Cold weather = bad gas mileage?

[1ViciousGSX]

Check your engine temp and make sure it coming up to the correct level. A cold running engine will stay in rich mode too long. Also check the temp sensor for the ecu to make sure it's reading correctly.

Also check your foot, cold weather makes it heavier for some reason. At least it does for me :wink:

[1ViciousGSX]

So rather than having a high flow K&N type filter replace with the stock cotton/ paper filter, less air flow = less gas used :D
Wrong. You will still get the same airflow because they are not that restrictive under normal driving conditions.

[turbotalon1g]

I still put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator, its the only way i can get the car up to operating temp.

[Matt D.]

I still put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator, its the only way i can get the car up to operating temp.
Interesting... Even at 0 degrees my Evo's temp gauge starts to move in about 5 minutes and that is when I can start feeling a little heat from the vents. It's warmed up in about 10 minutes. I have an aluminum radiator if that matters.

[xveganxcowboyx]

I don't know about you guys, but my driving is mostly 10-15 minute city trips. In the summer I'm up to full operating temp in a few minutes, but in the winter I may go ten minutes before reaching temp. I've always attributed most of the mileage drop to that. When I do long drives where my car is up to temp the difference is not as severe.

My miata has dropped 3-4mpg so far, but that might be due to all the wheel spinning action. :)

[A//// Guy]

I never had a problem getting my dsm to operating temp, it was actually the fastest car I ever had to get warmed up. Brown- replace your thermostat if you havent, or make sure your fans arent on all the time.

Jet covered the main points.

[Kracka]

Brownman, replace your thermostat like Peter said. All my DSM's have been able to reach full operating temp w/o a problem no matter how cold it got up in Duluth.

[MustGoFaster]

Most new cars (like 2G DSM's) will run the same coolant throught the bolck over and over till it's warm. 3S's (even 91's) do it, and so do a lot of other cars. Helps them warm up quicker. Also, one reaon they use more fuel when cold is that when it's cold, fuel atomizes poorly, so to get the same amount of burnable fuel in the cylinder, you have to put more in.

[JET]

I don't buy that. My car sure is stiff when I start driving, but loosens right up after a bit. Are you serious about running rich to make more heat? I've never heard of such a thing.

I don't care if you buy it or not, it is true. Your car loosens up some, but not as much as when it is warmer out. The engine and tranny loosen up to near normal, but the wheel bearings do not. Yes cars do run a bit richer when it is cold too. A smaller factor in play is the air is more dense so it causes more drag on the car going through the air. There is less drag on the tires though, since they are harder when it is cold out.

[dylan]

Winter fuel is also different than summer