cold weather MPG

[sully]

Hello,

I have a 2000 4wd 4runner 3.4 L, I live in Wisconsin and during warmer weather above 40 Deg F. I average between 18-21mpg.

Once it falls below 40 deg F(like today) my milage drops to 13-16 mpg.

I have a Co worker who has a T-100 with the 3.4 who has the same problem.

1st- does anyone else see the same result?
2nd- Any suggestions or Cure?

Thanks

 

[p nut]

That is a huge drop. How do you know that you were getting 13-16mpg TODAY? How do you calculate MPG? Do you have a ScanGauge?

Two culprits of worse mileage during the winter time are:

1) Winter blend gas. Most of the 4-season states put in up to 10% ethanol in the gas to help with the pollution. But that in turn drops your MPG.

2) Colder weather means colder air which means you're running rich. That also accounts for lower MPG's.

Generally, people will only see about 1-2MPG difference. I noticed the same. I am now hovering around 20MPG on the highway, when during the summer time, I was getting 21-22MPG.

But there is no way that ethanol and the cold weather will account for ~30% drop in MPG. Do you have a CEL? How many miles do you have on your truck? Any issues with feeling of power loss?

 

[sully]

Thanks for the reply. My milage was not based on today's drop. I calculate it every fillup. I take the miles off the odometer and divide that by the amount of gas.

The stations that I use for 90% of my gas does not have a winter blend.

Sorry for the ignorance, but what is a cel?

I have 157,000 miles on the runner, I bought it with 114,000 in May of 2007.

I don't know if it lost power from factory form, it never has seemed to have had a great deal of power. I was used to driving Chevy's with the 5.3. Other than the gas milage I love the runner. Thanks for the reply