Gas Mileage Dropping

[2Titans]

Hey Guys,
My wife is complaining about her gas mileage getting worse. When we bought her truck about a year ago she was getting 16-17 mpg. Now she claims it has dropped to 13-14. She also states the truck runs and drive great with no noticeable changes in performance and her driving habits haven't changed. Any ideas?

[baseballfanz]

I started out at 15 mpg avg. which is now down to 12.5 mph avg.

[1bigtexastitan]

I would first check your air pressure in all of the tires. You wouldn't think, but that makes a difference in mpg!

[PTitan]

Re-formulated gas maybe?

[Quad T]

Where do you live? Up here in the Northeast we all get served this crap oxiginated fuel for the winter. I have noticed about a 3mpg drop almost every year. I always thought it was just because of the cold weather, but I have had lots of people convince me it is the fuel.

[virus]

It's fall, gas formula is different.

[Hemi4Me]

You will notice quite a bit of drop when
weather gets cold. Especially for those
of you that live in sub zero climates.

[Bhudda454]

I also noticed about a 3MOG drop. i thought it might be time for the dealership to check the fuel system. I have 25K miles, and have only doen the oil changes so far. I did the air filter once. I might change it and see what happens. I drive 100 or so miles for work a day, and it is mainly at freeway speeds.

[PHOEBISIS]

I have frequently seem references to mpg dropping in winter.Other than the lower energy oxygenated fuel,why would mpg drop in the winter? I'm pretty sure I get slightly better mpg in the winter-less AC use(New Orleans requires some AC use in the vehicle 12 months a year,but a lot less in Dec,Jan than in july,Aug).
I could see warm up taking a bit longer,so the rich startup mixtures could cause a little drop?Thanks.Charlie
PS I frequently see this mentioned on the Hybrid forums, but hybrids require the gasoline motor to kick on just to warm up the CatCon, and heating the catcon sure doesn't drive you forward).

[jeff7777]

I believe it is most likely a winter fuel/tire pressure issue. My MPG has been increasing steadily since about 4000 mi (at 11,000 presently).

[smoothTitan]

same here, mpg went down to 13-14.

[virus]

I too get between 12-14 during my normal daily driving.

[keane]

Originally Posted by PHOEBISIS

I have frequently seem references to mpg dropping in winter.Other than the lower energy oxygenated fuel,why would mpg drop in the winter? I'm pretty sure I get slightly better mpg in the winter-less AC use(New Orleans requires some AC use in the vehicle 12 months a year,but a lot less in Dec,Jan than in july,Aug).
I could see warm up taking a bit longer,so the rich startup mixtures could cause a little drop?Thanks.Charlie
PS I frequently see this mentioned on the Hybrid forums, but hybrids require the gasoline motor to kick on just to warm up the CatCon, and heating the catcon sure doesn't drive you forward).

Charlie,

It is the gas! in the fall, they start putting additives in the gas to stop it from freezing and stuff like that. My gas mileage, in all my vehicles over the years always drops significantly in the fall/winter/spring. My gas mileage for my titan Averaged a little UNDER 9 mpg for January, Feb, Mar of 2005. my overall average for the Titan since I got it 17 months ago is 12.46. I tow a 5000+#travel trailer in the summer and I get better gas mileage than I do in the winter.

There are other factors to look at too; Including:

- Air conditioning (YES!) Whenever you put on your defrost, your A/C goes on. In the fall and winter you do it everytime you start your vehicle and it doesn't shut off when you turn it off so it stays on all winter long.

- Warm-up - most people warm there vehicles up longer, the colder it gets, they also idle them more when they run into the corner store, etc... Engines also are more efficient (fuel wise) when they are warm - which in my case is seldom in the winter.

- Spinning - when you get snow and Ice, you spin your tires much more which uses more gas as the RPM's increase.

- Higher idling RPMS when it is cold, the engine runs longer at higher RPMS while the engine warms up.

- Driving habits - many people drive that 1/2 mile to the store for the morning paper when it is -40 out rather than walk which they will do in warmer weather.

There are other reasons too, but these are probably the main reasons. It is unusual to have a 30-40% drop in MPG in the winter and a little less in the fall and spring.

Keane

[Quad T]

Originally Posted by keane

It is the gas! in the fall, they start putting additives in the gas to stop it from freezing and stuff like that.

I agree. And with gas prices still being $2.50+ in NY I have been buying all my gas from Sam's Club and have been noticing what I would consider a real drop in MPG. Just this past refill I paid like 2¢ more per gallon and bought at Delta Sonic and I can tell already this tank will be better MPG. So if you think your loss is huge, consider buying gas some place else, their chemical mix of addatives could be different.

[WHITE340]

All my vehicles miles to the gallon drop every winter.Its the gas.The winter formulation sucks.My Titan was getting 15 now 13.8 to 14.My 2001 F-150 was getting 14 now it gets about 13.Cant wait till spring again!