Mileage in winter

downtick · 12-02-2007, 01:25 PM

Does anyone else notice getting worse meilage in winter? I'm noticing it on my bikes and my car. I thought that being colder could result in better mielage due to the way oxygen reacts in the cold, but apparently, I'm wrong.

I'm seeing a few less miles a gallon.

DJJSR · 12-02-2007, 01:35 PM

You're in California. I think the formulation of gas is different in winter months. Probably affects mileage.

Kalm_Traveler · 12-02-2007, 01:54 PM

I have been trying to avoid driving mine since it started snowing this week... and we're pouring a new driveway and garage foundation so she's having to sit *gulp* outside for the next 10 days or so

gomarlins3 · 12-02-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJJSR

You're in California. I think the formulation of gas is different in winter months. Probably affects mileage.

Exactly the reason for Californian's.

s2k 4 me · 12-02-2007, 03:01 PM

I get awesome mileage in the winter..........the gas tank is never ending.

Ofcourse, stewie sit in the garage for most of it.

downtick · 12-03-2007, 02:37 PM

Can someone tell me why California changes the blend in summer? Why can't we have better mileage all year round?

Kalm_Traveler · 12-03-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downtick

Can someone tell me why California changes the blend in summer? Why can't we have better mileage all year round?

they have different winter gas to reduce emissions - nothing is for increased mileage. The 'less emissions' gas gives you slightly worse than normal mileage - and you have regular old gas in the summer.

Pablo · 12-03-2007, 04:48 PM

I have no previous winter to compare it to, but I just did a 190 mile trip averaging about 75 miles per hour without much Vtech effect and with little or no traffic.. I got 25 mpg. NY blend petrol and ambient temp about 38 degrees.

Regards
Pablo

Scooter · 12-03-2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJJSR

You're in California. I think the formulation of gas is different in winter months. Probably affects mileage.

Dang! I forgot about that, we get that gas here in NV also. As I recall, it starts around October - the same time I switched from AP1 to AP2 and my mileage dropped from 27-28 to 23-24. Now I'll have to wait for summer to see if it's the gas, the car, or me just having too much fun...

Vezna31 · 12-03-2007, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downtick

Does anyone else notice getting worse meilage in winter? I'm noticing it on my bikes and my car. I thought that being colder could result in better mielage due to the way oxygen reacts in the cold, but apparently, I'm wrong.

I'm seeing a few less miles a gallon.

I don't know if it is done here in Cali, but on the east coast the pumps used to say that the gas was oxygenated between the months of Oct or Nov to March or April. That lowers fuel economy.

Adding ethanol reduces power and probably fuel economy as well. I've seen a few stations that say ethanol can be as much as 15% of the mix.

On the flipside, we live in Cali and we have the sh!ttiest gas here.

Kalm_Traveler · 12-04-2007, 12:03 AM

Luckily we have normal gas year round where I live, but oddly the valley south of mine uses ghetto-gas in the winter (high ethanol content).

downtick · 12-04-2007, 01:29 PM

What's with Arizona gas... when I was out there, I noticed that they had 87, 88, 89, and 91. Do they need that many different octanes?

Kalm_Traveler · 12-04-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downtick

What's with Arizona gas... when I was out there, I noticed that they had 87, 88, 89, and 91. Do they need that many different octanes?

most places here in UT have 85, 88, and 91 but I noticed last time I got a Slurpee (at 7-11) that they had 85, 87, 89, and 91.

Now.... the real question is why does my state have 85 at all when all 'normal' cars I've looked at specify an 87 requirement in the manual?

downtick · 12-04-2007, 05:10 PM

That's interesting, I would think that since the minimum on every vehicle I've seen requires at least 87...

DJJSR · 12-04-2007, 08:08 PM

I think it may have something to do with altitude. Octane requirements are different at sea level than they are at 5000 feet.

Kalm_Traveler · 12-04-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJJSR

I think it may have something to do with altitude. Octane requirements are different at sea level than they are at 5000 feet.

touché

where can one learn the differences? man if I can get by dumping 88 into Stewwie that would start easing the pocketbook burden

DJJSR · 12-04-2007, 09:17 PM

KT - I don't know what the altitude is where you live, but the higher you go, the thinner the air. What this does, in effect, is lower your compression and that is what would allow you to use a lower octane without pinging.

At 5000 feet, 89 octane is the equivalent of 91 octane at sea level. If you're going to try it, I suggest you get a bottle of octane booster ahead of time to put in if she starts pinging.

Kalm_Traveler · 12-04-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJJSR

KT - I don't know what the altitude is where you live, but the higher you go, the thinner the air. What this does, in effect, is lower your compression and that is what would allow you to use a lower octane without pinging.

At 5000 feet, 89 octane is the equivalent of 91 octane at sea level. If you're going to try it, I suggest you get a bottle of octane booster ahead of time to put in if she starts pinging.

dang you burst my bubble lol SLC is only about 4400 feet elevation

12-02-2007, 01:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
downtick Silver 06 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 6	Mileage in winter Does anyone else notice getting worse meilage in winter? I'm noticing it on my bikes and my car. I thought that being colder could result in better mielage due to the way oxygen reacts in the cold, but apparently, I'm wrong. I'm seeing a few less miles a gallon.

12-02-2007, 01:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
DJJSR Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hooterville Posts: 1,565	You're in California. I think the formulation of gas is different in winter months. Probably affects mileage. __________________ Don

12-02-2007, 03:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
s2k 4 me Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Loveland, Colorado Posts: 401	I get awesome mileage in the winter..........the gas tank is never ending. Ofcourse, stewie sit in the garage for most of it. __________________ 04' NFR-Comptech - Veilside - Rick's - Fujita - Grillcraft - Tein - NRG - Berk - Chargespeed - Lucid - Carbing - Megan - T1R - Alpine - Boston Acoustics

12-03-2007, 02:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
downtick Silver 06 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 6	Can someone tell me why California changes the blend in summer? Why can't we have better mileage all year round? __________________ Dave From the OC Need auto, home, cycle, or other insurance? http://www.runquotes.com/

12-03-2007, 04:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Pablo Sentient Being Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LI, NY Posts: 585	I have no previous winter to compare it to, but I just did a 190 mile trip averaging about 75 miles per hour without much Vtech effect and with little or no traffic.. I got 25 mpg. NY blend petrol and ambient temp about 38 degrees. Regards Pablo __________________ Regards, Pablo "If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough" Mario Andretti

12-02-2007, 01:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kalm_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Posts: 209	I have been trying to avoid driving mine since it started snowing this week... and we're pouring a new driveway and garage foundation so she's having to sit gulp outside for the next 10 days or so

12-04-2007, 12:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
Kalm_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Posts: 209	Luckily we have normal gas year round where I live, but oddly the valley south of mine uses ghetto-gas in the winter (high ethanol content).

12-04-2007, 01:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
downtick Silver 06 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 6	What's with Arizona gas... when I was out there, I noticed that they had 87, 88, 89, and 91. Do they need that many different octanes? __________________ Dave From the OC Need auto, home, cycle, or other insurance? http://www.runquotes.com/

12-04-2007, 05:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
downtick Silver 06 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 6	That's interesting, I would think that since the minimum on every vehicle I've seen requires at least 87... __________________ Dave From the OC Need auto, home, cycle, or other insurance? http://www.runquotes.com/

12-04-2007, 08:08 PM	#15 (permalink)
DJJSR Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hooterville Posts: 1,565	I think it may have something to do with altitude. Octane requirements are different at sea level than they are at 5000 feet. __________________ Don

12-04-2007, 09:17 PM	#17 (permalink)
DJJSR Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hooterville Posts: 1,565	KT - I don't know what the altitude is where you live, but the higher you go, the thinner the air. What this does, in effect, is lower your compression and that is what would allow you to use a lower octane without pinging. At 5000 feet, 89 octane is the equivalent of 91 octane at sea level. If you're going to try it, I suggest you get a bottle of octane booster ahead of time to put in if she starts pinging. __________________ Don

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