Extreme gas mileage using non ethanol fuel

[Triangle6887]

I'm surprised you only get <320 range. I often was able to get about 380, and that was with my beefier tires. I usually gassed up with 10% ethanol 89 octane because I felt the vehicle was more responsive and smoother running on a higher octane, but I couldn't find a difference between mid and premium (92 in Oregon). I deferred to filling with mid because it was cheaper and felt like it performed the same.

Best mileage I ever got in my EB Mav was about 36.5 MPG. The conditions were as optimal as possible. The weather was perfect so I didn't have climate control on, I was cruise controlled at like 67 mph, there was a slight tail wind of like 5 mph pushing me, and the highway I was driving on had a very gradual decline over the 100+ mile drive (I started at 1000ft in elevation and ended at ~500ft).

Just my experience.

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[Mavster Mechanic]

ppl

I live in Utah, Maverick's 88 octane is actually E15. They do have pure gas sometimes but its always at least as much as the 91 octane. Maybe hes using nitro card points or something

Ah... the E15 wildcard.... yes, one would expect a larger delta in MPG with E15.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

35 cents a gallon more for "clear gas" is a smaller delta in price than most of the country. You are lucky there.

You need to compare apples to apples and keep elevation based octane modification out of the equation when comparing pricing.

85 is really 87 equivalent.
88 is really 90.
91 is really 93.

Your naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle with low net compression will not need premium or mid-grade under any circumstance. Your manual is vague and misleading, and I know it scares some people.

It's crazy that there were more than 50 different blends of gasoline used in the USA in 2013, the last time I looked into it. None of them will harm your engine. Will you get better MPG from some? Absolutely yes.

Lower compression engines like the HYBRID run well on the lowest octane available. This does not apply to turbocharged engines like the EcoBoost. Your hybrid manual is misleading because is does not mention that the valves stay open for part of the compression stroke, reducing the 13:1 used in the power stroke to a modest 9:1 or so in the compression stroke. (The exact compression ratio of the hybrid is unpublished leading some to call it variable.)

 

[kevinmccune]

So I usually get about 300 to 320 miles per tank. I do mostly highway driving. Get about 26mpg But I decided to conduct a little experiment, me and the family went to the newest buc-ees in ohio and I decided to fill up with their ethanol free gas
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I got almost 445 miles out of that tank of gas. So if anybody is considering does non ethanol fuel really make a difference? Yes, yes, it makes that much of a difference. And I have repeated it with consecutive results.. Just a FYI for anybody who is considering it. It's worth the extra dollar on fill up per gallon
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[kevinmccune]

ppl

Ah... the E15 wildcard.... yes, one would expect a larger delta in MPG with E15.

I used to persue efree gas religiously,after working through that pita scenario it made so little differnce as to be not worth the trouble( don't even use it in my small engines-the trick on small engines is run the engine completly dry before storage so the crappy rubber parts will not swell up,remember you are not running pure ethanol and believe it or not alcohol does have a calorie or btu content,you probably lose something like 2-3 percent running e10 btw most premium fuel contains a certain amount of ethanol to boost octane.( funny fact-the funny smell on interstate these days is burnt alcohol.

 

[kevinmccune]

35 cents a gallon more for "clear gas" is a smaller delta in price than most of the country. You are lucky there.

You need to compare apples to apples and keep elevation based octane modification out of the equation when comparing pricing.

85 is really 87 equivalent.
88 is really 90.
91 is really 93.
Atkinson"
Your naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle with low net compression will not need premium or mid-grade under any circumstance. Your manual is vague and misleading, and I know it scares some people.

It's crazy that there were more than 50 different blends of gasoline used in the USA in 2013, the last time I looked into it. None of them will harm your engine. Will you get better MPG from some? Absolutely yes.

Lower compression engines like the HYBRID run well on the lowest octane available. This does not apply to turbocharged engines like the EcoBoost. Your hybrid manual is misleading because is does not mention that the valves stay open for part of the compression stroke, reducing the 13:1 used in the power stroke to a modest 9:1 or so in the compression stroke. (The exact compression ratio of the hybrid is unpublished leading some to call it variable.)

people misunderstand the genius of the " Atkinson" cycle engine,due to its dynamic you actually get a longer "push" on the power stroke.

 

[Pknopp]

For whatever reason non ethanol gas is only a small amount more in the west as opposed to the east.

My daughter lived in Stillwater OK......non ethanol was available at all stations and rarely available back east.

It was very little difference in price. I'd always fill up with it when out there and yes, it made a difference.

 

[ZABSMAV]

people misunderstand the genius of the " Atkinson" cycle engine,due to its dynamic you actually get a longer "push" on the power stroke.

Ford recommends a minimum of 87-octane regular unleaded fuel for the Maverick Hybrid. They say that for optimal engine performance, maximum fuel economy, or during hot weather and towing, Ford recommends 91-octane or higher.

In many high-altitude regions of Utah, where we live, and travel frequently, the lowest regular grade fuel is sold at 85 octane rather than 87. Ford calls for mininum octane of at least 87 octane. Using 85 octane regular in a fuel-injected engine at higher elevations (7,000 ft.-9,000 ft., as is common in passes in Utah) may result in reduced performance and possible engine knocking.

 

[ZABSMAV]

For whatever reason non ethanol gas is only a small amount more in the west as opposed to the east.

My daughter lived in Stillwater OK......non ethanol was available at all stations and rarely available back east.

It was very little difference in price. I'd always fill up with it when out there and yes, it made a difference.

Comparing apples to apples, the price difference from 87 octane mid-grade regular gasoline with ethanol to the 88 octane ethanol-free Maverik Clear Gas is only 10 cents. I don't know how someone says it is 35 cents more. I would never run 85 octane in our Maverick. The octane rating is printed right on the pump.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Comparing apples to apples, the price difference from 87 octane mid-grade regular gasoline with ethanol to the 88 octane ethanol-free Maverik Clear Gas is only 10 cents. I don't know how someone says it is 35 cents more. I would never run 85 octane in our Maverick. The octane rating is printed right on the pump.

Because Ford is covering their ass not yours.

For 15 years I lived in Denver and owned an Escape Hybrid 2005 to 2019.
Same setup as the Maverick.
Ran 85 octane almost exclusively for 259,000 trouble-free miles. No knocking ever in an Atkinson engine. Even when towing up I-70 to the Eisenhower tunnel on a 90°F day.
Even when towing a OHV up hwy 5O between Durango, Silverton, Ouray, and beyond. Always lowest cost 85 Octane.
Which by nature performs just like 87 when at high elevations.

I know a thing or two because I've seen and done it. And what incentive do I have to steer you wrong?

Ford recommends you keep 87 in the tank because with the 700 mile range of the Hybrid you could fill up with 85 octane in Colorado Springs and drive on that to Texas. Still, very low risk and I probably did it a couple of times.

 

[Pknopp]

Comparing apples to apples, the price difference from 87 octane mid-grade regular gasoline with ethanol to the 88 octane ethanol-free Maverik Clear Gas is only 10 cents. I don't know how someone says it is 35 cents more. I would never run 85 octane in our Maverick. The octane rating is printed right on the pump.

what I purchased in Oklahoma wasn't 85 octane.

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