Winter gas and gas mileage

ok first off, yes I did Google the subject, and after three or four different web pages all I coukd hear was Charlie Browns teachers in my head ( let's see who gets that). Also NO I'm not incredibly overly concerned about gas mileage, no I'm not rich, im more concerned if there is something wrong with my new 2015 off road. I could swear I was getting around 300 miles or so per tank. Without someone having to give up an afternoon of their time trying to explain gas mileage in our trucks, but is it possible for winter gas to only give me say 250 miles per tank give or take some miles? Thank you folks, be safe, and be well

 

I think anyone over 12 got that one lol

 

That dosnt seem right. I have a 2015 TRD Sport long bed and today I filled it up at 350ish miles and got just over 19 mpg. That was driving it until the gas light was on. I drive 80 miles a day on mostly two lane 50 to 60 mph type roads some in town as well. I live in New England with temps averaging in the 20-30s lately.

 

Im getting a shitty 18.6 MPG on my 2015 Tacoma. I drive about 30 miles a day, half of that at 75MPH and half at about 40. ( I just bought the truck in late September but was averaging 19-20's then. )
Google tells me 18 is normal, (sticker said 17-22) but I was REALLY hoping for 22 end of the spectrum. Ill have to see if I get a mileage increase in the summer once they stop pumping the oxygenated gas. (My old Ford escape used to loose a MPG or 2 on winter grade)

 

Where are you? Do they run winter blend gas? In MN we have winterblend starting ~ 2nd week of November. There's an additive or something that allows it to evaporate at a lower temperature vs summer blend (better starts). In my last 3 vehicles I typically see roughly a 20% reduction in fuel mileage.

Winter blend is also less expensive typically.

 

We use the winter blend as well . I am way way up North .
How long is OP warming up his truck ? Tacoma,s have very rich fuel mapping when its cold . I swear my truck uses 1/8 of a tank of fuel when it warms up .
5 minute warm up at max here . Warms better as you drive

 

Winter gas is a small factor, 3-4% at most. It's the cold motor, taking longer to warm up, transmissions and differentials that take even longer to warm up, denser air that takes more hp to cut through, possibly wasted gas warming up a motor idling in the driveway.

Short commutes really suffer in winter, drive 80 miles in the cold and it won't make as much of a difference as 20 miles.

 

As worthy wads stated, it's a combination of things. Winter gas, cold tires, cold fluids are thicker and offer more resistance, warming up idle time, using defroster more which kicks AC on, denser thicker air has more resistance and even cold roads which over less grip. Just get used to the fact that in the winter you'll get worse gas mileage.

 

I get way worse mileage. I was around 500 Km per tank now I'm lucky to get 400 since winter hit. Plus my traction control isn't working so I just spin on ice all the time.

 

I knew I missed a few, cold tires, and a/c are pretty significant. A lot of people including my wife leave it on the defrost setting all winter, fortunately her Element can bypass the a/c.

 

Strangely enough, I got 18mpg consistently in my '08 with 35's but only getting around 19-20 in my bone stock '12. Going to change spark plugs, clean MAF & TB, and change diff oils to see if that helps out.

 

Ok first off thank you guys for the responses I'm a little wiser, and don't feel alone now or feel that there is something wrong with my truck. Gearmax, you mentioned time I let it idle warming up in the driveway, yes I have an automatic starter and I have been using it almost daily here in Massachusetts. Worthywads you mentioned short trips, yes I work right here in town my firehouse is two traffic lights away along with dropping my son off to school along the way. That in itself is a lot of idling on the school grounds as it’s always a mess. Also Sub Par, thanks man you just reinforced something I read here a while ago that being the compressor runs when the defroster is running. I always have it set for floor and windshield when I have the heat on. I’m going to actually sit down today and figure out how to calculate my GPM, I read a few threads on the subject here and now it’s time for me to stop being lazy about it, I’ll get used to the lesser GPM I just wanted to make sure the truck didn’t have any problems out of the norm. The other thing being, in my mind I’m thinking that when I dropped down from an 8 cylinder to a 6 I should be getting WAY more economy (old dog new tricks). Again, thank you all for your time.

 

Unless you don't go above 60 on the highway and drive like a soft ass grandpa around town, zero chance you ever hit 22.

 

This is how I drive and I get 19.6 almost every fill up (fuelly). It is very consistent.

 

And complaining about MPG when gas is $1.56 a gallon is silly. You should be complaining about your 401(k).

 

Hey, what are you trying to say, I've hit 22.........

BTW, I have a scan gauge and the Tacoma's sweet spot seems to be around 45. I sometimes take the backroads on a 10 mile trek into town. Speed limit is 45 and if I don't hit any lights I can get 24+ on that stretch of road. Best I can get on a full tank is 22.5 and that's in the heat of summer. During the winter I'm lucky to get 21.

Also all Tacoma's are not the same. I had a 2006 Tacoma PreRunner, upon totaling it I got a 2007. Exact same truck, only difference is the 2007 is a TRD Sport. I consistently get around 1.5 worse MPG on the 2007 and that's after changing the plugs, air filter, etc. Probably due to the extra power I have due to the hood scoop.

 

Yeah exactly. Who cares with gas so slow, guess people need to bitch about something.

 

In some areas of the country, in the winter, the fuel may be oxygenated so it burns cleaner, polluting the air less. Fuel change over around Oct or so, lasting to March or April I believe, it's been 11 years since I managed a convenience store. MPG will suffer then.
Duane

 

not at 75 mph you ain't gonna get 22

 

The EPA's claim is that summer blend gasoline has 1.7% more energy than winter blend. In and of itself the change in blend wouldn't cause a significant drop in fuel mileage.