Fuel mileage drop....cold weather?

[chadrob30]

I have a '24 2.0 XLT AWD. It just kicked over 4,000 miles. According to the computer I have been getting roughly 26-28 mpg. For about the last week or so it has dropped down to 21.0 mpg. The only change has been the weather. It's been averaging about 25° lately. Could this be the cause? I usually run 87 octane if it matters.

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[Montana]

Yes.

It's a bit chilly.

 

[2022 Maverick Lariat]

I’m in the same boat. My MPG has been reduced quite a bit lately as well this winter. I was routinely getting 25-26 MPG (bigger tires) and now and getting 18-19 MPG. Nothing besides the cold has changed.

 

[chadrob30]

Ok, I don't feel as bad then...I was hoping it was nothing serious.

 

[slashsnake]

Yup, mostly highway on my ecoboost, was averaging 27 combined (mostly highway here in middle of nowhere Minnesota). It's -18 this morning and hasn't been above zero for a few days now, and getting 22ish.

Engine needs to work harder to run at optimal temperature and overcome the drag of thicker fluids.

 

[Vettereddie]

Noticing a similar drop w/ the hybrid. Normally getting ~42-43 mpg, but with the recent cold snaps below freezing (15 F this morning) it's dropped significantly to 34-38 mpg. Part of it is starting up in the driveway for a few minutes to defrost and warm the inside up, adding to it I have a short commute that doesn't really let the engine get to temp.

Think I'll just suck it up and take the fuel economy hit to have a lukewarm cab to start the drive in the AM.

 

[NiCkyGee]

I have a '24 2.0 XLT AWD. It just kicked over 4,000 miles. According to the computer I have been getting roughly 26-28 mpg. For about the last week or so it has dropped down to 21.0 mpg. The only change has been the weather. It's been averaging about 25° lately. Could this be the cause? I usually run 87 octane if it matters.

I've noticed that too!

 

[betlouboo]

Same with my hybrid, was getting 48 mpg now that it is cold, I'm getting 31.

 

[Howard]

Gas is blended differently for winter so that it vaporizes better, but that results in lower mileage as well.

 

[Deleted member 17675]

Noticing a similar drop w/ the hybrid. Normally getting ~42-43 mpg, but with the recent cold snaps below freezing (15 F this morning) it's dropped significantly to 34-38 mpg. Part of it is starting up in the driveway for a few minutes to defrost and warm the inside up, adding to it I have a short commute that doesn't really let the engine get to temp.

Think I'll just suck it up and take the fuel economy hit to have a lukewarm cab to start the drive in the AM.

Now that it has been below 0F here, my mpg plummeted even further, 26-28 city. Started with no trouble sitting outdoors at -14F this morning, and I neglected to put the battery tender on so I was a little nervous, so I will take the hit without serious complaint.

 

[Gray Goose]

It's the usual thermodynamics of cold weather.
Here are the reasons mpg drops by as much as 45% in winter.
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/fuel-economy-cold-weather

 

[d7602002]

You are not alone. I was getting about the same 24-26 in city driving mostly (well small town, although technically we are a city but it's only about 13,000 people so), but now it's down to about 18 or 19. And we've had highs in the single digits and lows the last 3-4 days below zero. In fact last night it was 17 below and today the high is going to be one below. At least it's going to warm up

 

[Hunters Edge]

Gas company changing to winter fuel also is a contributing factor. I hit like because misery likes company. No it's just that this thread seems to be an honest thread and showing we are all taking a hit this time of year.

I drive mostly 2 lane highway 50 to 55 mph. I was reading 31/32 now 27/28 on the same roads and the same driver, or the same driving methods. 24 2.0 AWD 4k tow so has the optional gear ratio.

Might as well include the rest of the story. Keep in mind these mpg numbers is what the display reads. When I check the actual fuel economy, the display is .7 to 1.5 mpg off or lower

My drive is usually a half hour to town and vice versa. If I had shorter commutes I believe I would take a hit even further. Because the car and it's fluids would never warm up. Therefore it's running on choke or at a higher rpm. As it is I am taking a 4 or 5 mpg hit in the winter.

I like to look at this as the glass half full. Still much better fuel economy, ride, handling and easier to ingress, egress and to park. The F150 I replaced with a 5.8 got 15 and sometimes 13 on the same roads in the summer. It got 11 to 13 in the winter same roads. So I'm much better off with the Maverick whether summer or winter.

 

[d7602002]

[QUOTE="Hunters Edge, post: 1014531, member: 31

Might as well include the rest of the story. Keep in mind these mpg numbers is what the display reads. When I check the actual fuel economy, the display is .7 to 1.5 mpg off or lower


[/QUOTE]

Exactly, that's what I do. I am showing 20-21, so I subtract 2 just to be safe and say 18-19.

 

[Hunters Edge]

[QUOTE="Hunters Edge, post: 1014531, member: 31

Might as well include the rest of the story. Keep in mind these mpg numbers is what the display reads. When I check the actual fuel economy, the display is .7 to 1.5 mpg off or lower

Exactly, that's what I do. I am showing 20-21, so I subtract 2 just to be safe and say 18-19.
[/QUOTE]

I hear you but I honestly can not say that my display is off 2 mpg when it's never been off that much and I have manually checked it numerous times. I decided that even being off slightly it's a lot easier than manually figure it out when at times it's very close. Well less than 1 mpg .7. Even if at times it maybe higher for me, it's not enough to worry or cry about. Unfortunately when posting the mpg and the drop in winter I thought I should add that the mpg is slightly skewed.

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