Thoughts on Fuel Economy

200kT100
04-02-2005, 01:24 PM
SO!! I've been researching some options to improve my overall fuel economy; my '93 T-100 gets around 16MPG. I live in rural west-central Minnesota and the fuel available here is E-10, regardless of octane. Some of the reading I've done indicates that E-10 fuels reduce overall fuel economy between 3 and 5 percent because of the ethanol content. I'm also seeing comments to the effect that winter fuel blends also drag fuel economy down. I have no idea when "winter fuel blends" come and go OR what the difference is between winter and summer(?) fuel blends. Anyway, one of the more interesting "fixes" I've seen has to do with blending
aviation fuel with other locally available (including E-10) fuels. From what I understand, aviation fuel (100 octane) is "cleaner" than automotive fuels (fewer additves and NO ethanol) and can improve fuel economy by 8 to 10 percent because of the more efficient combustion.

Any experience out there with this??

An update - Winter Fuel Blends are required by Federal Law.

According to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, "All gasoline sold in the specified carbon monoxide nonattainment areas during the winter months when the carbon monoxide level is the highest must be oxygenated gasoline with a minimum oxygen content of 2.7 weight percent."

Oxygenated gasoline with a minimum oxygen content of 2.7 weight percent contains either ethanol or MTBE. Do you live in a 'specified carbon monoxide nonattainment area"?
Probably so, if you live in an urban area. Where I live, the only thing that separates me from the Arctic Circle is a barbed wire fence...