Gas Mileage, Problem?

[Cavell219]

Hey all I bought my 2013 LS 1.4T (automatic) in June new off the lot. When I first bought the vehicle I was averaging 35MPG. Now i'm lucky to get 27... The weather has changed to colder weather, I know colder air holds more oxygen so a little more fuel will be delivered to avoid a rich/lean condition but it shouldn't make that much of a difference as the combustion should be better?

I drive a Highway city mix of 30 miles per day each way. 70% highway the rest is city and is not very urban so mainly green lights.

Also I in no way accelerate hard, usually ease onto the pedal unless I need more.

Is there a reason my efficiency would drop so far with the same conditions. I would remote start the car in summer and winter because I like to let my car idle for 2-3 minutes before I put her into gear.

Thanks guys, I'm just debating taking it in but don't want to look stupid :banana:

 

[Swordsmith]

The 1.4T is particularly susceptible to cold weather for some reason. Your 7mpg loss is higher than usual, but 5mpg loss is probably average, so you aren't that far out of bounds.

Things to consider here:

colder air
colder starts
longer idle time to "warm up"
Defrost (which runs the compressor... AC costs just as much)
Traffic tends to be worse in winter, resulting in more wasteful driving
Winter tires... you didn't say you switched to them, but if you did they may be a factor

Some of those aren't 1.4T related, but they are all winter factors.

I doubt you have an actual problem, particularly not anything a service dept will find (they mostly don't do much unless there's a CEL thrown)

 

[ahtoxa]

I'm getting far lower MPG now than usual when the days are cold. We're expecting to be in the 30's during the day and teens at night for the next few days and my mileage will be right around yours, OP. Nothing too unusual.

My old lifted rig would get into single digits in the winter, especially if using 4x4 during snow storms, so I can't complain much at all.