WA State oxygenated fuel levels (winter vs. summer)... Who regulates this?

I have a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid and I've noticed a drastic change in
my fuel econonmy in the winter vs. the summer. See my original thread:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&th=f4a32e69d378ff44&seekm=6c7aa9be.0402100847.5406a4d3%40posting.google.com#link1

I now believe the culprit is the oxygenated fuel that we in WA get
during the Winter. Recently (about 3 weeks ago) I noticed my fuel
economy improve drastically (w/ no change in my driving habits,
routes, or conditions)... I was getting around 33 to 35 MPG during the
winter (late Oct. to April), but I'm now getting 42 to 45MPG.

I'm curious who regulates this (State, Federal... What agency)? I'm
also curious if it is possible to figure out when the winterized
version goes to the pumps and when we return to the summer version?

Many Thanks,
roger

 

I noticed about 20% diference between winter/summer long before oxygenated
fuels.
During Winter you spend those few momments warming the engine up while you
are waiting for the winshield to defog.
The engine takes longer to warm up and run efficiently.
Your electrical accessories tend to be on more (headlights)

 

I don't have much different to say from the first go-round.
A new addition:
2003 Civic Hybrid CVT automatic. San Jose, CA to Benicia, CA.
60mph cruise control, 59.0 miles, 59.0 mpg.
70mph cruise control, 59.0 miles, 52.0 mpg.
http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/Honda_Mileage.htm

I also did a 120 mile run from San Jose to Sacramento, CA
Cruise control at 78mph, some hills, lots of headwind, 42MPG.

In California, I think we are now oxygenated all year. There is a sticker
on the gas pumps that gives the dates that oxygenated fuel is inroduced and
taken away. I don't attribute any difference in mileage to it.

http://www.energy.ca.gov/gasoline/types_of_gasoline.html
Doesn't give definite dates.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg/whereyoulive.htm
doesn't show the reformulated gas being used at all in Washington.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfgecon.htm
speaks to other factors for mileage fluctuations, blaming 1.3% on RFG.

Air Conditioning makes a difference. If you have the defroster on, that
kills the autostop feature, I think.

 

On 27 May 2004 10:43:03 -0700, (roger beniot) wrote:

||I have a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid and I've noticed a drastic change in
||my fuel econonmy in the winter vs. the summer. See my original thread:
||
||http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&th=f4a32e69d378ff44&seekm=6c7aa9be.0402100847.5406a4d3%40posting.google.com#link1
||
||I now believe the culprit is the oxygenated fuel that we in WA get
||during the Winter. Recently (about 3 weeks ago) I noticed my fuel
||economy improve drastically (w/ no change in my driving habits,
||routes, or conditions)... I was getting around 33 to 35 MPG during the
||winter (late Oct. to April), but I'm now getting 42 to 45MPG.

It's true, we have the same stuff in Texas in the "non-attainment" areas - DFW,
Houston, Austin. I think it (MTBE?) is on the way out since it has been
determined that it has some nasty side effects and is actually worse for th
environment than the ill it addresses (which escapes me at the moment). But
the wheels of bureaucracy move slowyly.

||I'm curious who regulates this (State, Federal... What agency)?

Your state EPA, in cahoots with the Federal EPA.
Write a letter
Texas Parts Guy

 

I think it (MTBE?) is on the way out since it has been

MTBE is being phased out in many areas, but the requirement for
oxygenated fuel still stands. Ethanol is the other common oxygenate.

Another story is that as long as your car has an oxygen sensor and it is
running closed loop (most of the time it is, cold starts and full
throttle acceleration are some of the few cases where the system goes
into a fuel enrichment mode) oxygenated fuels does not cause ANY
decrease in CO emissions.

 

The mileage in my DX engine is reduced by about 7% because of the winterized gas. Last winter, after sampling several type of gas
station, it seemed as if Esso returned the best mileage during the winter, but I'll have to wait until next winter to confirm that
assumption. I'm sure some gas company are more liberal with their inferior additives vs others, which can have a noticeable effect on
the fuel sipping econo cars.

Other factor that will effect economy during winter driving:
-heavy winter wheels that have poor rolling resistance.
-bad road condition that can sap the car's rolling momentum
-engine takes longer to reach optimum running temperature. In the winter, My 98 Civic requires about 10 minutes until the car warms up
enough to return optimum mileage. If most of the driving involves short (less then 10 minutes trip), winter mileage is going to be
extremely bad, especially if the car is parked outside, in the cold and requires longer period to warm-up.
-Batteries do not operate as efficiently in cold weather.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch