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Fuel Economy Tips for Cold Weather

How Can I Improve My Car’s Fuel Efficiency During Winter?

Since it is difficult to avoid cold weather all together, there are a few approaches you can take to help conserve fuel and improve gas mileage no matter the conditions.

  1. Park your vehicle in a warm place.
  2. Remove vehicle accessories that reduce aerodynamics.
  3. Combine your trips.
  4. Monitor tire pressure.

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1. Prepare For Cold Weather

2. How Does Cold Weather Affect Fuel Efficiency?

3. How to Improve Fuel Efficiency During Winter

4. AAMCO Can Help!

5. More From Our Blog

Don’t Let Cold Weather Be Your Downfall

Did you know that cold weather, winter road conditions, and poor driving habits can reduce your fuel economy? Depending on how extreme these conditions are, you may experience a dramatic reduction in gas mileage. If you’ve been finding yourself at the gas pump more often during wintertime, the cold weather may be impacting your vehicle more than you know. According to the US Department of Energy’s FuelEconomy.gov website, gas mileage is about 12% lower at 20 degrees than it is at 77. That will undoubtedly add up quickly, particularly if you are taking short trips around town with the heater on full blast. Fortunately, we have a few ideas on ways you can save money and fuel.

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How Does Cold Weather Affect Fuel Efficiency?

Winter is cold. In some regions the conditions are equivalent to the arctic; complete with below freezing temperatures, strong winds, and lots of snow. If you have ever spent a significant amount of time in cold weather, you know it can take a while to warm up when you head indoors. Cold weather affects your car the same way! Here’s how:

  • After ignition, engines need a little time to hit optimal fuel-efficient temperatures. To compound the issue, when driving short distances, the vehicle will spend most of the time at inefficient temperatures.
  • Heated seats, window defrosters, and heaters set to max utilize a lot of power and resources.
  • Cold air is dense, therefore the aerodynamic drag on your car is increased. The impact of this is more extreme at highway speeds.
  • Contrary to popular belief, idling your car does not actually help the engine “warm up” and gets you 0 mpg.
  • Tire pressure decreases in cold temperatures. You may notice your tire pressure light come on after a dramatic change in temperatures, this is often associated with cold weather extremes.
  • Using 4-wheel drive consumes more fuel.
  • Battery performance is especially affected in the cold which taxes the alternator as it works to keep a steady charge.

Luckily, being aware of how your driving habits impact your fuel efficiency gives you an opportunity to make adjustments as needed.

How to Improve Fuel Efficiency During Winter

Before major seasonal changes have a chance to throw you a curve ball, visit your local AAMCO Colorado location for regular seasonal car care services. Preventative care is the best way to ensure your vehicle’s life will be prolonged with minimal surprises along the way. Since it is difficult to avoid cold weather all together, there are a few approaches you can take to help conserve fuel and improve gas mileage no matter the conditions.

  • Park your vehicle in a warm place. Parking your car in the garage will help to keep the overall temperature of your engine and cabin higher than the temperature outside. If a garage is not an option for you, covering windows with tarps will save you time (and energy) by reducing the frost build up.
  • Remove vehicle accessories that reduce aerodynamics. Roof racks, cargo boxes, and bicycle racks certainly make life easier when moving large items or heavy tools, but these attachments can directly affect your average mpg and fuel economy. If you can stand to live without these items, it’ll give your car a helping hand when driving through icy air.
  • Combine your trips. Life happens and sometimes you need to run an errand you didn’t expect you’d have to handle. Since your car takes longer to reach optimum temperatures in the cold, it takes more fuel to reach this performance level over and over again. Instead of driving to the store, coming home, then driving to the bank a little while later, try to combine as many trips as possible in one outing.
  • Monitor tire pressure. Keeping a close eye on the tire pressure is an incredibly easy way to make sure you are ready to roll. Cold weather is well known for causing tires to have changes in pressure, so if you’re seeing a tire is on the low side, add some air to it.

Call AAMCO Colorado Today for Winter Car Care.

At AAMCO Colorado, our expert mechanics have an abundance of knowledge related to cold weather car troubles. Call us or schedule an appointment online today and let us know how we can help. With 15 Colorado locations, you’re sure to find a convenient location close to your home or work. Don’t spend your days worrying if your vehicle is having a problem, let us show you why our customers trust us to diagnose and repair all vehicle problems, big or small.

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