Why You Get Worse Gas Mileage In Winter...
As a petrol head we are most excited about winter, our cars deliver more power and along with running cooler and for some of us the sit of rain means opportunity to fine tune your power sliding skills at safe speeds. However The downsides may not be apparent to us or mean anything to us but they are interesting nonetheless. The biggest downside being a worsening gas mileage, you ask why and how? We show you.
Poor Charging.
During Cold weather conditions your battery has a harder time staying charged and holding a charge, therefore your alternator has to work harder to keep your cars battery charged up, having a healthy battery to start off winter will aid in helping your alternator do its just easier, you should get your battery checked before winter to insure easy and stable charging, plus it free to get it checked.
Added Weight.
Rain brings mud and dirt, rain makes dirt and mud stick to your car, mud and dirt stuck to your car on the body and under the car adds weight and that makes your car consume more fuel because you use more throttle to get your car moving, it may be too small to notice but it is happening. Get your car washed underneath as well next time your at the local car wash. It may not make a huge difference but it all adds up.
Reduced Aerodynamics.
Colder air is more dense and as said before means more power from our engines, however because it being more dense its also slightly more difficult for our cars to move through it, resulting in worse gas mileage. How yo can combat this is cruise at a lower speed on the highway 110kph for instance instead of 120kph, by doing this you are reducing drag and reducing the effect that denser air has on your vehicles aerodynamics.
Low Tyre Pressure.
Colder Tires and colder air will mean your pressures will drop in your tires without you knowing it, unless you check you probably wont notice. Lower than recommended tire pressure's will hamper your gas mileage and create uneven wear on your tires. Get your tire pressures checked at least once every two weeks to ensure your pressures are correct and help combat the winter gas mileage assault.
Excessive Idling.
Its Morning and you jump into your car only to be greeted by frosted windows, a very cold seat and a heater that is not going to give warm air for the next 10 minutes. Do you idle your Car so the engine can warm up? So you can defrost and warm yourself? Well all these things are contributing to higher fuel consumption. is your car is newer than 2005, if so do not bother idling it, modern cars can be driven right away as long as you keep rpm's low, your car will be ready to warm you up and defrost in no time.
The Moral of the story is winter does many things to worsen you gas mileage, but a few simple steps taken by yourself can combat the effects of winter without much effort.
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