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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!uw-beaver!fluke!jacobson
From: jacobson@fluke.UUCP (David Jacobson)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Gas Mileage
Message-ID: <1100@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Jan-86 18:34:08 EST
Article-I.D.: vax2.1100
Posted: Wed Jan 29 18:34:08 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 06:08:23 EST
References: <576@adelie.UUCP> <103@dg_rtp.UUCP> <372@watmum.UUCP> <461@mordred.purdue.UUCP>
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 14

I agree that probably the most significant thing is warm up time
and choke closed time being longer in the winter.  But here is
another factor that no one has mentioned yet:  During the winter
more electrical load is placed on the car.  For one, many rush
hour type commutes are after dark and hence the lights are on.
For another, the heater is on, and although the heat is free
once the engine is warmed up, the electricity to run the fan
isn't.  Finally, during the winter one is more likely to operate
the windshield wipers and the energy intensive rear window
defogger.  At idle, turning on my rear window defogger causes a
very noticible slow down in the engine speed as the alternator
buckles down to providing the electricity.

  -- David Jacobson    ... ihnp4!uw-beaver!fluke!jacobson