Quote:
Originally Posted by blackened_offroad
colder air = worse mpg
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Yep. Colder air is more dense, which is great for power, but bad for gas mileage.
Also, a lot of areas in the US switch to an oxygenated "winter" blend of gasoline.
Texas generally sells conventional and Minnesota sells oxygenated.
Summer Versus Winter Gasoline Explained | News | Car and Driver
Despite those higher prices, summer gasoline contains about 1.7 percent more energy than winter gasoline. Warmup times aside, that’s why you could measure reduced fuel economy outside the summer months. Winter gasoline varies widely in volatility throughout the season. Refiners constantly adjust their RVP to as high as 15 psi—higher than sea-level atmospheric pressure, which is 14.7 psi—to help the gasoline ignite more easily in colder temperatures. The vapor pressure varies by month, region, and octane. In frigid temperatures, higher-volatility fuel is essential and does not cause the smog effect it would in the summer. Using low-RVP fuel is a nonstarter in freezing weather; the engine won’t turn over or might misfire.