Does winter fuel hurt your mileage?

[OFF-RD]

How are your trucks doing on mileage now that Winter is here? As late as November, I was seeing 16.7 and 16.9 mpg tanks...and then in December my average dropped to the mid-15s. Today, I filled up and this tank was 14.5 mpg. Gosh...that's a huge drop in two months. I assume it's the "winter blend" fuel?? Is that much of a drop normal? I don't idle my truck in the mornings before work either.

[yfz450dk]

We have basically the exact same set up, 5.3 EXT. Cab. Short Bed, and my milage went from 16.6 MPG, to about 15.3, sometimes lower. Thats a pretty noticable drop, considering the truck only has 4500 miles on it, and my driving hasnt changed. It has to be the fuel.

[Bish]

I think it depends on where you are. I don't think some parts of the country switch to winter fuel. In Chicagoland, they switch to "special" reformulated gas (read....more expensive) every winter to cut down on ozone. I know they do the same in California and other states. I lose about 1.5mpg every winter. I use a spreadsheet to track every tankfull for mileage and I can tell you the exact tankful when it switches just by the drop in mileage.

 

The only good news is the mileage comes back in the spring

[67ChevyRedneck]

Do you let your truck warm up? That makes a big difference too. Winterblend fuel will drop your mpg some too.

 

My average drops from about 15 to 14 in the winter (I do almost ALL city driving).

 

I let my truck warm up for a couple minutes AND because of the cold temps I leave it in 3rd much longer than in the summer because the tranny won't lock up anyway until it reaches a certain temp.

[pm26]

Can't tell you . It does not get that cold here in Central Florida. I do not see any difference in mileage.

[ZZ327]

its the cold weather in general, sucking in all that cold air lets your engine take in more fuel too. Along with the winter blend fuel but thats usually diesel isnt it?

[Quadrasteer]

In upstate NY, with the 10% alcohol added year round, I see around a 2mpg or more drop. Good thing I'm close to NJ, much cheaper prices and 100% Gasoline. The winter formulation drops it another 1mpg.

[dewfpo]

Winter and Oxygenated fuel (10% ethanol) both will cut down on mileage.

 

DEWFPO

[SilveradoLAX7]

I think it depends on where you are.  I don't think some parts of the country switch to winter fuel.  In Chicagoland, they switch to "special" reformulated gas (read....more expensive) every winter to cut down on ozone.  I know they do the same in California and other states.  I lose about 1.5mpg every winter.  I use a spreadsheet to track every tankfull for mileage and I can tell you the exact tankful when it switches just by the drop in mileage.

 

The only good news is the mileage comes back in the spring 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I think you are correct. When I lived in Colorado, I remember a sticker on the pump giving notice that the fuel was oxygenated(or something along those lines). Almost positive there are no such disclaimers in TX.

 

-Jay

[Schmids5.3l]

My mileage went from suck to blow with winter fuel. Actually it wasn't too bad before, but with winter blend it dropped pretty badly.

[carneyman]

I think it depends on where you are.  I don't think some parts of the country switch to winter fuel.  In Chicagoland, they switch to "special" reformulated gas (read....more expensive) every winter to cut down on ozone.  I know they do the same in California and other states.  I lose about 1.5mpg every winter.  I use a spreadsheet to track every tankfull for mileage and I can tell you the exact tankful when it switches just by the drop in mileage.

 

The only good news is the mileage comes back in the spring 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I think you are correct. When I lived in Colorado, I remember a sticker on the pump giving notice that the fuel was oxygenated(or something along those lines). Almost positive there are no such disclaimers in TX.

 

-Jay

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

There may not be any disclaimers here, but my mileage still dropped. It was the same all the way from nacogdoches to colorado springs.

[Rolandd]

Winter fuel mixes include alchohol and other goodies to improve starts and cold weather performance, as well as cold emissions. California and a few other states use "winter" blend year round for emissions reduction, which has sparked debate as to its effectiveness if you are burning more fuel are you polluting less with modern FI engines. Winter blends will cut 5-10% economy. High altitude blends are worse, but there is not much one can do when there is less air to burn and it is rare (reletive to consumption) for people to go from high to low altitude.

[Wingnut]

My mileage is so nasty, I quit looking at a) Gas prices b) My gas bill c) my gas mileage d) What "blend" is currently being pumped e) everything but my fuel gauge.

 

[ken1mod]

real gasoline does definitely give better mileage. Winter weather drops mileage as does rainy weather with water on the roads. My 5.3 has been getting 18.5 for the last 4 tanks. I am thankful and amazed by these numbers. I squeak the tires at least once a day but I always get off the gas early to coast up to red lights.

 

Driving technique affects mileage by at least 30% Fast acceleration from lights does not hurt much at all. Coasting is where city mileage happens.

 

GET OFF THE GAS EARLY WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP.

 

Ken

[cmoore74]

The last 5 GM trucks I've owned always experience about 1-2 MPG loss in the winter.

 

I'm not really sure how much is due to winter fuel, colder outside air temperatures, or what else. The odd thing I sometimes notice is if you get a really warm day in the winter I gain back quite a bit of the MPG loss even with the winter fuel.