[BIF]

Hee hee, that's a loaded question...allow me to explain my query:

I have noticed that just after I first fill up my tank, my mileage suffers a bit. After I reach the halfway point, my mileage gets better.

Does anybody know just how heavy 87 octane gasoline is? I know gas is lighter than water, which weighs something slightly above 8 pounds per US gallon, right? But I don't know exactly how heavy it is.

Using the approximate weight of water to "guess", let's see...... 8 X 6 gallons = 48 pounds...for a half-tank....it's a guess.

But would it be plausible that a half-tank's worth of weight be a significant factor in terms of fuel economy? Outside of myself at about 220 pounds, I already carry very little in my car during my day-to-day activities...maybe only 15 to 20 pounds of work-related gear, books, files, etcetera. Occasionally, I transport friends...maybe 200 to 400 extra pounds, but typically, those types of trips are short and infrequent (to/from restaurants, etcetera), so I wouldn't expect them to significantly affect my mileage.

I'm wondering if maybe it's possible that as the back of the car (or wherever the gas tank is) gets lighter, maybe my mileage is improving? It sure seems that way to me. I'm down to 2 bars, and my tank mileage is 52.8 MPG (US gallons)! I love this, but it didn't start happening until after the halfway-bar disappeared from my gas guage display.

The way I figure it, it's one of three things:

1) The weight of the gas. A full tank weighs more, hence; requires more energy to drag around?

or..

2) The weight of the gas in the ...er back? of the car. As it gets lighter, the car noses down a bit, making it more aerodynamic?

or..

3) It's completely in my imagination?

So if it's either 1 or 2 above, should I consider maybe only filling my tank to the half-full point each time, so as to get even better mileage than my car is already able to do? I guess I'd have to fill it to the top once in awhile so as to be able to mathematically calculate my mileage. Maybe on a monthly basis?

If it's 3 above, I'm sure I can leave it to you smart folks to set me straight, and I can go back to seeing and hearing things that "go bump" in the night.

Anyhow, this is only supposition...you know, food for thought. I'm not planning to alter my fuelling strategies just yet.

 

[BIF]

Hi, guys:

I usually fill up shortly before I park it for the day, so as to avoid a rush-rush morning. I hate those!

As far as the display, it's actually pretty close to my mathematically-calculated results. I just filled up today, and the screen showed 53.1 MPG, after having just dropped down from 53.2...grrrr! Anyhow, mathematically, I calculated 53.47 MPG. I take part in the GreenHybrid.com "real mileage" database, here:

http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/

Anyhow, I seem to be doing pretty good with only 1600 miles or so on my car. After all, the EPA estimate for overall average is 55 MPG.

But I was curious about the possibility that maybe a full tank could affect gas mileage. I also realize that it could be that my car is gradually getting broken in as I drive through each tank, so maybe what I'm thinking is a "weight" issue is really just the car's behavior as I break it in. After all, I can drive over 500 miles on a tank of gas! (I love saying that! :twisted: )

 

[BIF]

Hi, Robert. Thanks for the try. No, I don't think so.

I drive that first 5 minutes every morning, not just the first morning after filling the tank. My morning drive right after a fillup is usually around 50 MPG (of course, I'm only on my fourth tank now, so it's probably not right for me to say "usually" so soon).

I really did notice my overall mileage hovering around 48 or 49 (with fluctuations) up until one mark below half-full (at about 250 miles or so). At that point, it seemed to easily go up to 53, 54, or thereabouts, and stay there.

I will just try to pay better attention for the next few tanks, and I'll make any relevant notes here in this thread.

 

[BIF]

Robert:

Great idea. I think I will try that, but I will probably wait a tank or two.

Ralph:

Good points. Please keep us posted with your benchmarks! I'm very curious as to your results. It would be nice if somebody who's car is already well broken-in could do a similar benchmark too.