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A puzzle for fuel efficiency wonks

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  • #1

    A puzzle for fuel efficiency wonks

    On the afternoon of July 3 I drove out of Aspen, CO heading for Highland, UT. I filled the tank on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler twice - once in Glenwood Springs just 30 minutes outside of Aspen and once more further on.

    I arrived in Highland that night with a tank almost on empty.

    On the afternoon of July 9 I drove out of Highland, UT heading for Aspen CO. I filled the tank once in AF then again in Grand Junction. I arrived in Aspen last night with over a half tank of gas.

    The drive out to UT from CO used a full half tank of gas more than the drive back, going the exact same distance on the same route.

    Why?

    (I don't actually know, but I've got a couple of ideas).
    Ute-ī sunt fīmī differtī

    It can't all be wedding cake.
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  • #2
    Originally posted by oxcoug View Post
    On the afternoon of July 3 I drove out of Aspen, CO heading for Highland, UT. I filled the tank on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler twice - once in Glenwood Springs just 30 minutes outside of Aspen and once more further on.

    I arrived in Highland that night with a tank almost on empty.

    On the afternoon of July 9 I drove out of Highland, UT heading for Aspen CO. I filled the tank once in AF then again in Grand Junction. I arrived in Aspen last night with over a half tank of gas.

    The drive out to UT from CO used a full half tank of gas more than the drive back, going the exact same distance on the same route.

    Why?

    (I don't actually know, but I've got a couple of ideas).
    There are too many variables to say. Quality of gasoline/ethanol content, driving style, speed, etc.
    Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.

    "Cog dis is a bitch." -James Patterson

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    • #3
      Do you have any enemies? Who would have siphoned your gas?

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      • #4
        It's a Jeep.
        I'm your huckleberry.


        "I love pulling the bone. Really though, what guy doesn't?" - CJF

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        • #5
          Elevation change. Driving from cedar city to St. George uses 0.86 gallons of gas, but going from St. George to Cedar City uses 1.92 gallons of gas
          Last edited by Jarid in Cedar; 07-10-2012, 09:59 AM.
          "The first thing I learned upon becoming a head coach after fifteen years as an assistant was the enormous difference between making a suggestion and making a decision."

          "They talk about the economy this year. Hey, my hairline is in recession, my waistline is in inflation. Altogether, I'm in a depression."

          "I like to bike. I could beat Lance Armstrong, only because he couldn't pass me if he was behind me."

          -Rick Majerus

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          • #6
            Utah sells that shitty 85 octane gas. Wind can cut your fuel efficiency down pretty severely in a car like that. Also the elevation change, aren't you going over some pretty high passes going into Colorado?
            Part of it is based on academic grounds. Among major conferences, the Pac-10 is the best academically, largely because of Stanford, Cal and UCLA. “Colorado is on a par with Oregon,” he said. “Utah isn’t even in the picture.”

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            • #7
              Originally posted by The Notorious J.I.C. View Post
              Elevation change. Driving from cedar city to St. George uses 0.86 gallons of gas, but going from St. George to Cedar City uses 1.92 gallons of gas
              Didn't he get better gas mileage going from Highland (4977ft) to Aspen (7890 ft)?

              Colorado also sells crappy 85 octane gas.

              My guess would be driving style (speed) and wind. I'd assume the wind is moving east, at least it would average that direction over a long drive. It's like the wind in north Texas also blows north up into hurricane alley.

              But GM is right, too many variables. Speed, driving style, weather, gas, cargo, passengers, tire pressure, windows down/up, stuff on roof rack, etc.
              "Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. Uchtdorf

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Moliere View Post
                Didn't he get better gas mileage going from Highland (4977ft) to Aspen (7890 ft)?

                Colorado also sells crappy 85 octane gas.

                My guess would be driving style (speed) and wind. I'd assume the wind is moving east, at least it would average that direction over a long drive. It's like the wind in north Texas also blows north up into hurricane alley.

                But GM is right, too many variables. Speed, driving style, weather, gas, cargo, passengers, tire pressure, windows down/up, stuff on roof rack, etc.
                Hadn't thought of the wind - but I think you're right - I remember the car really getting buffeted on the way out but not the way back. That is probably especially high impact in a Jeep with its awful aerodynamics.

                The other big variable, I think, was air conditioning - it was a scorching 95-100 degrees all the way over and much milder going back. I had the AC full blast all the way out, and only on low coming back.

                Hadn't thought of the wind though.
                Ute-ī sunt fīmī differtī

                It can't all be wedding cake.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by oxcoug View Post
                  Hadn't thought of the wind - but I think you're right - I remember the car really getting buffeted on the way out but not the way back. That is probably especially high impact in a Jeep with its awful aerodynamics.

                  The other big variable, I think, was air conditioning - it was a scorching 95-100 degrees all the way over and much milder going back. I had the AC full blast all the way out, and only on low coming back.

                  Hadn't thought of the wind though.
                  The stretch between Mesquite, NV and Las Vegas, NV quite frequently has quite a bit of wind. I have a fuel mileage meter on my car and I will literally average something like 23-24 MPG when I'm going against the wind. From St. George to SLC, I averaged 30.5 MPG (and that included a change in elevation, from lower to higher) and there was either no wind or a slight breeze at my back.

                  Mind you, the stretch I described (more accurately it's the stretch between emerging from the Virgin River gorge) often has some very strong wind, but it seems to make a big difference for me.
                  Part of it is based on academic grounds. Among major conferences, the Pac-10 is the best academically, largely because of Stanford, Cal and UCLA. “Colorado is on a par with Oregon,” he said. “Utah isn’t even in the picture.”

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by oxcoug View Post
                    Hadn't thought of the wind - but I think you're right - I remember the car really getting buffeted on the way out but not the way back. That is probably especially high impact in a Jeep with its awful aerodynamics.

                    The other big variable, I think, was air conditioning - it was a scorching 95-100 degrees all the way over and much milder going back. I had the AC full blast all the way out, and only on low coming back.

                    Hadn't thought of the wind though.
                    Wind is a killer on 287 in Texas. Going north I can get over 20 mpg in my suburban but coming back south it usually drops to 15 mpg or even lower. Sometimes I wish Oklahoma would stop sucking once in a while so the northern winds would stop on my way back to Houston. Cars are most fuel efficient around 55-60 mph since after that point wind (and probably higher rpms?) start to reduce the mpgs.

                    I once had a tailwind while traveling from Oregon to SLC (on I-84) and I got over 50mpg in an old Mercury Cougar. It was a pretty massive tailwind all the way through Idaho.
                    "Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. Uchtdorf

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                    • #11
                      Utah sells that shitty 85 octane gas.
                      Colorado also sells crappy 85 octane gas.
                      Octane has nothing to do with the quality of gas. I love the 85 octane. I get better gas milage on my carburated motorcycle with the lower gas.

                      It isn't good for newer, higher compression engines, but that is why they sell 87 and 91 octane gas.

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                      • #12
                        Perhaps the evil spirits PAC suggested are haunting more than just one western highway.
                        "It's true that everything happens for a reason. Just remember that sometimes that reason is that you did something really, really, stupid."

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