Cold weather = crappy mileage!!!

[Spicy McHaggis]

2010 SR5. Love it.

A month ago was averaging 17-18mpg.

Temps have fallen fm upper 40s to low-mid 30s now, and mileage is now around 14-15mpg.

Exact same driving, speeds, distance, etc.

Anyone else have this problem? I've never seen it in my other vehicles.

Thanks!

 

[Spicy McHaggis]

Fixed original post.

 

[Wepps]

I haven't noticed a difference with mine. Temps were mid 70's last week then dropped down to mid 40's at night and mid 50's during the day and actually my MPG's have gone up a mile or two.

Kodiak? I did a stint up there from '98-'01.

 

[offroadingatc]

Some drop is normal, due to winter gas/hard battery charging etc, but that seems like a lot! Is that just over 1 tank?

 

[1engineer]

When pressed, most people admit to warming up the vehicle more when it gets cold. Your vehicle will stay in "warm up mode" longer too which burns more fuel during start up and first few minutes of driving. Also tire pressure drops around 1 psi per 10 degrees temp drop, which causes more rolling resistance. Winter gas blend will drop you another 10%. Finally, a lot of people pack their winter "kit" into their vehicle like blankets, shovels and the like which can add a few hundred pounds making gas milage take another hit. You might not have done any of these things but this is what can hurt fuel economy in winter vs. summer.

 

[jirehn]

I also don't see difference with my car.Maybe the temperature in your place is too cold.

 

[whiskywizard]

You should expect some drop in economy; your's seems to be a bit much though. Have you gone to dedicated winter tires? The softer compound hurts fuel economy just enough to measure it over long periods of averaging.

 

[jhawk]

We haven't switched to winter gas yet, but that sounds like a similar drop in mileage.
They probably switch earlier in Alaska!

 

[Spicy McHaggis]

She's kept in a heated garage, so no warning up. Survival gear kept in the back is the same year 'round do no change there. Run same tires year 'round as well.

Change to winter gas is my best guess but again, never have noticed a big drop with any other vehicle - and we've lived in Alaska for almost 20 years now (on and off).

Thanks!

 

[mtbnole]

80 degrees in FL and my gas mileage still sucks. Less than 17 mpg over 2000 miles, over 70%highway too.

 

[Don in AK]

Crappy mileage

Hey Kodiak, hello from Eagle River (a suburb of Anchorage for those not from here).

I noticed a drop in mileage as winter came on, but have not been able to get a line on what the mileage will be because I've spent too much time in 4Hi. And it's snowing now, so tomorrow will be back in 4WD again 'til the roads get cleared up a bit.

That said, my mileage was not as low as yours before the cold hit. I was getting around 20 mpg this fall with the Drua Tracs on: now it looks like I'm going to be around 16-17 with the studded snow tires on steel rims.

You guys have snow yet?

 

[Saved]

2010 SR5. Love it.

A month ago was averaging 17-18mpg.

Temps have fallen fm upper 40s to low-mid 30s now, and mileage is now around 14-15mpg.

Exact same driving, speeds, distance, etc.

Anyone else have this problem? I've never seen it in my other vehicles.

Thanks!

Change your thermos-stat. Sometimes if they are weak they will not allow the engine to warm us properly and the computer will make it run too rich.

 

[1engineer]

She's kept in a heated garage, so no warning up. Survival gear kept in the back is the same year 'round do no change there. Run same tires year 'round as well.

Change to winter gas is my best guess but again, never have noticed a big drop with any other vehicle - and we've lived in Alaska for almost 20 years now (on and off).

Thanks!

You are probably right about the gas blend. Do you park outside at work?

 

[rickwol]

Change your thermos-stat. Sometimes if they are weak they will not allow the engine to warm us properly and the computer will make it run too rich.

Aside from the mileage issue, I wonder if putting in a hotter thermostat, if one is available for this vehicle would also improve the heat output to the interior.

 

[Ripsnort]

80 degrees in FL and my gas mileage still sucks. Less than 17 mpg over 2000 miles, over 70%highway too.

Wow!
So, how fast do you go?

I've been a consistent 21.9--22.4 mpg since June when I bought my '10 Limited, completely stock.
I use 87 octane, never travel faster than 65 on the highway, and I have about a 80/20 split (Highway-City) on my travel. (I average about 25,000 miles a year)

When my son (who is on a drivers permit) drives the vehicle, it drops a full 1 mpg average (he tends to accelerate rather fast and doesn't have a steady foot once up to speed when in traffic)