelEconomyStudy_001.pdf

[Pflugerville Ag]

Nice link Adam. That explains it some, but I'm seeing 5-10% decreases, assuming that I'm really getting the amount of gas that I paid for.

[txags92]

Have you ever replaced your oxygen sensor? As they go bad, the computer will start changing the mix to compensate for what it believes to be too little oxygen. Over time, that will cause your mileage to go down since you are not at the optimal mix.

[Pflugerville Ag]

Have you ever replaced your oxygen sensor? As they go bad, the computer will start changing the mix to compensate for what it believes to be too little oxygen. Over time, that will cause your mileage to go down since you are not at the optimal mix.

Don't think its ever been changed. I'll check into that. Thanks. :rep:

[txags92]

Can't guarantee that is it, but I know that the "check engine" light on most cars won't come on until the sensor gets bad enough that the mix exceeds the high or low end of the acceptable range and the computer can no longer adjust it enough to get it back within range. I know right before mine went bad, I had gone from around 18mpg to about 16mpg and thought I was just driving too fast or with too heavy of a foot.

[DCAggie]

You're definitely right about that. Lots of gas stations have been busted for that in Austin. Plus, my truck has a computer that tells me exactly how many gallons (to the tenth of a gallon) I have used since my last fill up. However, every time I fill up, it takes at least one gallon more to fill it up. Now I'm sure my truck's sensor could be off, but I'd bet the accuracy of my sensor over the honesty of a gas station.

You can check on the TX Sec of Ag webpage for stations that have been busted for this stuff. Not that they catch everything, but it's worth checking to see if your local station has a problem w/ the truth.

[CoolaidWade]

Doubtful. I probably get the same 12-14 mpg I did when i bought this thing 4 years ago. If I got any worse it probably means i have a hole in my gas tank.

[jagowar]

what kind of truck do you have? mine is 7 yrs old (01 silverado) and it gets 17-20 mpg.

[Pflugerville Ag]

what kind of truck do you have? mine is 7 yrs old (01 silverado) and it gets 17-20 mpg.

If you're asking me, I've got a 2003 Chevy 1500HD crew cab. Its got the 6.0L V8 and only gets about 11-12 a gallon. Last fill up got less than 11 for the first time ever.

[Chi Ag]

Maybe the octane levels have changed for the gas you buy....

[texags08]

02 F-150 Supercrew 5.4L gets 12-14 mpg in town, and maybe 16-17 on all HWY driving...
I cant complain because this is better than my jeep i just sold that got <10 mpg all of the time