How Much Higher is Winter Fuel Consumption Compared to Summer?
1 Answers
In winter, a car's fuel consumption is slightly higher than in summer, typically by around 1-2 liters. During the winter months, due to the influence of moving air, the engine increases fuel injection and adjusts the ignition timing to maintain temperature. Additionally, the thermal efficiency of gasoline is significantly lower in cold weather compared to warmer temperatures. Using the car's heater places extra load on the engine. Operating the heater in winter consumes more fuel than using the air conditioning in summer. Theoretically, the heater does not activate the air conditioning compressor; it simply transfers heat from the engine's coolant system into the cabin to warm the interior. On the surface, many people assume that this heat is generated anyway and doesn't involve additional energy consumption or fuel usage. However, while the engine's coolant heat does warm the cabin, if the heat output is insufficient to reach the desired temperature, the engine must work harder to produce more thermal energy to meet the cabin's heating demands, leading to additional fuel consumption. Gasoline's thermal efficiency is lower in winter. One of the main reasons for higher fuel consumption in winter is the reduced thermal efficiency of gasoline due to lower temperatures. Generally, an engine operates optimally within a temperature range of 80°C to 90°C. If the temperature rises too high, the engine's cooling system increases the coolant circulation rate to dissipate excess heat. Conversely, in colder conditions, it reduces the coolant flow to maintain the necessary temperature. This is the fundamental principle of engine cooling—in winter, the engine prioritizes heat retention over dissipation. Due to the effects of moving air, it becomes harder for the engine to maintain a stable temperature around 80°C. To compensate, the engine increases fuel injection and adjusts the ignition timing to sustain the required temperature. Furthermore, gasoline's thermal efficiency is considerably worse in cold weather than in summer. These factors collectively contribute to higher fuel consumption in winter compared to other seasons.
