I've never noticed this before, but I have a new car, plus I'm living now in a place where it is much colder. I warm up my car for 15 minutes sometimes. I've noticed that I have to fill my tank at a lower milage point lately too. Is this normal or might I have a problem??
2006-11-30 01:54:36 · 7 answers · asked by BaseballGrrl 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Absolutely normal!!!! If you burn gas for 15 minutes, you will get lower gas mileage. Remember that when a car is sitting and running, you get ZERO gas mileage!! Which means you get fewer miles with the gas that is left!!
Perfectly normal! Also, your car runs on a program that uses more gas to run until it reaches temperature, which results in lower gas mileage. Add to this the fact that in colder climates, many states require a 10% ethenol mix or equivalent additive mix for gasoline during the fall and winter months which will result in lower emmissions, but also lower gas mileage.
2006-11-30 02:02:19 · answer #1 · answered by Lemar J 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
15 minutes may be too long for a warm up even in a cold area. vehicles don't perform well from a cold start, and u just need to warm it up untill it gets to a good working temp.( iguess u already know that)
as for the lower milage point, it depends on ur cars fuel efficiency at different temperatures. u really can't tell if the problem's with the warmup if the car is different, they won't have the same fuel consumption. plus driving habits differ according to the environment. is it snows u go slower and use up more gas. if there's traffic u use up gas sitting in one place and moving in low gears.
if none of those factors apply, u might wanna check ur fuel tank for a leak. otherwise no problem except on ur fuel bill.
2006-11-30 10:08:13 · answer #2 · answered by implosion13 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should definitely wait 30 seconds or so before driving to make sure the oil pump has started circulating oil, this reduces wear on the engine, but any more than that is probably a waste - your car will warm up faster once you start driving it anyway. If you ever have a diesel you'll notice that it won't ever warm up just sitting there - you've no choice but to drive it.
Oh, also, I don't know if you already know this, but revving your engine excessively after starting it is bad bad bad in the cold and doesn't help in the slightest anyway.
2006-11-30 10:13:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your cars computer raises the idle of your engine (typically to 1200 RPM) to help warm up the engine faster. This is like a choke on old carburated engines. The bet thing you can do is let the car warm up a little bit before you drive it. This will save you gas.
2006-11-30 09:58:17 · answer #4 · answered by raven14058 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it does take up to 10 percent more gas to leave your car run at idle speeds when the engine is cold compared to when the engine is warmed up.this is mainly due to all the steel in your engine contracting and expanding with temperture changes.
2006-11-30 10:00:15 · answer #5 · answered by norb4423 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
car will use lots more gas when cold and sitting . you do not need to let car run more than 30 seconds to drive it . anymore than that is waste. get a good coat
2006-11-30 09:57:35 · answer #6 · answered by D42D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you get 0 miles per gallon while warming ...DUH
2006-11-30 09:59:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋