What Are the Reasons for a Sudden Increase in Car Fuel Consumption in Winter?
2 Answers
Winter car fuel consumption suddenly increases due to: decreased thermal efficiency, incorrect warm-up methods, and the use of improper engine oil. Fuel consumption refers to the fuel economy indicator of a car driving at a constant speed on good road surfaces. Since constant-speed driving is a basic operating condition for cars on highways, and this type of fuel consumption is easy to measure, it is widely adopted. Gasoline is a volatile, flammable hydrocarbon mixture liquid obtained from petroleum through distillation or cracking, mainly used as fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. It primarily includes organic compounds obtained from crude oil distillation and various additives.
Increased car fuel consumption in winter is common in my driving experience, mainly because the engine requires a longer warm-up time during cold starts, leading to lower combustion efficiency. Additionally, lower temperatures increase air density, raising wind resistance and making the car work harder. Tire pressure drops due to cold contraction, increasing friction and fuel consumption. Frequent use of heaters and other electrical devices adds to the engine load. Short-distance driving with frequent stops and starts worsens the situation. I recommend checking tire pressure, ensuring battery health, reducing excessive warm-up (drive slowly after half a minute of idling), and developing smooth driving habits (avoiding sudden acceleration and braking) to help save fuel costs and frequent refueling time. Moreover, in some regions, winter fuel formulations differ, making the fuel thicker, which may also affect consumption. Regularly changing to the appropriate viscosity of engine oil can help alleviate this issue.
