We returned home last night after 5 days soaking up sand and Caribbean-like turquoise water of Bear Lake, Idaho. We picked a fantastic week to go as the weather was darn near perfect. Warm, but not too warm. And night time lows in the 40s - a very pleasant change from the 60 and 70 degree lows which are the norm here at home. Round trip, we traveled 835 miles with camper on the truck and 2000lbs of trailer and ATVs in tow. The V10 (and the tuck in general) never missed a beat and performed flawlessly.

Interesting piece of statistics: the return trip had us driving into a 20-30mph headwind. I filled before we started Home with Chevron gas, 87 octane, 10 percent ethanol. We stopped about half way home to let the kids and dog out, and filled with Flying J gas, 87 octane, 10 percent ethanol. 5 star 87 octane tow tunes loaded for the entire trip. Very similar terrain and driving conditions/speeds. If anything, the head winds on the first half of the trip were a bit stronger. And the tank with Chevron gas gave me 1.5-2.0mpg improvement over a flying J, as verified by hand calculation. And I also had the Torque app running to monitor fuel mileage (and other parameters), and it too showed the difference in mileage.

I don't normally buy Chevron gas but maybe there is something to all the hype? Or maybe I just got an exceptionally good batch of gas at Chevron followed by an exceptionally bad batch at Flying J. We're headed out again next weekend for another 400 mile round trip excursion, and I'll have to try the Chevron stuff again. Its usually .10-.20 more per gallon around me but a 2mpg difference would EASILY offset the price difference.

Anyone else here normally get THIS much of a mileage improvement with Chevron (or any other brand, for that matter)?

 

I have a mid/low 10 second NA pump gas bracket mustang...it makes the most power on Chevron. I've never tested it in the truck but we're going camping next week so seems like a good opportunity to test.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

And when you say it makes the most power on Chevron, I assume your metric is elapsed run times? What kind of time differentials have you observed, and on what brands of gasoline?

 

I have had improvements running Chevron gas.

 

Generally trap speed is an indicator of power. It's been many years since that discovery was made so I don't recall the difference and it being a bracket car I don't deviate anymore on fuel.

My brother in law manages a large truck stop, they don't sell 'good' fuel as he puts it. You maybe seeing a best/worse case scenario being played out.

 

This is exactly what I see with my 2008 V10 F350 4x4. Chevron and Shell seem the best. Costco gas, Arco and any cheap no-name stuff I suffer power and mileage.

 

This is an interesting comment. I've read previously that pretty much all gasoline comes from the same pipe, and that the only difference is the detergents that are mixed with the gas before it goes into a station's storage tanks. Your comments seem to indicate otherwise. Any chance you bro-in-law could clarify? Does he actually have a choice to purchase bulk "no name brand" vs. Chevron/Shell refined gasoline?

I have a hard time believing that 1.5-2.0mpg difference is due to detergents only.

 

That's mostly true, I don't think the additive package is added on site though. I think QT is the only one that doesn't pull theirs from the major pipe. Chevron has long had the best package and charge accordingly.