Does Cold Weather Affect Your Vehicle?

It does.... in more ways than one might expect: Engine and transmission friction increases in cold temperatures due to cold engine oil and other drive-line fluids. It takes longer for an engine to reach its most fuel-efficient temperature. This affects shorter trips more, since a vehicle spends more of a short trip at less-than-optimal temperatures. Heated seats, window defrosters, and heater fans use additional power. Warming up a vehicle before starting a trip lowers fuel economy—idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Colder air is denser, increasing aerodynamic drag on a vehicle, especially at highway speeds. Tire pressure decreases in colder temperatures, increasing rolling resistance. Winter grades of gasoline can have slightly less energy per gallon than summer blends. Battery performance decreases in cold weather, making it harder for the alternator to keep the battery charged. This also affects the performance of the regenerative braking system on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. In severe winter weather, mpg can drop even further. Icy or snow-covered roads decreases the tire's grip on the road, wasting energy. Safe driving speeds on slick roads can be much lower than normal, further reducing fuel economy, especially at speeds below 30 to 40 mph. Using four-wheel drive uses more fuel.