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It could just be from random variation in driving conditions/temperature between your test tanks. You would likely have to repeat the test numerous times with both Canadian and American gas.
If the test results continued to show higher mileage with the US sourced gas, then it would likely be some difference in the mix/blend of the gas. Whatever chemicals each country/region is using in the gas causing variation.
Your Buffalo gas will vary depending on the time of year, simply due to differences between our "summer" blend and "winter" blend. I do not know if Ontario has different blends mandated for the time of year either.
Essentially, way too many variables to know for sure.
Without a careful measure of how much fuel you're using, how many miles you're going, and the conditions, and repeating it numerous times it's impossible to draw any valid conclusions.
Same gas but I think it is because gravity is 13 meters/(sec*sec) in Canada and only 9.8 here so there is more drag and friction and the MPG is proportionately less.
Good point CtC! Physiks surrounds us (as does the ether) and we ignore it only at our deepest peril!
To whit, I thought this thread was aboot this type of ghas:
Without a careful measure of how much fuel you're using, how many miles you're going, and the conditions, and repeating it numerous times it's impossible to draw any valid conclusions.
We have been doing this trip for 5 years, probably 7 to 10 times a year.
The amount of driving we do at the cottage is negligible (5 miles total) before we come back home.
The trip to the cottage and back, is 310 miles. To get there we go up Airport Road which is very hilly, and we come back the same way. We always get a full tank of gas before we leave home - filling up at home or we go over the border. The tank is then full - 15 gallons according to my Buffalo receipts.
The times we have filled up in Buffalo, we always get back home without having to refill. The times we have filled up in Canada, the tank is empty around the time we're halfway home which is about 230 to 240 miles into the whole round trip of 310 miles.
It was only this past summer when we finally decided to see if it was our imagination, and take notes, and carefully empty the tank before filling, etc, because for the past 5 years of living in a border town, it always felt like the US gas lasted forever. Then we really began to notice it on long trips.
Are you gaining or losing any altitude in the trip? You get better mileage going downhill.
Another anomoly is that the particular stations you use, if there is just one in the US and one in Canada, may be laid out such that your car is more or less level in one or the other, so you don't get the same amount of gas in the car one place or the other.
Final point is that "E10" fuel can vary considerably in ethanol content, more ethanol means worse MPG.
I've noticed for years now, that if I fill up across the border in Buffalo, the gas seems to last a really long time. During the summer we tested it a couple of times. A full tank of US gas took us all the way to the cottage and back home. A full tank of Canadian gas did not. We had to stop and fill up about 90 mins before getting home.
So I estimate we get 20 miles per gallon on US fuel and only 15 miles per gallon on Canadian. A secondary benefit is that it cost only $60 to fill it in the US, and $85 in Canada.
But why does American gasoline last longer?
(2nd paragraph)...........why are you estimating ?
(2nd paragraph)...........why are you estimating ?
miles driven divided by gallons used =MPG
You're right, I should have used the word "calculating." I'm getting this number by dividing 15 gallons into 310 miles. But that's actually understating it/underestimating it though because the tank isn't bone dry when we pull back into the driveway. There's more than enough left in it to get to a gas station.
So although my numbers aren't exact, I do know that the Canadian gas doesn't get me all the way home, and the US gas does.
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