Driving in the winter can cause several headaches because of the slick roads and negligent drivers. With those two issues in the forefront of your mind, there is an underlying problem some drivers may not notice.

You may have noticed that the maximum miles with a full tank vary between winter and summer. Is that just a coincidence? Or do diesel engines get worse miles per gallon (MPG) in winter?

In short, yes, winter weather has adverse effects on fuel when the temperature drops. The impact of cold weather on engines might depend on the model. However, regular diesel vehicles should anticipate a fuel efficiency loss of at least 10 to 15 percent for shorter trips to a nearby store. Now, let’s look into why it happens and what you can do to limit the consequences.

It’s Not Warmed Up

One of the biggest roadblocks that are difficult to overcome is that it takes your engine longer to reach the proper temperature for peak fuel efficiency. Those short trips to pick up a loaf of bread or milk are most affected because the engine will never fully reach the proper temperature. The transmission and engine friction also leads to cold fluids and oil.

It’s in your fuel tank’s best interest to warm up your vehicle, giving it ample time so it doesn’t have to operate under frigid temperatures.

Running the Heating Gadgets Decreases Fuel Economy

We tend to crank up the heat and turn on our seat warmers when it’s below freezing. While those two things allow us to feel our fingertips and toes, it uses more power, decreasing fuel economy. Once the vehicle is comfortable, turn the heat, seat warmers, and defrosters down.

There shouldn’t be a dramatic drop inside the vehicle when you turn them down, so you might as well get as many miles per gallon as possible.

Cold Weather vs. Tire Pressure

Any modern car has TPMS sensors that alert you when one of your tires is below the recommended psi. Those alerts can be helpful during the summer since there could be a leak you wouldn’t have known about. But since the cold weather is denser, you will lose the air in your ties, and you’ll be well familiar with the loud beeping noise of those sensors.

You cannot do much about cold air and tire pressure loss. Even if you fill it in the morning, it could fall back by night. And continually putting pressure on your tire could lead you to overinflate it to compensate for the constant drop, leading to other problems.

Although diesel engines get worse MPG in the winter, that doesn’t mean they aren’t the best type of engine to tackle winter. Diesel engines power some of the most powerful vehicles that can easily tackle winter roadways. A 7.3 Powerstroke crate motor from Blessed Performance will power you through old man winter and everything he brings.