Mobile vs Sunoco MPG
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 334
Likes: 5
From: Central IN
I work for a pipeline company that also has truck loading racks.
In a nutshell -
Winter gas gets less MPG than summer gas.
Gas with ethanol gets less MPG than straight gas.
Some of the cheaper brands use more additive than the top tier companies. More additive = less MPG.
We have terminals that load Shell, Mobil, Phillips 66 from the same tank. The only thing that makes Shell, BP, Mobil, etc. gas theirs is the use of their own additive. BP was picky on their Ultimate Clear Premium using only their blend stock, don't know if that's still true or not.
In a nutshell -
Winter gas gets less MPG than summer gas.
Gas with ethanol gets less MPG than straight gas.
Some of the cheaper brands use more additive than the top tier companies. More additive = less MPG.
We have terminals that load Shell, Mobil, Phillips 66 from the same tank. The only thing that makes Shell, BP, Mobil, etc. gas theirs is the use of their own additive. BP was picky on their Ultimate Clear Premium using only their blend stock, don't know if that's still true or not.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 550
Likes: 11
From: Hollywood Florida
+1 for what Mare said. Ethanol blended gas (E10) should be used within 30 days of blending. Ethanol (alcohol) and gas cannot form a chemical bond. As the fuel mixture ages, the light ends evaporate, leaving behind gummy residue that can muck up carbs, injectors, etc. Fuel never gets that old in my bike, but it certainly does in the boat, chainsaw, generator, etc. I use a fuel stabilizer for that fuel.
Ethanol/alcohol also produces less energy, as noted in other posts here, so you absolutely get less power and fuel economy when running E10 over Rec 90 or any other "pure" gas.
Ethanol/alcohol also produces less energy, as noted in other posts here, so you absolutely get less power and fuel economy when running E10 over Rec 90 or any other "pure" gas.
Last edited by porschedog; Jan 2, 2015 at 10:10 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 193
From: ohio
More of the stations running habit's, change filters, system is run correctly ect. Anyone know if additives are put in at station, or where tanker is loaded, seems it would be station, if delivering to more then one place. Wouldn't crude oil grade have something to do with it also, My bike can tell the difference between some stations, even with same co. One shell is not the same as the next, leads me to believe its a station maintenance thing
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 979
Likes: 83
From: S.W. Oregon
My neighbor is a tanker driver and he has to put in all the additive when he loads his truck at the tank farm. All brands of gas come out of one line and the only difference is the additive the different brands use.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,386
Likes: 900
From: Columbus, Ohio
I don't have an app. I've done this the old school method since I first started driving. I shouldn't be doing math in public so maybe it is time I get the app.
Anyway, to calculate MPG:
1. Fill your tank full of gas.
2. Reset trip odometer to 00000.
3. Ride.
4. Return to the gas station and fill the tank to full.
5. Note the number of gallons used to fill the tank. (Usually about 5.5 for me.)
6. Also, note the number of miles you rode via the trip odometer. (Usually about 210 for me.)
7. Calculate. Divide the miles driven by the gallons used: 210 by 5.5 = 38.18 MPG
8. Reset trip odometer; repeat.
If you don't have a trip odometer, you'll have to keep track of beginning and ending mileage to determine your distance traveled. But that involves more math.
Hope this helps.
Anyway, to calculate MPG:
1. Fill your tank full of gas.
2. Reset trip odometer to 00000.
3. Ride.
4. Return to the gas station and fill the tank to full.
5. Note the number of gallons used to fill the tank. (Usually about 5.5 for me.)
6. Also, note the number of miles you rode via the trip odometer. (Usually about 210 for me.)
7. Calculate. Divide the miles driven by the gallons used: 210 by 5.5 = 38.18 MPG
8. Reset trip odometer; repeat.
If you don't have a trip odometer, you'll have to keep track of beginning and ending mileage to determine your distance traveled. But that involves more math.
Hope this helps.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,178
Likes: 5
From: Central Calif
I have used all different brands of gas over the years. I find no significant difference in mileage (I will say that sometimes I feel Costco gas runs the best). The mileage more depends on how I am riding. In California, there are 13 gas refineries. In Central Calif, the gas is piped in to a manifold for distribution. I don't know which refinery pumps here or if they all all do. However, a truck pulls up gets it fuel and adds what ever extra additives for the station they are going to. The problem we have had, is that diesel and gas are delivered in the same pipe and sometimes a mistake has happened and diesel fuel has been put in gas tanks. I know the customer cars are fixed, but I don't know if the station or the distribution network pays.
I have talked to the Weight and Measures Dept for the county and they tell me they must drain a 1/2 gallon of fuel from the 3 grades into 1 hose pumps before doing their tests to see if it meets the correct octane rating.
I have talked to the Weight and Measures Dept for the county and they tell me they must drain a 1/2 gallon of fuel from the 3 grades into 1 hose pumps before doing their tests to see if it meets the correct octane rating.
Last edited by OwnerOfHarriet; Jan 2, 2015 at 07:21 PM.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I work for a pipeline company that also has truck loading racks.
In a nutshell -
Winter gas gets less MPG than summer gas.
Gas with ethanol gets less MPG than straight gas.
Some of the cheaper brands use more additive than the top tier companies. More additive = less MPG.
We have terminals that load Shell, Mobil, Phillips 66 from the same tank. The only thing that makes Shell, BP, Mobil, etc. gas theirs is the use of their own additive. BP was picky on their Ultimate Clear Premium using only their blend stock, don't know if that's still true or not.
In a nutshell -
Winter gas gets less MPG than summer gas.
Gas with ethanol gets less MPG than straight gas.
Some of the cheaper brands use more additive than the top tier companies. More additive = less MPG.
We have terminals that load Shell, Mobil, Phillips 66 from the same tank. The only thing that makes Shell, BP, Mobil, etc. gas theirs is the use of their own additive. BP was picky on their Ultimate Clear Premium using only their blend stock, don't know if that's still true or not.
+1 on your statement...
in the summer I get between 43-47 no matter where or how I ride. Average 43-45 most of our riding and I do keep a running check on usage..
if I have to buy gas with Ethanol in it, it'll drop to the low 40's and also in cold weather it'll be about the same...
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 150
Likes: 10
From: Myrtle Beach, SC
MPGforFree iPhone app
been using it for a few months. Works great. Mostly local riding here, consistently around 35mpg
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,322
From: Western South Dakota
Musta been bored?
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 35
From: Southern Maryland
i usually buy shell....on tuesdays when its 10 cents of premium or thursdays when its 5 cents off everything. mileage stays pretty consistent with most of my fillups or fuel choices....where it does very is the twist of the grip or the smiles per miles......thats when my mileage drops off. i normally get 40-42 on open road/interstate driving.