Tank 265 - 21 January 2K11

I refueled on my way home on Friday at the Wawa in Stafford!

I put in 10.925 gallons of 10% ethanol-enhanced gasoline after driving
402.6 miles, making for a fuel economy of 36.85 miles per gallon. This
continues my almost exactly one-mile-per-gallon domination over the
first three tanks of 2K10.

All, however, is not well. I spent $87.94 on my first three tanks in
2010, and $100.55 on the first three tanks of this year - a more than
14% increase in the price of gas!

But I worry not, as I know the government will take care of me.

I am starting to think about the statistic "gallons per 100 miles,"
after reading that it provides a more easier to understand method.
Something about it's easier to see the magnitude of difference between
16 and 18 miles per gallon vs. 34 and 36 miles per gallon, when the
"gallons per 100 miles" number is used.

But I haven't looked at any data to see how the "gallons per 100 miles"
number shifts or jumps with changes to fuel economy.

Tank 264 - 11 January 2K11

Refueled Tuesday morning at the same place I refueled last time, the
Sunoco of Woodbridge. Gasoline was $2.999 per gallon, and that turned
out to be the least expensive gasoline I saw all day. Also it turns out
that I have gotten gas only at this Sunoco so far this year.

The car had gone 415.1 miles and accepted 10.983 gallons of gas for its
effort, making for fuel economy of 37.79 miles per gallon. This is a
good number for wintertime, and I am confident it is primarily due to
the fact that I have been doing my best to draft behind tractor trailers
on my commutes.

What's notable is that I spent an uncomfortable amount of time drafting
behind these tractor trailers going 70 to 75 miles per hour. I was
concerned that the additional speed would cancel out any improvement in
my fuel economy, but clearly that was not the case, as there was a
little increase over recent tanks. Indeed, fuel economy this tank was
more than one mile per gallon better than the average of my last five
tanks, that's about 3.1% higher.

Plus, I have been getting home much faster, but that may be due to
lighter traffic in general.

Tank 263 - 3 January 2K11

I refueled for the first time this year early Monday morning. It was 28
degrees and the mighty Corolla had gone 416.4 miles and required 11.429
gallons of Sunoco gasoline to become satiated. This worked out to a
fuel economy of 36.43 mpg, which is almost one whole mile per gallon
better than my first tank of gas last year.

Happy 2011 everyone!