Really bad MPG since winter hit??

[Rockit]

Any fuel injected vehicle tend to run richer in the winter. Install of bottle of this to make sure your injectors are clean. My gas mileage jumped after a bottle of this and a full tank run through.
LIQUI MOLY - Motor Oils, Additives, Car Care - Products - Fuel Injection Cleaner

[Moezer]

Well the "cold air intake" I got it because I love the sound of the V8 with it on, also the X5 was averaging 800+ kms in the city in summer time.

it only has 95k on it not miles I do not wait tell the X5 to warm up to drive it, as it states in the manual start it and drive right away but slowly, I tested this last time it was -30 or so I let it sit there to warm up and after 15 mins the needle wasn't past the blue temp marker so I know the X5 warms up better when u start driving it right away.

Also since I got the X5 I tested like 7 gas stations and the best gas mileage I got was from PETRO CANADA was the best kms I got to the tank and 2s in line was SHELL V POWER gas.

I only put 91 oct gas in it, I have tried 94 from PETRO CANADA but the x5 didn't show any increase in power or mileage.

I also try all of the time to fill from PETRO CANADA gas stations only and not get mixed gas from other stations.

On last nights fill up I added a can of SEA FOAM to the tank, but im going to put the stock intake back in just for the winter and see if I get somewhat better gas mileage in the winter

[stabmasterflex]

Well im up in edmonton and got 436kms on a tank last week. Thats in my 4.6, my 4.4. got around 470kms the same interval. Its harsh and sitting in traffic isnt helping.

[Moezer]

Originally Posted by stabmasterflex

Well im up in edmonton and got 436kms on a tank last week. Thats in my 4.6, my 4.4. got around 470kms the same interval. Its harsh and sitting in traffic isnt helping.

but to lose 300kms+ wow lol

[TerminatorX5]

the octane rating has nothing to do with energy packed in a liter/galon of fuel... all it is a retardant index that prevents the fuel from self-igniting under high pressure (sport engine, higher compression ratio, fuel self ignites before spark, piston knocks!!)... since that type of fuel is marketed to "sports" cars, that tend to be more expensive, the refineries sell it for more money (even though it is less "flammable") and also can afford adding more detergents and other additives, to make it more attractive to potential buyers...

Why the mileage has gone down in winter - i have no idea... mine has gone down a bit too, to about 16 MPG in a 2006 4.8iS, my driving is mostly highway but sometimes the highway is moving slower than city traffic... lol... I pull about 400 miles off a tank, give or take...

[ukrcan]

Moe, I am not sure how you were getting 800km+ in the city... i never get more than 750-800km on a highway when driving at around 90-100km/h... but to get 800 in the city... i've never heard of anyone getting anything even close to that... in a diesel maybe but not with a 4.4... i average about 500 km in the city (i do have a heavy foot) but in order to get 800 you would need to get around 10l-11l/100km at most... i think our cars are rated at 15-16l/100km in the city and 12 on the highway...
And i do get a bit of decrease in fuel consumption, but nothing significant

[JCL]

Biggest impact on fuel mileage is the driver and driving habits.

2nd is probably ethanol content of the specific fuel (the actual content, not what they claim it could be on the dispensing pump)

Winter mileage drops are often associated with more idling time. Also, check tire pressures since they will drop with the cold ambient temperature.

[Moezer]

i put air in the back 2 tires tonight, my wife drives the x5 mostly and i tell you she has a light foot lol


ukrcan, lol in the summer days i was getting 650 to 750 with 1/4 left in the tank my dash reading thingy was reading 11.2L per 100 kms and with 1/4 tank left the dash was reading 160+ kms to E lol now its around 13.5L to 100kms :S

whats shocking to me is that my 2002 jeep tj inline 6 gets the same damn mileage year round 300 to 350 if i push it to 350 lol along with my 328i in the city i get 450 to 550 and over 800 kms highway, but seeing the x5 average 450 and the light comes on just makes me cringe from what it got in the summer damn

[Moezer]

Originally Posted by JCL

Biggest impact on fuel mileage is the driver and driving habits.

2nd is probably ethanol content of the specific fuel (the actual content, not what they claim it could be on the dispensing pump)

Winter mileage drops are often associated with more idling time. Also, check tire pressures since they will drop with the cold ambient temperature.

I do know that ethanol is added to almost all the damn gas nowadays, but some shell gas station if you look around it says right on the pump that shell V power 91 oct has no ethanol added

[racingbmwm3]

I wish Shell had 0 ethanol here in Washington. Every grade has at least 10% at all the top tier stations. You have to go no name indy stations for the ethanol free. I'll stick with Chevron and Shell.
Wow, and I thought my wife getting 16mpg in our 4.6 was bad. I can tell her to keep up the good work now We've gotten 21-22 on the highway getting around 500 miles per tank (we try to fill up before it goes below 1/4).

At your own discretion, you could remove the cooling fan on the 4.4 and early 3.0 (late 3.0 has an electric fan) during winter. This helps the engine warm up faster and get better gas mileage. Make sure to store the fan vertical though. I leave ours off until end of May and I think I probably could just leave it off through the summer if we just stayed on the peninsula out here where it doesn't really go above 70 degrees and no traffic.