... really sucks.

I just took a drive yesterday to go pick up a replacement oven I bought on ebay. My truck had about a 1/4 of a tank of fuel in it that I obviously bought from a NY station. I had a lot of time for the drive, so I decided to set the cruise for 67 and see how well I can do for economy. On the last 1/4 of the tank I saw a significant increase over the typical 16 - 17 on the over head (keep in mind that I know my over head is religiously over by about 2mpg). I saw 20 mpg and was extremely pleased (would be 18mpg).

On my way out the mass pike I had to stop and fill up. I decided to wait to get to MA because their prices are traditionally $0.20 cheaper... as was the case yesterday. Nice treat... it only cost me $127. Anyway, I get back on the highway and set the cruise back to 67. About an hour later I check the overhead and see 24.8mpg!!! Again, I know it's wrong, but even if it's off by 3mpg, I would still be getting almost 22mpg.

I continued the drive, picked up the oven and then decided to take Rt. 9 to Rt 7 over the mountains for my route back. Tougher on the mileage, but about 50 miles shorter. I took it really easy with my foot, but maintained an easy 60mph in the 55 areas. I wasn't blocking traffic, that's for sure. I still got 25.1 on the overhead when I got home.... even over the mountains. I have only seen it as high as 21mpg one time before when I was going 60mph on a long two lane stretch in the summer time.

I was told that NY stations cut their fuel more than other states. I know that NY cuts their gas with up to 10% ethanol, so it goes to say Diesel would be the same... with what... Kero? Regardless, not only are we paying the second or third highest prices for fuel and taxes, but we are also getting cut fuel that significantly reduces our mileage!

I always thought it was my truck's fault that I got lower mileage than what other people have seen. Now I know it's my own state's fault!!! Good thing there is nothing I can really do about it.

 

I've never seen any better mileage with out of state fuel, and all the stations I know of don't cut diesel with anything, Kerosene is just as expensive, and has roughly the same energy output, but a slightly faster burn rate... nothing you'd notice. NY cuts gasoline to a 10% minimum, a few are 12-15%, but not many, and you may notice a slight difference, but it would be less than 1mpg.

Again, you can't blame 2mpg on your fuel. Do you ever run a fuel additive to remove deposits? Howe's seems to work well, as does PS products, give them a shot, you might pick up that lost mileage. Also keep in mind since you live so far north, a lot of stations may still be running winterized fuel, which will cut your mileage more than a bit. Just a thought.

 

I run howes in nearly all my tanks of fuel. I ran it in the tank before this one and when I filled up in MA. No matter what time of year, with our without Howes, I have never seen anything better than 21.3 on the overhead (likely around 19 actual). I never expected 20 mpg on this truck. I just though it was not likely to happen since it was so heavy compared to a quad cab. To even see 25.4 is still a dramatic difference from what I have ever seen in the two years I have owned the truck. Like I said, even if the over head was off by 3mpg, I would still be in the 22mpg range.

Regardless, I will find out when I switch tanks again. By the time I burn this tank full off, the station I fill up at will definitely not be running winter mix.

And BTW, the difference is more than 1mpg for gas. My wife's Honda Pilot can go 425 miles on a tank of gas bought in NY and 500 miles on a tank bought in NJ and places south.

 

When I lived in the Hudson valley I typically got much better fuel mileage than I do with the stuff that I get here in OK (and that goes for about every state). I never noticed a difference between NY fuel or NJ fuel, except for the huge price difference.

Even with the fuel from december in Rochester I still got in the 20's driving ~70