I've heard and read here that you will get worse mileage in the winter than in the summer. From these discussions I gather this is due to the fuel blend as opposed to perhaps greater air density due to the colder air or some other environmental factor.

I understand that oxygenates are added to improve cold operation emissions and I'm supposing that doing so leaves less room for hydrocarbons per unit of fuel that ends up requiring more fuel. (I think of it as running nitromethane, a much higher fuel air ratio)

So yea, my winter mileage sucks but the one thing that I'm not seeing that I would expect is an above zero (let's say 2-5%) on my short and long term fuel trims. There is no apparent difference between summer and winter operation. Can anyone lend their insight here?

Also, one question for those of us who are a little older here: A guy I work with mentioned this to me and sure enough he seems right. "Gas doesn't smell like it used to does it?" Sure enough, as opposed to that vaporous, ether-like sweet smell, it's now kind of nasty. Anyone else notice this? What has happened throughout the years?

This brings me to another thought, that I think is correct but I might as well ask you all: Some gas (I'm thinking like the Sunoco Blue Gas of yesteryear and UNOCAL 100 pump gas) contains more heat energy per unit and therefore has the potential for greater power. What do you think?

 

Where's Petrol or Masterchief when we need them?

You'd probably have better luck on a specialized (fuel related) site than here.

 

Can you point me in the right direction?

 

I don't know any offhand, but I'm sure there are discussions on the web somewhere. You might try a google search for something like "gasoline forum" or the like.

Good Luck.