12-07-2009, 11:51 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 12,533
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How I can tell cold weather has arrived in the northern hemisphere
If I were locked in a windowless, hermetically sealed room (more than usual, I mean) with only access to the web stats for www.MetroMPG.com, I could easily tell when the weather starts to get cold:
See that recent spike in traffic?
It's people going to the posts I made on the cold weather topics of information about different types of block heaters, the mini-test I did about how long to plug one in, and why winter mileage sucks.
Happens every year like clockwork.
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12-07-2009, 12:06 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Moderate your Moderation.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Troy, Pa.
Posts: 8,382
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People... so predictable.
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"¿ʞɐǝɹɟ ɐ ǝɹ,noʎ uǝɥʍ 'ʇı ʇ,usı 'ʎlǝuol s,ʇı"
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12-07-2009, 01:21 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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...beats walking...
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 3,352
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Thanked 330 Times in 249 Posts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Christ
People... so predictable.
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...Weather... so UN- predictable.
__________________
• 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 1.4LT 6A
• 2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L/SFI 4A
• 2004 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L/MFI 4A
• 2003 Ford Focus ZX5 2.0L/Zetec 4A
• 1971 Dodge Charger 318 3A
• 1970½ Plymouth AAR 'Cuda 340/6BBL 4M
• 1968 Dodge Charger 383 3A
• 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S 383 4M
• 1965 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S 273 4M
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12-07-2009, 03:15 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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That VX guy!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Mini Soda
Posts: 810
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Kind of like how I can tell when winter is here in MN from my gaslog;
I don't even need the dates on there and I can tell. I've had my car for three years now. Can you tell when winter hits? 
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CivicVX.com<--- is down for now... PM me if you would like to help resurrect it.
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12-07-2009, 05:18 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Madison AL
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It sucks man!
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12-08-2009, 11:59 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 12,533
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TomO
Kind of like how I can tell when winter is here in MN from my gaslog;
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Good illustration.
Traffic continues to go nuts - 1200 hits yesterday, mostly to the block heater pages. ~500 is my rolling daily average on the site. |
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12-08-2009, 12:25 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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6 speed Diesel FTW!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Scott, La
Posts: 1,490
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Man, I forget how brutal winter is.
We had a bout with it last week (bad for me, for the rest of you guys Mild).
32F low, but 33~34 all day with heavy rain.
B80 didn't want to start, but finally did.
Coolant temp could't stay over 135 (cold radiator hoses).
Poor visibility due to fogged windows (no heat).
Topped off with Petro Diesel in attempt to keep the fuel liquid , 39 MPG (ouch!)
I really feel for you Northern guys, winter sucks.
__________________
6 speed ALH TDI
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12-08-2009, 12:49 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northwest Lower Michigan
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And it appears it is getting colder each year. Even so, you are able to pull off a handful of better tanks when temps allow it.
__________________
Winter daily driver, parked most days right now
Summer daily driver
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12-08-2009, 03:26 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: maine
Posts: 758
Thanks: 21
Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts
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The yearly block heater quest reminds me of my own.
the invertor and 300w version, self sustaining by the car. It attacks the cars system however. I still don't understand...
maybe its because water is a conductor. Brilliant observation...
cardboard and insulators. Back to the cheaper way out.
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12-08-2009, 03:33 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Moderate your Moderation.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Troy, Pa.
Posts: 8,382
Thanks: 955
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It's amazing that of the ~1200 a day that are visiting your site, the number that will pursue the information they see there is probably (per day average) less than 1%. A week later, of the other 99%, probably 30% will show the site to their friends, who will then check it out again when they get home, so they can get a better idea of the site without getting fired in the process. (After all, a block heater is nice, but you can't afford it without income, right?)
Eventually, everyone that cares to will have seen your site, but many of them, by this time, will have forgotten it. Next year, they'll see it in their bookmarks while searching for block heater installations, and the saga continues.
Does your site count unique hits? There would be an interesting comparison.
EDIT: Nevermind, didn't see it on the chart, but I do now.
__________________
"¿ʞɐǝɹɟ ɐ ǝɹ,noʎ uǝɥʍ 'ʇı ʇ,usı 'ʎlǝuol s,ʇı"
Last edited by Christ; 12-08-2009 at 03:38 PM..
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