Fuel Economy this Winter Has been Extraordinarily Bad. What Should I do?

So I have not gotten my fuel economy under 6 L/100 km the entire winter. It seems to be hovering unless I'm taking longer highway drives in the 7-9 range, which is pretty unacceptable. Last winter I was at least able to get it to into the 6's city and into the 5's on the highway.

I've taken it to Mitsubishi, and they've said that they couldn't see anything out of the ordinary as nothing was showing a code.

The tires are 175 winters, different from last winter, but last winter also had 175 winter tires.

I am having cold starts now, but as it's winter, that issue is obvious. However if you've been reading my posts about this throughout the year, I've been having cold starts all the way through the summer starting last fall. I believe there is something wrong, perhaps with the cold start sensor, but I don't know how to actually get someone to tell me so. I took it to Mitsubishi and they wouldn't do anything.

Engine oil and transmission oil is up to date.

I believe my alignment is a little out of whack too, or at least it seems to be. The Mitsubishi service center near me can't check alignment. If I take it to one that does, will they charge me?

Considering it is so much worse than last winter, I'm quite sure there is a combination of issues this time around.

Does anyone have any solid suggestions. Can any other 2014 CVT mirage owner around my area (southern ontario) tell me how their fuel economy is?

It's really disappointing that I'm getting numbers like this, especially when it was even bad in the summer. I'm super annoyed its worse now. It was so good for the first 4 months I had it.

Let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks

Where you live? I've been disappointed with my '17 mileage. Mid to high 6, rarely into the 5's. My other Mirage, a '14, even with snows would still be climbing on the computer even doing 120kmh. Always in the 5's, even though I drove it in Barrie, harsher weather than Niagara where I am now.

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Originally Posted by Spadesheart

The tires are 175 winters, different from last winter, but last winter also had 175 winter tires.

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I think this would be a likely contributor. There can be large differences in rolling resistance in tires, especially winter tires.

I'm in northern ON and I've been able to consistently run 5.0 to 5.5 L/100km daily average to work and back home this winter.
Total drive time one way is about 40 minutes.
My mileage doesn't really suffer until temps drop into the -20's with my '17 SEL CVT but I've never seen worse than 6.7 L/100km in any weather/conditions.
I'm running the winter 165/65 R14 dunlops that came "free" with car purchase.
I also run with climate control on auto so air cond. is on pretty much all the time. No warmup idling, I'm moving 30 - 40 seconds after startup.
If I was getting economy worse than 7L/100km I'd be hunting for a cause.

I'm getting under 6.5l/100km, with 4 minute commutes, and long warm up times.

Can't complain.

I'm in the Kitchener/Waterloo region now, often in the GTA. I was dissapointed last winter, but this winter is truly a catastrophe when it comes to the milage. The tank is done with not all that much driving.

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Originally Posted by inuvik

I think this would be a likely contributor. There can be large differences in rolling resistance in tires, especially winter tires.

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I would accept some impact, but not highway commutes for an hour sometimes staying in the 7's. The first summer when I had the car, I was getting 4.5 consistent on the highway. The difference is massive.

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Originally Posted by IchabodCrane

I'm in northern ON and I've been able to consistently run 5.0 to 5.5 L/100km daily average to work and back home this winter.
Total drive time one way is about 40 minutes.
My mileage doesn't really suffer until temps drop into the -20's with my '17 SEL CVT but I've never seen worse than 6.7 L/100km in any weather/conditions.
I'm running the winter 165/65 R14 dunlops that came "free" with car purchase.
I also run with climate control on auto so air cond. is on pretty much all the time. No warmup idling, I'm moving 30 - 40 seconds after startup.
If I was getting economy worse than 7L/100km I'd be hunting for a cause.

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How should I? I am rudementally educated when it comes to car mechanics and the Mitsu service people wont do anything. Who would be a smart person to take this too that could diagnose whats wrong?

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Originally Posted by Spadesheart

Who would be a smart person to take this too that could diagnose whats wrong?

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Sounds like you are in the best position to take care of this! :)

Here's a few cheap and easy things to look at:
1. Monitor your coolant temperature. Getting your engine up to temperature has a big impact on fuel consumption.
2. Short trips are not good for fuel economy. What amount of time are you typically operating your Mirage?
3. Are you using an engine block heater?
4. Are you using a grill block? Be sure to monitor your coolant temperature if you use a grill block to avoid overheating (unlikely, but possible.)
5. What air pressure are you running in your tires?
6. If you have auto climate controls, consider turning off auto AC.

Mine definitely drops with winter gas + snow tires. I'm probably in the mid to high 30's with careful driving. I attribute it to the aforementioned winter gas (has affected all my cars, every year) and snow tires that are over sized. The over sizing makes the odometer read fewer than actual miles. But the tires are so good, I can't complain.

Perhaps check the air pressure in your winter tires? Maybe they are low.