So do I!

 

I fell compelled to say that this is my first winter with my TCH. After a summer honeymoon of 40+ mpg, it was quite a shock. Thanks for your input, Dan. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in this unusually wild Chicago weather!

 

Also do not forget the potential effect of cold weather on tire pressure. While I live in sunny Southern California where a cold day is 45-50 F. Recently I noticed that my mileage was starting to drop. I knew that cold weather had some impact, but on a hunch, I checked the pressure in my tires.

I found the pressure had dropped from 40 psig down to 36 psig on all tires. So I got my air compressor and raised it up.

Remember, cold weather also will drop tire pressure which will compound the other effects of cold weather.

 

Thanks for the reminder. That had actually slipped my mind. I actually was at 41mpg the last few days while it was warmer here. It's nice to see that the lifetime avg is still staying steady. Overall I am very pleased with the mileage and savings. I'm even **** enough to calculate how many barrels of gas I've saved (approximately) over my previous vehicle. Over 35 fill ups it's been about 30 barrels of oil (578 gallons saved).

 

So, was there an actual loss in FE, or only a computed, on-board computer "loss", due to the change in "gear" ratio from a reduction in tire circumference...??

Your computer "thought" the TCH was traveling 84" for each tire rotation when it was actually only traveling 79"...??

 

That's assuming that he goes by the mpg per the vehicle display and doesn't calculate it by hand. Then that's a moot point correct as he didn't specify that he noticed it started to drop in the middle of the tank or after he refilled. :-P

 

"Deflated" tires affect the ODO at the same level they would the computer.

 

SoCal also. What are you going to do when the temp goes up to, let's say 75 or so, as we know can happen. Now, are your tires overinflated?

 

This is on another site <www.cleanmpg.com>.

But, it is the best post I have read on how to improve your gas mileage in the winter:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17560

 

Today, for example I drove 24 miles from Long Beach to Irvine. When I left home, the temp was 50, and I was just able to hold at 43 mpg.

Turning home at around home 11:30, the temp was 60, and I increased my mpg to 44.5.

Of course, my tires were inflated to 44 frnt, 42 back when the temp was around 50 anyway. I check my tires once/month which I think is a better way than trying to outguess the weather.