In MN we do have a winter blended fuel. It's called ethanol. It's a required 10% blend in winter, added as an oxygenate. Some stations run it all year, but ...

In MN we do have a winter blended fuel. It's called ethanol. It's a required 10% blend in winter, added as an oxygenate. Some stations run it all year, but but not all. I blame that on part of the MPG decrease. MN used to use MTBE (Methyl tertiary butyl ester) as an oxygenate, but quit using it due to environmental and health concerns, along with pressure from the ethanol/corn lobby.

Side note about MTBE from wikipedia: MTBE is a gasoline additive, used as an oxygenate and to raise the octane number, although its use has declined in the United States in response to environmental and health concerns. It has been found to easily pollute large quantities of groundwater when gasoline with MTBE is spilled or leaked at gas stations.

I wasnt aware of that, I know out here we have always had ethonal year round.

Without getting too far off topic....
Each state is allowed to set their own standards and requirements for fuel. California is typically the most stringent. For major oil companies, having to track and produce gas to the requirements of 50 unique states adds cost. If we could get to a national fuel requirement -- or even regional, gas would certainly cost less.

In the summer gas expands, notice your plastic gas can. In the winter it doesnt, it contracts and burns more, thus more consumption.

Hey dude! Ask your Grandpa about RVP!

markhoh3 wrote:In the summer gas expands, notice your plastic gas can. In the winter it doesnt, it contracts and burns more, thus more consumption.

Hi, markhoh3,
I see where you could be coming from on this, but I don't think this is accurate. My Physics knowledge is not what it used to be, but there is a flaw in your theory. Just because the fuel is more dense, does not mean there would be more consumption...at least I do not think so.
I think it ties into what lzn197 is referring to, with regard to relative vapor pressures. This might be a fun discussion in our off-topic forum.
More on subject, I think the additional parasitic drag from all of the extra electrical, along with the colder fluids combined with the fuel types is what causes the mileage drop.

I agree. I used to live in Alaska. I remember having my rear diff freeze... heck even just checking the power steering fluid looked like paste glue on a stick until my truck had been running for a long time. lol

If living in a cold region... switching to synthetics has a huge plus because the synthetic oil is runnier in colder temps(each type is different). Less resistance= better fuel economy. Friction differences aside.

I also suspect that the air going into your engine is dramatically denser in winter... so your engine has to accomidate by adding more fuel. Also, maybe the fuel probably does not atomize/blend as well in the cold?

It does little good to worry about things we cannot control.

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