So i know about cars getting a bit worse fuel mileage, but my auto seems to be quite bad at below freezing. Doing 120kmh on the colder days I'm sitting in the 7-7.5 l/100kmh range. For comparison, my gf's Pontiac g6 v6 gets about 8l/100km in same conditions. I've read car and drivers fuel economy reports and it seems like they get about 6 at the same speed. Am I going to see better numbers come spring/summer time?
Winter fuel mileage
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It depends on a lot of factors, and you're not too far off from what I get.
- if you have winter tires, that can have a large effect. I notice a substantial difference with mine.
- in winter, the air is obviously cold and more dense. Therefore more fuel is required to maintain the mixture.
-if there's a lot of hills on your drive like mine, it'll compound the problem.
- winter fuel is a little different. They change the additives at the pump to suit the colder climate. Think antifreeze.
- this car tends to guzzle a little in the cold. Once things start to warm up, it'll settle right down.
- when cold, the ecu increases the idle significantly to help warm it up faster. It's only for a short time, but still has an impact. I really notice it with a manual. If you use a block heater you can eliminate this.
-it's possible that the winter weather has given you the gift of a dragging caliper. This is why I lube and check mine in spring and fall regardless of mileage.
I've noticed that this car really likes temps around the 20 C range. I can easily get a little over 5L/100km in that weather. Winter I'm in the same boat as you. I have a 2015 in Canada BTW.
- if you have winter tires, that can have a large effect. I notice a substantial difference with mine.
- in winter, the air is obviously cold and more dense. Therefore more fuel is required to maintain the mixture.
-if there's a lot of hills on your drive like mine, it'll compound the problem.
- winter fuel is a little different. They change the additives at the pump to suit the colder climate. Think antifreeze.
- this car tends to guzzle a little in the cold. Once things start to warm up, it'll settle right down.
- when cold, the ecu increases the idle significantly to help warm it up faster. It's only for a short time, but still has an impact. I really notice it with a manual. If you use a block heater you can eliminate this.
-it's possible that the winter weather has given you the gift of a dragging caliper. This is why I lube and check mine in spring and fall regardless of mileage.
I've noticed that this car really likes temps around the 20 C range. I can easily get a little over 5L/100km in that weather. Winter I'm in the same boat as you. I have a 2015 in Canada BTW.
I can definitely agree with you on that these things like warmer temps. Even the change from -20 to say +5 gives me about .2-.5 better gas mileage in general, I'm looking forward to actually driving this thing in warm weather!
I average 10.6L / 100km in the winter, very consistently, with my 2017 Mazda3 GT 2.5L. That is with plenty of running the car to warm up, extreme cold conditions, and mostly city driving. For comparison, my previous 2011 Hyundai Elantra with only the 1.8L averaged 9.8L in the same conditions. In the summer I get more in the 8.5-9L / 100km range. I accelerate hard a lot. Some car's fuel economy computers can be very optimistic; the G6 might not actually be doing as well as it says. Best way to save fuel is with a light foot.
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Don't get excited it does not happen often and I would not call it average. :smile2: :nerd:
I try to use the same station (CHEVRON) and the same pump for every fill up. I fill my tank when it gets close to 1/2 full. This way I tend to always have close to a full tank of fuel. This station is always busy and gets regular bi-weekly tanker to re-supply the fuel. So I can pretty much be assured that the fuel is always as it should be. In the last few years when I race I have also done specific gravity fuel sample testing of this station and it has always been very close to the same sample reading every time.
Oh and for now I have only used Premium 93RM fuel after the first tank full refill from buying the M3.
My reason is observed ignition timing tables. :wink2:
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Around the town is generally between 28-34 MPG.
I try to use the same station (CHEVRON) and the same pump for every fill up. I fill my tank when it gets close to 1/2 full. This way I tend to always have close to a full tank of fuel. This station is always busy and gets regular bi-weekly tanker to re-supply the fuel. So I can pretty much be assured that the fuel is always as it should be. In the last few years when I race I have also done specific gravity fuel sample testing of this station and it has always been very close to the same sample reading every time.
Oh and for now I have only used Premium 93RM fuel after the first tank full refill from buying the M3.
My reason is observed ignition timing tables. :wink2:
Around the town is generally between 28-34 MPG.
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