My trip to Ca.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 2
From: Mesa AZ
My trip to Ca.
Took my 88 verte to Ventura, Ca and stayed for 2 1/2 weeks with my brother and his wife. Car has 99,800 miles on it when I left and now has 101K on it. Things went fine until I hit the highway 134 and then traffic came to a stop. Car did heat up to 236 degrees but when traffic started to flow temps. dropped to 205. On my way out I averaged 25mpg. however on my way back the mileage dropped to about 21mpg. I attribute this to the gas used in Ca as it has MTSB in it. I filled up in Ventura before I left using only Chevron high grade (91 octane) and filled up in Quartzsite at a Chevron station but only took a little less than half a tank. Took a week to run all of the Ca gas out of the Vette and with Az gas in it, I am back to averaging right at 25mpg. Bought a can of Techron today and am going to add it to my tank and make sure that the injectors are clean. I guess what I am trying to say is "Ca gas sucks!". BTW sent cruise @77 mph.
Tommy
Tommy
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From: Riverside County Southern California
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Normal 
Normal
Yep besides we have the nation's top 5 most expensive gas, it is not the most desirable for high performance vehicles. Everytime I cross the border into Arizona, and fill up I feel the difference right away. The Ghost really likes Sunoco 94
Yep besides we have the nation's top 5 most expensive gas, it is not the most desirable for high performance vehicles. Everytime I cross the border into Arizona, and fill up I feel the difference right away. The Ghost really likes Sunoco 94
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Anaheim CA
Don't forget that going from AZ to Ventura is almost all downhill since Ventura is at sea level. Going back it's uphill. Chiriaco Summit and the steep hill on the AZ side of the Colorado river come to mind. There's also the long hill in the Indio area...
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Oct 15, 2014 at 02:40 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
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I recent Audi TV adv in Italy says " Italy...land of QUATTRO (four)"
We can turn it into " California ...land of Prius"
it seems like fuel there is good only for hybrid car...
We can turn it into " California ...land of Prius"
it seems like fuel there is good only for hybrid car...
Last edited by tunedport85inject; Oct 16, 2014 at 02:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 328
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From: Mesa AZ
You are right Cliff. The incline from Indio on towards the east is a major difference in grade. I could tell from my MPG gauge. The same goes for leaving Quartzite and further into Az. Ventura is @35 feet elevation and Mesa, Az is 1760 so there is quite a difference. But I don't think I will worry about it because I don't think I will make the trip again. Most all Ca cars have turn signal delete and they love to tail gate. Going north on the 101 traffic was at a stop because there was an accident on the south bound lane on the 101 and everybody had to stop and "rubberneck". I have no idea why anyone would want to stop at an accident unless they were the first ones there to render aid until the proper authorities would arrive.
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From: Riverside County Southern California
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You are right Cliff. The incline from Indio on towards the east is a major difference in grade. I could tell from my MPG gauge. The same goes for leaving Quartzite and further into Az. Ventura is @35 feet elevation and Mesa, Az is 1760 so there is quite a difference. But I don't think I will worry about it because I don't think I will make the trip again. Most all Ca cars have turn signal delete and they love to tail gate. Going north on the 101 traffic was at a stop because there was an accident on the south bound lane on the 101 and everybody had to stop and "rubberneck". I have no idea why anyone would want to stop at an accident unless they were the first ones there to render aid until the proper authorities would arrive.
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From: Texas
OP....if you had the cruise set on 77, that was the problem. You were impeding traffic flow for that 20' stretch of road.
The rules are very simple.....
- The speed limit is 0 or 80
- Turn signals identify driver strategy.....never use them!
- If you leave more than 10' between you and the car in front of you, 17 other cars will attempt to merge into the space you've left.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
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While staying in Ventura did you get to take PCH south to Santa Monica down thru Malibu? That's a nice drive....
That route was my "therapy" for the day after dealing with the rest of L.A. ....
The best Sunset In America can be seen from the Pt on PCH just north of Malibu...
That route was my "therapy" for the day after dealing with the rest of L.A. ....
The best Sunset In America can be seen from the Pt on PCH just north of Malibu...
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
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OP....if you had the cruise set on 77, that was the problem. You were impeding traffic flow for that 20' stretch of road.
The rules are very simple.....
- The speed limit is 0 or 80+
- Turn signals identify driver strategy.....never use them!
- If you leave more than 10' between you and the car in front of you, 17 other cars will attempt to merge into the space you've left.
Never over-react to these automotive "insults" while on Ca highways. If you even think about sticking that finger in a window, someone WILL take a shot at you ! Serious. Or just follow you home and whip yer *** real good.
They keep saying Texas is redneck...
yeah, right. Totally !this is where nascar drivers go to learn the art of "drafting". ...and that's in rush hour traffic !
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
OP....if you had the cruise set on 77, that was the problem. You were impeding traffic flow for that 20' stretch of road.
The rules are very simple.....
- The speed limit is 0 or 80
- Turn signals identify driver strategy.....never use them!
- If you leave more than 10' between you and the car in front of you, 17 other cars will attempt to merge into the space you've left.
This is where Nascar drivers go to train and learn how to "draft" in high speed traffic ! and that is in L.A. rush hour.
Never get in the way of a commuter that's headed to his new Victorville home and interfere with his 3 hour commute.
And never react to the road insults and what seems like aggressive driving habits of the native Californian...if you whip that middle finger out, someone else will whip out an Uzi. Or follow you home and beat you senseless.
They say Texas is redneck....
Team Owner
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From: altered state
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Never get in the way of a commuter that's headed to his new Victorville home and interfere with his 3 hour commute.
And never react to the road insults and what seems like aggressive driving habits of the native Californian...if you whip that middle finger out, someone else will whip out an Uzi. Or follow you home and beat you senseless.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Tucson/Santa Paula AZ/CA
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Next time (if there is one) stay off the 101 and avoid the 134 completely. Take the 126 through Santa Paula and Fillmore to I-5 South to the 210 east. The 210 hardly ever slows down, even during the morning rush hour. We leave SP at 0430 and we are eating breakfast in Morongo by 0630 and never drop below 78MPH after we hit I-5. 126 is a 66MPH stretch but that's pretty safe with all the critters out there at night.
We fill just East of Blythe at the Texaco Travel center just before the Ehrenberg exit and then at Morongo Casino Gas. We can spend a week or two in SP and never have to use CA fuel unless we run up Highway 1 to Carmel or up 33 to New Cuyama for a burger. We keep a car and a bike in CA so I hardly ever have to keep CA fuel in the Vette.
Mick
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
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I heard that stuff makes your engine ghey. Sorry but your breathing it every day too.
The rest of the state has some fairly better blends.
When ever traveling to LA I fill before going over the grapevine then once more on the return trip.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 2
From: Mesa AZ
While staying in Ventura did you get to take PCH south to Santa Monica down thru Malibu? That's a nice drive....
That route was my "therapy" for the day after dealing with the rest of L.A. ....
The best Sunset In America can be seen from the Pt on PCH just north of Malibu...
That route was my "therapy" for the day after dealing with the rest of L.A. ....
The best Sunset In America can be seen from the Pt on PCH just north of Malibu...
Never had the time to run down to Malibu on this trip. I am sure Cher's house is still on the north side of town and Neptune's Nest is still peddling their greasy old food. Never could figure out how that place ever stayed in business, but some things will never change.
Tommy
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 2
From: Mesa AZ
While staying in Ventura did you get to take PCH south to Santa Monica down thru Malibu? That's a nice drive....
That route was my "therapy" for the day after dealing with the rest of L.A. ....
The best Sunset In America can be seen from the Pt on PCH just north of Malibu...
That route was my "therapy" for the day after dealing with the rest of L.A. ....
The best Sunset In America can be seen from the Pt on PCH just north of Malibu...
Tommy,
Next time (if there is one) stay off the 101 and avoid the 134 completely. Take the 126 through Santa Paula and Fillmore to I-5 South to the 210 east. The 210 hardly ever slows down, even during the morning rush hour. We leave SP at 0430 and we are eating breakfast in Morongo by 0630 and never drop below 78MPH after we hit I-5. 126 is a 66MPH stretch but that's pretty safe with all the critters out there at night.
We fill just East of Blythe at the Texaco Travel center just before the Ehrenberg exit and then at Morongo Casino Gas. We can spend a week or two in SP and never have to use CA fuel unless we run up Highway 1 to Carmel or up 33 to New Cuyama for a burger. We keep a car and a bike in CA so I hardly ever have to keep CA fuel in the Vette.
Mick
Next time (if there is one) stay off the 101 and avoid the 134 completely. Take the 126 through Santa Paula and Fillmore to I-5 South to the 210 east. The 210 hardly ever slows down, even during the morning rush hour. We leave SP at 0430 and we are eating breakfast in Morongo by 0630 and never drop below 78MPH after we hit I-5. 126 is a 66MPH stretch but that's pretty safe with all the critters out there at night.
We fill just East of Blythe at the Texaco Travel center just before the Ehrenberg exit and then at Morongo Casino Gas. We can spend a week or two in SP and never have to use CA fuel unless we run up Highway 1 to Carmel or up 33 to New Cuyama for a burger. We keep a car and a bike in CA so I hardly ever have to keep CA fuel in the Vette.
Mick
Tommy
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Tucson/Santa Paula AZ/CA
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
I was going to take the 5 north to the 126 but traffic was heavy as soon as I hit Azusa and then they also had the fire going on. I think everyone was rubbernecking the fire. The 126 will take me right into Ventura just a little slower and not that bad a ride. But considering the traffic, I should have taken 126 if I had known that the 134 was that congested. Man things really changed in the last 3-4 years.
Tommy
Tommy
Yes, lots has changed out there. Since the 210 was completed all the way to I-10 we have stopped using the 101 and 134 completely. It used to be a real chore getting through San Bernadino on I-10 without needing to dodge some debris (muffler, trash can, old tire) on that stretch of road. The 210 is getting busier but it is WAY better than 101. We make 3 or 4 trips a year out there.
You mentioned Neptune's Net, my wife refuses to eat there since we found Malibu Seafood, it's at 25653 Pacific Coast Hwy, just north of Pepperdine and the intersection of PCH and Malibu Canyon.
We usually take Balcom Canyon Road out of Santa Paula to 118 in Moorpark and then take the 23 (which becomes Decker Canyon Road) all the way to Encinal Canyon Road and down to PCH. I REALLY miss those roads, living here in Tucson. We drive 50 miles just to find a decent set of corners.
Mick
Last edited by QZRBLU; Oct 22, 2014 at 05:56 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 888
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From: Ridgecrest Ca
We haven't had MTSB in gas in California for quite a few years now. We have around 5% ethonol now. I average 25mpg in my 90. Better when I find a flat road. Where I live it's uphill coming and going. In the San Jaquin valley I average 27mpg.