Why does car fuel consumption increase in summer?
2 Answers
Because both over-inflated and under-inflated tires alter the friction coefficient between the tires and the road surface, requiring the car to deliver more power to maintain normal performance. Here are some suggestions to improve fuel economy: 1. Avoid prolonged idling or low-speed driving: Avoiding extended periods of idling and low-speed driving is crucial for reducing fuel consumption. 2. Avoid excessive vehicle load and a full fuel tank: The more weight the vehicle carries, the higher the fuel consumption during driving. 3. Avoid using high-viscosity engine oil: Under the same environmental conditions, using engine oils with different viscosities will result in varying fuel consumption. 4. Use the accelerator to control speed rather than the brake: When driving, avoid sudden acceleration and hard braking.
This problem reminds me of the confusion I had when I first started driving. As soon as summer arrives, the air conditioning has to be turned on full blast, but the compressor needs the engine to drive it, which is equivalent to having an extra small motor working on the car, and the fuel gauge drops rapidly. Another point that is easily overlooked: when the weather is hot, the air density is low, and the intake air volume decreases, so the car's computer has to inject more fuel to maintain power. And then there are the tires—I did a test last year, and at 30 degrees Celsius, the tire pressure was about 15% higher than in winter, which increases rolling resistance and is particularly fuel-consuming. Now I've developed a habit: at the start of summer, I adjust the tire pressure to the manufacturer's recommended value, and I don't set the air conditioning temperature too low, which basically saves me 10-20% on fuel.
