Good bye Good Mileage??

[bsams]

I didn't start paying close attention to my mileage until the end of June this year. Of course hot summer months = nice mpgs. Now that it's cooling off here in upstate NY I am noticing quite a significant drop in my mpgs. Now I know of course this is inevitable with the colder temps, but it seems like I am losing about 1mpg per 10degree temp drop. Is there a general rule of thumb for ambient air temps and how it effects mileage? Just curious... can't wait for winter!

[dkjones96]

MY mileage drops when it gets colder but that's because the car runs so much better. On a 20 degree morning I beat the poor car to pieces as opposed to a 105 degree day when it can barely get out of its own way!

[Jay2TheRescue]

Maybe rig up a winter WAI, and remove it in the spring to maintian your mileage?

-Jay

[GasSavers_Erik]

At some point the refineries switch us over to the "winter blend" which yields less mpg

[Jay2TheRescue]

Yes, but a WAI will help soften the impact of winter blend fuel.

-Jay

[GasSavers_SD26]

Originally Posted by Erik

At some point the refineries switch us over to the "winter blend" which yields less mpg

You beat me to it. Yes, winter blend fuels are different in that they will help the engine start in colder months rather than give the economy of warmer months. There are mandated periods of when those fuels need to hit the distribution chain and then when they should hit the street. I think they hit the marks pretty well.

[bobc455]

Originally Posted by Erik

At some point the refineries switch us over to the "winter blend" which yields less mpg

In the past, I heard that this happens on September 15 in Massachusetts, although I've been unable to substantiate it. I also can't seem to find out when they switch back to summer blend.

-BC

[GasSavers_SD26]

Originally Posted by bobc455

In the past, I heard that this happens on September 15 in Massachusetts, although I've been unable to substantiate it. I also can't seem to find out when they switch back to summer blend.

-BC

I think that is the start of the modification of the blend, but it is changed also a month or two later. Summer blends start around March? It depends upon where in the country you are too.

[KARR]

Try blocking the air flow that hits the radiator. I've tried it once and mileage increased in 10 mpg, on average. I've done nothing that could explain this increase so I suppose it really improves mileage. Last weekend I've made a new "blocker" that covers a bigger area of the radiator.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Yes, a good grille block is usually good for an extra 10% MPG.