Do Cars Consume More Fuel in Winter or Summer?
2 Answers
Generally, fuel consumption is higher in summer. Here is a related introduction about car fuel consumption: 1. Reasons for higher fuel consumption in summer: Because using the air conditioning for cooling in summer consumes part of the engine's power, which leads to increased fuel consumption. Although air conditioning is also used in winter, heating does not require the engine to drive the compressor, so winter fuel consumption is not as high as in summer. 2. Reasons for increased fuel consumption in winter: If the air conditioning is used improperly in winter, it can also cause the engine's fuel consumption to increase. It is recommended not to turn on the air conditioning immediately after starting the engine in winter. Instead, you should wait 10 to 20 minutes of normal driving before turning on the air conditioning.
I've been driving for over 20 years and noticed that winter is significantly more fuel-consuming. When temperatures are low, it takes several minutes for the engine to warm up after starting. The increased viscosity of engine oil creates more resistance, leading to greater friction losses and higher fuel consumption. Additionally, using the heater for defogging or warming in winter requires extra power from the engine, increasing fuel consumption by 10% to 20%. While using air conditioning in summer also consumes fuel due to the power drawn by the compressor, the intermittent operation of AC has a lesser impact compared to the continuous warm-up state in winter. Frequent cold starts during short commutes are especially wasteful in terms of fuel costs. I recommend avoiding aggressive acceleration and allowing the engine to warm up steadily, or using low-viscosity synthetic oil to reduce cold-start friction. Maintaining proper tire pressure can also help save some fuel. Regular maintenance, including checking spark plugs, ensures efficient ignition.
