Miles Per Gal With Heat On Loss

[jerr529]

Just wondering how many MPG you loss with your truck when winter arrives,and have the Heat on I seem to have loss about 2 miles a gal maybe cause im warming up longer and the truck is cold so its the reason maybe?? any opinions/

jerry

[dlstewart01]

Just wondering how many MPG you loss with your truck when winter arrives,and have the Heat on I seem to have loss about 2 miles a gal maybe cause im warming up longer and the truck is cold so its the reason maybe?? any opinions/

jerry

 

Winter blend gas gets less miles per gallon.

 

Don

[pennzoil29]

I lose any where between 2 to 3 mpg, if not more during the winter. I put the blame on the winter/mix gasoline.

[peteking]

I lose any where between 2 to 3 mpg, if not more during the winter. I put the blame on the winter/mix gasoline.

 

+1. Mine does the same thing.

[gvbhunt]

If by heat you mean the defroster, that will make some difference. When it is on it runs the AC compressor down to about 40 degrees or so. But I also agree with everyone else. Winter blended gas drops mileage and so does the cold more dense air.

[superjim]

PART of the reason is the winter blend fuel.

 

PART of the reason is ... the computer keeps the engine in OPEN LOOP longer because it takes longer for the engine to warm up to operating temperature.

 

When it reaches normal temp... it goes into CLOSED LOOP.

 

When in OPEN LOOP... the engine runs with a richer mixture to improve cold weather driveability.

 

When it goes into CLOSED LOOP... it leans out to normal.

[bubba33]

winter gas is bad for MPG

[fbachman]

what everyone said:

 

winter blend gas + longer choke cycles + colder air, in general.... more mass of air per volume of charge due to colder Temps, thus more fuel to maintain desired air-fuel ratio.

 

Mine drops 2-3 mpg in the cold winter months...

[Crazy Canuck]

I think that the thicker fluids (diffs etc.) play a bit of a part too.

[VMax2007]

PART of the reason is the winter blend fuel.

 

PART of the reason is ... the computer keeps the engine in OPEN LOOP longer because it takes longer for the engine to warm up to operating temperature.

 

When it reaches normal temp... it goes into CLOSED LOOP.

 

When in OPEN LOOP... the engine runs with a richer mixture to improve cold weather driveability.

 

When it goes into CLOSED LOOP... it leans out to normal.

 

Jim,

 

I MUST say, your POSTS are the MOST entertaining to read of ANYONE'S. I find myself yelling in MY HEAD everytime I read one of the BOLDED/CAPITALIZED words.

 

[jrrod2004]

haha, that is all true, except i have not noticed. with the exception of today, the temp has not really dropped below 45 degrees overnight. I have not noticed any real change in MPGs with the exception of running the truck in tow/haul mode (keeping the engine at 2000 @ 55MPH.

[nubuilder]

I think it has to do with using the defroster (running the A/C compressor), winter gas mix, and letting the vehicle idle on startup to warm up.

Also, spinning the tires makes it drop and when it gets colder, the air pressure in the tires goes down (air takes up less space when cold vs warm).

I have a '98 Silverado Z71 with 350cu and have gone from 14 to 11.5mpg,

[jrrod2004]

stupid qustion, does it matter regarding octane levels and winter mix???

[redvett]

Colder air temps causes the PCM to add more fuel to keep the engine at the 14.3 A/F mixture. My data shows the colder the weather the lower the fuel economy. My truck is parked in a garage heated to 60F and as soon as i drive down the road in cold weather like right now the average goes down as the temp goes down.

[Bish]

stupid qustion, does it matter regarding octane levels and winter mix???

 

Shouldn't matter. I ran 87 on my 01 Tahoe and saw the same 2mpg drop as I do with 91 on my Denali. Also, not all areas switch to winter blend. Chicagoland is right up there with California as far as "special blends" go.