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How much does winterr impact on fuel economy

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Dasked:
Hello

  I know it really hurts gas engines, how about diesels?  Has anybody kept good enough records to notice a difference on their VW Diesel?

libbydiesel:
The only time cold weather really affects the fuel economy of either gas or diesel engines is the time prior to coming to normal operating temperature.  If you idle a lot during warmup (terrible for you engine and terrible for the environment) then you will see lower fuel economy on either one due to burning fuel for no miles driven.  If you do a lot of short trips where most of the driving time is spent getting the engine up to normal operating temperature, you will also see a hit.  If you do mostly extended highway driving then the difference would be much less.  Finally winter formulation of diesel fuel results in worse fuel economy.

If you're actually looking for a set number that takes into account those factors, then get out your note pad and calculator and track it this year and you'll have a pretty good guess for next year provided your driving habits and your pump fuel formulations don't change.   

RunninWild:
ive kept my trip meter going since I bought my chevy cruze diesel a year ago. last winter I was averaging 5.7l/100km, the summer it dropped to 5.5l/100km with my average tank in the summer being mostly around 5.2l/100km. Not a huge difference but give or take 10%. I should also mention I don't warm my car up before I drive it. working some night shifts in the winter I would sit and idle to warm up so that is a factor as well. not for hours but 10-20min a few times over a tank of idle was usually enough to ruin a good tanks mpg

ORCoaster:
You will see a dip in mileage during the winter.  Can't be helped.  Colder temps, different fuel mix and how you drive all play into it.  Stop and go instead of smooth light through light because the roads are snow covered or it is pouring rain and people just are being careful and slowing down.

Idling an engine to warm it up is just plain foolish.  A little bit of time to get the oil moving around to all the parts, a little extra sit at start up to get the injectors warmer is all that is needed.  You might be talking 2 mins at the most when the temps are in the teens and twenties.  The real killer is the cold fuel going to the injectors.  Some engines have preheaters in their fuel delivery systems to compensate for that.  Most early VW's do not.  Not sure about the newer ones. 

I generally see my in town mileage drop from 34 to 30 in the winter.  But my trips really don't get the engine very warm.  I do get heat in the car but the gauge says less than 180 by the time I get to work or back home.  That is still under the thermostat temp of 193 F. 

smutts:
Looking over the last four years, 100,000 miles, £12,000 ish of ridiculously over taxed diesel. >:(
My winter mpg gets worse by about 2.5 mpg imperial. So about 2mpg US.

Mind you that is the south UK, which isn't particularly cold in winter. Snow? In the UK? Just give up, no one here has a clue.
Then again, there is this bloke in his bus, enjoy...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pcdg9m7Dao

Diesel here is £1.35 per litre, that would be $6.61 a US gallon.  :o
Now where did I put my yellow florescent waistcoat? ;D

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