Now they've gone and shot down better gas mileage in the winter. I thought I was the only one who got 3 mpg less on the dense gas last winter.

 

..and actually if you look at research and tests, cold air = more "power". Warm air = more mpg. A lot of hypermilers do a WAI (warm air intake) since it frees up breathing but also adds some MPG.

 

Well, you live in Tennesee....I live in California. I notice my car running better in the winter, even if there is crappy fuel. And yes, the throttle body does heat up the intake a little, but you still get power from it, otherwise it would be a pointless hunk of metal, correct? So though I do agree with you slightly, it isn't as straight forward as you are putting it.

You seem very arguementative today....seems every post I have replied to, you have something negative to say. Try to cheer up, ok?

~Stephanie

 

Exactly.

Thanks.

 

Anyone in this "cold weather" conversation that actually knows what cold weather is?

If you're talking 65 degrees as opposed to 95 degrees? Yes, the engine will run more efficiently. But if you're talking 10 degrees? Not so much. I generally lose 3-4mpg in the winter. My best mileage is in the fall/spring.

 

I'm talking about "cold in California" like you said 65 rather than 95.....sorry, I have a California mind, I don't know what 10 degrees is....haha!!

~Stephanie

 

Grrrrrrrr

 

You jealous?? Haha! You should move here! It's wonderful!! And if you crave snow while you're out here, it's only a 3 hour drive to snow......and you can go to the beach the same day and get a tan!! haha!!

~Stephanie

 

I have two choices of route to my office (45 minute drive in light traffic). One involves more miles, mostly on the 75 mph expressway. The other spends half the time going 40-45 without stoplights, and the rest on typical suburban surface streets with rush-hour traffic.

If I take the expressway route, my scangauge says I get 29-31 mpg (depending on breeze, a/c use, and my right foot). If I take the back route, I get 35-45 mpg (depending on the same factors plus how lucky I get with the lights).

For comparison, my 2002 Accord 4-cyl 5spd gets 25-27 on either route.

The xB's aerodynamics and the short 5th gear conspire to kill fuel economy at highway speeds. Speed seems to be the biggest factor in the xB's fuel economy, though shifting early and keeping my foot out of it both help.

The xB is much more at home on the back route (in terms of fuel economy, noise and tossable handling), while the Accord is happier on the highway route and feels dull and lifeless on the back route.

 

Reminds me of a story. A guy in Detroit and I had the same job--just me in CA and he in Detroit. He got mad because his rental car did not have an ice scraper. I told him I had NEVER rented a car that HAD and ice scraper..........

Anyway--we have totally different gas here in the Winter than in the Summer. Truth be told--I don't know which is better--only that it causes a increase when they change production because the supply becomes limited.

 

1. Drive at 55 on the freeway (right!)
2. Drive without your AC on (easier at 70 in December than 100+ in August)
3. Inflate your tires to the max allowed for your tires.
4. Keep your car tuned and oil changed.

 

Actually they're both right. I think the first poster meant ".3%" which makes for muliplying any value by 1.03

edit- (whoops. yeah ignore that. bad math on my part.)

 

Nope - 3% = .03

.03 = 3 hundredths. What's another name for a hundredth? A cent. I think the first poster just got the decimal point in the wrong place - happens all the time.

 

I've never seen much of a difference in winter vs. summer MPG. We suffer with cold-blend fuel in the winter, but my guess is that's offset by less use of the air conditioner.

Of course, on short trips in the winter you do get killed on MPG, as the car cannot fully warm up. Tire pressure can be much lower, too.

First tank on my new (to me) Box, a, 04 5-speed, came in at 35 mpg in a mix of city/country. I do take advantage of rolling down our plentiful hills in neutral*, and generally stay under 65 on the highway, which in my urban area is about as fast as one can go.

*I know, I know -- coasting in neutral isn't the safest thing. But it does help the MPG.