View Single Post
Old 01-22-2013, 10:21 AM   #46 (permalink)
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,589 Times in 1,555 Posts
I've installed multiple block heaters in my vehicles. They normally cost ~$40.

The last I read (sorry, can't find a link) of the economics of it is that it is essentially a wash cost wise. The block heater saves you a very small amount of money by improving mileage. So, ROI is pretty far out there, but it is there. However, the other benefits are a much larger factor. Faster warm up times (quicker heat) as well as reduced wear on startup due to warm oil are the main benefits. in the case of a hybrid the benefits are even greater since a warm engine allows more engine-off use.

On a day like today when it was -8F out, I was incredibly happy to have my block heater!
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote