Winter Fuel vs Summer Fuel

[John O]

Last fall my '99 OBW seemed to suddenly suffer a gas mileage drop. At the
time I though it might be the switch to winter fuel, and my feelings were
more or less confirmed when I got a tank of apparent summer fuel a month or
so ago.

In the winter, generally 300-325 miles per tank. Now, closer to 380-400. (I
don't count tanks where I was driving on snowy roads)

Do I have a bad sensor or something?

-John O

 

[Guest]

Last fall my '99 OBW seemed to suddenly suffer a gas mileage drop. At the
time I though it might be the switch to winter fuel, and my feelings were
more or less confirmed when I got a tank of apparent summer fuel a month or
so ago.

In the winter, generally 300-325 miles per tank. Now, closer to 380-400. (I
don't count tanks where I was driving on snowy roads)

Do I have a bad sensor or something?

-John O

Yes, there is winter gas and summer gas. Here in upstate NY the
mileage difference was very noticeable.

Be ready to lose a few MPG when the only gas avail. has 10% ethanol.


Dave

 

[Dominic Richens]

Yes, there is winter gas and summer gas. Here in upstate NY the
mileage difference was very noticeable.

Be ready to lose a few MPG when the only gas avail. has 10% ethanol.

Hmm, I use E10 all the time and my fuel economy is also worse in winter
time. I think there is more to it than just the make up of the gas you are
using:
- winter tires have higher rolling resistance
- cold air is denser - more drag
- cold bearings waste more power
- etc...

 

[Valued Corporate #120,345 Employee (B A R R Y)]

Yes, there is winter gas and summer gas. Here in upstate NY the
mileage difference was very noticeable.

Same here in CT.

Be ready to lose a few MPG when the only gas avail. has 10% ethanol.

We already do, all year around. 8^(

 

[Valued Corporate #120,345 Employee (B A R R Y)]

Hmm, I use E10 all the time and my fuel economy is also worse in winter
time. I think there is more to it than just the make up of the gas you are
using:
- winter tires have higher rolling resistance
- cold air is denser - more drag
- cold bearings waste more power
- etc...

True! As well as a longer (w/ richer mixture) warmup time, and an
overall richer mixture due to the denser cold air.

On the other hand, you'd see summer and winter economy improve with
100% gas! Check the published mileage on E85 vehicles. Two
different numbers are published.

The folks who still get winter blends see twice the shock as those of
us who get E10 year-round.

 

[bg]

it has everything to do with the seasons. If you are old enough to remember
carb engines..v8s used to shoot up to where the most conservative subaru ej
is now for mileage. A carbed suby is an unwritten world record for the same
phenomona. It levels off at solstice, then slowly but surely goes back
down...regardless of temps it seems. could talk to God about it, but maybe
fuel injection experts can babble their non-precise failure better than the
carbs that do not, as they never will need to.....
10% ethanol? who gives a fast burnin kaka.. its only a smaller bang and a
quicker burning top end failure. four bangers don't need a full bang anyway.
Just add a japanese kamikaze turbo. There, all fixed.

 

[vjc]

lost 4 to 6 miles to a gallon on winter fuel.

Summer fuel is back and mileage is back to normal now.