Winter Gas Milage
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New User
Joined: Jan 2005
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Winter Gas Milage
I notice in the middlie of October my gas mileage went from 15.5 to 14.5mpg. I did not change my driving habits. I'm wondering if the gas formula changed. Anybody else notice a drop around this time. I'm located in Washington State.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 16
From: northeast
fuel milage
Yes mine dropped almost 1mpg with no change in driving habits. I think it’s a combo of winter fuel and outside temp. I notice when outside temp drops below 50 degrese milage starts to drop. Also my truck is parked inside so warm up is not the issue. Just my observation BWEP
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 69
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From: Minnesota
Hey Guys,
Be thankful that non oxygenated fuel is available to you in the summer months. I live in Minnesota and all the fuel here is oxygenated year round.
They do offer premium as non oxygenated year round but only for off road use such as small engines in snowmobiles, motorcycles, lawn and garden equipment, etc. Gas mileage still drops.
I feel it has to do with driving the vehicle with a cold engine. Cold engines are not as efficient. With how cold it gets, sometimes it takes 4-5 miles of driving to really get a vehicle warmed up. And then you turn it off. That's me. 4.5 miles to work. Just warming up and I'm pulling in the parking lot. I know, very bad.
That is still better than letting your truck idle for 10 minutes and then driving it. 0 mpg idling. You just take it real slow and easy with that cold engine, keeping the rpm's down as much as possible.
Winter is brutal on anything with a motor. Just my thoughts.
Be thankful that non oxygenated fuel is available to you in the summer months. I live in Minnesota and all the fuel here is oxygenated year round.
They do offer premium as non oxygenated year round but only for off road use such as small engines in snowmobiles, motorcycles, lawn and garden equipment, etc. Gas mileage still drops.
I feel it has to do with driving the vehicle with a cold engine. Cold engines are not as efficient. With how cold it gets, sometimes it takes 4-5 miles of driving to really get a vehicle warmed up. And then you turn it off. That's me. 4.5 miles to work. Just warming up and I'm pulling in the parking lot. I know, very bad.
That is still better than letting your truck idle for 10 minutes and then driving it. 0 mpg idling. You just take it real slow and easy with that cold engine, keeping the rpm's down as much as possible.
Winter is brutal on anything with a motor. Just my thoughts.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
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From: Dedham, MA
I believe the fuel systems adjust for the colder air temp by running richer. Colder air is more dense, therefore more CFM into engine, fuel has to increase to match the increased air flow. I agree about the idling, it's a waste. I let her run for a minute or two, then it's putt-putt until the temp comes up. It's not good on the tranny or rear to run it too hard until those fluids heat up as well. (which could also account for decreased mpg, if those fluids are technically more "viscous" at lower temps, thus causing a little more resistance in the drivetrain as a whole).
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Marion, VA
Keep in mind that everything is stiffer and harder to turn in cold weather until it gets warmed up and you probably get to your destination before everything warms up. Wheel bearings, differential, transmission, power steering, etc. The same vehicle that pushes easily in the summer is very difficult to push in the winter.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Mirror, Alberta
Originally Posted by silverxlt
I notice in the middlie of October my gas mileage went from 15.5 to 14.5mpg. I did not change my driving habits. I'm wondering if the gas formula changed. Anybody else notice a drop around this time. I'm located in Washington State.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,006
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From: San Jose, CA
Also don't forget that your tire pressures are proportionately lower with ambient temperature. 1psi per 10F drop. Make sure they're pumped up properly so you're not losing mpg by riding a truck on "flat" tires...
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 303
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From: "Garden State"
I'm in northern NJ and we poor bas*ards have oxygenated gas all year round now. With oxygenated gas my highway mileage is 16 mpg at best. Using non-oxygenated gas I get 21 mpg for the same driving conditions 
! Winter driving does lower the mpg somewhat but oxygenated gas lowers it far worse 
. And the kicker is oxygenated gas does not improve emissions in modern fuel injected computer controlled vehicles made since around the late 80's 
. Our goverment at work "protecting" us dumb peasants 
.
Whimsey
! Winter driving does lower the mpg somewhat but oxygenated gas lowers it far worse . And the kicker is oxygenated gas does not improve emissions in modern fuel injected computer controlled vehicles made since around the late 80's . Our goverment at work "protecting" us dumb peasants .Whimsey
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,006
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From: San Jose, CA
whimsey's right... all this oxygenated gas started in the 80's to cut emissions. It was targeted for all the people who ran carburated engines that tended to run richer in the winter by injecting oxygen into the fuel stream and out to the catalytic converter where it would oxidize/reduce some of emissions that would otherwise go out the tailpipe.
Bummer for most people nowadays with anything somewhat recent is just about everything is fuel injected with multiple O2 sensors all over the place. The computer sees the O2 in the exhaust with oxygenated gas and therefore compensates for it. I could be wrong on this, but oxygenated gas has less energy content versus regular stuff, hence lower mileage by definition...
Bummer for most people nowadays with anything somewhat recent is just about everything is fuel injected with multiple O2 sensors all over the place. The computer sees the O2 in the exhaust with oxygenated gas and therefore compensates for it. I could be wrong on this, but oxygenated gas has less energy content versus regular stuff, hence lower mileage by definition...
New User
Joined: Oct 2005
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I have a '05 FX4 supercrew and sport leather..very heavy.. with about 550lbs added in system and soundproofing and a snuglidsl...i have no performance mods and i've been getting 17.8mpg highway...i went to michigan for thanksgiving and was getting 13mpg in the subfreezing temps (the truck is normally only on the florida interstates)
i always use 87 from BP or Chevron...so that's pretty constant...dunno if it's gas mixtures or the temp
i always use 87 from BP or Chevron...so that's pretty constant...dunno if it's gas mixtures or the temp
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 200
From: southeast PA
My gas mileage has also dropped with the weather. I'm down from 12.2(ouch) to an even worse 10 mpg. Lucikly I only run the truck on weekends and don't need to fill it that often. My best mileage with it has been 16.3. So hey if yours dropped from 15 to 14, just remember, it could still be worse.