I moved to Denver and all of a sudden I can drive ~400 miles on one tank, where it used to be 330 in North Carolina. I still buy the cheapest gas (87).

Why is that?

12/2/2005 10:59:33 PM

Thats makes zero since considering you just moved to an array with a shit ton more hills.

12/2/2005 11:00:32 PM

they putting methanol or something extra in the fuel up there?

12/2/2005 11:03:56 PM

[pulled out] higher elevation, less air intake, less fuel combusted per stroke? [/ of my ass]

[Edited on December 2, 2005 at 11:17 PM. Reason : no clue]

12/2/2005 11:17:07 PM

you are at elevation...which means less air in atmosphere. that means your car will uptake less air, which means less fuel to match less air, which means less performance.

trade off...

12/2/2005 11:56:54 PM

Quote :

"Thats makes zero since considering you just moved to an array with a shit ton more hills."

The denver area is utterly flat. No trees, just flat open plains until you hit the Rocky mountain range. Then it goes from flat to mountains in less than a mile.

12/3/2005 12:43:03 AM

^^

there you go.


as you increase in altitude above mean sea level (MSL), the atmospheric pressure decreases (at a pretty linear rate called the standard lapse rate, which is valid until you get really high...way higher than Denver).

as the total atmospheric pressure decreases, so then does the partial pressure of oxygen (and nitrogen, argon, and all of the other trace gases in air). Your engine still takes in the same VOLUME of air in each revolution (350 cubic inches, 2.0 liters, etc), but a lower MASS of air.

Stoichiometric combustion ratios remain at 14.7:1 for air and gasoline. Since your engine is intaking a lower MASS quantity of oxygen, it's burning less fuel. This results in reduced power output, but better fuel economy.

12/3/2005 1:43:52 AM

yeah...and on a side note this is one of the reasons turbocharged cars are less affected at elevation than n/a cars. forced induction

12/3/2005 2:31:35 AM

and yet they still call it a mass airflow sensor

12/3/2005 4:09:56 AM

man theduke has been the man lately when it comes to explaining shit out

12/3/2005 6:23:28 AM

its ok, he had subway for lunch

12/3/2005 8:18:47 AM

Quote :

"The denver area is utterly flat. No trees, just flat open plains until you hit the Rocky mountain range. Then it goes from flat to mountains in less than a mile."

Yea, even as I posted it I was thinking "I don't know what the fuck I am talking about."

12/3/2005 9:21:08 AM

Quote :

"man theduke has been the man lately when it comes to explaining shit out"

he lives in a holiday inn express

12/3/2005 11:25:53 AM

Quote :

"and yet they still call it a mass airflow sensor"

what?

12/4/2005 8:03:41 PM

just another self pwnt brought to you by arghx

12/4/2005 10:01:59 PM

Thanks. That makes sense. But it's pretty strange that the gain in terms of fuel economy is that significant.

12/6/2005 1:25:19 PM