I live in northern Illinois, where it's been so cold as of late that even Satan has frostbite by now. My 10 month old HCH II had me a little concerned (very slow crank), and I let it warm up for 2-3 minutes on 3 occasions. While driving at a reasonable speed, I checked to mpg at fill-up and got about 23 mpg! I knew I'd take a drop in 0 to -5 degree temps, but I'm still disappointed to say the least. I've never gotten below 37 mpg, even in the winter.

 

Yep...if the car never warms up, you'll get crappy mileage. Just imagine what you'd have gotten in a car with worse mileage! I have a 10 mile commute to work now, and I've been getting around 30 during this freezing cold snap. I got about 40 when the lows were around 20. The last few days, I haven't even had the engine completely warm up before I got to work, so it's running rich and without the hybrid benefits essentially the entire time. Once it warms up, your mileage will bounce back.

 

yeah, just depends if you car is able to warm up or not during your trip to wherever. i have a 30 mile commute each way and i was able to get close to 40 mpg driving 70 mph on the highway with no traffic. this was when the temp was 0 outside.

 

Letting it warm up (by idling the engine) will definitely sink your fuel economy to the lows you report. I would still encourage you not to be disappointed at the vehicle because as some have stated, it would far worse if you had another car.

Nevertheless, idleing for warmup purposes is generally not a good idea. I hope you have a block heater, and if you do use that instead. If you don't have one please check into getting one. It is well worth it particularly in this season.
Please check my mileage to see what I get at my temperature ranges - just to see what I mean.



Cheers;

MSantos

 

Yes, idling is bad. You're burning gas, yet not getting anywhere! So 0 mpg for that time frame, effectively. The better gas milege on the commute for the engine being warmer will not balance out with all the gas burnt getting you nowhere. Key up and go, and wish for spring...

 

I found the same thing happened here in AZ. I was getting over 50 mpg for a while but boy, for the few weeks that is was cold here I sure had to work to get in the 40s for mpg. We are not used to that kind of cold and I was very surprised to see the drop in mpg.

 

Yes when temps dipped down into the 50s and 60s I had trouble keeping my MPG in the 60s.

It sucked!


I hate seeing MPG in the 50s.
I guess it's all relative.

 

About your (very slow crank). The HCHII engine normaly start using the electric motor but as it's state in the owner manual, when the weather is very cold, there is a regular starter like in fuel only car that's been use and of course it feel really different when you start your car using this starter, it remind me of previous car I owned... I use my regular starter for the first time a few week ago...

Sorry for my poor english but french is my first language.

 

Your english is no worse than most of us, I added the letters S and D in a few spots that you missed, for reference. 4 years of spanish and a semester of german have me convinced english will be my only language.

 

Running with minimal woarmup has helped. Last tank was 33.5 with near-zero or below temps. WIth a temp of about 30 today, I averaged 51 mpg again on the freeway (finally).