ORLANDO, Fla. – You’ve probably heard before that cars get better gas mileage when the temperatures drop. It sounds logical but in real-world driving, it’s mostly a myth.
While colder air is denser and can slightly improve engine performance, fuel efficiency is a different story. In cold weather, engines take longer to warm up and burn more fuel during that process. That’s especially true on short trips, where the engine may never reach its most efficient operating temperature.
Cold weather also brings winter-blend gasoline, which contains slightly less energy per gallon. Tires can lose air pressure as temperatures drop, increasing rolling resistance and forcing the engine to work harder. Add in heaters, defrosters and seat warmers, and fuel consumption increases even more.
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The result? Most drivers see gas mileage drop by about 5% to 15% during colder months.
There are rare situations, such as steady highway driving with a fully warmed engine when fuel economy may hold steady. But for everyday commuting, cold weather almost always means more fuel burned not less.
So, if your gas gauge seems to move faster in winter, it’s not your imagination. Cold weather may feel crisp, but it’s usually not doing your fuel mileage any favors.