How to Improve Winter MPG in Your Chevy

Fuel efficiency is one of the most important aspects of any vehicle, especially when gas prices start to climb. When shopping for a vehicle, you’ll certainly want to research the fuel economy ratings of any vehicles you’re interested in, but that number isn’t a guarantee. While those numbers represent the average mileage you can get through the city and on the highway, there are plenty of other factors that can negatively or positively affect your fuel efficiency.

For example, cold weather can take a noticeable toll on the fuel efficiency of your Chevy vehicle. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy has reported drops of up to 33% efficiency in gasoline vehicles when the temperature drops. But there are things you can do to mitigate the damage that cold weather can do to your fuel economy, which is what we’re here to discuss today. So, if you’re wondering how to improve your Chevy’s MPG in the winter, we’ve got you covered.

We’ll kick things off with the most important thing to take away from this blog. If you’re concerned about fuel efficiency, then you have to limit idling your vehicle as much as possible. Modern Chevy engines are designed to warm up quickly through driving, so there is no need for extended idling. Now, that’s not to say that the cabin is going to be warm enough for you to sit comfortably, so it comes down to whether you prefer improving your fuel economy or having a warm and comfortable cabin as soon as you sit down. Think about this the next time you’re going to use your remote start system.

Another thing that cold weather has a negative impact on is your tire pressure, causing underinflated tires which increases rolling resistance and ultimately leads to reduced fuel efficiency. If your Chevy vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), you’ll get alerts for significant drops; however, it’s still a good idea to check manually during particularly cold weather. If you’re unsure what your tires should be at, you can check the door jamb for the recommended PSI. Make sure to adhere to that recommendation rather than what’s listed on the tire, as they might be different.

If you really want to maximize your efficiency through the winter months, then you should consider swapping to winter-grade oil. When choosing your oil, the W stands for winter and the lower the number before that W is the better the oil flows in low temperatures. This will ultimately help your engine run more efficiently in the winter, but it’s important to make sure you’re still using the right oil for your vehicle. Check your owner’s manual for oil specifications, or schedule an oil change here at Jim Glover Chevrolet and we’ll make sure you get the best option.

Believe it or not, just having extra weight in your vehicle can reduce the fuel efficiency, whether it’s cold outside or not. If you have accessories attached to the top of your vehicle like roof racks or cargo boxes, consider removing them if they’re not in use. The Department of Energy reports drops of up to 25% from roof-mounted cargo boxes, from the additional weight but also the increased aerodynamic drag.

But unnecessary accessories aren’t the only things that might be weighing down your vehicle. Be sure to check your rear seats and your trunk or cargo area for anything that doesn’t need to be in your vehicle. Get it out of there if you can, especially if it’s heavy. Don’t leave your snowboarding gear in your vehicle all winter long, just put it in there when you’re actually heading to the mountain.