Why fuel consumption is higher in winter

High fuel consumption: causes of the problem and methods of its elimination

Have you noticed that the car consumes a lot of fuel in winter and at other times of the year? This is an important point that negatively affects the budget. It's a concern for vehicle owners who don't want to throw money away. If you have such an unpleasant situation, familiarise yourself with our publication. In it, we will tell you why the problem appears and how to reduce fuel consumption with the help of effective methods. After reading this article, you will learn a lot of useful information and you can use it to minimise petrol wastage!

After reading this article, you will learn a lot of useful information and you can use it to minimise petrol wastage!

Top 5 causes of fuel consumption

Let's take a look at the reasons why a vehicle consumes a lot of fuel during winter. These include:

1. Cooling of technical fluids and cold engine - after starting the car, you need to wait until the working temperature is created for travelling. During this time, the car consumes a lot of fuel.
2.  Operation of the heater in the cabin, heating of seats and windscreen - these tasks require a lot of energy. Therefore, the engine consumes an order of magnitude more petrol and diesel;
3. Decreased pressure in the tyres - at minus temperature values, the pressure decreases. In this case, the rolling resistance increases.
4. Driving on snow-covered drifts, slipping the car - snow creates additional resistance that must be overcome. This consumes a lot of energy. This is compensated for by increased petrol consumption.
5. Decrease in driving speed on a slippery road - such a figure certainly affects the budget.

Fuel economy is not just a matter of interest to drivers in winter. At other times of the year, a car can also consume a lot of petrol. What is the reason for this? The main objective reasons include late ignition, incorrect spark plug gaps, worn cylinder piston group, unadjusted camber, dirty fuel injectors, clogged air filter. The alternator is also capable of taking up some of the fuel consumption. Increased load on the generator, may entail a faulty battery. Given that a faulty starter can completely exhaust the life of the battery. Using equipment for repair of generators and starters you can eliminate the malfunction of the units.

There are also subjective factors that raise the question of how to reduce fuel consumption. These include overloading the car above the norm, installing spoilers and dodgers, travelling at high speeds with the windows open, running the climate control and acoustic system for long periods of time.

How to reduce fuel consumption in winter

What is considered acceptable fuel consumption? It is different for each type of vehicle. This figure is calculated on the basis of the basic norm, taking into account operational, weather and road factors.

How to save petrol and diesel in winter? We have a detailed answer to this question:

What is the best way to save petrol and diesel in winter?

• Before winter starts, visit a service centre. Let the experts adjust the camber of the wheels;
• check the pressure in the tyres regularly - it will help to avoid unnecessary monetary expenses;
• get rid of excess weight - empty the boot of everything you don't need;
• drive at a constant speed on the motorway - avoid aggressive driving;
• use a special engine insulator - such a product is made of fireproof materials. With its help, it significantly reduces the time to warm up the engine in the cold.

And one more thing: periodically go to the service station to check the technical condition of the vehicle. It means timely replacement of the air filter, cleaning of injectors from dirt, elimination of malfunctions of the gas distribution mechanism. It is also necessary to use oils and fluids that are recommended by the company-manufacturer of the car. When you take into account all the nuances, saving fuel in winter and at other times of the year will not be a difficult problem.