Shell V-Power test

[Rick Rae]

Third random regular segment complete in cycle three; 34.59MPG over 324 miles.

Rick

[Rick Rae]

Fourth random regular segment complete in cycle three; 32.77MPG over 353 miles.

Rick

[Rick Rae]

Fifth and final random regular tank complete; 33.28MPG over 323 miles. Refilled with Shell V-Power.

Cumulative results:

Shell V-Power: 3400 miles and 100.074 gallons at 33.97 MPG.
Shell Mid-Grade: 3453 miles and 102.555 gallons at 33.67 MPG.
Shell Regular: 3485 miles and 104.52 gallons at 33.34 MPG.
Random Regular: 4953 miles and 147.986 gallons at 33.47 MPG.

Capsule summary, using five fills for each section (dates are dates of fills):

01/25 - 02/14 Random Regular: 1643 miles and 49.443 gallons at 33.23 MPG.
12/14 - 01/19 Shell Regular: 1798 miles and 54.83 gallons at 32.79 MPG.
11/20 - 12/11 Shell Mid-Grade: 1789 miles and 54.295 gallons at 32.95 MPG.
10/22 - 11/15 Shell V-Power: 1823 miles and 54.774 gallons at 33.28 MPG.
09/26 - 10/17 Random Regular: 1871 miles and 54.413 gallons at 34.39 MPG.
08/29 - 09/20 Shell Regular: 1687 miles and 49.69 gallons at 33.94 MPG.
08/06 - 08/27 Shell Mid-Grade: 1664 miles and 48.26 gallons at 34.48 MPG.
07/06 - 07/31 Shell V-Power: 1577 miles and 45.30 gallons at 34.81 MPG.
06/11 - 06/30 Random Regular: 1439 miles and 44.13 gallons at 32.61 MPG.

Rick

[Rick Rae]

First Shell V-Power segment complete in cycle three; 31.66MPG over 339 miles.

Due to scheduling constraints I was forced to make several high-speed (70MPH) runs during this tank, and also had an unusual amount of city driving.

Rick

[Rick Rae]

Second Shell V-Power segment complete in cycle three; 32.33MPG over 370 miles.

Rick

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Nice testing, looking like it doesn't do much for your car so far.

I've found some cars are hugely gas sensitive. For example the terrible Tempo I am partly responsible for, and have driven a lot, I find absolutely loves Sunoco, and hates practically everything else. Difference is quite marked, it chugs and splutters on several other brands, and gets low-mid 20s, but on Sunoco gets high 20s and has been in the 30s. Then Marvin used to like the Canadian Tire gas best, difference with other brands wasn't quite as drastic, just 1 sometimes 2 mpg, but during his layup period, something changed, and he doesn't seem so happy with it any more. He didn't like Shell at all recently, actually started pinging. Seems happier on Esso at the moment, but don't have reliable numbers for him. ($20 as I can afford it part fills). Wile-E the Escort, never much liked Sunoco, but seemed happy with just about anything else, though didn't seem quite so good on Canadian Tire gas, maybe that was when it changed, I was driving Wile-E while Marvin was laid up.

Also back in the 90s in the UK, my car of the time had a marked preference for "Elf" who were the supplier for the F1 Williams-Renault team of the time, could squeeze 40mpg imperial out of tank of that, whereas other gas would give me 35ish.

Also found that Marvin seemed to have a 3-5% gain on 89 octane, but since price difference can be 5-8% I tended not to bother.

re the Tempo, Sunoco has I think the highest ethanol proportion up here, with seeing other folks getting high 30s on part fills of E85 in tempos, I'll have to see if we can find some of that to try.

[Rick Rae]

Third Shell V-Power segment complete in cycle three; 32.82MPG over 382 miles.

Rick

[KrazyDawg]

I don't know if this already mentioned but another factor that may affect your results is whether the gas station uses any blend of ethanol in it. I know some states already mandate 10% ethanol.

[8307c4]

No doubt about it, more expensive name brand gasolines tend to be cleaner.
Most are refined one extra step, but also the fewer the folks that buy it the less contamination in the underground tank (in the form of floating sediments from the tanker truck that stops by {more often at busy stations, less so at the more expensive one}).

I also believe on a VW premium is required (doesn't mean you can't run regular, but it's made for premium). Read your Owner's manual, my old Golf always took premium.

[KrazyDawg]

The Shell gas station near me isn't excessive on pricing. It was $3.559 when I filled up and Costco was charging $3.519 There's a note on the pump which states the fuel may contain up to 10% ethanol and to see the store for more details. I don't think they have any since I haven't taken a drastic hit on mileage.