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It would take far less than 5 hours on a typical night to effectively saturate the ScanGauge reading (it is possible that the rest of the heat is still conducting to areas that help - exhaust manifolds for instance).
Those times above would be my guess on how long it takes to get to about 29° C (engine target temp is 80° C). My commute is very short and in the winter that means very high consumption rates so I've tried to max the block preheat, without using more money for electricity than the gasoline it saves. I save a nickel a night, so assuming 200 nights a year plugged in, it's only a 40 year payback.
The auto mfr.s of cars for cool climates could really help out. I'd like to see some insulation on both the block and the tranny. Let the cooling systems do the cooling, let the casings hold the heat. It wouldn't take much and could also reduce noise slightly.
I'd also like something like smart shore power. You park and plug and as you leave you set a time (maybe 7am). The car's sensor checks battery charge, engine temps, interior temps and outdoor temps. It then times everything and based on the input temperatures prepares the car so that at 7am, the battery is fully charged, the interior/seats/glass aren't freezing, and the block and tranny are pre-heated optimally. Much better than the remote starter option!
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