Fuel consumption in the cold

frosty03

frosty03

frosty03

Associate
Joined
14 Jul 2004
Posts
1,778
Location
England
Just a quick question... maybe a silly .one...

Does anyone here notice that their mpgs have gone down (ie less efficient) with the cold temps? This appears to happen to both my cars, and i'm seeing about a 15% drop in efficiency for my usual commute/drive (urban)

It cant be all down to the lower tyre pressures?
 
Colder engines work less efficiently and will take longer to warm up. Your ECU may also run a richer fuel mixture to help the engine warm up as quickly as possible, lowering your fuel efficiency. My MPG has dropped lately, but I also fitted new better Continental tyres recently, which have decreased my efficiency.
 
Amazingly, mine has got a lot better.

My fuel economy is usually woeful, generally 250 miles from a 45-50 quid tank. At the moment its sat at 260 with '1/4' of a tank left! 1.8 Astra.
 
aye, down about 5mpg at least here (possibly even more), mind you that could be in part due to the need to get the engine running for 5-10 minutes before starting to make sure the windows are cleared, and the car isn't freezing to sit in.
 
It is also due to the colder denser air being sucked into the engine. Because the air is a lot denser the cars ECU is adding more fuel to the cylinders to keep the air/fuel mixture the same.

Correct me if im wrong :)
 
Plus, everyone is driving in ****e conditions, slow speeds, slowing on gears etc. Its not the same driving so difficult to compare!
 
Gone from 22MPG to 26MPG over the xmas period. I did have a big service in the middle of that and dunno what it's supposed to be. 26MPG was all snow and ice driving though.
 
Werewolf said:
aye, down about 5mpg at least here (possibly even more), mind you that could be in part due to the need to get the engine running for 5-10 minutes before starting to make sure the windows are cleared, and the car isn't freezing to sit in.
Click to expand...

that and the engine takes longer to warm up and spends longer out of optimum temperature

In weather like this, most cars will have an ecu that will make it easier for the car to start by reving it more at idle, increasing the fuel / air ration etc..
 
Hard to say by exactly how much because the temps have been anywhere between 0 and -18 here, but its definitely dropped.

My commute usually has an average of somewhere just short of 40mpg, I have been getting anywhere between 25 and 35. The fact the engine is only just starting to shift the needle off the bottom of the temp scale after the 10 mile journey shows just how cold the block must be! Before the needle starts to move I am only just getting out of single figures!
 
Yep, down around 30-40 km's on a 1/4 of a tank. Need the rear heater on constantly to stop the back window icing up, heated seats for a bit, -10+ weather, snow and the main fans on 2 all the time to stay warm.

Good job I drive half a V8.
 
I'm getting 18mpg from this tank so far so its much worse, in good conditions I was getting 21mpg which was great!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom