What's your winter 2007 experience?

[jwxr7]

Surprisingly I've been able to get my ave FE to inch up thru this winter . Winter was mild at first, but is full force now (highs in the single digits F with high winds and snow) so my mpg dropped 2 or 3 mpg from the last tank. Mostly better driving for FE. I just recently did a grill block, I use a block heater at home and at work (don't tell my boss). Mostly I've been trying to go no faster than 55mph and no idling. I try EOC whenever possible, which isn't much (lucky to do a mile in a 23 mile commute). Slowing down made the biggest difference for me. I can't wait to see how I do in warm weather .

[Silveredwings]

I find this cold weather is sub-optimized for FE.

[Lug_Nut]

I've been bump starting the engine to reduce the need for alternator power. The pre-start glow plug operation delay is done by the time I'm 3/4 down my driveway at about 10 mph, perfect for a 3rd gear bump. Any clearing of the exterior is done before I put the key in.

It's not about perception...it's about the precipitation!

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by Lug_Nut

It's not about perception...it's about the precipitation!

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Hypermiling is hard on batteries, and this is more evident in the cold when their performance is already compromised.

As if to prove this point, I actually did kill the battery last evening.

(Good thing I have lots of experience clutch starting ... and a light car.)

I should add, I weakened this battery with all the deep discharges it went through without the alternator last summer/fall, so to be honest I wasn't surprised to see it wasn't exactly pumping the electrons like it should be in this cold weather.

[Hockey4mnhs]

i give up when there is snow on the ground being the young driver i am (17) i'm just tryin to stay on the road.

[GasSavers_BluEyes]

Originally Posted by Hockey4mnhs

i give up when there is snow on the ground being the young driver i am (17) i'm just tryin to stay on the road.

Good plan. I know I had enough trouble doing that during my first winter too!

[jwxr7]

I forgot to mention that I disconnected the snorkle from the factory CAI. It seems like most of my efforts are to just counter the negative effects of the cold air. There is not much you can do when the roads are snow covered, it's a real drag .

[GasSavers_brick]

I still try but there's only so much you can do. Cold weather keeps the ICE running when I wish it wouldn't, the car doesn't glide right when frozen and with snow tires on, idling and defrosting come into play on particularly bad mornings, and all FE techniques go out the window on a day like yesterday when I just want to make it there and back without winding up off the road or in contact with another car. In short, winter sucks. The fact that I'm maintaining 40mpg+ in the worst of conditions is impressive but at the same time very disappointing when I know the car is good for 60mpg+.

[Sludgy]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

I recently attached a canvas grill block with Velcro made by a small company in Minnesota. (I forget the name, damned Early Onset Alzheimers!) It was reall easy to install, and it looks good. It's too early to tell whether this helped, but I was down to 15 mpg city in the F350 diesel before I added it.

My tires are OEM Goodrich 265/75 16s, and they have about 50K miles. The tread is deep enough to pass inspection, but the truck did NOT like the slush at our local Dead Man's Curve this morning. I'm thinking of Michelin 235/85 16 snow tires soon. The narrower, lighter tire might help my mileage.

Here's the link to the grill block that I bought for my truck.

http://www.dahlcanvas.com/

We had a big snow/slush storm yesterday, and I almost creamed a car today because my tires, while still having enough legal tread, allowed me to skid into a traffic circle. I was only doing 20 mph or so. It's a good thing he yielded the right of way, because my wheels were locked up. Time for the new tires.