Moving Your Car to Colorado (Highlands Ranch, Littleton: living in, moving to, cars)

[ThaiLagoon1]

I've been in Colorado for almost 2 months and I did bring my 98 isuzu rodeo with me. Back in new york I was used to filling up my tank with 87 octane, while here in Colorado in the Littleton/Highlands Ranch area there is only 85 octane. I had a full tank of 87 octane and my car ran pretty sluggish as if it' s using more power to get up to normal speed. Once it was down to half a tank, I decided to top up with the 87 octane at conoco station. I noticed i was only getting 11 mpgs, when I should be getting at least 15 mpg from my rodeo. I had my rodeo checked out and tuned up before moving to colorado. I also bought 4 new tires and increased tire pressure to 36 psi from a suggested 26psi. I was also told to run my tank to empty then at the next fill up (last week) to put bg44k into my gas tank. I wonder if it could it be the altitude and different octane gas thats caused this issue? Has anyone has issies like this when bringing your auto to Colorado from out of state?

[Bideshi]

Yes the altitude causes big power loss. It's not the lower octane, in fact the lower octane helps restore some power at higher altitude.

[ThaiLagoon1]

Originally Posted by Bideshi

Yes the altitude causes big power loss. It's not the lower octane, in fact the lower octane helps restore some power at higher altitude.

I guess I shouldve used up all my 87 octane before topping up. We shall see if anything improves at my next refill

[Garthur]

Altitude can seriously decrease performance no mater what fuel is in the tank.

[ThaiLagoon1]

Originally Posted by Garthur

Altitude can seriously decrease performance no mater what fuel is in the tank.

So are the new cars that are sold at dealerships in colorado specially built for the altitude? Or are they the same cars that are sold in NY, TX NJ or anywhere else in the country?

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by ThaiLagoon1

So are the new cars that are sold at dealerships in Colorado specially built for the altitude? Or are they the same cars that are sold in NY, TX NJ or anywhere else in the country?

Same

[ca-ut-??]

I've noticed that too, our cars always drive better when we visit families in CA

[davemess10]

Originally Posted by ca-ut-??

I've noticed that too, our cars always drive better when we visit families in CA

I've had the opposite. I could get great mileage when I was driving the mountain passes and high roads in CO. I would use the 85 octane and have a tiny little 1.6 liter engine. I could get up to 40 mpg. Now, back at see level, with 87 octane we don't ever get close to that kind of mileage.

[cowboyxjon]

It's the altitude. My vehicle is a lot 'peppier' at lower elevations as well.

[ThaiLagoon1]

Originally Posted by cowboyxjon

It's the altitude. My vehicle is a lot 'peppier' at lower elevations as well.

So if you drive a v6 car in new york. You would need to have a v8 or v12 living in colorado to get the same performance or power as the owner of the v6 in another state?