I hate winter.......

[Weather Spotter]

The air density is also why rainy days are worst . Wet roads but all the water in the air makes it more dence.

[Mustang Dave]

Yes, the air is more dense at lower temperatures, lubricants are more viscous at lower temperatures, and Winter fuel has less energy per gallon than Summer fuel. Last Winter, I had 2 fill-ups UNDER 29 MPG in my Mustang !

[BHarvey]

Went from getting 43-45 to and from work to getting 38-39, and winter ain't really here yet!

[GRU]

how long does it take for your car to get to regular engine temp? you said forever and just an example, my car with about 95% grill block, 0 celcius (32f) takes about 2 miles in city driving so about 5 minutes without preheating the engine or even parking it in a garage. Still my mileage has dropped quite a bit too

[BHarvey]

Originally Posted by GRU

how long does it take for your car to get to regular engine temp? you said forever and just an example, my car with about 95% grill block, 0 celcius (32f) takes about 2 miles in city driving so about 5 minutes without preheating the engine or even parking it in a garage. Still my mileage has dropped quite a bit too

That is just coolant temp, oil temp takes another 12+ miles or more to get up to temp.

[CAPTAIN CHAOS]

Originally Posted by GRU

how long does it take for your car to get to regular engine temp? you said forever and just an example, my car with about 95% grill block, 0 celcius (32f) takes about 2 miles in city driving so about 5 minutes without preheating the engine or even parking it in a garage. Still my mileage has dropped quite a bit too

To get to full operating temp it takes about 7-8miles of county road driving (55mph), or about 10 minutes with virtually no warmup idling before takeoff (just long enough for me to get the windows cleared off). I already replaced the thermostat, and that did help a little (the old one wouldn't close fully). I've also blocked about 85% of the opening to the radiator, which helped a little more. It still seems to take quite a while though. I'd like to cut that number down to 5 miles or less.

That being said, I managed 38.7mph on this last tank. The temps have been in the 20's in the morning but afternoon highs have been warmer with no wind. Still, it took a lot of work to get that number.

[HypermilerAX]

For me, at 20°C and 50 mph with no grill block, water takes 4 miles to get to operating temp. and 8 miles for oil.

Originally Posted by serialk11r

We can fight it by going slower!

Yeah, works for those that have some margin but for those like me that already drive at borderline speeds, sometimes as slow as 40 mph on highway-ish roads with few traffic, it will be hard.

[nemo]

I love winter get to turn the air off, mileage goes up. Although the sun through the windshield still fries to burn you skin off.

[ChazInMT]

I sort of noticed a drop in fuel economy last weekend on my way from Chicago to Bozeman,

Day 1 with a 10-15MPH tailing wind and 65°F temps going 55mph I got 42 MPG.
Day 2 with a 20-30MPH head winds and 15°F temps going 75mph I got 27 MPG.

What a difference a day makes huh? Probably didn't "Need" to go 75....but I was on a mission.

[arcosine]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

The air density is also why rainy days are worst . Wet roads but all the water in the air makes it more dence.

Humid days have lower density. Water, H20 has a molar mass of 18, nitrogen has 28 and oxygen 32, replacing N2 and O2 partial pressure with H2O lowers the air density. I agree kicking up all that spray lowers mpg, but Ive never measured it.


My SW1 and SW2 warmed up faster and got better mileage in the winter with hot air intake.