Winter driving and fuel economy: how to use less fuel
Published - 4 min read
Why your car uses more fuel in winter, and simple ways to cut it: shorter warm-ups, smart use of heaters, tyre pressures and filling up for less.
Why cars use more fuel in winter
If your miles per gallon drop when the clocks go back, you're not imagining it. Cold weather makes almost every car less efficient. A cold engine uses more fuel until it reaches its normal temperature, and in winter that takes longer. Engine oil is thicker when it's cold, so parts move less freely. Heaters, heated screens, heated seats and lights all add load. Wet or icy roads and winter tyres add a little resistance too.
The effect is biggest on short trips, because the engine spends more of the journey warming up. You can't change the weather, but you can cut the extra fuel it costs you.
Warming up the car
- Don't leave the engine running on the drive. Modern engines warm up faster when you drive gently than when they idle. Idling uses fuel and gets you nowhere. On a public road, Rule 123 of the Highway Code says you must not leave a stationary vehicle's engine running unnecessarily.
- Clear the windows properly first. Use a scraper and de-icer rather than waiting for the heater to do it. You must be able to see clearly before you set off.
- Drive smoothly for the first few miles. Gentle acceleration helps the engine warm up without wasting fuel.
- Park in a garage if you have one. A car that starts a little warmer needs less fuel to get up to temperature.
Use heaters and extras wisely
- Turn heated rear screens and mirrors off once they're clear. They're useful, but they don't need to run all journey.
- Air conditioning helps demist quickly, but it uses extra fuel. Use it to clear the screen, then turn it down or off if the windows stay clear.
- Heated seats and a heated steering wheel can warm you quickly, so you may need the main heater less.
- Take roof boxes and bike racks off when you're not using them. They add drag, which costs fuel at higher speeds.
Look after the car
Tyre pressures drop as the temperature falls, and soft tyres make the engine work harder. Check them once a month, when the tyres are cold, and set them to the pressures in your handbook or on the sticker inside the door or filler cap. Keep up with servicing too: a car with the right oil and a healthy battery starts more easily and runs more efficiently. If your car is due its MOT over winter, Pennyfill Pro can send you a reminder.
For more everyday tips that work all year, see how to spend less on fuel.
Plan trips and fill up for less
Combining errands into one longer trip means the engine warms up once instead of several times. It's the same idea that helps on the school run. Keep at least a quarter of a tank in winter, too. If you get stuck in snow or a long queue, you'll want enough fuel to keep warm and get home.
Using less fuel is only half of it. Prices vary between forecourts in the same town, so check before you fill up. Pennyfill shows prices from the official UK Government Fuel Finder data, updated twice a day, on a free map with no account or adverts. Find cheap fuel near you, see this week's averages on the UK Fuel Price Index, and use the fuel cost calculator to see what a winter journey will cost.
If your MPG still looks poor, measure it properly. Our guide on working out your real MPG shows how, so you can compare winter and summer figures.