Big MPG shift

[2lbgill]

I've been 46-47 mpg consistently until lately when the weather has been in the 20's. I start it up and let it warm up for 15 min. and this knocks the mpg down to 36 mpg. The Escape that I trade in gave me 32mpg in this weather. My opinion of the Atkinson engine is kaput, cold weather must knock down the compression ratio reducing power.

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[ShadowBlack XL440]

I've been 46-47 mpg consistently until lately when the weather has been in the 20's. I start it up and let it warm up for 15 min. and this knocks the mpg down to 36 mpg. The Escape that I trade in gave me 32mpg in this weather. My opinion of the Atkinson engine is kaput, cold weather must knock down the compression ratio reducing power.

The 15 min. warm up is the mpg killer. Are you only going by the dash or actual calculation?

 

[RedRider]

The 15 min. warm up is the mpg killer. Are you only going by the dash or actual calculation?

Why are you warming the vehicle up for any time at all? I assume that you have a 2.0 and not the hybrid, which would do nothing during a "warm up". Heating you up in the vehicle is what the heated seats and steering wheel are for. You're just wasting a lot of fuel. With today's oils and the small block, you just drive it to get it up to temperature. Keep it under 2500rpm until the oil is up to temperature, and it will be fine, and so will you with the heated seats.

 

[Donodo]

So, I’m guessing that you are warming up your engine for 15 during summer months also right? I mean if it’s being warmed up for 15 minutes, then you should be doing it all the time, right?

I don’t think any engine in this day and age should be warmed up like that. Maybe a quick read of the owners manual is in order.

 

[huunvubu]

Why are you warming the vehicle up for any time at all? I assume that you have a 2.0 and not the hybrid, which would do nothing during a "warm up". Heating you up in the vehicle is what the heated seats and steering wheel are for. You're just wasting a lot of fuel. With today's oils and the small block, you just drive it to get it up to temperature. Keep it under 2500rpm until the oil is up to temperature, and it will be fine, and so will you with the heated seats.

Uh the OP who posted about warming up the truck has a Hybrid.

Also he mentioned " I've been 46-47 mpg consistently"

So yes warming up the truck by idling is a MPG killer.

I have a Hybrid and when it is COLD I turn off the climate control until the engine temp needle moves a little. Then I turn on the climate control and set the desired temp.

This is nothing different than I did with my 1998 Ranger. Why blow cold air until the engine temp shows that heat can be delivered.

 

[BluegrassNbass]

Windshield frozen. I warm up.
95° I cool it down.
Both done from App, XL hybrid.

 

[Maverickman74]

The 15 min. warm up is the mpg killer. Are you only going by the dash or actual calculation?

I second that. Back when I lived where winter existed(Ohio) I never warmed the motor up for longer than it takes the heater to blow out warm air. My dad one time in our old 84 Econoline warmed his motor up. Problem was he forgot to go to the store and it was still sitting there idleing in the morning full tank of gas was gone down to almost empty. Was nice and warm though. I never really warmed up my vehicles much at all, only 2 of the 11 vehicles I owned in Ohio were fuel injected also. I just got em warm enough so they would move without coughing. By the time I got out of the neighborhood they were usually good to go unless it was below zero. Warming a vehicle up for more than a couple minutes is just a waste of gas.

 

[OrCoaster]

Here on the coast it is the condensation on the inside of the windows that causes us to idle or vehicles for a while in the morning.


Way too much wet coming in on feet and open doors. Running defrost helps but only if you have a longer drive home. I don’t.

 

[icegradner]

Why are you warming the vehicle up for any time at all?

Frost is a thing in places with high humidity when it's cold, and not everyone has a garage, or space in one, to park. Even with a window cover condensation forms inside and that freezes too. So much fun, got to warm it up before going, either that or stand in the cold and scrape it off for 5 minutes by hand.

 

[Jeff D.]

My dad one time in our old 84 Econoline warmed his motor up. Problem was he forgot to go to the store and it was still sitting there idleing in the morning full tank of gas was gone down to almost empty.

Haa! A few years ago a large group of our family went to Cancun on vacation. One morning at breakfast while we were playing with our phones I started bragging I could start my truck back home from right there if I wanted. My sister was going to one up me and told us her car started every weekday morning at a set time before she went to work. As she was saying it you could see the blood drain from her face as she realized she'd forgotton to turn that feature off before she went on vacation. LOL.

I'm guilty as anyone for warming up a vehicle to long. With the stories on here about the eco boost and fuel dilution in the oil from excessive idling, I'm definately going to have to change my habits.

 

[Timothyd]

I've been 46-47 mpg consistently until lately when the weather has been in the 20's. I start it up and let it warm up for 15 min. and this knocks the mpg down to 36 mpg. The Escape that I trade in gave me 32mpg in this weather. My opinion of the Atkinson engine is kaput, cold weather must knock down the compression ratio reducing power.

Paring the Atkinson engine with the hybrid tech is beyond clever. The Atkinson cycle has some compromises with power but the cold won't affect it much. The best way to warm up a motor is to put a light load on it. Did you know the Atkinson cycle was invented over a century ago?
So, let it warm for a minute, turn on your seat and drive it gently.

 

[Guv]

Hybrids always run the ICE more in cold weather, especially if you are using the heater/defroster. The engine also cools down quicker when not running during electric motivation. Peak efficiency is hard to obtain when cold ambient temperatures are affecting oil and coolant temperatures. I used to select the coolant temp gauge on our C-Max and was amazed at how quickly the coolant would cool down when cycling between gas and electric. My fuel economy always took a nosedive in really cold weather.

 

[2lbgill]

I've been 46-47 mpg consistently until lately when the weather has been in the 20's. I start it up and let it warm up for 15 min. and this knocks the mpg down to 36 mpg. The Escape that I trade in gave me 32mpg in this weather. My opinion of the Atkinson engine is kaput, cold weather must knock down the compression ratio reducing power.

Paring the Atkinson engine with the hybrid tech is beyond clever. The Atkinson cycle has some compromises with power but the cold won't affect it much. The best way to warm up a motor is to put a light load on it. Did you know the Atkinson cycle was invented over a century ago?
So, let it warm for a minute, turn on your seat and drive it gently.

Yes I am familiar with it's background and have lots of dyno experience myself., I would prefer the 2.0 turbo and give up a few mpg in warm weather myself. I would bet there is a drop in efficiency in cold weather.

 

[surfstar]

Yes I am familiar with it's background and have lots of dyno experience myself., I would prefer the 2.0 turbo and give up a few mpg in warm weather myself. I would bet there is a drop in efficiency in cold weather.

Can't help but ask the next logical question: "Why'd you buy the hybrid?"

 

[BluegrassNbass]

Can't help but ask the next logical question: "Why'd you buy the hybrid?"

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