R56 Cold Weather Gas Mileage
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#2
Cold weather and frequent short trips can reduce fuel economy, since your engine doesn't operate efficiently until it is warmed up. In colder weather, it takes longer for your engine to warm, and on short trips, your vehicle operates a smaller percentage of time at the desired temperature. Note: Letting your car idle to warm-up doesn't help your fuel economy. It actually uses more fuel and creates more pollution.
#3
Also, oxygenated or "winter blend" gasoline can cause a 2-3% drop in fuel economy, which would be even greater than the 1.6% drop you're seeing. In the winter, the cold weather causes fuel to atomize poorly compared to warm weather, so the refineries use additives to help improve the vaporization/atomization of the fuel. While these additives promote better fuel burning, they don't provide energy themselves, so the overall energy content of the gas goes down a little.
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
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#9
43??? I'd like to know your driving habits for sure. I get 30, but it's my DD and I spend a fair amount of time in traffic and stomping on the gas pedal. But yes, the above reasons could contribute to your mileage decrease. Also, you are talking less than 2% difference there. There's enough error in the fillup process to account for that difference. Actual full vs what you put in vs what was put in last time, etc.
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#11
Depending on traffic, I average 38-40 mpg per tank -- that's one of the reasons I chose a MINI. Had plenty of go-fast cars in my day, some costing multiples of the MINI. My TDI's could beat it in mileage (loved that low-end torque while getting 50 mpg), but none could compete when it comes to Smileage
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