Katerina Swanson
Winter driving conditions can significantly reduce a vehicle's fuel economy. Fuel economy tests show that a conventional gasoline car's gas mileage is roughly 15% lower at 20°F than at 77°F. This can be due to various factors, including the type of fuel, vehicle model, and driving conditions. For instance, winter diesel fuel contains additives to prevent gelling in cold weather, but these additives can reduce mileage. Additionally, icy or snowy roads decrease tire grip, wasting energy and further reducing fuel efficiency. To mitigate these effects, drivers can take measures such as parking in a warmer place, combining trips, and minimizing idling to warm up the car.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gas mileage drop for conventional gasoline cars in city driving | 10% to 20% |
| Gas mileage drop for conventional gasoline cars on short trips | 15% to 33% |
| Gas mileage drop for hybrids in city driving | 20% to 40% |
| Gas mileage drop for hybrids on short trips | 25% to 45% |
| Gas mileage drop for electric vehicles in mixed city and highway driving | 39% |
| Gas mileage drop for electric vehicles in range | 41% |
| Energy used to heat the cabin | About two-thirds of the extra energy consumed |
| Gas mileage drop at 75 mph vs 55 mph | 39% |
| Gas mileage drop due to winter blend fuels | Half to three-quarters of an mpg |
| Gas mileage drop due to engine cooling fan | 8% to 12% |
| Gas mileage drop due to increased rolling resistance and drive-train friction in light rain | 0.2 to 0.3 mpg |
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What You'll Learn
- Cold weather and winter driving conditions can reduce fuel economy by up to 15%
- Winter-grade fuels have less energy per gallon
- Cold temperatures decrease tyre pressure, increasing rolling resistance
- Icy roads decrease tyre grip, wasting energy
- Engine idle time increases in cold weather, reducing fuel efficiency
Cold weather and winter driving conditions can reduce fuel economy by up to 15%
Cold temperatures have a significant impact on vehicle performance and fuel efficiency. For example, the denser cold air increases aerodynamic drag on a vehicle, particularly when driving at higher speeds. This drag forces the engine to work harder, resulting in increased fuel consumption. Additionally, cold weather causes a decrease in tire pressure, leading to higher rolling resistance and, consequently, reduced fuel economy.
The cold temperatures also affect the vehicle's engine and internal systems. Engines require more energy to start and operate efficiently in colder conditions, which can temporarily reduce fuel economy until the engine reaches its optimal operating temperature. Furthermore, the vehicle's battery, a crucial component, is susceptible to temperature changes. Cold weather can reduce a battery's ability to hold a charge, impacting overall vehicle performance and fuel efficiency.
Now, let's turn our attention to winter fuel blends. During winter, fuel suppliers switch to winter-blend fuels, which contain additives that lower the gelling point of diesel fuel. While this is essential to ensure that vehicles can operate in colder temperatures, these blends can have slightly less energy per gallon than summer blends, potentially leading to a small decrease in fuel mileage.
It's important to note that driving habits and conditions can also play a role in fuel economy during winter. Safe driving speeds on icy or snow-covered roads are typically lower, which can further reduce fuel efficiency, especially at speeds below 30 to 40 mph. Additionally, driving at higher speeds can wear out tires faster, impacting fuel economy.
While the exact fuel economy reduction will vary depending on driving conditions, vehicle type, and other factors, understanding these factors can help drivers take proactive steps to mitigate fuel efficiency loss during winter.
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Winter-grade fuels have less energy per gallon
Winter-grade fuels have slightly less energy per gallon than summer blends. Summer-grade fuel has a higher Reid vapor pressure (RVP) than winter-grade fuel, which means it evaporates more easily. This contributes to its marginally higher eco-friendliness. Fuels with higher RVP tend to worry regulators more because they contribute to ozone formation.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines April to June as the "transition season" for fuel production. Refineries switch over to summer-blend production in March and April, and gas stations have until June 1 to make the switch. Following the summer driving season, companies switch back to winter blends beginning in September, with the first winter increase in RVP allowance occurring on September 15.
The use of winter-grade fuel is important during the colder months because summer-grade fuel can evaporate when stored out of season, which can also hurt engine performance. Winter-grade fuel is therefore better suited to the colder months, despite having a slightly lower energy content.
While the difference in energy content between the two blends is not significant, it does contribute to a reduction in fuel economy during winter. Fuel economy tests show that, in city driving, a conventional gasoline car's gas mileage is roughly 15% lower at 20°F than it would be at 77°F. This can be further exacerbated by icy or snow-covered roads, which decrease tire grip and waste energy, and by the use of four-wheel drive, which uses more fuel.
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Cold temperatures decrease tyre pressure, increasing rolling resistance
Cold temperatures cause the air to become denser, which leads to a decrease in tyre pressure. This is because the molecules in the air move slower and huddle together when temperatures drop, and when temperatures increase, molecules move faster and move away from one another. For every 10°F drop in air temperature, tyre pressure decreases by 1 pound per square inch (PSI).
Tyre pressure is critical for performance and safety. Underinflated tyres can lower fuel mileage by about 0.2% for every 1 PSI drop in pressure. This, coupled with the fact that winter grades of gasoline have slightly less energy per gallon than summer blends, means that cold temperatures can significantly reduce fuel economy. Fuel economy tests show that, in city driving, a conventional gasoline car's gas mileage is roughly 15% lower at 20°F than it would be at 77°F.
Low tyre pressure increases rolling resistance, which is the force resisting the motion when a body (such as a tyre) rolls on a surface. Rolling resistance is mainly caused by non-elastic effects, meaning that not all the energy needed for the deformation or movement of the tyre is recovered when the pressure is removed. Tyre deformation and tyre slip are two types of rolling resistance. Tyre deformation is influenced by tyre pressure, with softer tyres absorbing more bumps and experiencing less energy loss. Tyre slip occurs when there is insufficient friction between the tyre and the road, causing the wheel to spin in place. Tyre slip can be caused by overinflation, as this results in less contact between the tyre and the road.
Therefore, cold temperatures, which cause a decrease in tyre pressure, increase rolling resistance by increasing tyre deformation and making tyre slip more likely.
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Icy roads decrease tyre grip, wasting energy
To maintain tyre grip on icy roads, it is important to ensure that your tyres are in good condition. Old, worn, or damaged tyres will have less grip, making it more likely that you will slip on any patches of ice. It is recommended that you check your tyre tread, pressure, and any signs of damage. The legal limit for tread depth is 1.6 mm, but most manufacturers recommend changing tyres before they drop below 3 mm to ensure you don't lose too much traction.
To drive safely on ice, it is also important to reduce your speed and increase your stopping distance. Safe driving speeds on slick roads can be much lower than normal, further reducing fuel economy, especially at speeds below 30 to 40 mph. Cruise control should also be avoided, as it will continue to accelerate and speed up the spin if you start to lose grip on an icy road, making it harder to regain control.
While it may not be possible to completely mitigate the effects of cold weather on fuel economy, there are some simple steps you can take to lessen the reduction in gas mileage. For example, parking in a warmer place, such as a garage, can increase the initial temperature of the engine and cabin. Additionally, combining trips when possible can lessen the amount of driving with a cold engine, and minimising idling can decrease fuel costs and reduce emissions.
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Engine idle time increases in cold weather, reducing fuel efficiency
Cold weather and winter driving conditions can significantly reduce fuel economy. Fuel economy tests show that, in city driving, a conventional gasoline car's gas mileage is roughly 15% lower at 20°F than it would be at 77°F. It can drop as much as 24% for short (3- to 4-mile) trips. Cold weather effects vary by vehicle model, but conventional gasoline vehicles can expect a 10% to 20% fuel economy loss in city driving and a 15% to 33% loss on short trips.
There are several reasons why cold weather reduces fuel efficiency. Firstly, colder air is denser, increasing aerodynamic drag on a vehicle, especially at highway speeds. Secondly, tire pressure decreases in colder temperatures, increasing rolling resistance. Thirdly, winter grades of gasoline can have slightly less energy per gallon than summer blends. Finally, battery performance decreases in cold weather, making it harder for the alternator to keep the battery charged. This also affects the performance of the regenerative braking system on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles.
Engine idle time increases in cold weather because many people believe that turning on the car and letting it sit before driving will warm up the engine. However, this is a myth—modern cars do not need to warm up before driving, and idling to warm up the car reduces fuel efficiency. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon, and increases greenhouse gas emissions. It also damages the engine by stripping oil from critical components such as cylinders and pistons, leading to increased friction and wear and tear.
To improve fuel efficiency in cold weather, it is recommended to minimize idling and drive off gently after about 30 seconds. The engine will warm up faster when driven, allowing the heat to turn on sooner and reducing fuel costs. Other recommendations include parking in a warmer place, such as a garage, to increase the initial temperature of the engine and cabin, and combining trips to lessen the amount of driving with a cold engine.
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Frequently asked questions
On average, most vehicles will lose about 15% of their fuel economy when using winter fuel due to the extra energy required to heat up the engine and the interior of the vehicle.
Winter diesel fuel contains additional product "streams" to prevent the diesel from gelling at low temperatures. These additives have less energy value, resulting in lower mileage.
Cold weather can significantly reduce fuel economy. For conventional gasoline cars, fuel mileage can be 10-20% lower in city driving and 15-33% lower on short trips.
Yes, driving conditions in winter can further reduce fuel economy. Icy or snow-covered roads decrease tire grip, wasting energy. Additionally, driving at higher speeds can result in a more significant drop in fuel mileage due to increased air and tire resistance.
While it may not be possible to completely offset the impact, some strategies include parking in a warmer place, combining trips to reduce driving with a cold engine, and minimizing idling to warm up the car.
