91 Octane BoosterJuice

"MooseKnuckles" (andyschenk)
12/03/2013 at 10:08 • Filed to: mpg

So I'm seeing a ~5mpg bump.

Last Friday I went to fill up, tank basically on empty, as you can see from my picture I filled up on premo 91 for the price of regular. I was on my way to the casino and unfortunately I used up all my luck at the pumps. *sigh*
And I know, premium isn't going to give my car magic horse powers (I've decided my car runs on 'donkey power' any ways), or give me handies any damn time I please. But it is a pre-Christmas miracle that I coincidentally have seen a ~5mpg increase in efficiency.

The car? 2007 Mazda6S 3.0L Duratec/MZI V6 5-door hatch, 6spd auto

I always clear my trip odometer when I fill the tank, typically I get 375-400miles on the 18gal tank. So about 22-23mpg combined.
Right now my trip odo is at 450km (280miles) and I've used 40L of fuel, 10.5gal. So 27mpg.
Driving habits have not changed, cold starts are around -5*C to 2*C and I let idle a few minutes. Tires are the same and same pressure, still on the same oil change interval, and I did not install an intake cyclone wizzbitch fan!

I have the OBD-II Torque running, and it's telling me the same thing. Sure it may not be exactly accurate (pretty F'n close though), but it is at least showing the same basic increase in fuel sippy-ness.

Conclusion, unicorn jizzed a rainbow in my gas tank.

DISCUSSION (26)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:10

Winter mix low-energy eth gas lol.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:11

I like your conclusion-seems accurate!

All seriousness though. First I wasn't aware the Mazda 6 had a bigger gas tank than my Milan....as they are pretty much the same car, with the same 3.0 V6. Mine is only a 15 gallon tank. On the highway on regular I can typically (when behaving myself) break 28 mpg. What abysmal gas mileage were you getting previously?

Meatcoma > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
12/03/2013 at 10:12

Doesn't that decrease mpg?

MooseKnuckles > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
12/03/2013 at 10:12

should burn less efficient though

CalzoneGolem > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/03/2013 at 10:15

My Taurus has an 18 gallon tank but I've never been able to put more than 16 in it even running 20 miles past 0 range.

Joe_Limon > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:19

Hmm strange it usually takes most ecus a couple tanks before they adjust to the higher octane rating.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:19

Unless you actually calculate the tank it would be tough to accept this as fact. I know for a fact that torque is downright awful at measuring my mpg.

5 mpg is a lot and you aren't even using 93...

Cherry_man1 > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:20

Well then!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CalzoneGolem
12/03/2013 at 10:20

Oh I get mine right to that 15 gallon lol. I've been down to 10 miles on the reader and then put in 14.8 or 14.9 gallons or something.

I love the mileage though, if I lock in cruise control at say 74 mph (like a putz or something) I can even hit 29/30.

MooseKnuckles > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/03/2013 at 10:22

Well it is a 66L, or maybe 64.. Can't remember exactly, my CTS was a 66L. So that's 17.5gal, or thereabouts.

The hatch back might have a different shaped tank? I dunno, this is the hatch, not wagon variant of the 6.

Ha my gas mileage has always been a let down in this car. I don't typically drive very (shifts come in at 2500rpm), and with a pretty solid 50/50 mix of city/highway my combined is 22mpg. Most highway driving is around 105km/hr (65mph). It's right where EPA says it should be, but my comparison is always back to my 3.6L CTS. It was heavier, had 50 more HP, one less gear, and got 28mpg combined.

MooseKnuckles > Cherry_man1
12/03/2013 at 10:23

Indeed! haha

MooseKnuckles > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
12/03/2013 at 10:23

I did, I just filled up again.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:23

I'm saying that was what was probably *in* your tank: higher octane mixes are often less generally effed. Unless you've been seeing the lower mileage for a very long time.

It may even be that typical ethanol content (not even winter mix) in what you normally put in is bad enough year round that a shot of clean premium is night and day. You may also have a knock sensor going wibbly and crying wolf often enough that it's operating on funky timing every time you have cheap gas.

I should also note that Mazda likes their lean mix-design engines, and your engine can get away with more of that on premium - far more.

Cherry_man1 > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:24

Kinja'd!!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Meatcoma
12/03/2013 at 10:25

My suspicion was that that's what he's seen a lot of recently - at least as far as ethanol content goes. A shot of premium non-eth, and the timing system wouldn't even know what to do with itself, it has it so good.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:34

YIKES

Well the hatchback could definitely be changing things. I don't even think that model was offered in the US, haha. Combined my car normally tells me I'm getting about 24 mpg with about the same split for city/highway.

The entire thought process of the EPA recommending a MPH for cars to travel at is idiotic to me. All cars are geared different so 65 mph could be at a higher rpm than 70 making it worse on gas mileage depending on the shift points.

The talk about the 28 combined on the caddy makes me real happy. What year was it? When I run the Milan into the ground at about 200k miles my list of vehicles to consider at that point is looking like ATS/CTS/New Colorado/New Canyon (yes I realize how different those options are lol).

MooseKnuckles > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/03/2013 at 10:47

Was a 2006.. http://plays-with-cars.kinja.com/my-first-car-w…

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

It's funny because my next vehicle is going to be an ATS 2.0T, CTS Coupe, or new Canyon.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 10:59

Wow, you did some nice stuff to it!

Apparently we're the same person.

OR those are the best 3 vehicles on the market for new right now. When I run this thing down to the ground it will be in another 6 years at least. I firmly believe I can get at least 175k out of it. These will all be coming into great used car deals at that point! (I always buy used)

MooseKnuckles > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/03/2013 at 11:07

Then it got wrecked lol.. fuck. Loved that car. I did all the work myself (not that bolting parts on is hard) so it saved money. CTS-V exhaust swap was done without using a lift, I don't think I even used jack stands - I'm only 5'8" 155lbs, I could slide under the car prior to spring drop lol.

I'll probably end up with the Canyon, I bought a 19ft Bayliner real cheap at the end of August so I kinda need something that can tow, other than stealing borrowing my others truck. I have a feeling it will be one of those things where I tell people I'm going to buy the truck then come home with an ATS.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 11:36

Nice! Even if it's just bolt ons...sometimes they aren't just bolt ons if you know what i mean lol.

The Canyon might be a sweet deal for you with that boat. I've always said if you can be patient, the end of August is the best time of the year to buy a boat. I would love to have one. Also, you could get the ATS and a beater truck for towing. early 90's pickup would probably be cheap.

MooseKnuckles > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/03/2013 at 11:51

I was actually thinking that. My dad's company truck is an 2004 ext-cab silverado, they keep offering to replace it with something newer and he says "it's fine". But when he finally does smarten up I may see about buying it from the company. He has had it since new and drives it like the old man he is, always been prompt with maintenance and repairs (company pays, why wait to get repairs done). So it would be a good option.

Picked up the boat with trailer for $850. Hull is in great shape, seats and canvas are good minus a few snaps on the canvas. Needs a marine radio, carpeting is in rough shape, and wiring is pretty weathered, speakers sound like Rice Krispies, nothing major though.. oh it needs an engine, pfft minor detail. Should be able to grab a 90hp for an ok price.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 12:01

Ha that's my problem is I hate outboards. It's really becuase I only understand I/O car motors that have been stuck into boats hahaha.

That truck sounds nice, but you could potentially get even cheaper if you look for a mid 90s. And it would work just fine. In fact, you don't even need a full size for a 19 foot bayliner. You could probably grab an S10 or a Ranger to pull that without any problems.

MooseKnuckles > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/03/2013 at 12:03

S10 ZR2 would be fantastic. But then the whole "cheap truck" idea kind of get's shot out the window a little

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 12:34

I disagree:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/422087…

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/422369…

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/421925…

MooseKnuckles > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/03/2013 at 12:38

daaaamn, the only ZR2 within a 2hr drive of me is going for $9000

actually i never checked for Blazers, there are a couple that are under $3k with 100k miles. hmmm

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > MooseKnuckles
12/03/2013 at 12:52

I just do a search for ZR2, not for pickup or blazer or sonoma or jimmy. Sure you have to weed through 300 POS trackers lol, but you find some good stuff.

I was recommending some of the ZR2s for my brother in law, hes about to get his license and they want to get him a small truck. I was like, small truck and must be a domestic? nothing cooler than a ZR2!