A few tips for improving winter fuel economy

In winter, our vehicle’s fuel consumption tends to increase dramatically. A number of reasons explain the phenomenon, from the fact that we tend to let our engine run longer before heading out the door to the fact that our engine tends to run longer on colder temperatures, reducing thermal efficiency. And there is also the fact that we need to push our engine more to get out of snowbanks or up slippery roads.

That said, you can still minimize the impact of winter on your vehicle. Here’s how.

Do not keep the engine on for extended periods of time.

Yes it’s cold in winter and yes, it is quite normal to want to have the interior as warm as possible before we leave the house. But if we let the engine run unnecessarily for 10, 15, or sometimes 20 minutes, fuel consumption is bound to increase rapidly. Therefore, you shouldn’t let your engine run longer than a few minutes, and remember that driving is the fastest way to get your interior to heat up.

Avoid storms

When driving in a snow storm, you are forced to use your accelerator and brakes more frequently due to slippery road conditions. If you can, avoid going out when the road is covered in snow or icy. In addition, try to combine your trips in order to drive as long as possible with an engine that has reached its optimum working temperature. In other words, if you must go to the grocery store, pick up the kids at school, drop by the postal office or stop at the pharmacy, try doing everything at the same time.

Remove unnecessary accessories

It is always a bit frustrating to install a roof box or a ski rack, but be aware that these features increase both vehicle weight and drag coefficient which in turn reduces fuel economy. So if you can, remove all that equipment when you do not need it.

Thanks to Kentville Mazda for their advice!