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Old 09-21-2011, 07:57 AM   #10 (permalink)
oil pan 4
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NewMexico (USA)
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Sub - '84 Chevy Diesel Suburban C10
SUV
90 day: 19.5 mpg (US)

camaro - '85 Chevy Camaro Z28

Riot - '03 Kia Rio POS
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90 day: 30.21 mpg (US)

Bug - '01 VW Beetle GLSturbo
90 day: 26.43 mpg (US)

Sub2500 - '86 GMC Suburban C2500
90 day: 11.95 mpg (US)

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I had a 2 mile drive into work for the last 5 years.
What I would do is put a 110 volt space heater in the seat of the vehicle where it couldn't tip over and run the extention cord from it into the house, leaving it unplugged. Then all I would have to do is plug it in 10 to 20 minutes before I leave and the car would be nice and warm and all de-iced.
If the car is coved with iced on snow you might need up to an hour. After that time the door seal will be un frozen and the snow should be ready to fall off the cab of the vehicle with nothing more than the touch of a brush.

Something to look out for:
When it was got real cold the 2 mile drive would kill the batteries in my truck over the course of a week. The charging system worked fine, the glow plugs and cranking took more power out of the batteries than the alternator could put back into them in the short 7 to 8 minute drive.

Thinking ahead, when I built my new diesel engine I put 2 block heaters in it, 1 block heater was good, 2 should be twice as nice and installed a 1.5amp battery charger too. The combonation works very well for cold starts, leave the 1.5 amp charger on all night and plug in the 2 block heaters at least 15 minutes before I leave.
The next gasoline engine I build will have one block heater in it for sure.
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1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
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