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-   -   Worse Gas Mileage In cold???? (https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/worse-gas-mileage-cold-78663/)

KYLiquid 12-21-2005 10:39 AM

summer I get 21-22, winter I am getting spot on 20 each tank.

Partialy colder air, and partialy the winter blend of gas in some areas.

Also factor in that (at least in my case) there is a longer warm up time for the motor.

Haze 12-21-2005 10:59 AM

The two things that I would add, solely because the gas issue has been fully explored and winter gas does have all the faults above referenced, there is a longer time spent on choke in winter which will lower your mileage. Choke in a renesis sucks down alot of gas, and be sure to check your tire pressure. I find that I have to check my tire pressure a couple times from fall into winter to make sure that I am at pressure. Even if the light isn't on, you could be a little low and even a little low can effect gas mileage. That's all that I could think of. Have a good one!

KKMmaniac 12-21-2005 02:13 PM

Ok, my take on this. Yes, the oxygenated fuel thing, and if you've tried putting your hand on one of the oil coolers after even a long trip when temps are below freezing, you'll probably find it isn't very warm. I believe the oil circulation is thermostatically controlled, but even so, there must be some frictional loss due to cold, more viscous oil.

I think the engine just doesn't warm up to efficient operating temperatures with all that cool oil either.

mikeb 12-21-2005 07:03 PM


Originally Posted by dmp
Good lord! I have no idea what's wrong with ya - or right, actually...but 280 miles per tank??? Holy shit. Once...just ONCE my car got 250 miles on a tank...took 12 gallons to fill.

that makes two of us

zoom44 12-23-2005 06:20 PM


We have already discussed two related changes in gasoline composition which decrease fuel economy: adding oxygenate and adjusting the octane of oxygenated gasoline. Adjusting gasoline volatility for seasonal ambient temperatures also requires changes in gasoline composition. Summer gasoline is given a lower volatility to avoid vapor lock and minimize evaporative losses. Winter gasoline (both conventional and oxygenated) is given a higher volatility to facilitate starting and warmup. The compositional changes required for the shift from summer gasoline to winter gasoline decrease the gasoline's energy content. Depending on the magnitude of the volatility change, the fuel economy of winter gasoline will be 0.5% to 1.5% lower than of summer gasoline.
in other words they add stuff to the fuel so it doesnt get any more dense in the winter to "help strt your car in the cold"

Vertigo-1 12-24-2005 03:55 AM


Originally Posted by Brice-RX8
But boy, does the car just love this cold air, makes it feel much stronger.

Not sure if we get winter mixtures of gas here in Hawaii since we get year round sunshine, but at night the temperatures drop into the 60s F. At which point, my RX-8 most definitely goes absolutely NUTS! It's like some kind of restraining bolt got taken off of it compared to how it runs during the day, everything sounds louder, and the car just FLIES! :ylsuper: It's pretty awesome how the RX-8 sounds in the colder weather even with the stock intake/exhaust.

I've also observed better gas mileage in the winter...during the summer I would get in the low 14 MPGs, nowdays I'm getting around 15.5 MPG or so.

mikeb 12-24-2005 05:41 AM

my gas mileage sucks no matter what
I have just accepted it


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