Winter MPG

[Frankied85]

I know there are quite a few threads on MPG, but i decided to create one for those that experience the winter conditions. Lately, I have found myself recording terrible MPG the last 2 weeks. Temps have been around the 30s. And i find myself recording 23 MPG city and 25 MPG Highway. I recently drove home for the holiday (200 mi) and also to my GF place (140 mi) both averaging 25mpg, which is kind of irritating. Has anyone else experienced this trend in these conditions?

[JSM1284]

Yes, this is normal. As the temperature of the air decreases, the car adds more fuel causing less MPG. Im about 2 MPG lower now than I was in the summer due to the 30 degree temps.

[Venom_5]

didnt notice any significant drop in MPG in my Thanksgiving Break driving .... but i appreciate the extra 2 hp that i get from the cool air versus the 100* temps from this summer

[Frankied85]

thanks for replies

[MrSo0h0o]

when i filled up my gas the other night i saw they had a sign on the pumps saying 10% ethanol. is that the normal % for winter gas?

i personally have gotten better mpg the past few fillups but i think thats mainly me changing my driving habits after those fillups costing me $50+ each

[geoff5093]

Originally Posted by JSM1284

Yes, this is normal. As the temperature of the air decreases, the car adds more fuel causing less MPG. Im about 2 MPG lower now than I was in the summer due to the 30 degree temps.

I'm getting about the same, I used to get between 24-25MPG in the late summer early fall, and i'm getting 22-23MPG now.

[toyomoho]

Some areas are required to only sell 10% ethanol in the winter to “reduce” emissions; this may result in a drop in MPG. Cold air alone should not result in lower MPG. The engine has an air intake temperature gauge to tell the ECU how to adjust the fuel supply based on air temp.

[JSM1284]

Exactly, it adds more fuel with lower temps

[Yazovets]

I noticed worse fuel economy within the city. Haven't driven the Camry on the highway for a long enough distance to record anything yet.

[kenny1773]

Yes, I always drop about 2mpg in city driving when the temps drop (30 F or so)

[bigloubumpin]

I too noticed in my 08 a difference in MPG since it got colder out.

[CamrySExxx]

Well if you in an area that is SNOWING out side your going to suffer! Unless you want to drive a cold car with the heat blowing cold air at you your going to have to idle the car to warm it up or even melt all the ice.

[bigloubumpin]

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

Well if you in an area that is SNOWING out side your going to suffer! Unless you want to drive a cold car with the heat blowing cold air at you your going to have to idle the car to warm it up or even melt all the ice.

Definitely not looking forward to that.

[Yazovets]

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

Well if you in an area that is SNOWING out side your going to suffer! Unless you want to drive a cold car with the heat blowing cold air at you your going to have to idle the car to warm it up or even melt all the ice.

And what's so special about that? I have to leave my Camry parked in an outside lot during lecture. During the winter, I often come back to find it "frozen" and possibly frozen over.

Well...this will be my first winter with the Camry, but all our other cars have met this condition.

I just let the engine idle till the needle drops to around 1000rpm. Then I start driving. The heater comes on in a few minutes.

Heat is "taken" from the engine so it's free in essence.

I keep 20 kilos of cat litter in the trunk in case I get stuck on ice somewhere this winter. Complete with brush, and 2 spare gallons of windshield fluid stuff.

[geoff5093]

I've been recording my average mileage for the past few months, and this is a graph of what it's been like to date: