i used to get about 24 mpg with my built ls/vtec now i'm getting 18 mpg. last year i noticed a drop but it wasn't as significant, for the obvious reasons...like leting the car warm up. just wondernig if anyone else is experiencing a big drop.

 

Ive noticed a drop as well. I went from 34mpg on my stock D16Y8 to 28mpg. Car has all new tune up parts. All the driving is the same but the mileage went down. However before winter I would get 31mpg and stay for a few fill ups and go back up. Who knows, but bump anyways

 

if i remember correctly... i think they add extra additives for summer or something... and then winter is different... not sure but i remmeber someone telling me somthing about this

 

It is perfectly normal to experiance a milage drop during the winter. As to why I am not going to get into the possible reasons.

To the original poster....that is a fairly big drop, my drop is about the same but I think I might need new plugs.

 

One thing to remember as it gets colder out is that your tires will seem to deflate themselves to some degree. This can and will equal worse gas mileage, so be sure to stay on top of checking/maintaining your tire pressures.

I am expecting to stay the same for gas mileage going from my summer wheels/tires to my steelies with snow tires which I am hoping will have less rolling resitance and yeild a bit better mileage. I dont know for sure as the tires should arrive at my house today so I guess I will find out soon.

edit: Just found this on tirerack that can explain what I was trying to say better than I could

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tire Rack &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tires don't really carry the weight of your vehicle...the air pressure inside them does. And maintaining the correct air pressure is a requirement for good handling, traction and durability. The tire pressure recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual or on the tire information placard is a "cold" pressure, so it should be checked in the morning before you drive more than a few miles.

The fall and early winter months are the most critical times to check your tire's inflation pressures because air is a gas which contracts as the days get shorter and the temperatures get colder.

For every 10 deg. Fahrenheit change in outside temperature, your tire's inflation pressure will change by about 1 psi (up with higher and down with lower temperatures)

In most parts of the country the typical difference between average summer and winter temperatures is about -50 deg. F. That difference results in a loss of about 5 psi, which will sacrifice tire performance and treadwear!

If you are fortunate enough to park in an attached or heated garage you will also "lose" pressure when you leave its warmth and venture into the real world outside. So add 1 psi of "cold" tire pressure to compensate for each 10 deg. temperature difference. </TD></TR></TABLE>

And finally, don't forget to keep your valve caps on. If left off, moisture can freeze in the valve and allow the air to escape.

 

40 mpg summer

38 mpg winter

stock LX

 

I warm up my car in the winter. sometimes for 10-15 minutes if I need to clean the snow/ice off.

For some reason people don't think about this much, and then come up with all kinds of conspiracies about how the fuel is different in the winter....

 

the fuel is different in some parts of the country. we used to be affected up here in the north east too. they used to add 10% ehtanol in the fuel during the winter months because it burns cleaner and ****. plus its also a good water remover. of course the downside to this oxygenated fuel is its less efficient so you get slightly less mpg

but ever since the gas prices have gone crazy, they stopped switching and stick with straight up 10% ethanol year round. it's been like this for years already up here.

it's not a conspiracy, it's fact

 

I went from about 17 mpg to 14 mpg....stock GMC Sierra.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SuperSlow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I warm up my car in the winter. sometimes for 10-15 minutes if I need to clean the snow/ice off.

For some reason people don't think about this much, and then come up with all kinds of conspiracies about how the fuel is different in the winter....</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know about the fuel thing, but warming your car/truck up for this length of time each time you drive does effect mpg. I wish I could drive my car in the winter.

-Shane

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SuperSlow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I warm up my car in the winter. sometimes for 10-15 minutes if I need to clean the snow/ice off.

For some reason people don't think about this much, and then come up with all kinds of conspiracies about how the fuel is different in the winter....</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have noticed a difference even when driving long stretches on the highway. i.e. drive from full tank to empty tank at the exact same speed with only a one or two 5 min stops. So the engine warming up doesn't make a difference in my case. I have noticed a bit of a difference.

But you are right, a cold engine will suck back a lot and a lot of gas.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eddiebx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the fuel is different in some parts of the country. we used to be affected up here in the north east too. they used to add 10% ehtanol in the fuel during the winter months because it burns cleaner and ****. plus its also a good water remover. of course the downside to this oxygenated fuel is its less efficient so you get slightly less mpg

but ever since the gas prices have gone crazy, they stopped switching and stick with straight up 10% ethanol year round. it's been like this for years already up here.

it's not a conspiracy, it's fact</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, in the last 4 years, NY (or at least LI and NYC) has kept ethanol in the fuel all year round, such that all the hype about additives is more easily explained by warm up and cold starts.

So out here it is all just conspiracy.

 

I've noticed a 2mpg drop in the winter. This happaned just 2 weeks ago when it started getting near freezing temperatures.

 

I think another factor is air temperature, as it cools off, the density and O2 content increases, the computer adds more fuel to compensate.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The_Head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think another factor is air temperature, as it cools off, the density and O2 content increases, the computer adds more fuel to compensate.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Some one trying to explain something with science on honda-tech? IMPOSSIBLE

Ya, I am pretty sure you are right. The density does increase and thus the amount of O2 will increase per volume. There are a viariety of other reasons listed in the first link found below. Such as denser air causing more aerodynamic resistance.

There are also physcological factors such as a lot more short trips are made cause no one walks in winter and people tend to go through the drive through a lot more in winter for example.

http://www.hybridcars.com/wint....html
a few reasons listed here.

http://www.gas-mileage-tips.com/
article on how to increase milage

It's amazing what a google search of the words "mileage" "winter" and "gas" will come up with. But it's honda-tech.....who searches.

 

cool thanks for the input

 

Winter gasolines vaporizes more easily (summer gasoline blends eliminate certain hydrocarbons which react with certain airborne pollutants to form ozone; summer blends are federally mandated), has lower energy output in terms of BTUs, and alters the combustion cycle due to its lower flash point. So if you are getting lower MPG, it's due to this winter blend.

 

for those who don't live ni CA and have to warm up our cars, if you don't have to scrape your windshield or turn on defrosters. starting the car with all of the heat turned off and the temperature control turned to fully cold, your car will warm up in half the time.

 

probably true, but I like to have my car be nice and toasty when I drive away, especially as cold as it has been lately.

 

off topic. how long does it usually take your guys cars to warm up? i let mine idle for about 1-2min in the morning and i drive like like 3 miles to school but i ttakes around 10-15mins to get there and my car never warms up with usable heat. same with the 5mi, 10-12min ride to work.

 

hmmm i let my car warm up about 10 minutes and useable heat is aquired after 5 minutes at most, its 20 degrees outside if that helps. but then again i drive 25mi to work and school

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by drewthomas14 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">off topic. how long does it usually take your guys cars to warm up? i let mine idle for about 1-2min in the morning and i drive like like 3 miles to school but i ttakes around 10-15mins to get there and my car never warms up with usable heat. same with the 5mi, 10-12min ride to work.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Careful, driving a car and shutting it off before it gets to operating temperature all the time is not good at all.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dogbiscuit &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmmm i let my car warm up about 10 minutes and useable heat is aquired after 5 minutes at most, its 20 degrees outside if that helps. but then again i drive 25mi to work and school</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not the best way for wear and tear but hey, it's a honda, engines don't normally fail all them unless you fock with them. exhaust might rust a little quicker

The recommended way is to just let it idle for 30s-1min and then drive it under light load until it reaches operating temperature. However as we all know this doesn't really happen. I let it idle for as long as it takes to clean the snow and ice off the car. Also it is not safe in some circumstances to drive a cold car cause the inside of the windows will fog up like crazy sometimes. Saftey over wear and tear always. The reason for the short idle is that at idle when cold you don't get a lot of oil pressure, also it won't warm up as quickly as just letting it idle forever causing more wear. Another thing i mentioned is increased condensation in your exhaust which causes rust.

Look it up in your owners manual, see what it says and do that. Those Honda engineers know their ****.

Block heaters, oil pan heaters, and other are great if you live in a colder climate.

Cheers!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turner7205 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ive noticed a drop as well. I went from 34mpg on my stock D16Y8 to 28mpg. Car has all new tune up parts. All the driving is the same but the mileage went down. However before winter I would get 31mpg and stay for a few fill ups and go back up. Who knows, but bump anyways</TD></TR></TABLE>

how on earth do u get 34 mpg?! my civic is an automatic but i udnerstand the MPG shouldnt be that much different.

i never beat on my car and it rarely revs over 6k... maybe once a fill. and i get 23mpg!

whats wrong

 

Gas mileage? *coughcough* Check my signature. But anyway, yeah, winter gas is blended differently, unless something happens with the car, it'll go back up when the gas type changes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ekcivic9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how on earth do u get 34 mpg?! my civic is an automatic but i udnerstand the MPG shouldnt be that much different.

i never beat on my car and it rarely revs over 6k... maybe once a fill. and i get 23mpg!

whats wrong </TD></TR></TABLE>


My dx with an apexi ws2 and an aem intake gets 36-39 in the summer and I run it kinda hard (revs over 6k about once or twice a trip if not more). I did notice quite a large drop in milage though in the last few weeks (about 4 mpg). I dont remember if it did that last winter cuz gas was less expensive and i wasnt paying any attention to how much the fill ups were. It is strange though. You would expect colder temps to increase gas milage because the fuel should be burning more efficiently. Who knows????????

 

i get about 38-39 mpg consistantly in winter driving with my dx coupe, no ac or powersteering. at summer i get about 42 ish