Winter Weather MPG's?

[Cooker]

Ok I know in the winter we should expect less efficient fuel economy, but how much worse. In the warmer months city driving was in the area of 17-18 and now I'm getting 14-15. The last tank was 13. 65. Is this normal to see this big of a decrease in MPG during the cold months?

Is it correct to assume the colder it gets the worse it gets (ie worse fuel economy when it 0 degress than 20 degrees)?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[WyomingETH]

I have lost about 2 mpg's since the weather turned colder. I also switched tires, and I'm sure that did not help either. Same thing happened on my "99 PSD.

 

[Bigsaint]

I also went from a solid 15MPG to 12. 5 since the colder temps. are now here. From what I understand, the winter blend diesel is the culprit. I just received a case of Stanadyne Performance Formula and will see if my MPG increase after some use.

Scott W.

White 2001. 5 3500 ETH/DEE 4X4 Quad cab SLT,tow package and camper prep,Husky liners front and rear,DiPricol pyro,boost and engine oil temp. gauges,Edge EZ box,Mopar tonneau,Lund bug shield,PM tractor utility back up lights,Penda bed mat and blow by bottle is bye bye !!!
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089608" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>My Truck</font></A><font color="#DEDFDF">



[This message has been edited by Bigsaint (edited 12-21-2000). ]

 

[HC]

I'm down about somewhere between 1 and 2 mpg - still collecting data. Weather in 20's and low 30's. I've been told my "southern" winterized fuel is almost pure #2, but I don't believe that for a minute. Further North, I'm sure your blend would give even lower mpg. When temp gets really low, trip computer shows lower numbers too, but I haven't had a whole tank in the teens so I can't prove that it will be lower at 0 than at 20. If it gets colder, I'm cutting up some cardboard!

 

[illflem]

Besides the fact that #1&2 blend winter fuel contains less BTUs=less mpgs,cold intake air temps lower the efficiency of combustion. Having a very large efficient intercooler and radiator on the Cummins doesn't help matters in the cold months. Use straight #2 fuel with additive if possible and cover your front,you will see your mpgs go back up.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

[K_Arts]

I am right in line with you guys. Through the summer months, I was getting roughly 17 - 19MPG. Now with this winter blend, I am getting 14 - 15... driving very conservative. I have placed a piece of cardboard in front of my radiator with 2 estimated 4" diamonds cut out. The only thing that this does is help my truck warm up quicker while driving.

 

[mikel]

I've seen a 2-3 mpg drop too. The odd thing is that I thought Houston would be warm enough that nobody would be selling winter blended fuel...

Mike

 

[Bill Reiss]

just trying something here... . I'm copying my MPG spreadsheet from Microsoft works to see if it will look OK in this forum. The window may stretch out wide, and I apologize in advance if it does !!

my MPG's are getting better as I go... my most recent was up 2MPGs after an all-highway trip to VA from PA and back.

here is goes...

Date Odo Gallons $$$/Gal. Gal $ Miles Tank $ MPG Avg. MPG

11/17 448 27. 813 $1. 699 27. 81 $1. 699 448 $47. 25 16. 11 16. 11
11/20 907 27. 622 $1. 629 55. 44 $1. 664 459 $45. 00 16. 62 16. 36
11/23 1218 20. 288 $1. 799 75. 72 $1. 709 311 $36. 50 15. 33 16. 08
11/26 1614 24. 592 $1. 789 100. 32 $1. 729 396 $44. 00 16. 10 16. 09
12/01 2081 29. 664 $1. 699 129. 98 $1. 723 467 $50. 40 15. 74 16. 01
12/03 2541 27. 487 $1. 699 157. 47 $1. 719 460 $46. 70 16. 74 16. 14
12/07 3026 29. 620 $1. 799 187. 09 $1. 730 485 $53. 29 16. 37 16. 17
12/13 3417 24. 457 $1. 799 211. 54 $1. 739 391 $44. 00 15. 99 16. 15
12/17 3706 18. 833 $1. 699 230. 38 $1. 735 289 $32. 00 15. 35 16. 09
12/19 4112 23. 344 $1. 799 253. 72 $1. 741 406 $42. 00 17. 39 16. 21

If this is a total failure, all the numbers will be scattered all over the page... . if it works-enjoy.

Thanks, Bill



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White/Agate 2001. 5 3500, 4x4, 5. 9L HO/6-speed, Quad-cab, SLT+, 4. 10LS, camper & tow groups, factory tow-hooks, Michelins, Bilsteins.

 

[Bill Reiss]

ok. . it kinda worked. all the tabs were lost, but you can see tank MPGs and total avg MPGs in the last 2 colums.

17+ is where I wanna be ! New stuff coming after XMAS to shoot for 18+

Bill

 

[Cooker]

Thanks for all the input so far, but I like to ask another question.

When everyone talks of covering the front you mean between the rad and intercooler right? This is what I did a month back when it was warmer, 30's. Now it's in the sigle digits lately and MPG's are getting worse and the truck is taking forever to warm up, especially if left unplugged at work. I seen many of you taking the fan off completely, is there any drawback to this? This is my next step if the temps stay low.

Gotta love the over-efficient cooling system in the summer and dislike it in the winter.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Well in Arizona don't near have the cold weathers as the other guys. Won't even consider the card board option. Don't have #1 fuel here still #2 and with temps 40's rare in 30's in the mornings have seen 1/2 to 1 MPG drop.

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2001 RAM 3500 dually Quad Cab SLT, 4. 10, HO 245 hp, 6-speed, dark garnet pearl coat, interior agate, All options except heated leather and engine block heater, added Betterbuilt brite diamond tool box, Linex spray-in bed liner, DeeZee brite diamond cab/bed running boards and TurboSaver also Reese 5th wheel 15k hitch. No plans to bomb. This is my retirment vehicle currently pulling 21' 5er want to buy 30 to 35 for retirment

 

[illflem]

Cooker,if you don't plan on towing this winter by all means try removing your fan,just remember that if you are in the defrost position the AC will run and will ice up if you aren't moving enough for airflow. Other things that will bring your winter mpgs down are longer idle periods trying to keep things warm and sometimes very slow driving on icy roads.

 

[RKohn]

Mine's down by 2. I figure 1 for the fuel blend and 1 cause I love to pull that lever back. #ad


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Y2K Red Stealth Sport 2500 4X4 QC SLT+, 5-spd, 3. 54 anti-spin, 265-75-16 LTX’s (There ain’t no such thing as options, cause ya gotta have it all, including: DC’s dead cow/vinyl interior and don’t stop anti-lock brakes. ) Stock, but not for long. Oops, too late. What silencer ring? (More fun than my 98 SST)

 

[DavidD]

Cooker, you need to use grill covers. xenon makes some they have them in the quadratec cataloge or online. I have noticed not only does the truck take forever to warm up but if it is really cold it runs very noisy. this is I believe due to extreme cold are entering the engine through the intercooler. so you want to block air from the whole front ofo the truck. there is a noticeable dif. in warm up time and engine sound when you do this. take a lot at the big boys onthe open road their radiators are all blocked in the front.

98. 5 24V, BD ex,brake, gauges,power mod. rancho9's,bushwacker fender flairs,315's

 

[JyRO]

Bob Cochran - In your signature, it says you didn't opt for the block heater. I thought the block heater was standard with the Cummins. Pop the hood, check just inside the right headlight toward the centerline of the truck for a plug. I haven't heard of a Cummins without one. Others - Am I right or wrong?

Davedd - From my understanding, the extra noise is due to the advanced fuel timing which is a result of the computer making an adjustment for such cold weather on a cold engine.

Everybody - I think that not only does the winter fuel make a difference, but the computer probably fuels a little heavier to match the denser (colder) air. In that way the air/fuel ratio remains close to constant all year around. It just takes a little more fuel to match the condensed atoms of the colder air.

- JyRO

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Y2K 2500 Cummins ETC/DEE, SLT+, 4X4, Quad, LB, Intense Blue Sport, 3. 54 LSD, rear aux. springs (camper special), sliding rear window, all options except cab clearance lights including agate leather, totally stock engine, silencer ring removed, "stealth," mod to run fogs with high beam. Since everybody else listed their toys, I will too.
1995 Kawasaki ZX6-R (For Sale)
1990 Toyota Celica
1983 Mazda RX-7 GSL (For sale)

 

[Spyke]

Hey guys I just made a trip fro CA to OH running with the current temps and my MPG was 19. I tried to run 2000 RPMs most of the time. I thought this was good since a 1500 mile trip in Sep only got me 18MPG. I do run additive with every tank of fuel.

 

[Wiredawg]

I log every tank and I seem to be holding at 17. 6 MPG, even in winter. Now, we aint been having no single digit cold here in Maryland yet, but it shore has been steady in the 20s a lot. #ad
Brrr. Way to cold for this Texan. #ad


Wiredawg

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2000 4X4 SLT QC 8' bed; 6 spd, 3. 54 ; BD exhaust brake and 4" exhaust syst; TST PM2; Airlift Super Duty rear air bags; RS 9000 shocks; pyro/boost gauges in 2 gauge a-pillar mount; back preasure gauge mounted under dash; KN air filter; Brown's Welding brush/grill guard, rear bumper & headache rack; nerf bars and aluminum roll top rear cover, Warn front receiver and Hadley air horns, 20K Reese hitch.

 

[HC]

I thought the block heater was standard with the Cummins. Pop the hood, check just inside the right headlight toward the centerline of the truck for a plug. I haven't heard of a Cummins without one. Others - Am I right or wrong? - JyRO

You're right! It will be there, hanging between the headlight and the edge of the radiator. If not, file a warranty claim and make them install one for free, because all the literature says this is part of the Cummins set-up, right along with dual batteries and heavy-duty alternator.


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2001 ETH, QC, LWB, 4WD, 3. 54, SPA Pyro & Boost, K&N RE-880 w/foam pre-cleaner, ARE Z-series Cab-high shell, Rear ARB locker, and all kinds of synthetic fluids...

 

[Bob Cochran]

JyRO & HC ~ This is what I love about this page!!! It is almost 9:00 Pm and my wife thinks I lost my mind but just went outside and looked for that block heater connection. Moral to the story don't know my left from my right!!!! There it was just where you guys said. Thanks not sure I need it in AZ but maybe if I am in colder climates. I did have it up north at Thanksgiving and it got down to 18 F I cycled the key and grid heater 2 times and fired right up. Little rough but it worked. Any reason I should use the heater in milder temp's like 30's and 40's in the morning? Changed my profile to.

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2001 RAM 3500 dually Quad Cab SLT, 4. 10 limited slip, HO 245 hp, 6-speed, dark garnet pearl coat, interior agate, All options except heated leather, added Betterbuilt brite diamond tool box, Linex spray-in bed liner, DeeZee brite diamond cab/bed running boards and TurboSaver (from Gino's) also Reese 5th wheel 15k hitch. No plans to bomb. This is my retirment vehicle currently pulling 21' 5er want to buy 30 to 35 for retirment.

 

[Cooker]

davedd,

I was thinking this too, but doesn't this defeat the puropse of the intercooler, or are we trying to react to over-efficiency of the intercooler?

Any thoughts?
I think a similar thread was started on this topic so I'll follw that as well.