I've put about 40,000 miles on my 6.8L Excursion since I bought it (used). The mileage the first few tanks was horrible, but enough fuel additives and a set of plugs got it up to "tolerable".

Three times since I got the truck, the mileage was unusually high. (Don't go into multi-tank averaging, etc. Any high mileage driver knows his vehicle well enough to know when things are different.) The lie-o-meter read a couple of miles higher than usual, the overall miles driven was higher, refuel amount consistent, etc. After one of these events, I refueled the next day at the same station and the mileage returned to it's usual 9.0 local and 11.0 highway. My thought was that there was a temperamental sensor somewhere, but I have since discovered otherwise.

A few weeks ago I went to get a couple of gallons of "real" gas (non-ethanol) for the mower. This particular Shell station was selling non-ethanol 87 Octane for $.20 more than regular 87 so I filled up the Excursion with it.

Wow. What a difference. The V-10 had more low-end response (though it will never be considered "torquey"), acted much happier about the fuel, and the fuel mileage jumped considerably. I went straight to the Interstate for a trip and found that the mileage was about 13.7 at 70 MPH.

That's all I've burned since, and all that I'm going to burn. A 5% increase in the per-gallon price is a very good trade for a 20% increase in mileage.


Just thought that I'd pass that I'd share that with the forum.

 

Thanks for the information. The V10 forum has a similar thread and some members have seen siginifcant gains as well.

 

this is why i run non ethanol fuel in my bike .. there is a local place 1 mile from my house that sells it in 92 octane

 

This is sad to me.... i ,live right in the Heartland... and EVERYTHING from Diesel (Bio) to Gas has corn in it...... I would gladly pay $.20 extra a gallon for real gas.... there is just none to be had around here .....

-The Great

 

This is sad to me.... i ,live right in the Heartland... and EVERYTHING from Diesel (Bio) to Gas has corn in it...... I would gladly pay $.20 extra a gallon for real gas.... there is just none to be had around here .....

-The Great

 

That real gas is what used to be readily available back in the early 2000s when these vehicles were brand new.

A V10 truck would average 14-15 (sometimes even 16) on the highway and around 12-13 city. I remember it well as I drove a V10 Excursion for a weekend before owning the '01 7.3 Excursion that I do now. It was also much cheaper than it is now, which made owning a V10 truck not even removely scary or expensive.

Not to take away, but when we had real diesel aka Low Sulphur 500ppm diesel, my 7.3 Excursion would average no less than 18.6 mpg and saw a high of 19.4 mpg. Even lifted 6 inches, regeared to 4.10, with 35s it averaged atleast 18 mpg and no less that 16 mpg easy. Now with the ULSD, the 7.3 gets about 15 to maybe 16 mpg combined. It's rare if it sees 17 mpg or even 18 mpg.

6.0 trucks were getting 20 mpg on the freeway easy and above average mileage around town. If it weren't for the EGR system on the 6.0, it would have played better with the "dirtier" fuel.

 

Im a big fan of pure gas and have been touting its benefits for a while now. It never ceases to amaze me how many people pay little to no attention to the fuel they put in their vehicle and don't think about its effects.

Not to get off topic, but, you have seen a difference in diesel mileage with the ULSD?

 

You've probably done your due diligence in your search, but just in case....

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

 

Sadly if you live a densely populated area, chances of getting non-ethanol fuel are slim to none, I would have to drive 40+ miles each way to get to the nearest station... Ad one thing I noticed when I was in TN, the stations there that sold real gas, only sold it in premium...

 

I did, in 2008 when ULSD was becoming more and more popular, I purposely went out of my way to a station that I knew still sold 500ppm Low Sulphur Diesel. I spent a little more, but when the truck got a full 2-2.5 mpg better, it was worth it.

 

The stations that sell it here typically sell it at $.75 - $1.00/gal over the ethanol laced equivalent octane, and almost all of it is 87 octane.

I was shocked to find a Shell station selling "87 octane marine fuel" as the code-name for non-ethanol gasoline for an extra $.20/gal. Interestingly, most marine fuel around here is 89 octane.

 

Thanks for that!!! I just found my new places to get gas

 

The old low sulfer diesel was worth 1/2 MPG+ in my semi. When race cars run ethanol they burn almost twice as much as on racing gas. They need larger fuel lines, pumps, and carburetors. The alcohol has less BTU's per gallon, one of the advantages is the large amount of liquid helps cool the combustion chamber. At 5-10% all it does is lean out your fuel mix. That's why small engines can't run it.

 

Amazing how you put 10% ethanol in the gas and you end up with 10% less fuel mileage. (or more) Great policy!

It's very hard to find around here, but I buy it every time I see it while travelling. Gets better mileage every time!

 

I guess we could all move to Alaska. I think all their gas is real..