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05-15-2009, 02:35 PM | #1 |
Do you get about 4 MPG less during winter ?
After driving Yaris for just over a year I found the 4MPG difference between summer and winter quite interesting.
The thing is I live in Portland, OR and winters are very mild here, we may have 2 days in winter when temperature during a day drops bellow freezing the rest of winter we stay in 40's. So driving in summer months I average 39MPG and driving in winter I get 35-36MPG. I only drive commuting to work = 100% heavy city traffic, no highways. I do not use A/C. I bought 2008 Yaris LB manual in March 2008 and have been driving it since. I have 13000 miles on it. Is anyone experiencing the same difference between summer and winter MPG ? Would it be the cold winter starts in the morning ? Any ideas ? Just curious Feel free to check my Gas Log Daniel |
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05-15-2009, 02:40 PM | #2 |
Drives: Sc'd Yaris Sedan. Join Date: May 2007
Location: civilwar town.
Posts: 660
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I always get worse millage during the cold months. I was told it was an additive in American gas that is supposed to help but has the opposite effect. I'm sure others will chime in to confirm or ridicule me. :p
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Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum. |
05-15-2009, 03:02 PM | #3 |
I get like 32 in the winter vs constant 40's in the summer, dont know why
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05-15-2009, 03:04 PM | #4 |
Cold air vs warmer air. You get more power with the colder air, right? Well, with the warmer air, you get better mileage. I believe it's because it helps with atomizition. Some people do "warm air intakes" cuz of this. I keep meaning to try it myself, but I'm forgetful.. and sometimes lazy
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05-15-2009, 03:13 PM | #5 |
Drives: Sc'd Yaris Sedan. Join Date: May 2007
Location: civilwar town.
Posts: 660
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^ The only problem with that is on the dyno I ran hot air and then freezing cold air to the intake and had absolutely no change in hp. Not even a .01 difference. But the theory sounds right. Hmmm....pondering... :p
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Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum. |
05-15-2009, 03:14 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2008 Yaris 5 speed HB Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NH
Posts: 171
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In the northeast there is summer and winter gas formulations and it seems to add to the effect of temperature.
But the cold temperature affect doesn't require freezing temps to have a hit on your mileage. Much below 50F and I can notice that it takes much longer to get the engine to full operating temperature. Even though the cold indicator goes off around 130F (water temp via ScanGuage) the engine doesn't hit full temp until 182 or so. Even though the winter here is colder and I get better mileage with a favorable commute, the winter effect is similar, 3-5 Mpg over the same commuting routes for all seasons. |
05-15-2009, 03:18 PM | #7 |
Drives: 08 YARIS Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: APPLE VALLEY,MN
Posts: 23
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I did as bad as 22 MPG in the winter but always warm it up before i go anywhere.
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05-15-2009, 03:19 PM | #8 |
Steals terrorist's lunch
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
Posts: 1,299
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I have 3 things working against me each Winter:
1) Reformulated gasoline 2) Road conditions (300-400 inches of snow each year) 3) Temperatures below 0F many mornings I cannot get around #1 or #2 but a grille block greatly helps with #3. Without the grille block my average Winter MPG is about -5, but with the grille block it's about -3.
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- Brian Share the Road I often carry 2 carpool passengers and mountain bikes or snowboards/skis over a 4,500 foot elevation difference. Click the graphic above to see my detailed mileage logs. |
05-15-2009, 05:25 PM | #9 |
DWEED
Drives: 3DR 2008 Metorite Metalic Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,161
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Although you don't have "winter" in Portland, the rain and wet roads will lesson your mpg. I get about 3 mpg less during the winter.
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Making a decision without following it with an action is still a fantasy. |
05-15-2009, 08:02 PM | #10 |
Drives: 07 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: RI, USA
Posts: 25
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I get about 8 to 10 MPG worse in the winter on average
sometimes more, sometimes less Longer warm up time Winter formula fuel Rolling resistance of tires worse when cold More wind, more rain and snow |
05-15-2009, 08:13 PM | #11 |
thank you guys for sharing, it makes sense to me now
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05-15-2009, 10:33 PM | #12 |
HardlyDangerous
Drives: 09 Yaris LE, H/B, auto Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ridgeway Ontario
Posts: 573
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Almost guys .....
FI engines use more fuel in the winter because of the cooler air temps. Cold air is more dense there for more oxygen... the engine compensates the would be lean fuel air mixture by adding more fuel. Thats why carbed engines are adjusted and re-jetted for temp /altitude changes, thats also why racers test before the races for track conditions and ait temps/humidity etc... Air temps play a huge roll on the F/A mixture
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The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. |
05-15-2009, 11:00 PM | #13 |
daily driver
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winter is more about different gas, warm up times and all the fluids in/around the engine being cold and thick when you start the car....
i run about 5mpg less in winter....but the only 2 winters ive had the car were in eastern canada where it could be -20C for long stretches and i was doing relatively short in-city trips all the time...though i never let the car warm up TOO much before driving it....
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05-16-2009, 11:24 AM | #14 |
Banned
Drives: 2008 Yaris Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,034
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I've seen this effect, especially with very cold and very hot days. I get my best mileage above 85 fahrenheit.
A heat engine's efficiency improves with greater temperature difference between the "hot" and "cool" side. Unless that block is dropping below normal operating temps I don't see any advantage to blocking off the radiator. The radiator uses a thermostat to regulate block temps anyhow. My take on it is to use waste heat to heat inlet air. Could be done, probably painlessly, by figuring out how much air the motor draws in, and then estimating how much viscous drag a normal heating core puts on the inlet air. Blend air streams until you get a decent compromise on temps and inlet air drag. Gene |
05-16-2009, 11:40 AM | #15 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
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That was impressively demonstrated by the old-fashioned nylon 6-ply bias tires I had on my 1940 Ford. When left sitting for a while, the cords would take a set and "flat spot," which would smooth out after rolling for a while. In cold weather, I'd go thumping down the road on flat spotted tires for quite a while. Modern tire cord materials don't set that dramatically, but they still stiffen up quite a bit. As do the rubbers used in the tread and carcass of the tire.
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05-16-2009, 12:10 PM | #16 |
Nothing beats a Toyota!
Drives: 2013 Yaris 5 dr liftback Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 564
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Here in Indiana, it can get really cold and the mileage on my Yaris goes down in cold weather. But warm weather brings about a paradox. You getter about the same mileage because you have your AC on. After reading all these stories...accounts...online about 50 miles per gallon, I have come to the conclusion that they are the exception and not the rule. About 40 MPG...give or take a few...is what you will get with the Yaris if you drive normal, don't speed, drive with the right air pressure, and not add on costly air breathers.
I am hoping the next generation Yaris will get 50 MPG because no matter how new my Yaris is, it is really old technology \.
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Big Dave Indianapolis, IN Synthetic Oil....its in my car.....for at least 10,000 miles! |
05-16-2009, 10:06 PM | #17 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
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I filled mine today and got 39.8 MPG on alcoholic gas. That was with a bit more highway driving than usual in the mix, but mostly in town. I've been running the AC more lately, too. I'm quite happy with it in any case.
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05-17-2009, 05:44 AM | #18 |
rarer than JDM -1 of 1!
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If i could add my 2cents as well.....
Although I live in Hawaii, daytime temps change maybe 10-18 degrees between summer and winter. Nights can get into the low 50's, but usually 58-60's in winter. That being said, i believe summer and winter gas changes about 4-5 mpg, atleast to my gas logs. 34-35 mpg in winter, 38-40 in summer. |
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