Sudden Gas Mileage Issue?

Jesus, listen to Tony and clean your MAF, then monitor and report back if your mileage doesn’t return to normal.

 

Incorrect

 

Same here in connecticut today...been down at least 3 mpg since this cold snowy weather.

 

Did you recently get new shoes?

 

Any proof to your claim?

BTW, I'm a Wahlert grad.

 

So many mpg threads. How many people save their fuel receipts and actually do the math and trend track it? My car-puter mpg are different than my receipt average.

 

You have gotta be shitting me! Well no wonder we're having a pissing contest, my Alma Matter (Senior) reclaimed the football city title from you fuckers back in '94!

I will digress, mostly, and agree with almost everything you said about winter conditions affecting MPG's more than winter fuel......but it isn't a placebo. I'm not a chemist, but winter fuel has some additives (most specifically butane) that decrease MPG. It is cheaper per gallon in the winter (generally) due to this.

But I 100% agree with you that the other factors you mentioned have a WAY bigger negative effect than winter fuel does.

It's a small world my friend,

 

It sure is.


Graduated in Wahlert in '83 when Hempstead ruled the football state championships, we were trying to kick ass in basketball. After graduating I did two years at Loras College before I decided it was time to move away and join the Navy.

I miss Dubuque alot, haven't been back there since 96.

Never said anything about a winter blend of gasoline affecting mpgs, it's all dependent on physics like air / moisture content, warm-up times and road resistance.

You take care also, maybe I'll PM you sometime and ask you if Happy Joe's Taco pizza is still as good as I remember.

 

I can save you the suspense - last month for my birthday it's what I requested for dinner - it is a special treat even when it's always an option!

The town has come a long way, you should definitely come back and spend a while seeing what's changed. I'm very proud of the progress the community has made since my days in high school!

 

I'm glad to hear that. For awhile right before I left the downtown district was starting to turn into a ghost town. That was when they still had the Town Clock Plaza a pedestrian only zone. Everything was moving out towards the west end and stores downtown were closing every week. I moved away right after they opened the greyhound track but before they opened casinos. I wasn't sure how and when the town would rebound.

Good to see another Dubuquer on TW. I see guys from IA all the time here but you're the first homeboy I've have the pleasure to yak with.

Take care brother and stay safe. You have no idea what I would trade for a fresh Happy Joe's Taco pizza.

 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15339380/the-vapor-rub-summer-versus-winter-gasoline-explained/

 

Ok.....besides an impact from "winter blend" fuel.

Suggest you check the following.
Check, clean the MAF and throttle body.
Check tire pressures
Unload extra weight.
Engine should have 5w20 oil.
Check you U-joints for binding. Do they need greasing?
Use a light right foot.
Don't sit idling to "warm" the truck. Just start it, buckle up, then drive.

Frankly, you should expect a drop in fuel mileage in colder temps.

Last October, my truck was getting 19+ mpg, January it dropped into the 17s. Temps haven't been cold yet, only the 10-20s. This weekend we are expecting below 0F. Soon, I expect mpg will be in the 16s.

 

Could also be winter gas; Ethanol gas always does worse in the winter...

 

Horse hockey myth.

Its all based on the liquid fuels ability to vaporize. Much more difficult for fuel to vaporize as the temperature falls. This is the reason engines run a "rich" fuel mixture in a cold engine.

Ethanol vaporizes very easily when compared other constituents in the fuel.

 

How long ago did this happen? As a few mentioned the MAF could be dirty causing issues..

Did the MPG drop all at once, like after a tank of fuel, or gradually over a period of time?

 

My usual 15 min commute MPG went from 22mpg to 18 or 19mpg after the ECM update.

Its also winter here.