11-18-2013, 04:23 PM
Summer vs. winter gas is all about volatility. This determines how easily the fuel vaporizes with regard to its temperature. When it's hotter, fuel vaporizes more easily, which means your carb or injectors will be able to turn it into a nice explodable mist in your cylinders. When it's gets cold, the less volatile summer gas resists vaporizing and can cause difficulty starting a cold engine.
Winter gas, being more volatile, is formulated to evaporate at lower temperatures which makes it easier for your fuel system to turn it into something that will go boom in a cold cylinder at 10 degrees F.
The standard measure of fuel volatility is Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). Winter blends have an RVP of around 9 PSI and summer fuel is around 7.8 (varies a bit, depending on location).
Never heard of winter blend gas causing a sensor to fail. There is a failure mode using winter blend gas in hot weather. It usually shows up in early spring if the weather turns warm before the summer blend gas arrives at the pumps.
The increased volatility of winter gas means that it not only will vaporize at lower temps, but will also boil at lower temps. Cars with poorly designed fuel systems running winter gas in hot weather will get what is commonly known as Vapor Lock. It's when fuel boils in the fuel line. When that happens, it's no longer pumpable (is that a word?), meaning that the engine will not be getting fuel.
Winter gas, being more volatile, is formulated to evaporate at lower temperatures which makes it easier for your fuel system to turn it into something that will go boom in a cold cylinder at 10 degrees F.
The standard measure of fuel volatility is Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). Winter blends have an RVP of around 9 PSI and summer fuel is around 7.8 (varies a bit, depending on location).
(11-18-2013, 02:19 AM)dBuster_imp Wrote:(11-18-2013, 01:59 AM)mininsx_imp Wrote:(11-15-2013, 06:45 AM)dBuster_imp Wrote: Does anyone else live where they have this "winter blend" of gas? Could that be making it run differently? I know around here they have that winter blend gas
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It's the cooler, denser air that makes the difference, not the gasoline. Winter blend gas is a little different in spec with more butane added, but you can't tell the difference in how an engine runs from the seat of your pants. However, you will get crappier mileage on winter blend gas.
It's the cooler, denser air that makes the difference, not the gasoline. Winter blend gas is a little different in spec with more butane added, but you can't tell the difference in how an engine runs from the seat of your pants. However, you will get crappier mileage on winter blend gas.
We had the "Fix Or Repair Daily" technician tell us the sensor that went out and left us stranded with an infant in the car was to be blamed on winter blend gas! So trekking a difference from the seat of your pants, I would like to think so but then again look at the source and the gas...
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Never heard of winter blend gas causing a sensor to fail. There is a failure mode using winter blend gas in hot weather. It usually shows up in early spring if the weather turns warm before the summer blend gas arrives at the pumps.
The increased volatility of winter gas means that it not only will vaporize at lower temps, but will also boil at lower temps. Cars with poorly designed fuel systems running winter gas in hot weather will get what is commonly known as Vapor Lock. It's when fuel boils in the fuel line. When that happens, it's no longer pumpable (is that a word?), meaning that the engine will not be getting fuel.