Update: Honda engine block heater
#31
Re: Update: Honda engine block heater
[QUOTE=gonavy]Assmuing I drive 350 miles a week, it would take about .75mpg increase in my FE to pay off the electricity @ $2/gallon. Easily achieved. QUOTE]
The block warmer is not going to improve your FE over the whole 350 miles. It will only make a difference until your unheated engine warms up, which is probably 5 out of your 50 daily miles. So by your calculation you need to improve FE by 7.5 MPG during those 5 miles to have it pay off.
The block warmer is not going to improve your FE over the whole 350 miles. It will only make a difference until your unheated engine warms up, which is probably 5 out of your 50 daily miles. So by your calculation you need to improve FE by 7.5 MPG during those 5 miles to have it pay off.
#32
Re: Update: Honda engine block heater
Well if you want to settle the issue of power draw and consumption over time, the easy answer is to buy a Kill-A-Watt and plug your block heater into it. I have one and love it. It's the only way to know for sure how much power anything is really drawing. It shows both the instantaneous draw and also tracks total usage over time, so for example you can plug your block heater, computer, refrigerator, whatever into it and check back in a couple days to see how many kilowatt-hours you've used.
#33
Re: Update: Honda engine block heater
Originally Posted by 9G-Man
The Honda block heater is really warming the coolant, not the block. Of course the block warms by simple heat transfer. But the block is aluminum and will insulate the warmed coolant, more than radiate it. Block heaters are a good idea in colder weather and climates. Also, the wear and tear they prevent far exceeds any electrical cost. Not to mention fuel savings and comfort.
#34
Re: Update: Honda engine block heater
[QUOTE=ElanC]
Of course its only the 1st few cold miles that it makes a difference- but it can be a huge difference for those few miles. My FE needs to increase OVERALL (per tank) by .75mpg- I should have clarified that.
So if it gets me from 15mpg I got for the 1st 4 miles this morning in 25deg to 23mpg for those 1st miles, I win. My guess is it will pay off, but maybe not by much.
Add to that the increased comfort for those 1st few very cold miles... some things are worth paying a little more for.
For my wife's Explorer the gains will be far greater- all of her morning trips are <5 miles, and I know she idles it to "get it warm" even though she denies it
Originally Posted by gonavy
Assmuing I drive 350 miles a week, it would take about .75mpg increase in my FE to pay off the electricity @ $2/gallon. Easily achieved. QUOTE]
The block warmer is not going to improve your FE over the whole 350 miles. It will only make a difference until your unheated engine warms up, which is probably 5 out of your 50 daily miles. So by your calculation you need to improve FE by 7.5 MPG during those 5 miles to have it pay off.
The block warmer is not going to improve your FE over the whole 350 miles. It will only make a difference until your unheated engine warms up, which is probably 5 out of your 50 daily miles. So by your calculation you need to improve FE by 7.5 MPG during those 5 miles to have it pay off.
So if it gets me from 15mpg I got for the 1st 4 miles this morning in 25deg to 23mpg for those 1st miles, I win. My guess is it will pay off, but maybe not by much.
Add to that the increased comfort for those 1st few very cold miles... some things are worth paying a little more for.
For my wife's Explorer the gains will be far greater- all of her morning trips are <5 miles, and I know she idles it to "get it warm" even though she denies it
#35
Re: Update: Honda engine block heater
Originally Posted by 9G-Man
Also, the wear and tear they prevent far exceeds any electrical cost. Not to mention fuel savings and comfort.
#36
Re: Update: Honda engine block heater
Just like to make a very belated comment: I'd strongly suspect the dealership will not remove the front bumper. Honda's instructions seem to go overboard at times.
Honda's similar instruction for the 06 civic instructions you to remove the battery, plus portions of the plastic trim along bottom of windshield. More overkill methinks. Plus the battery disconnect causes other hassles.
Honda's similar instruction for the 06 civic instructions you to remove the battery, plus portions of the plastic trim along bottom of windshield. More overkill methinks. Plus the battery disconnect causes other hassles.
#38
Re: Update: Honda engine block heater
Harold, are you responding to me? I'm sorry if I've said something to offend, it wasn't my intention.
I was just saying Honda will tell you to do things (component removals) that may not be strictly necessary. Maybe legal liabilities are a factor: they want to make sure their instructions are the absolute safest method
I was just saying Honda will tell you to do things (component removals) that may not be strictly necessary. Maybe legal liabilities are a factor: they want to make sure their instructions are the absolute safest method
#39
Re: Update: Honda engine block heater
Those comments were ment for a posting after yours and I responded to it. The posting was removed. I enjoy your comments Mendel. I was concerned that you may take my posting in that manner. I don't know why they did not remove my commet as well, but maybe it all happend as once? Hope I cleared things for you!CheersH
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08-25-2010 02:31 PM