Sick of losing fuel to cold weather!

[pwntbywombat]

Frictional losses are also responsible for excessive fuel consumption in cold weather. The cold engine oil, transmission fluids, differential lube, wheel bearing grease; all contribute to increased resistance, thus increased fuel consumption. Also the loss of tire pressure due to drops in the ambient temperature contribute to excessive fuel usage unless the pressures are frequently checked and adjusted.
You are on the right track with the air/fuel theory, but there is more to this issue.



Papasonic

That ^

Side note, I average 36-42 on the highway in this cold weather.

 

[Tommyboy4725]

This cold weather has also killed my mileage. I was getting 36-38. Now I'm 31-35

 

[HADES20]

Um wtf.. my car has only gotten up to 27 MPG at the most :/

I'm at 24

 

[pwntbywombat]

My combined average is 32.5 in the windy hills of Pennsylvania

 

[RaceThisLTZ]

ill give my idea a try i guess this weekend and let you guys know how it turns out... i would like to get back up to 43-45

 

[Eric Smit]

good luck!


-Eric Smit

 

[seanp1]

Eric going 85 to 90 on the highway is not fast.. 70 is 2 slow for me lol

Slow down or you will never see better MPG. Eric is tuned and does the speed limit and gets freaking 45mpg.

 

[Eric Smit]

I can get 50 by not flooring it on every on ramp. I can get 55 by going 5 under on the freeway. I can get 60 by doing some light pulse and glide. almost 70 using real pulse and glide.


-Eric Smit

 

[theenico]

In addition to what Papasonic said, winter blend gasoline will knock you down a few mpg as well.

On a side note, I'm averaging just under 30mpg (all city) down here in KS.

Letting you car warm up = 0mpg BTW.

 

[JimmyQ]

im averaging 30.3 right now mostly city

 

[laborsmith]

I'm at 24

If it makes you feel better, you are getting about what JusticePete gets when driving his Sonic Grand Sport.

Laborsmith

 

[Maddmatts]

I can't really complain. Right now I'm getting the same fuel economy my previous car got in the summer. It might even be slightly better.

 

[RichieRocket]

ill give my idea a try i guess this weekend and let you guys know how it turns out... i would like to get back up to 43-45

Hey RaceThisLTZ, I ran an upper grille blocker last year.
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t1032/

I'm using it again this winter and also duct taped about 50% of the lower grille.

Also, check out ecomodder.com Here's one where the guy is building an automatically actuated grill block
Arduino controlled automatically actuated grill block - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

 

[RichieRocket]

Frictional losses are also responsible for excessive fuel consumption in cold weather. The cold engine oil, transmission fluids, differential lube, wheel bearing grease; all contribute to increased resistance, thus increased fuel consumption. Also the loss of tire pressure due to drops in the ambient temperature contribute to excessive fuel usage unless the pressures are frequently checked and adjusted.
You are on the right track with the air/fuel theory, but there is more to this issue.

Papasonic

there's also aerodynamic drag. For every 10F drop in temperature, air density increases by 2%. So from 80F to 30F, density and drag increase 10%. Actually it's even more because the humidity in the summer makes the air less dense. Dry air is more dense than humid air.

Also, lights, rear defogger, are on more often in winter. The lights pull roughly 1/3 hp, that uses more fuel...

 

[Papasonic]

there's also aerodynamic drag. For every 10F drop in temperature, air density increases by 2%. So from 80F to 30F, density and drag increase 10%. Actually it's even more because the humidity in the summer makes the air less dense. Dry air is denser than humid air.

Also, lights, rear defogger, are on more often in winter. The lights pull roughly 1/3 hp, that uses more fuel...

The more we analyze the reasons for poor cold weather fuel efficiency, the more causes become apparent. I was not aware of that dramatic a percentage of increased drag due to air density. Keeping our vehicles clean and waxed would then improve fuel efficiency due to reduced drag even more in cold weather conditions.

 

[sx sonic]

I'm down to about a 32-33 mpg average now because of sub 35 degree temps. I do idle a lot more to warm the car up which isn't helping.

Another thing for lower fuel economy is cold start fuel enrichment and with the cooler ambient temps (and coolant, block, radiator temps) the engine takes longer to get to temp meaning it spends more time in the enrichment time,

 

[RaceThisLTZ]

Hey RaceThisLTZ, I ran an upper grille blocker last year.
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t1032/

I'm using it again this winter and also duct taped about 50% of the lower grille.

Also, check out ecomodder.com Here's one where the guy is building an automatically actuated grill block
Arduino controlled automatically actuated grill block - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

My idea was to block the bottom to also increase AITs caused by blocking the FMIC.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

I have the 1.8 and in the summer i was pushing 32-34mpg highway and 25-28 city. I dont know highway yet as i havent tried a trip yet but city driving in the colder temps i have seen my sonic loose alot of mpg mainly from running the remote starter but it has dropped from the 25-28 during the summer to 19-22mpg city winter driving. again, i use my remote starter almost every morning before i go to work at 4am in the morning. Summer time i dont. I also have the K&N Air filter drop in filter installed. overall im happy with my sonics mpg average. anythings better than my previous vehicles 12mpg city/14mpg highway. damn thing was a gashogg. Best of luck in your idea RaceThisLTZ

 

[RaceThisLTZ]

well ive driven 392 miles since the install. turned our great by the way, the carbon fiber is right behind the front grill and sits flush. i have three brackets of threaded lexan that fit in the grill peices and its secure.


anyways my gas milage by my DIC right now is 45.0! seams to be much better. have not noticed any negative side effects

 

[Maddog2020]

Hurry up and get that patent going!