Why Do Cars Consume More Fuel in Winter?
2 Answers
Because the external temperature is too low in winter, especially in northern regions where temperatures can drop below -20 degrees Celsius. After a cold start, the vehicle takes longer to reach the normal engine operating temperature (the normal operating temperature of an engine is above 85 degrees Celsius). Below is an introduction related to the engine: Reasons for higher fuel consumption in winter: Because the external temperature is too low in winter, especially in northern regions where temperatures can drop below -20 degrees Celsius. After a cold start, the vehicle takes longer to reach the normal engine operating temperature (the normal operating temperature of an engine is above 85 degrees Celsius). Therefore, the engine control unit will instruct the fuel injectors to inject more gasoline into the engine cylinders to achieve this. As a result, vehicles consume more fuel in winter compared to other seasons. Reduced fluidity: In cold winter, the fluidity of engine oil decreases, leading to higher fuel consumption. This situation is also related to temperature. When the temperature is very low, the density of engine oil increases, and its fluidity decreases, especially for certain grades of oil that are inherently more viscous.
I found that cars consume more fuel in winter mainly because the engine takes longer to warm up and start. The oil becomes more viscous at low temperatures, increasing frictional resistance, and the heating system also uses a significant amount of fuel to warm up the cabin. Cold air is denser, requiring the engine to adjust to a richer fuel mixture for proper operation, which consumes additional fuel. Winter tires have higher rolling resistance, and vehicles accelerate and decelerate more frequently on icy or slippery roads. It is recommended to avoid using the heater too early, check tire pressure more often, as low tire pressure worsens fuel consumption. Reducing idle time appropriately and using winter-specific engine oil can also help reduce fuel consumption. Maintaining good driving habits, such as smooth acceleration and deceleration, can significantly improve high fuel consumption in winter. Overall, this is a natural seasonal variation, but adjusting vehicle usage reasonably can effectively control costs.
