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Discussion Starter · #3 · (Edited)
I'm curious, why Premium 91 instead of regular? I thought we were supposed to stick with regular.
Owners manual states 87 octane or higher. I always test my cars to see how different octanes effects how the engine runs. I have a 2016 Scion iM, 2016 Impreza Wagon. So far, all my cars beat EPA using 91 Octane gas.

Except my old 2003 Tiburon GT V6. No change between premium and regular. I actually get less mpg using premium gas on my Tiburon. The only difference between the Tib and my other cars is the Tiburon do not have Variable Valve Timing.

I guess the effects/results will vary on different cars.
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 · (Edited)
How about when you compare cost per mile with regular vs. premium? Does the math work out? I might try it myself sometime just for science! I don't expect better mpg with premium, but I've never tried it myself.
This is a rough guesstimate (not real world):
I put not real world because I assumed the data on 400 miles

90% Frreway miles (400 miles)

COSTCO 91 Octane
Price: $4.67 / gal
MPG: 30 mpg
Calculation:
400÷30=13.33 gal
13.33gal×$4.67
Price = $62.27

COSTCO 87 Octane
Price: $4.37 / gal
MPG: 25mpg
Calculation:
400÷25=16.00 gal
16.00 gal×$4.37
Price = $69.92

Savings: 69.92-62.27 = $7.65 / 400mile travel.

Is not that huge of savings, but its OK.
Again, results may vary.

I put 25mpg for regular because that is usually what I average driving from Murrieta to Chula Vista (90 miles) and when I traveled to Oregon and back.

Will have to run more test with hopefully same route as much as possible.

Thanks
 

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Another REAL world Test View attachment 20164

MPG: 31.7 MPG
FUEL: COSTCO Premium 91 Octane
Destination: Murrueta to Long Beach
Range: 80 Miles
Passenger: Full 7 Passengers
Speed: 70-80mph
Probably you did it on Sunday! The freeway is wide open at this time! And your right foot is featherweight on the gas pedal! Either way whether 87 or 91, that mpg of 31 is unrealistic with the ascent! Probably at some instances where you drive all freeways with constant speed at 70mph with Rpm Less than 2k
 

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Discussion Starter · #12 ·
Certainly it is (one needs to select cycling/walking to show elevation change though):
View attachment 20165

I knew someone would find a way to debunk the MPG I got lol. Well, you are right, there is a probably a downhill based on elevation, but like @Nanangko1234$ said, the road to Murrieta to LongBeach is not that simple.

To be fair, I took another snap shot of my MPG when I got back taking the same road.
Speedometer Vehicle Tachometer Car Gauge

So, overall travel from Murrieta-LongBeach-Murrieta (160 miles total), I ended up averaging 28.4 mpg with AC "ON" on the way back.
 

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2019 Ascent Touring (CWP)
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28.4 sounds reasonable based on my personal experience with the Ascent and a lot of highway travel early on. My overall highway average at that time was 26.7 but I had several tanks that made it to about 28. This was at 65-70 mph. Above that, this "brick on wheels" is unlikely to be able to sustain that kind of fuel economy at normal highway speeds, but for a given trip in ideal conditions it can certainly reward an eye-opener.

Two things I do during travel to get a better handle on fuel economy...one, I keep one of the trip odometers "as is" for the entire trip to get an overall average, and two, I spot check at each fill-up with an "actual" calculation. The reason for the latter is that the accuracy of the onboard system varies by vehicle but is often slightly optimistic. The onboard system is best for trending for overall fuel economy and can be a good indicator if something is amiss, too. But for accurate monitoring, actual fuel consumed (as best as you can because it's nearly impossible to fill up exactly consistently from pump to pump and harder now that some pumps click off and will not allow any kind of topping off) calculated vs miles driven is required.
 
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Here's a screenshot I took after I filled up our 2019 Touring upon our return from Cooperstown in April 2019. The car had less than 1,000 miles on the odo as we had taken delivery about 6 weeks earlier. It's about 200 miles each way and is quite hilly as we pass through both the Poconos and the Adirondacks. Note the estimated range to empty. My MPG, as calculated, was around 35 MPG.

Vehicle Gadget Automotive design Personal luxury car Font
 

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Discussion Starter · #16 ·
80 miles isn't much of a test. That high octane is part of the reason for the higher mpg.
I know that's not enough miles, I just shared what I got when I went to Long Beach. Also, if you look further down my post, I also shared the average mpg after I got home, which was 28.4 mpg with total of 160 miles. The Ascent was full of Adult passengers with the AC on. Also, the way to Long Beach and back is NOT a smooth flow traffic.
 

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Discussion Starter · #17 ·
This is my mpg (tach) on my Scion iM (6spd):
Speedometer Automotive lighting Gauge Automotive design Tachometer
Receipt Finger Thumb Font Material property



Travel is 100 miles from Murrieta--->Poway---->Murrieta (50 miles each way). Total of 400 miles for 4 day work travel.

Actual mpg is 36.7 mpg

If anyone here travel from Murrieta---->Poway--->Murrieta during rush hour (which is everyday for me). Its at least 1hr of traffic bumper to bumper traffic for 10 miles each way.

I will try this in the Ascent one of these days. When my wife is not driving it lol.
 

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I live in Minneapolis, I calculated my MPG the old fashioned way, miles driven and gas put in the tank. I own a 2019 Accent Touring and over a 600 miles of driving in the metro and local highways I only get 14 MPG. Is anyone else experiencing this poor MPG. I noticed that the MPG reading on the dashboard is wrong!
 

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I live in Minneapolis, I calculated my MPG the old fashioned way, miles driven and gas put in the tank. I own a 2019 Accent Touring and over a 600 miles of driving in the metro and local highways I only get 14 MPG. Is anyone else experiencing this poor MPG. I noticed that the MPG reading on the dashboard is wrong!
Winter temps, winter blend fuel, local, start and stop traffic patterns. Yes, it's possible for you to get lower fuel economy from that, especially with a small tubo powering a two and a quarter ton brick on wheels. Other folks driving similarly sized and weighted SUVs are likely also suffering from lower fuel economy, too. The Grand Cherokee I owned previously averaged about 14 in the winter and our "winter" isn't winter like you get up there in MPLS
 
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