What are your tricks?

[Reddog99]

Originally Posted by BailOut

Using the heater does affect mileage, by the way, although much less so than using a/c. It steals heat from the coolant and this causes the ECU to run a richer fuel map in an effort to produce more waste heat to reheat it.

Let's see, by this twisted logic, losing heat from the radiator also increases fuel usage because it causes "the ECU to run a richer fuel map in an effort to produce more waste heat to reheat it." NOT!!!

Turning on the heater only causes the thermostat to close a little to compensate for the temperature loss that would otherwise occur through the radiator. Any modern (or old) engine produces so much waste heat that there is absolutely no need to make an effort to create more.

[Sodium Duck]

Dude, I am so ready for this battle to begin...

I also really want to know what effect running the heater has.

[BailOut]

Originally Posted by Reddog99

Let's see, by this twisted logic, losing heat from the radiator also increases fuel usage because it causes "the ECU to run a richer fuel map in an effort to produce more waste heat to reheat it."

Correct. This is why you see northern truckers and other vehicles block their grille in the cold months. Hypermilers follow suit, many of which block their grilles in the Winter (myself included).

As an example, on a February morning I can climb the mountain I traverse every day with at least one passenger and snowboard stuff and other weight involved, and by the the time we've reached 7,500 feet of elevation the coolant temperature has dropped into the mid 170's F. Without warning my already shitty climbing mileage will dip another 10-20% and by the time we're reaching the summit at 8,900 feet the coolant temperature is back up in the mid 180's and my mileage returns to the expected amount.

Blocking the grille helps the car warm up quicker and helps it to maintain an optimal coolant temperature. With one in place I no longer see those big dips in mileage in the coldest part of the day as my coolant temp stays in the mid 180's.

Originally Posted by YarisDude

For Bailout, I like the bike rack. Quick query, on an old lost thread you discussed the special chains you snap on for snowy conditions. Who makes them and where did you purchase? Thanks!

Hi Ken,

They are called Spikes Spiders (the "Compact" version) and I got them directly from the manufacturer at http://www.spikes-spiders.com/ . I just added the mounting brackets back onto my front wheels last weekend as we've already had our first snow of the season.

Thank you for the compliment on the bike rack. Just wait... in a few weeks I'll have pictures of the snow sports adapter attached to it and an antenna farm of snowboards and skis sticking up out of it.