Not sure if you run into this down in the US but I'd suggest being a little weary of any fuels marketed specifically as winter varieties. Up here Petro Canada is really excited to sell us "WinterGas" that's supposed to improve winter starting. Sure... maybe if you live where it gets -35 on a regular basis... I reviewed the MSDS and found out that all they do is add methanol.

Files for reference:

http://www.online.petro-canada.ca/da...n_US/w102e.pdf
http://www.online.petro-canada.ca/da...en_CA/glaf.pdf

The concentration of methanol in the retail product is unclear, but I found it alarming nonetheless.

For those of you unfamiliar with methanol, it is used as an antifreeze and water remover. While it's very effective and reduces tailpipe emissions (similar to ethanol) it damages neoprene rubber and other rubber and plastic fuel system components. The damage comes from methanol drying out the soft rubber and hardening plastics, resulting in cracks and leaks. The XJ's manual explicitly states that ANY use of ANY methanol-containing product will instantly void the warranty.

Infrequent use as a water remover (eg Gumout) at low concentrations probably won't be the end of the world, but sustained use of methanol in a 15-25 year old vehicle is really not a good idea.

So, as the venerable Mr. Cube said, "check yourself before you wreck yourself".

 

They're "passing gas" as something else?

 

Yep that's pretty much it...

 

XJs are still under warranty?

 

Down here in the US they add butane...Really annoying here in Colorado where all winter long the temps can vary 70 degrees over 48 hours (today it was almost 60, Wednesday night its supposed to get down to -22)
Any temp above freezing it evaporates much faster than regular gas. That plus ethanol...my rig gets 10-12 MPG all winter long

 

No. But safety recalls never expire.

 

I've never seen this "winter fuel" around my area even though it can average 15* for a couple months.
I'll keep an eye out at the pump.

 

Its not usually marked as such, they change the blend around October here and change it back in spring sometime

 

I have not once seen any specific marketing of summer/winter blends here in PA in the US. I also have never noticed a difference in my other vehicles (have had the Jeep only a year)...but even so, how would you avoid this, exactly? Fuel stabilizer or some other gunk?

 

I don't think they advertise it here in the states, but listen to the news & watch fuel prices. A couple weeks ago the news spoke about lower gas prices because the refineries changed to "winter fuel mixtures" and they are less expensive to make. I assume all gas stations are selling you winter fuel weather you know it or not. I believe there are only a couple refineries in the US & Canada.

 

Winter blends from the refineries are a different story actually. It's got to do with relaxed emissions rules as the cheaper blend evaporates more easily. Higher benzene content I think.

This antifreeze is mixed in with the additive package at the terminal or even retail store.

 

No poop, now that you say that, you always hear that Mobil, Sunoco, etc all say that they have special additives that makes their fuel better. Yet they pull from the same terminals. So, ya, I guess they add those additives (along with others) after they get their load at the terminals.

 

Yeeup. The city I live in is a hub that serves a pretty large size area, we only have Shell and Petro-Canada terminals, as far as I'm aware, and I believe most retailers are wholesale customers of these two. Additives make a big difference and are frequently the deciding factor in passing emissions tests and whether or not SeaFoam does anything for you. lol

BTW Petro-Canada started this WinterGas business before Sunoco bought them out. I wouldn't be surprised if Sunoco were push a similar blend in the upper states. I suspect that the antifreeze is added really close to point of sale, like in the tank at the retail location, as supported by the MSDS arrangement. It makes sense that wholesale and trucked across town they can just use a single generic "gasoline" sheet, then at the gas station they blend 'em and staple the two MSDSes together. Seems a lot easier logistically considering the wholesale transport aspect.