From what I understand a major cost in the refinery business is the fact that
each state defines what's legal to sell, which means the refineries have to
custom tweak the blends.  So they can't really run at the most efficient
production point(s).

For instance, Minnesota requires 10% ethanol.  This is a bad thing for several
reasons.  Some older fuel systems are damaged by ethanol, but thankfully the
requirement started a decade or so ago, so all those parts were replaced at
significant cost to the owners, or thrown away to be replaced with newer gear
at significant cost to the owners.  Tongue most firmly in cheek.  Some people
by Avgas at very high cost to run their older vehicles.

Now we just have to deal with the fact that 10% ethanol fuel doesn't burn as
well, keep for very long, has real serious vapor lock issues, and takes more
energy in diesel fuel, pesticides, and brewing (it's corn alcohol folks) to
produce.

So we get roughly 5% to 7% worse mileage, and pay a lot more for fuel.

And then there are the states that use MTBF.  Or both.

Multiply that times every state doing this.  It's a mess.

And it's not surprising that my mileage and performance in my Jetta and my
Westy jump all over the place when I travel.

tom

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Tom Ring K0TAR, ex-WA2PHW  EN34hx
85 Westphalia GL Albert
96 Jetta GL The Intimidator
taring@taring.org

"It is better to go into a turn slow, and come out fast, than to go into a turn fast
and come out dead." Stirling Moss