Posted on 9/28/2022
As the leaves turn colors and the weather gets colder, you may notice another change occurring: a decrease in your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. There are a number of reasons your gas bill is going up just as the temperature drops. --The colder weather means your vehicle requires more time to reach its most fuel-efficient temperature, so short drives consume more gasoline than longer ones. --Allowing the vehicle to idle so that it is warmed before traveling burns fuel without increasing miles-per-gallon. --Colder air decreases tire pressure which increases rolling resistance. More resistance leads to the vehicle working harder thus burning more gasoline. --Heated seats and window defrosters require more power. Some causes of increased fuel consumption are unavoidable, but there are steps you can take to improve fuel efficiency as the weather turns colder. --Avoid idling your vehicle. Rather than waiting several minutes for the vehicle to warm u ... read more