I hate winter.......

[fltrplntman]

Originally Posted by CAPTAIN CHAOS

All this cold weather has my mileage in the crapper. My SL2 usually gets between 38-40mpg in the summer when I drive it. Any less than 37 and I'm looking for something wrong; it's just that consistant. :thumbup
Here lately though, I've been struggling to get better than 36-37, despite a VERY concious effort to maximize coasting and accellerate VERY leisurely. It's frustrating to try so hard and drive so careful only to get such a mediocre number.

Anyone have any tip for getting winter mpgs back up? I have done a grill block to help it warm up faster (still takes forever though) and my WAI is pulling right off of the exhaust manifold. Other than that, I'm at a loss other than slowing down to 45mph (not really an option).

I noticed a major drop in FE on my Fiat 500. Winter fuel sucks. I went online and searched for pure fuel stations. The nearest one from me is 25 miles away. I got my first fill up today. Wow.. What a difference.
I'm unemployed and the local One Stop Office had me go visit a CNC school in Akron. (35 miles one way) This fuel station was enroute to the school. $3.829 a gallon, and 90 octane.
For the last month I've been struggling to get 41-42 mpg on the highway. after a fill up with pure gas, I continued to the school and back home. I averaged 51.4 for over 40 miles. The return trip was only an hour later and the route is virtually identical one way or the other.

For you NE Ohio eco friends.. The station that sells this is Ravenna Oil,
102 East Lake St. Ravenna, Ohio. (Older place with a one bay garage and fuel depot in the back)
I plan on using this place when ever I'm driving past it, so I'll post more on it later.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Midnight Drifter

The car complains enough about neutral coasting and being dropped back into gear at speed, (it shudders during re-engagement)

That would be enough to convince me NOT to neutral coast (unless you're rolling to a near or full stop). Just saying.

Don't want to kick a man when he's down, but you shoulda bought a manual!

[Fastskiguy]

Wow I'm glad to hear winter fuel drops your mpg....I thought something was wrong! The f-150 went from 20ish to 18.xx just like that. Not a big change...1.5mpg and all...but I've got the same 5 mile to work/home for lunch/back for the afternoon/then home again 6 days per week so it's pretty consistent route.

Now you guys have got me thinkin' about a block heater....

Joe

[Quezacotl]

It's not very cold yet, only -21°C here. I need to start using the block heater, not for FE only, but comfort also

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Fastskiguy

Wow I'm glad to hear winter fuel drops your mpg....I thought something was wrong! The f-150 went from 20ish to 18.xx just like that. Not a big change...1.5mpg and all...but I've got the same 5 mile to work/home for lunch/back for the afternoon/then home again 6 days per week so it's pretty consistent route.

Now you guys have got me thinkin' about a block heater....

Joe

Hmmm...my +10% ethanol tank (E85 mixed with summer gas) got the same average as my first winter gas tank. I'll see how this tank goes, today I accumulated a nice 50 miles at nice slow highway speeds so I might do better.

[Prophecy99]

last winter i was around 23 mpg..... well see.....

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by Midnight Drifter

... The car complains enough about neutral coasting and being dropped back into gear at speed, (it shudders during re-engagement) I don't wanna grenade my trans.

FWIW -
My last auto tranny car complained if I would rev match before going back in gear after a coast. But very smooth if I just left it idling at its chosen rpm and put tranny back in gear. I don't know if that will help on your car though.

[savefuel]

Avoid driving short distances and try to increase your EOC. Especially on snow covered roads EOC can be increased as traffic is generally moving slower.