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Across the Fence:  Is it just me  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 03 2011 : 8:31:38 PM
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or does it seem like the more I pay for gas the faster it leaves the tank? Gas is now about $3.00 a gallon for regular. It seems like it does not last as long and I am filling up more. Why is that? Or is it really? Maybe just a mind thing?
What's gas up to in your neck of the woods?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2011 : 9:11:07 PM
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You know, Kris - I thought it was just me. I have been feeling that way for over a year now. Gas doesn't seem to last as long - you're absolutely right. It's weird. At one point, I actually had asked my husband if he thought someone was breaking into our garage at night and siphoning our gas or something. He just laughed and said no. But we rarely go anywhere and the gas is just burning up when we do actually go out. I am wondering if it has to do with the vehicles' engines or the mix of gas or something? Right now gas is up to $3.09 here for regular, $3.35 for premium. I was watching the CEO from Shell (I think) on the news the other night and he said that by 2012 we could be paying upwards of $5 per gallon. Can you just imagine? - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
Edited by - Ninibini on Jan 03 2011 9:11:34 PM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2011 : 10:34:15 PM
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It might be several factors. Our family drives older cars that weren't designed with Ethanol in mind so I think that can affect mileage and also the "winter" mix is a bit different than the "summer" mix. I live in a town with a refinery and I know one of the chemists that have to test the octane batches. She says after November paying for higher octanes is a waste of money due to the winter mix and that you don't get any more mileage out of it. That was an eye opener for me! Also have you had your fuel filter checked or replaced lately? We had to get ours replaced in our car and saw a big improvement in mileage. That and oil changes and oil filters too.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 04:10:33 AM
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Actually the ethanol mixed with the gasoline is now up to 20 percent and drops your mileage by 5-10 percent. You also will burn more gasoline in colder months due to the engine running richer in the cold air.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 05:12:54 AM
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That is something I never thought about. My hubby changes the oil. I have an Isuzu Trooper I think a 2001. It uses alot of oil. And we live 30 miles from anywhere. I try not to go to town but a few times a week. I plan all my trips so I don't have to go all over while I am out. I go up one side of the road and back the other side so I don't have to zig zag. But I never thought the cold weather would make a car use more gas. I'll have to get my hubby to check the filter next time he's home.
And what about those very high electric bills? Yikes!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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chicken necker
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Sherry
Eastern Shore
Maryland
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 06:26:41 AM
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Thanks for all the advice and info ladies! I've been thinking it was just me also.
FarmGirl Sister #123
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Prairie Gypsy
True Blue Farmgirl
823 Posts
Tammy
Wolford
North Dakota
USA
823 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 06:58:54 AM
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I think they were discussing this on NPR last week. Its the ethinol in the gas causing the issue. The more ethinol the worse gas mileage we get. To test this they did a trip from someplace in California to someplace I think it was in Nevada and used gas with ethinol each fill for the entire trip and then repeated the trip using straight gasoline. There was a huge difference in the amount used. It basically takes more gallons of ethinol to get a mile then it does regular gasoline. Interesting nobody has bothered to tell us about ethinol before.
Farmgirl Sister # 2363
http://twilightburrough.blogspot.com/
Warren, MI
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 07:12:41 AM
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I have noticed some gas pumps that say no ethinol. I guess I will start going to those places.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 08:07:03 AM
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i just love how we all learn new things here. this is an eye opener for me also. so i shall go with ethanol free. thanks kris happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
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Ingrid
True Blue Farmgirl
432 Posts
Ingrid
BC
Canada
432 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 09:49:35 AM
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Search the internet for ways to reduce consumption of gas and there are about 10 common sense ideas. A couple are maintaining tire pressure, accelleration from stop lights and a few others. They actually work.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
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CountryBorn
True Blue Farmgirl
1545 Posts
Mary Jane
New York
USA
1545 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 2:22:45 PM
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I notice it too, I know Ethonal does lower the milage a bit. If you are lucky enough to have a car that will run on pure ethonal or one that you can use either it more than evens out.Here the Ethonal is a lot cheaper, but you do get about 3 miles less per gallon. Plus you can't get it at all stations either. I like the idea of less dependence on regular gas. But I don't have a car that uses anything but that lol!
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
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Lady Woodworker
True Blue Farmgirl
259 Posts
Karen
Chamberlain
Maine
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 2:36:26 PM
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Good to know,
I drive over 200 miles each week. At last look, gas (non-ethanol) was $3.13/gal. in midcoast Maine.
Kristin's method of planning out a trip and trying to avoid turns is a good one. I read that UPS route managers plan their routes so that they make the fewest possible turns -- they also incorporate as few left-hand turns in each route as they can.
Right-hand turns are shorter (in the US) and so help with fuel economy and time management.
Even on a small scale, trip planning can make a big difference, I think.
Thanks to all for these great tips!
Karen
Farmgirl Sister # 2419 |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 6:44:39 PM
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Do you think it might be when they decided to put in ethenol into the unleaded gas. I know it is really bad on the carborator..it makes it get coated with nasty gunk
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 7:35:32 PM
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Alee, did you mean a left hand turn? And I had never thought about that either about making right hand turns causing fewer accidents. It makes sense though. I always hated making left turns. They also take much longer. I am very impatient. I am looking for a gas station without ethinol now. I checked out a few today but they have at least 10%. I did see a station somewhere that said no ethinol but need to remember where now. My daughter said it's usually at smaller stations, not the big chains.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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chick-chick
True Blue Farmgirl
322 Posts
Liz
New Britain
CT
USA
322 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 7:42:33 PM
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Today I paid $3.23 for regular, didn't check the ethinol, I'll keep it in mind for the next fill up.
And I think your right Kris, it does seem like the gas goes alot quicker than it use to.
Liz
In God We Trust |
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JessieMae
True Blue Farmgirl
702 Posts
Jessie
Raleigh
North Carolina
USA
702 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2011 : 8:46:49 PM
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Our local news station just had a segment this evening on rising gas prices; they're expected to hit $5.00 a gallon in 2012. I'm getting a bike!
Jessie Mae
Farmgirl Sisterhood #134 |
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Across the Fence: Is it just me |
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Is it just me
