Not just “warming up” – why you have to pay more for fuel in winter

Even in snowless winters, a full tank runs out faster than in warmer months. With our fuel prices, this can hit your wallet.


Most car owners know that consumption increases. Sometimes the difference reaches 30%. What do these "percentages" consist of?

Aerodynamics are to blame

We often underestimate a factor that road racing enthusiasts pay close attention to. bicyclesWe are talking about air resistance.


Its influence is "felt" starting at 25 km/h. Then it only increases and does so proportionally to the square of the speed.

As the temperature decreases, the air density increases. If the thermometer drops from +20 to -18°C, the parameter under study will increase by 16%.

Such changes have a particular impact on intercity trips, since the average speed on the highway will definitely be higher. Even more fuel will be required if the car a luggage rack or box is installed on the roof.

Excess weight

Of course, we are not talking about a driver who has become a little "kinder" for the winter. This is more about snow. It sticks to various cavities of the car and then becomes a kind of ice. This not only increases the overall weight of the car, but also worsens the aerodynamics, the impact of which we have already discussed.


The most "favorite" areas for snow accumulation are wheel arches, the bottom and other "hidden" places. And again, it may seem that this is an insignificant change. In fact, a large SUV "accumulates" enough "extra" (30 kg or more) that it ceases to be considered a statistical error.

Electrical equipment also wants to "eat"

It is no secret that it gets dark earlier in winter. That is why at this time of year, motorists use headlights and side lights more often. In addition, we turn on such functions as heated side mirrors and windows, seats and steering wheel.

All these devices are powered by the battery. To compensate for the accelerating energy losses, the generator has to "work" with an additional load. The latter, in turn, is transmitted to the engine.


At first it may seem that the difference is not so significant, but this is not entirely true. For example, the German automobile club ADAC conducted research on this matter. In their opinion, turning on all the "heaters" costs the motorist one liter of fuel per 100-kilometer run.

It is noteworthy that the owners electric vehicles feel the energy loss even more. Particularly economical drivers like to “play around” with the climate control system to “carve out” extra kilometers of power reserve.

Winter tires

Tyres designed for use in the cold season are softer than "summer" tyres. These tyres also have a "special" pattern. It provides better grip, but at the same time increases rolling resistance. Also, don't forget about "studs".


Wheels with winter tires are more difficult to "spin", especially if you also slightly reduce the pressure to improve cross-country ability. Of course, the "nuances" of the road surface also play an important role.

Tire Rack, a company specializing in the sale of tires, conducted its own study on this matter. For example, driving on a wet surface increases fuel consumption by 12%, and on loose snow - by as much as 18%.

Endless "warm-ups"

Many car enthusiasts know about this feature of winter operation, so it will be the last in the selection. Caring drivers "warm up" the engine when it is cold outside. After starting the engine, we wait for the speed to decrease and a little later the system reaches the operating temperatures of the oil and coolant.


However, there is a theory that after this point the engine still does not reach the most economical fuel consumption mode. As an example, we can cite the average "SUV" in not the coldest winter.

Let's say the crossover's flow meter shows 7 l/hour at startup at -2,7°C. After 20 minutes of operation (warming up and a short trip), the value changed to 0,8 l/hour, which is still 300 ml more than in summer mode.

The difference is not that significant, but with frequent trips, a significant amount can “accumulate” in total over the winter months. This is because during this time the oil in the engine does not have time to warm up to the optimal 90-100 degrees. Then we park the car, and the “story” is repeated episodically until spring.