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Old 02-15-2012, 01:32 PM   #1
Chip
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Winter Fuel Economy

Left Maine at 9 degrees F. Three days of traveling my mpg's is down. Must be the cold weather as today it has improved.

However I have had to bleed off air as we traveled south into warmer temps. (16lbs in total so far). Seems like a lot but that is what it has taken to get to 80lbs (cold). Of course cold down here is 60 degrees, not 9 degrees.
 
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Old 02-15-2012, 01:49 PM   #2
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I have done the same with tire pressure. And yes, diesel fuel economy is worst in cold weather. Diesels do not like cold as well as warm plus I think they put anti jell stuff in the fuel that reduces mileage in cold weather. But the fuel flows.
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Old 02-15-2012, 04:07 PM   #3
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Out west you also have the altitude issue. Air in, air out, air in again, next year we're staying in one place a lot longer.
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Old 02-16-2012, 01:34 AM   #4
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I have been very fortunate this winter in the sense that even with the diesel fuel prices increasing, it has not affected the operational cost per mile for the dually. I will admit, for the purpose of clarification for these claims, that the dually has been sitting in the driveway and has not moved! Now granted, that obviously will change in a couple of months (insert with emphasis added: "C'mon Spring"), but for now the impact of diesel prices on the wallet is an enjoyable respite! Such is the life of us'n "Northerners"
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Old 02-16-2012, 09:08 AM   #5
CamillaMichael
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We always have the same experience of having to let air out of our tires as we leave our Maine camp site in the fall and head back to Florida...as pointed out above, this appears to be normal.
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Old 02-16-2012, 02:49 PM   #6
tracyclifton
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I did read that the winter blend diesel will have some negative effects on fuel mileage. I run anto-gel all the time through the winter also so mine is really suffering.
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Old 02-16-2012, 07:41 PM   #7
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Well that explains the drop for my truck every winter - I've been thinking it's something I was doing. I didn't realize the winter formula is worse but it makes sense. I get between 19 & 20 when not towing. In summer, I easily get 20 and as high as 22. These are highway mpgs. I am not an aggressive driver and find that without towing the sweetspot is between 70 and 75mph.

Street driving is 15-16 in winter and 16 to 18 in summer without a load.

Please consider for me living in southern California the daytime winter temps average about 60 to 70 during the day and about 40 at night and in summer it's 90-100 during the day and about 60 at night. I'm only talking averages. We've been known to get to lows of 25 degrees in winter and highs of 110 in summer. When the temps are at these levels we stay home.
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Old 02-17-2012, 08:10 AM   #8
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quote:Originally posted by tracyclifton

I did read that the winter blend diesel will have some negative effects on fuel mileage. I run anto-gel all the time through the winter also so mine is really suffering.
Same here. I don't have exact figures but it seems to be close to 10% less mileage with winterized diesel. And, of course, if I don't check tires when the weather cools then I'm sure lower inflation impacts the mileage, too.
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Old 02-26-2012, 04:43 PM   #9
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Well, I no longer am going to worry about winter fule milage any more. We just were in Casa Grande, Az and bought a park model. So from now on we will be spending the winter in Az. and the truck will be parked in Kansas City. During the summer we will still be in KC and a few miles will be put on going camping at the local lake.
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Old 03-04-2012, 03:09 PM   #10
Chip
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Good info.

My milage is much improved here in Florida. Actually it is the best I have had to date. Truck is finally broke in which may have something to do with the better milage.

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Old 03-05-2012, 12:50 AM   #11
Tom S.
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quote:Originally posted by Chip

Good info.

My milage is much improved here in Florida. Actually it is the best I have had to date. Truck is finally broke in which may have something to do with the better milage.

Drew
There are a few things that affect mileage in the northern states. The biggest is the use of winter fuel, which contains additives to prevent jelling, but adversely affect fuel mileage. The other is most people warm their truck up before driving, which also reduces fuel mileage. Even if you don't warm the vehicle up first, thicker fluids (engine oil and trans fluid) will rob power and thus mileage.
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