<VV> Fuel Milage in winter - only minor Corvair

[Jim Burkhard]

In addition to the stuff already posted, winter fuels often 
(but not always) have higher levels of oxygenates (used to 
be mostly MTBE, now mostly ethanol), which have lower 
heating values (fewer BTUs per gallon).

Another factor is that in winter driving, a lot of folks 
tend to (foolishly) spend a lot of time "warming" their cars 
up before driving them.  You get 0 mpg when that is going 
on...   Remote car starters (the rage where I live) make 
this even worse because people are often running their cars 
for 15 minutes (they don't realize it's this long, but I see 
it a lot with freinds, etc.) before they get in them and 
take a 15 minute trip. Besides being hard on the engine, 
it's bad for fuel economy and keeping the car cold so long 
really cranks out the emissions.

Jim Burkhard


Bob Gilbert wrote:
> Hi,
> 
>  
> 
> I can understand why a carburetored car like a Corvair would have lower
> mileage in the winter. The choke stays on creating a richer mixture et voila
> lower mileage - at least while the choke is on.
> 
>  
> 
> But,
> 
>  
> 
> a)       For a carburetored car after the choke is off and
> 
> b)      for a modern fuel injected car
> 
>  
> 
> would there be any difference in mileage between winter and summer, ignoring
> driving conditions for the moment?
> 
>  
> 
> Curious about winter driving.
> 
>  
> 
> Bob