Important Breakthru In Fuel Efficiency!

[jpmck03]

Originally Posted by bronsin

... For short trips (5 mile) that might be huge for mpg...

Yeah, short trips in the winter are a drag on your mileage... But your method might get you a couple extra MPGs... which comes out to maybe an extra 20-30 miles to a tank. So, you save a couple of bucks each fill up (because you went further than you would have) and over the course of the winter that can add up!

Originally Posted by bronsin

... And Im wondering if using the bh makes sense even in summer for more mpg?

Hmmm... I'm thinking that the gains would be minimal, like "without the block heater I get 33.5 mpg, and with the block heater I get 33.7 mpg!" minimal gains department. Which might just barely offset the cost of the electricity spent on the block heater?

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by jpmck03

Hmmm... I'm thinking that the gains would be minimal, like "without the block heater I get 33.5 mpg, and with the block heater I get 33.7 mpg!" minimal gains department. Which might just barely offset the cost of the electricity spent on the block heater?

As I understand it the Prius has a thermos flask the coolant goes into upon shutdown. So at startup the engine has a headstart to get warm faster = better mileage.

That works during summer as well as winter so maybe....its worth it?