The Weather is HOT and the MPGs are UP!

[thebarber]

block heater doesnt do anything for mileage, really. you plug it in before you go to bed and leave it on overnight. it keeps the block warm so the engine takes a bit less time to heat up.

honestly, since moving back to southern ontario i havent plugged in the car as it only gets down to like -15c or so. when i lived in new brunswick (north east of maine, for the americans) it would be -30 or -35c in the winter on occasion.....THAT warranted the block heater...

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by thebarber

block heater doesnt do anything for mileage, really. you plug it in before you go to bed and leave it on overnight. it keeps the block warm so the engine takes a bit less time to heat up.

honestly, since moving back to southern ontario i havent plugged in the car as it only gets down to like -15c or so. when i lived in new brunswick (north east of maine, for the americans) it would be -30 or -35c in the winter on occasion.....THAT warranted the block heater...

My communte to work (about the only thing I use the car for) is about six miles. In winter its a mile or more until the cool engine light goes out. The car will not shift into high until it does. (with a manual you can get into fifth 30 seconds after starting) And of course the engine is NOT totally warmed up when that light goes out. The heater doesnt fully put out until 2 or 3 miles. So about 50% of the total miles the car puts on is with a not fully warmed up engine.

With the block heater the engine will be not as cold as without one first thing in the morning.

It will make a difference. How much difference I dont know.