Winter cold killing everyone's MPG?

[Daschicken]

In my gas sucking V6 beast I am seeing around mid to low 30's, but that is because I don't have my highway commute for now. Highway commute will be back in a week and i'll probably see mid 40s like usual. It has been almost a month since I last filled up, and I still have plenty of gas left. Makes me wonder if I am going to open my trunk by accident when I go to fill up. This next fillup is going to destroy my awesome % over EPA.

[Gasoline Fumes]

I might end up with a 50-55 MPG tank. No instantaneous MPG display, just going by gas gauge versus odometer. I had to start using my alternator again so I could get some heat. The HVAC blower draws a lot from the batteries.

[ksa8907]

My mileage absolutely sucks. I didn't expect too much running extended range with the Volt but I am struggling to get beyond 34 mpg with all ER miles. (still working on the wiring for my L2 charger.)

On the bright side, 34 mpg seems to be the basement on all highway ER driving.

[Natalya]

I'm definitely putting a WAI into one (or both!) of my cars this weekend. Gotta keep those numbers up!

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by Natalya

I'm definitely putting a WAI into one (or both!) of my cars this weekend. Gotta keep those numbers up!

I kid, of course.

[samwichse]

I managed to get only 34 mpg this morning commute in my MT Civic hybrid.

Yeesh. First time I idle warmed a car in years, but I couldn't start moving until the windshield would STAY cleared.

Pushing slush out of the way for half the drive probably didn't help things any!

[Ecky]

I haven't had any issues with my windshield fogging up and I don't use the defrost setting... but, I'm also not opposed to driving with a window cracked, recirculate turned off and the blower set to blow icy air over the windshield.

[cowmeat]

So winter finally hit here in central Florida. I'm sure it won't last long, but it's here

This morning my windshield had a slight layer of frost on it, so I hit it with a big shot of windshield washer fluid.
Unfortunately down here in Florida they sell "above 32 degree" washer fluid, so it froze solid the second it touched the windshield, and I spent ten minutes burning through EV range just sitting there waiting for the defroster to clear a hole in the sheet of ice

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

and I spent ten minutes burning through EV range just sitting there waiting for the defroster to clear a hole in the sheet of ice

When that happens I bring out a gallon milk jug full of cold water and pour that, slowly, over the windshield.

At first it freezes, but then it thaws out. Use cold so you don't shock the windshield and crack it, of course. This works for me all the way down to about 20 degrees - and sometimes I just hit it with another gallon of cold water. Saves on antifreeze.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

So winter finally hit here in central Florida. I'm sure it won't last long, but it's here

This morning my windshield had a slight layer of frost on it, so I hit it with a big shot of windshield washer fluid.
Unfortunately down here in Florida they sell "above 32 degree" washer fluid, so it froze solid the second it touched the windshield, and I spent ten minutes burning through EV range just sitting there waiting for the defroster to clear a hole in the sheet of ice

Ah no. They all do that. Windshield washer liquid contains volatiles which evaporate and bring down the temperature, freezing the residual water. This may happen even just above the freezing point.
One could bring down the melting point with non-volatile stuff like salt or sugar or whatever, but then the windscreen won't clean properly.

So when it freezes you must not spray the windscreen until the engine is warm and the front window is warmed from the blower!
Simply scrape off the ice with a windscreen scraper or an old creditcard.
The ice will take any dirt that is on the windscreen with it.

Be sure to wear gloves or your fingers will frostbite from the melting ice.