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mnrick041 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:14,303 Points:1,368,310 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 8:26:41 AM Ignore mnrick041 Report Abuse This is a question only for those of you who live in areas where there is winter. Have you seen a drop in your MPG's? Are your MPG's dropping and what do you think is the cause of it? I am down from my usual 20-21 MPG to 16 on my last tank and I attribute that to: Freezing temperatures, winter blend fuel and snow on the roads adding resistance to the tires turning.

mnrick041

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Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 8:26:41 AM

Ignore mnrick041 Report Abuse

This is a question only for those of you who live in areas where there is winter.

Have you seen a drop in your MPG's? Are your MPG's dropping and what do you think is the cause of it?

I am down from my usual 20-21 MPG to 16 on my last tank and I attribute that to:

Freezing temperatures, winter blend fuel and snow on the roads adding resistance to the tires turning.

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the1roadhog Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,908 Points:2,054,930 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 8:15:21 AM Ignore the1roadhog Report Abuse Not much winter around here...FINE by me.
dgsteven All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:797 Points:206,800 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 4:07:34 AM Ignore dgsteven Report Abuse 11l/KM
sagnat Champion Author Riverside Posts:1,154 Points:307,510 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Dec 31, 2012 2:56:21 AM Ignore sagnat Report Abuse After a 5,000 miles drive this week, on winter diesel, I'm finding the mileage to be within 3 MPG of norm.
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:26,916 Points:3,103,675 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Dec 31, 2012 1:38:15 AM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse plus, winter gas is blended differently
mnrick041 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:14,303 Points:1,368,310 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Dec 30, 2012 8:35:29 PM Ignore mnrick041 Report Abuse Got a disappointing 16.5 MPG out of my last tank. Cold weather lately.
JasTheAce All-Star Author Raleigh Posts:970 Points:172,335 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Dec 28, 2012 5:08:34 PM Ignore JasTheAce Report Abuse drops
carinthuist Champion Author San Francisco Posts:2,243 Points:329,260 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 27, 2012 1:09:17 AM Ignore carinthuist Report Abuse raising mpg in winter
dontuknowOH Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,099 Points:36,585 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 4:33:10 PM Ignore dontuknowOH Report Abuse My logic is for Winter driving,when temps stay below 36 F ,I keep 2..3 # of tire pressure under the max limit on my tires.Aired up in the shade away from the Sun when the temps are near freezing. Often 2 # more in the front tires because most of the time only two persons are on board,and no extra weight hauled,except grocery items,etc.Park in the Sunny areas when possible saves blower heater mode energy to low/med. I run 1/2 tank of fuel or less driving local,but often fill up for distant trips in case of a traffic jam(accident block). Cruise stays off if any adverse weather is happening,my cruise only works like a speed governor control,it doesn't calculate results for being a gas saver control or figures a way to save fuel when turned on. DIY insulated heater coolant hoses give me extra heat boost when the temps drop below the 20's F defroster vents work better all do inside,also engine warms quicker on drive-aways(cold starts), and restarts when shopping. Happy NY.....
tropicalmn Sophomore Author Minnesota Posts:172 Points:145,815 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 3:22:28 PM Ignore tropicalmn Report Abuse My winter MPG always drops very noticeable when temps are single digit or below zero driving generally under 10 miles.The engine control unit makes the fuel mixture richer until engine warms to normal operating temp so even with fridged temps the engine runs perfect unlike say '60s & 70's vehicles in cold temps.The other thing with auto transmission when cold,shifts into drive at a higher rpm & won't shift into overdrive at all until motor reaches normal operating temp.
JohnTIZ Veteran Author Ontario Posts:253 Points:25,545 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 12:35:07 AM Ignore JohnTIZ Report Abuse My winter MPGs drop every year, for every car I've ever owned. I believe the reason is because many trips are close to home and the engine doesn't get a chance to warm up which allows it to work more efficiently. Also, traction is poorer, no matter how careful you are with the gas pedal.
IAMCANADIAN73 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,390 Points:1,121,825 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 20, 2012 6:37:29 AM Ignore IAMCANADIAN73 Report Abuse 10L/100km
OilerFan Champion Author Tulsa Posts:14,040 Points:2,446,600 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 20, 2012 3:00:06 AM Ignore OilerFan Report Abuse I'm just glad that, for the most part, winters in my area are pretty mild. We still get stuck with the winter blend though. [Edited by: OilerFan at 12/20/2012 3:04:36 AM EST]
mnrick041 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:14,303 Points:1,368,310 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 9:48:36 PM Ignore mnrick041 Report Abuse To answer your question Casey 225, I live in the city and most of what I do is city driving, most trips are under 20 miles. My car is a 2012 Fusion, I average about 20 MPG with it but that is from city driving, sitting in traffic jams on the freeway. I made a long highway trip last summer, got nice MPG with that but then it was back to reality in the city and getting 20 MPG.
MA64NANA Rookie Author Flint Posts:13 Points:540 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 7:56:20 PM Ignore MA64NANA Report Abuse Flint, Michigan winter here, although not much snow yet....my ten yr old cadillac deville is down from 20 mpg to 16 mpg. (seldom go far enough to use expressway). I know I am losing air in ALL my tires according to the info thing on the dash; ONE TIRE in particular is DOWN to 19 lbs of air. Stopped at tire place, had it checked out. They told me the LITTLE TIP THING ON THE TIRE HAS LEAK; told me it would cost over HUNDRED DOLLARS for new one at dealer. Also, have my WHEEL CHAIR in the trunk which is heavy. Think that affects the mpg? I know I need an OIL CHANGE, and the info thing says 60 per cent on the oil; not sure what that means? Does that affect GAS MILEAGE? Can't afford a new car or to sell this one at a loss. What is the best amt of POUNDS of air to have IN TIRES in THIS CADDY ..IN THE WINTER? YES, I do Native beadwork, but dont do pow wows anymore; just take orders or sell Santa earrings, etc from my home, so I am not using gas to go to shows or anything.
OilerFan Champion Author Tulsa Posts:14,040 Points:2,446,600 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 7:30:32 PM Ignore OilerFan Report Abuse My truck only takes a couple of miles for a complete warm up (as far as warming the radiator enough to run the heater. However, to warm the oil so that it adequately flows in the crankcase, only take a minute or two to run before the vehicle is adequately warmed for driving.
Casey225 Rookie Author Baton Rouge Posts:91 Points:80,265 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 2:34:14 PM Ignore Casey225 Report Abuse The dencer air will help your fuel milage. The longer warm ups will drop your fuel milage. Do you normally make short trips or long trips? The longer the trip, the longer your car can run after warm up. Anything less than 7 miles, your car will just be getting warmed up.
bearscharger Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,327 Points:269,875 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 1:36:23 PM Ignore bearscharger Report Abuse mine drops but not really bad
OceanArcher Champion Author Mississippi Posts:5,703 Points:1,327,400 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 12:05:45 PM Ignore OceanArcher Report Abuse Since most winters here in the deep south are "mild", I find little difference in my mileage
rick_evans Champion Author Boston Posts:3,720 Points:1,032,755 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 10:48:36 AM Ignore rick_evans Report Abuse Yes -1 or -2 mpg. I assume it's because of longer warmup and colder denser intake air. Also, somewhat sloppier roads make for slower less efficient driving.
medic6133 Champion Author New York Posts:1,120 Points:216,265 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 10:21:30 AM Ignore medic6133 Report Abuse I don't notice a significant drop, certainly not the 4-5 MPG you mentioned.
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,788 Points:2,895,610 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 9:44:22 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse Winter grade gasoline coupled with ethanol will deterioate your milage by 1-4 mpg in the wintertime.
Dennis783 Champion Author Des Moines Posts:13,589 Points:2,702,910 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 8:08:29 AM Ignore Dennis783 Report Abuse warming the car takes away some mileage but I'm ok with that
jes Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:16,165 Points:3,352,475 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Dec 19, 2012 5:00:30 AM Ignore jes Report Abuse Looks like you answered question mnrick041.
drydem Sophomore Author Maryland Posts:131 Points:3,200 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 8:11:52 PM Ignore drydem Report Abuse The fuel efficiency of my 2010 Toyota Prius drops every winter - it is cause by the colder driving temperatures, wetter roads, rougher road surface, reformulated gasoline, slower traffic jams, and higher aerodynamic drag. In the Summer time, I can squeeze between 67 to 71 mpg per tank from the Prius . In the dead of winter regardless of what I do, the Prius fuel efficiency drops to between 53 to 58 mpg per tank. That is to say the fuel efficiency of my 2010 Toyota Prius drops about 20% in the winter time.
dontuknowOH Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,099 Points:36,585 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 6:41:26 PM Ignore dontuknowOH Report Abuse Automotive vehicles tend to perform at their best on Economy near the same temps as the human body.. like 65...78 F daily,with under-hood temps at that same time, ranging often > reaching 140...200 F degrees on a constant basis. Winter outside temps go down severly....so the engines/drivetrain gets a colder environment under the hood/chassie....then like other common objects also,fluids,grease,rubber,synthetics,electrics,etc. all stiffen.... After the vehicles get shut off,each cold-down episode from that normal higher operating range is lost quickly,yes a drastic difference from the daily 65...78 F degree daily range.Think about the tires,cold then cold/wet also in Winter,Ice wind blasts of air constant draining away under-hood cozy engine temps > 140..200 F degrees.BRrrr....! Repeated....
CSACHB Rookie Author Knoxville Posts:23 Points:50,600 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 6:20:38 PM Ignore CSACHB Report Abuse I experience a loss in MPG during the winter also, but we do not have mass snow or ice in Tennessee. I attribute it to allowing the car to warm up.
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:21,526 Points:2,835,315 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 6:12:39 PM Ignore gvan Report Abuse My mpg drops 1-2 mpg in winter and I attribute that to the short trips I take where the engine is not running at operating temperature much of the time.
Giterdone2011 Rookie Author British Columbia Posts:8 Points:1,560 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 5:16:16 PM Ignore Giterdone2011 Report Abuse I notice about a 2 to 3 mpg downgrade in both my 2004 Ford powerstroke and 2010 Toyota Venza V6. Possibly thicker oil viscosity in the winter?
Snowchoux Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,003 Points:145,635 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 11:38:02 AM Ignore Snowchoux Report Abuse My MPG drops, I think that it is caused by heater usage.