Good FE in the cold(er) weather
 

Just refueled and am pleased that my FE has not dropped below 60mpg despite this being the coldest darkest month. Morning temps in the 40s and more headlight usage needed. Three factors I'm guessing controlled the seasonal decline: my ignition system overhaul, electrical mods (LEDs, HID, and an alt delete), and what I think are improvements in my hypermile technique.

I have started using the freeways more, which genrally has not been as good for FE as the surface roads. But since my goal this 2012 is to get around faster while staying above 60mpg, I have been doing it anyway. I have discovered that the alt delete really helps my freeway FE because those higher speed/rpm situations get the ECU turning on the alt more regularly. And the aeromods must be helping too.

you know your making it harder to stay away from the alt delete mod right...

:D

The alt delete idea is interesting, but with LEDs/HID it is more possible for anyone :).

Quick question on your alt delete though, are you charging your batt at home, and did you increase battery size?

Yeah, I haven't noticed a serious decline either. Probably minor improvements in hypermiling on my end and keeping up on my tire pressure.

Well, I think it's worth noting that both of you are in coastal southern California. "Winter" kinda has a slightly different meaning there than it does for those of us in colder climates. And, while colder is worse, I usually don't seem to really feel the stong effects of the cold until it gets below freezing. I'd say the change from 30 F to 20 F is probably 2-3 times as significant as 40 F to 30 F (for me at least).

I charge the battery at home, plugging an on-board 6amp maintainer into a line from my garage. I downsized the battery to a 13lbs deep cycle Odyssey motorcycle battery. Bigger would have been better for cold cranking and for duration of the charge, but weight reduction was part of the reasoning. I have shaved about 230lbs off a 2262lbs curb weight car by getting a few pounds here and a few there. Works for my 11 mile commute with EOC.

Awww, I was hoping to see some more tips for cold weather, 40F is balmy compared to what I am getting hit with right now...-20F :(

I do have full front grill block as well as 2hour block heater prior to start, and a heated car seat cover. Other than that there isn't much more I can think of to do.

Wow you reduced 10% of the weight O.o. I would be interested what other areas you reduced weight on.

I take it you also removed your alt since you don't use it now and saved weight there as well? Also how long have you used that battery like that for? That size of batter is probably so much cheaper to replace compaired to a full sized one :).

I live in michigan, so winter 90% of the time means 20-40F at the end of fall and when winter actually hits it is normally around 10-20. This year is very warm in the 30s yet. Coldest times of the year hit below zero often. Having said that I have always had fairly large decline in MPG in the winter, but that was with warming up the car befor taking off. By large I would say ~22mpg vs 27 in the summer.

Oh, I know. I was just saying that because California98Civic and I are local to each other.