I was just sitting here thinking about why miles per gallon drops in the winter. I have heard that the gas mixture is different in the winter, but that can't be the only reason as octane rating is octane rating.

The air is more dense.....is this the major cause?

Air being more dense offers higher resistance to foward travel.....is this the major cause?

The fuel is cold.....is this the major cause

What is your thoughts on this subject?

 

I don't really want to know gas mileage, putting in $120 biweekly is enough for me! Haha...

Maybe cause it has to work harder to stay warm?

 

For me I usually attribute it to letting the truck run more. When it get below 20 I always let mine run at minimum 5 minutes before I ever get in it and its normally closer to 10. I know they all say you don't need to do that anymore but I like to. I hate just getting in starting it and slamming it gear as soon as its started. Even in the summer I usually let it run a minute before taking off. As far as over the road driving I haven't ever had a difference in MPG in cold weather trips on the highway.
But its like everything else its probably a big combination of all the stuff you listed. When it comes to stuff like this there usually isn't just 1 answer its a combination of many factors.

 

I feel your pain. Since we moved I have been using around $100 biweekly before that it was about $150. I have been hunting pretty hard the last month so its been about $100 weekly the last month. For my driving I get right at 13.6. 17.6 if its pure highway. I love my truck but I just don't know how much longer I can deal with that kind of mileage. I know there is really only 1 way to fix it too. Get rid of it and get a different vehicle.

If this wasn't our reliable vehicle that we take whenever we go on a long trip it would be better. But every time we make a trip more than 20 miles this is what we take because we don't trust the other vehicle enough to make it and the truck is way more comfortable.

 

I thought with all the experts in this place there would some real scientific answers to the proposed question.

Mark

 

I've never blamed it on winter mix, I've always said it's because when it's cold I always warm the truck up before I go anywhere so that's every mornin of at least 10 min of idle were in the warmer months u don't do that so there for more milage on the odometer. Just my thoughts.

 

I'm still averaging 17l per 100km, not sure whats that in mpg. It hasn't been that cold out.

On a side note at work and at the condo I don't pay for the outdoor plug. So im thinking on rigging some sort of space heater with a timer to clear the windows and take the chill out of the truck, better then burning my fuel, any thoughts ?

 

14 mpg thats pretty low

 

Yikes, and I don't really do anything out of the ordinary and I drive it fairly nice. Everything is well maintained.

My 2010 fusion sel 3.0 gets around 11-13 liters per 100km. However this is just going by the dashboard reading haven't really kept track.

 

Some of the more experienced or intelligent on this matter can address the points and agree or rebuke .... but here's what I found while doing some searching. Interesting read with sources for some of the info.

http://www.metrompg.com/posts/winter-mpg.htm