Winter fuel blend = performance drop?

[vol4runner]

You guys may think this is a stupid question, but I thought I'd ask it anyway.

Has anyone noticed a drop in performance this winter with the switch to winter blend fuel? I've noticed that my rig slows down a bit and sometimes has to downshift climing hills. I'm pretty sure it didn't do that during spring/summer.

Thanks.

 

[JohnsD90]

You guys may think this is a stupid question, but I thought I'd ask it anyway.

Has anyone noticed a drop in performance this winter with the switch to winter blend fuel? I've noticed that my rig slows down a bit and sometimes has to downshift climing hills. I'm pretty sure it didn't do that during spring/summer.

Thanks.

Most non-diesel, and low torque vehicles have to downshift while you on the hill, or if you are smart you will downshift before you hit the hill. That goes for any season, and yes the new fuel mixture may cause a small drop in performance.

 

[Qyota]

"Winter blend" means more alcohol (or similar) added to help keep water out of the fuel. So, technically it wouldn't contain as much energy per gallon.

Also, cold weather keeps the engine in open loop longer, meaning a richer fuel mixture. Lastly, components that spin freely in warm weather (engine internals and things like wheel bearings) will have more friction in the cold...so the vehicle takes a little more effort to roll (this is probably negligible, but worth mentioning anyway).

I usually notice a 2mpg drop from December to April (Wisconsin's coldest months).

 

[JohnsD90]

I usually notice a 2mpg drop from December to April (Wisconsin's coldest months).

There are a few factors that contribute to that, i.e. warming the car up, and what you mentioned. I'd like to see what the MPG drop would be if the engine block was kept warm using the block heater as opposed to the 10-15 warm up in the driveway.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

The cold and how much 4wd is used really affects my overall mileage per tank. I get anywhere from 13.5mpg (heavy 4wd usage) to 16 regularly in the winter and 16-19 in the summer city driving.

 

[fourwd1]

Plus cold air contains more O2, which leans out the mixture. The ECM compensates by adding more fuel.

 

[vol4runner]

Thanks for the input guys. I wanted to check and see if my theory was correct and there wasn't anything starting to go wrong.

 

[AK Kilted Guy]

I don't know about any fuel blend change here, but since November when the temps really dropped, my fuel economy really dropped. I was down to about 10.5 mpg. I had a command start installed, which has shortened my warm up time and am now seeing 11-12mpg. The coldest months are still ahead, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[TC4Rnr]

avg. mpg during winter: 15.2
avg. mgp during rest of the year: 16.5

 

[Qyota]

Letting a car or truck idle in the driveway until the engine is warm isn't a good idea. You build carbon in the head, and it wastes fuel. Get in, start it, wait 30 seconds or so, then drive reasonably (no high RPMs, etc.). It will warm up MUCH quicker, and you'll be using that fuel to move, rather than wasting it.

 

[LINY4Runner]

This really killed my Camry...I was averaging 30.8mpg between August and October. November hit and I'm around 25mpg, with drops as low as 21.

:happens:

 

[vol4runner]

I didn't mean to cause a debate about warming up and MPG. I wasn't really too concerned about the MPG drop. That's understandable for winter time. My main concern was that there wasn't more going on mechanically.

Interesting reading though.....

 

[JohnsD90]

Letting a car or truck idle in the driveway until the engine is warm isn't a good idea. You build carbon in the head, and it wastes fuel. Get in, start it, wait 30 seconds or so, then drive reasonably (no high RPMs, etc.). It will warm up MUCH quicker, and you'll be using that fuel to move, rather than wasting it.

To each his own, And i guess you dont mind sitting in a 15*F car for 5 minutes with a stone cold steering wheel and shifter knob, and still having to wait another 15 minutes for your hands to warm up.

It is better for the car to warm up before you put it under stress too.

Im fine with the minimal fuel consumption on a 5-7 minute warm up.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I think mine is also a little more temperature dependant than how much ethanol is in the fuel since if it was over 60F for this whole week I'd see easily over 17mpg but the reality is that it is only 25 and will be in the teens all day tomorrow so my MPGs will be in the 14-15 since 4wd will be needed a little over the next week.

 

[Qyota]

To each his own, And i guess you dont mind sitting in a 15*F car for 5 minutes with a stone cold steering wheel and shifter knob, and still having to wait another 15 minutes for your hands to warm up.

It is better for the car to warm up before you put it under stress too.

Im fine with the minimal fuel consumption on a 5-7 minute warm up.

My truck is fully warm (engine and interior) in 5 minutes of driving, regardless the temperature. Not sure where you are getting your figures. I also wear gloves in the winter, as do most thinking people.