Gas Mileage USA vs Canada (2 Viewers)

[Chris Kovash]

I just got back from a trip to Banff with my adventure setup and was surprised by a gas mileage difference between fuel in Canada and the US. I get a max of about 12.7 mpg with the setup pictured in the US, but from the very first fill up that mileage went up to 14-15 mpg in Canada. Upon returning to Idaho, my gas mileage went right back down. Has anyone else had this happen? The only thing I can think of is a difference in fuel. I even tried premium grade US fuel but no change from my normal. I was using regular in Canada. Same octane, same type, no ethanol.

20% better fuel economy with a 200 LC towing a light trailer in Canada. Wow, would love to have that here.

 

[bloc]

Did you do the math based on fuel added against mileage or trust the built-in computer?

I get significantly better mileage running ethanol-free when I can find it, but not 20%

 

[Sandroad]

It would not surprise me to find out refineries supply different formulations of gas based on climate and altitude. It seems a safe bet to guess that gas sold in Florida in the summer has a different formulation than gas sold in Alberta in the winter. But, it's a stretch for me to think that there is a 20% difference in energy content for gas in different locations with the same octane, ethanol content, sale month, and brand under any scenario. Is there another explanation for the mpg difference you found?

 

[Diytech123]

I just got back from a trip to Banff with my adventure setup and was surprised by a gas mileage difference between fuel in Canada and the US. I get a max of about 12.7 mpg with the setup pictured in the US, but from the very first fill up that mileage went up to 14-15 mpg in Canada. Upon returning to Idaho, my gas mileage went right back down. Has anyone else had this happen? The only thing I can think of is a difference in fuel. I even tried premium grade US fuel but no change from my normal. I was using regular in Canada. Same octane, same type, no ethanol.

20% better fuel economy with a 200 LC towing a light trailer in Canada. Wow, would love to have that here.

View attachment 2044271

Was it all freeway driving with limited to no stop and go traffic? Are the driving conditions similar? I suppose Canada may be less traffic vs USA? Were you driving down the hill as you may get better mileage that way? One of the members posted a 19mpg on his dash after a long drive for not using cruise control and overmiling on downhills.

 

[TeCKis300]

I get significantly better mileage running ethanol-free when I can find it, but not 20%

Nailed it. Ethanol gas is the biggest load of croc and Institutionalize rip-off for consumers.

It was driven under the guise of US energy independence, but personally I believe it just went to line the coffers of the US fuel companies and bureaucracy.

Nevermind that it caused so many fuel system repair issues in older vehicle and small engines that are not compatible with ethanol.

 

[zink]

E10 gas reduces MPG around 3-4%, so in the case of the OP, on your trip you may have picked up a max of 0.5 MPG improvement if you did run pure gas. I can only imagine the main difference is elevation change. The thinner the air, the easier to punch a hole in the air with our 'bricks' and generally less fuel is injected due to less air, so power goes down but if you are cruising along, you should become more fuel efficient.

I am fortunate to have an ethanol free pump close to where I live, so I always fill up gas cans for my two stroke equipment but I tried running ethanol free in my LX for 5 tanks and found I picked up slightly less than 1 mpg in efficiency. However, ethanol free costs about a third more than E10, so it's just not cost effective for me.

 

[hankinid]

Did you do the math based on fuel added against mileage or trust the built-in computer?

I get significantly better mileage running ethanol-free when I can find it, but not 20%

I trust the pump gauge and odometer...built in computer tells me the tank at 1/4, but I put enough to fill the tank and she takes only about half a tank full.

I see ~ 5% benefit with non-ethanol, but I use it primarily to avoid fuel system rubber disintegration.

In SW Idaho, non-ethanol is available at some Sinclair stations, and in 91 or 89 octane in many Chevrons.

 

[Fisher23]

They have better fuel but not a better miles per dollar.

FYI you can add hub adapters and run your toyota wheels on that trailer. Saves carting that trailer spare.

 

[Chris Kovash]

I've tested this every which way I can figure out at this point, except US gasoline brand. I noted while in Canada that all their gas is the same price, which leads me to believe it's highly regulated. Yes, I've done the math on gas mileage, same speed, highways, traffic conditions, driving style (steady speed, no passing).

I'd probably give up if not for that 20% bump. That's huge over time. Good advice on Ethanol. Of particular note was the immediate effect upon entering Canada (I filled up at the first station after crossing the border) and returning to the US (filled up again, immediately). The gas mileage didn't creep up, it was immediate.

My guess is a small amount of extra engine efficiency at a steady highway speed could lead to a big improvement, where mixed driving would be unclear. If ethanol content ends up being the culprit, i'll avoid it. Now that i'm home and driving without any gear loaded and no trailer, i'm still under 13 mpg on the highway. Two extra tires on the ground and 2000 lb extra load and 1.5 mpg better mileage? That's crazy.

 

[Fisher23]

The gasoline is heavily taxed, but it's not regulated. I usually fill up before I enter as the price there is usually about 50% more in Canada than in the USA.

We have some non-ethanol stations here (mostly for the people boating) I might run a tank and see if that's the answer to improved range.

Did you get a chance to run up to Lake Louise?

 

[RobW0]

Here is a question for you. Do they use the US Gallon or the Imperial Gallon in Canada? 1 Imperial Gallon is equal to 1.2 US Gallon.

 

[Chris Kovash]

They use Liters and I spot check my trucks digital mileage gauge and take that into consideration so it's not a conversion/math issue. Lake Louise, yes... but too many people. They close the roads when the parking lot is full... talk about irritating but probably necessary.

Finding good off-road opportunities is tricky. Best I can recommend on that is chat up a local and use Google Earth to look for roads that go someplace.

 

[coleAK]

It’s the ethanol in the gas in the lower 48. We don’t have ethanol in our gas up here in AK. And last summer when I towed our camper down and back to Mt Hood I noticed 10-15% worse mpg on WA/OR gas.

 

[Whiskerz]

I drop about 12% gas mileage in my Honda with ethanol in the gas. It is about a wash when you look at the higher cost of non ethanol gas over ethanol. I have not tested my 200 but I will.

 

[Fisher23]

I lived up there for a while. Fun place.

 

[hickuptruck]

Done plenty driving in Canada. Gas prices aren't always the same. Just look at Vancouver gas prices vs outside Van, then Alberta gas prices.

Canadian gas has ethanol up to 10%, unless you go for the 94. I get same mileage on US fuel and Canada fuel. That higher price of fuel is tax up to wazoo + federal carbon tax.

Your difference was probably higher altitude, maybe downhill, and slower speed limits. Ton of cops in Banff giving tickets and 80-90 kph speed limit.

L/100km is used in Canada. Not mpg, and gallons don't exist. UK uses about 4.5L/gallon, and they also use mpg.

 

[Chris Kovash]

from about pure-gas.org

Why does pure gas give me better mileage?
Pure gas gives better mileage than E10, and much better than E85, simply because gasoline has higher free energy than ethanol. The free energy of gasoline is 34.2 MJ per liter. The free energy of ethanol is 24.0 MJ per liter. That means E10 (10% ethanol) has a free energy of 33.2 MJ per liter, and E85 (85% ethanol) has a free energy of 25.6 MJ per liter. As a result, your mileage is reduced by 3% with E10 over pure gas, and 25% with E85 over pure gas, all else being equal. Mileage will be reduced even more if your engine doesn't run as well on E10, which is often the case with older vehicles.

They also have tips on where to find pure gas. E85 would be noticeably worse. Guess I'll pay more attention from now on.

 

[Chris Kovash]

Just downloaded their iPhone app... yay, local E0 gas!

 

[09LX570]

Here is my mileage in Canada. Regular gas most of the all the time, premium from time to time.

I have the tank filled up in a local chain gas station "Red River Co-op". Used to be a Shell guy until I notice the money back from the co-op gas stations.

Edit:

Highway City combined. Most of the city drive is early morning or late evening. 20L/100 km in Winter time when I had to drive during regular rush hours.

 

[blatant]

is it the angle or is that little trailer that heavy?