Fuel Range difference

goeb34 · January 28, 2020

I can fill up at a Shell gas station ($70/23gals roughly) and get 400+ miles. But when i fill up at Sams club ($60/23gals roughly) its way less. Pictures taken right after filling up at the pump. Anyone have something similar happen? [ IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200128/7c455724876afdaf17d1e424a27592df.jpg[/img]

Mike GMC · January 28, 2020

The only things that's based on is tank level and recent mpg. So either the pump at Sam's is shutting off early, or your recent mpg has been lower. Or possibly a combination of both.

lonestardiver · January 28, 2020

I have stopped buying gas at costco since I don’t get the same range out of a tank of gas there as I would get eith gas purchased elsewhere. It is almost like there is a higher ethanol content. As far as the quantity of fuel, I suggest you contact your state entity that certifies the pump is measuring the volume correctly and provide your information with time/date stamps on the image to correspond with your receipt.

m3n00b · January 28, 2020

That number means absolutely nothing. What are you actually getting out of a tank? Have you measured your mpg by diving your mileage by the number of gallons you filled up with?

MaverickZ71 · January 28, 2020

1) Never trust the fuel mileage or range remaining as shown in the Driver Info Center screen unless it agrees with your own calculations.

2) The ethanol content in the fuel (straight gasoline vs E10 or E15) will affect your range and mpg.

aseibel · January 28, 2020

"Fuel range" is only an estimate at best.'

Compare your actual measured results after burning the tank to see if it was correct.

Ozer · January 28, 2020

Like it was said, the new range you get after filling up is based on number of gallons and the last avg MPG you got i believe so if you filled up after driving around the city vs filling up during a highway trip, it will show different ranges. Hand calculated is the only real way to know for sure, or use a fuel app to keep track.

Grumpy Bear · January 28, 2020

2 hours ago, goeb34 said:

I can fill up at a Shell gas station ($70/23gals roughly) and get 400+ miles. But when i fill up at Sams club ($60/23gals roughly) its way less. Pictures taken right after filling up at the pump. Anyone have something similar happen?

So both times the fill is 23 gallons, roughly. And you save $10 per fill. I'm not seeing the problem. Your saving 14% per tank.

As you say "I can" fill up it suggest this is your routine to fill at 23 gallons. Is the number of miles driven to consume that amount of full significantly lower using Costco gas? Significant would be, based on price, more than 14% fewer miles. Are you saying Costco gives more than 14% worse fuel mileage?

One thing I love about filling at Costco is you're NEVER going to get stale gas.

Donstar · January 30, 2020

Sometimes lower price doesn't translate to inferior quality. I avoid the less popular or econo gas bars but I trust the gas (and most other products) sold by Costco. The constant line-ups at their pumps assures me that my fuel will be fresh! BTW -They only sell "top tier" gas.

L86 All Terrain · January 30, 2020

Just because a fuel place moves a lot of gas doesn't mean its the freshest and cleanest. All depends on the condition of the underground or above ground tanks, empty, old and rusty, water intrusion. I worked at a fuelling station when I was a wee lad in high school. They were above ground tanks and they would sell a lot, but they never refilled the storage tanks until there was less than 1m of fuel left on a 10m tank. What happens to a large steel tank that is mostly empty in the winter? Condensation. They had a number of complaints with our furnace fuel gelling in people house tanks, even though it was a winter fuel mix. Gasoline can take a bit of moisture better than diesel. Underground tanks if not installed in clean crushed rock, can have potential water seepage problems if the ground above them is not paved. No real way to be sure of quality besides 3rd party testing.

dieselfan1 · January 30, 2020

I'd be willing to bet the Shell gas, besides being top tier, most likely contains just 10% ethanol.
The Gas at Sam's and Costco is not top tier as far as I know but I could be wrong. Also they probably contain 15% ethanol. That's where your gas mileage is taking a hit. What do you guys think?

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newdude · January 30, 2020

I would actually hand calculate a tank from each place. Use as consistent of a driving habit as possible for each tank and then evaluate from there. If the Shell gets better MPGs, then it could be a higher quality fuel (top tier/better detergents, less ethanol, etc.).

Grumpy Bear · January 31, 2020

19 hours ago, dieselfan1 said:

I'd be willing to bet the Shell gas, besides being top tier, most likely contains just 10% ethanol.
The Gas at Sam's and Costco is not top tier as far as I know but I could be wrong. Also they probably contain 15% ethanol. That's where your gas mileage is taking a hit. What do you guys think?

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Since you asked; Costco, it is top tier and it is E-10. Our local station is less than a year old and moves tank-wagons of fuel....a day. Fresh as a diasy. Gasoline is a chemically defined substance and under federal control six ways to Sunday. Even additive levels and types are under federal control. Top Tier just means it test above the federal minimum. Which by the way is more than enough.

Pump labling is controled by several agencies. Alcohol content, or lack of, must be on the pump and cannot exceed that lables content. Fact is, it never actaully meets the labled number. ATF makes sure of that. E-10 is actually 9% and E-15 is 14%.

Summer/Winter blends differ in BTU content by 1.5% and as such that is the maxium difference in MPG you could experience base on chemistry of the gasoline.

swathdiver · January 31, 2020

On 1/28/2020 at 9:35 AM, goeb34 said:

I can fill up at a Shell gas station ($70/23gals roughly) and get 400+ miles. But when i fill up at Sams club ($60/23gals roughly) its way less.

How many cents a mile does it cost to burn Shell and Sam's Club?

Consider these two examples:

Chevron's 93 octane at $2.95 PPG delivers 17.46 MPG. This fuel costs seventeen cents a mile to burn.

Sunoco's Ethanol blend at $2.38 PPG delivers 16.46 MPG. This fuel costs fourteen cents a mile to burn.

Which is more efficient? Which is more cost effective?

Sam's Club is not Top-Tier rated but that does not mean that the fuel is not Top-Tier. We've seen fuel receipts from Chevron and Mobil supplying them their fuel with no difference in performance between going to a Mobil or Chevron and the Sam's Club with that fuel.