Fall season: falling leaves, falling mpg
#12
Re: Fall season: falling leaves, falling mpg
Does running the heater actually require more gasoline - other than that used to produce electricity for the fan? I thought that the radiator was dumping unwanted engine heat outside and that heating the cabin just moved the waste heat to another place. The engine needs to have a temperature drop to function so the more we take for heating ourselves, the more efficiently the engine should run. I do understand that the engine does not run efficiently until it reaches "operating" temperature (which is why it does not turn off when you stop until it is warmed up). However, I did not think that heat was being actively generated for the cabin. Am I confused?
Last edited by drquine; 11-02-2005 at 06:29 PM.
#13
Re: Fall season: falling leaves, falling mpg
Originally Posted by Civic Duty
I want snow. Send some down here.
-Southerner unjaded by snow
-Southerner unjaded by snow
#14
Re: Fall season: falling leaves, falling mpg
Originally Posted by drquine
Does running the heater actually require more gasoline - other than that used to produce electricity for the fan? I thought that the radiator was dumping unwanted engine heat outside and that heating the cabin just moved the waste heat to another place. The engine needs to have a temperature drop to function so the more we take for heating ourselves, the more efficiently the engine should run. I do understand that the engine does not run efficiently until it reaches "operating" temperature (which is why it does not turn off when you stop until it is warmed up). However, I did not think that heat was being actively generated for the cabin. Am I confused?
Some here have devised 'radiator blocks' that reduce the cooling area to help the engine warm up faster and stay warm longer, but I don't know what % of area they block off.
#15
Re: Fall season: falling leaves, falling mpg
Originally Posted by gonavy
You're mostly correct, but the radiator itself does not heat the air that blows in the cabin. The heater uses a 'mini radiator' called the heater core to heat air blown over it. So using heat increases the cooling area of the engine- the opposite of the desired effect in colder temps. The engine has to burn slightly more fuel to keep warm- by not autostopping, etc- and also the electric fan load has to be replenished of course.
Some here have devised 'radiator blocks' that reduce the cooling area to help the engine warm up faster and stay warm longer, but I don't know what % of area they block off.
Some here have devised 'radiator blocks' that reduce the cooling area to help the engine warm up faster and stay warm longer, but I don't know what % of area they block off.
#16
Re: Fall season: falling leaves, falling mpg
The block should be more useful now WITH GW concern- warmer engine faster = lower emissions.
I've got gobs of room in the HAH, but I need to find out what a safe % blocked is for low air temp (around freezing, give or take 10deg).
I've got gobs of room in the HAH, but I need to find out what a safe % blocked is for low air temp (around freezing, give or take 10deg).
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