Running cold

[Deanohh_imp]

Hmm, now I am puzzled... I know that Wikipedia is not THE truth both they say that the octane rating and especially the RON (this is the number which is referred to) is a worldwide standard.
Of course now it could be that US numbers at gas pumps do not state the RON but something different.

USA does not use RON. Instead it is some index using (R+M)/2. and call it octane.

[ingobohn_imp]

Oh, thanks folks, didn't know that!
Again I learned new things. So you helped not to die too dump.
It is always interesting for me how things which I assumed to be clear and obvious differ from country to country or continent to continent...

[mininsx_imp]

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

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 4.2.4

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.

[dBuster_imp]

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

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 4.2.4

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...

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 4.2.4

[ingobohn_imp]

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

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 4.2.4

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. In Germany, diesel is much more common as fuel also for cars not only for trucks. But as diesel gets "slushy" at lower temperatures, the gas stations serve so called "winter diesel" during the cold times which freezing point is down to -22 °C (i.e. -7,5 °F). This is mainly achieved by adding a little portion of petrol to the diesel. But I am not aware that in winter times the regular petrol also gets some additives to be "cold resistant".

[The Spaceman_imp]

The alleged benefit of winter blend gas, which is more volitile, is that it reduces emissions from cheaper gas blends than you'd have in hot weather. There are many formulations of "gasoline," each has a volitility rating. The more volitile, the cheaper. The colder the temps, the less it matters.

I think its just a way to sell more crap gas

[flynrider]

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).

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

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 4.2.4

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...

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 4.2.4

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.

[ingobohn_imp]

@ Flynrider: Thanks for the detailed info about RVP, didn't know that so far.

[dBuster_imp]

I am just telling you what the ford service tech told us why the vehicle wouldn't run and he blamed it on the different gas, the winter blend. The sensor was on the intake so I really didn't trust his answer about the gas but the new sensor fixed the car... Just thought it was interesting that an actual Ford service tech blamed gas blends for faulty parts.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[rboe]

In Phoenix there is a different blend of gas per season; has to do with air pollution and not cold temps. At least, not cold temps as it relates to directly to real cold weather.

Up in Minnesota we used blended diesel in the winter to try and control the wax from congealing in the filter and lines. I want to say it was a blend of two different diesel grades and not gasoline. But that was a long time ago.