Why You Should Never Warm Up Your Car

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Erasmo

I've always wondered why electric block heaters aren't more popular in the States, in the Northern part of Europe the are really common.

Why waste the electricity?

[Frank Lee]

Done right, it's not a waste.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by me and my metro

We serve 6 western states, our trucks stay 50 state emission compliant.

Have you guys tried running DPF cleaner? It did wonders for my VW T5. It paid for itself in reduced fuel use and as a bonus the DPF should last longer.

[me and my metro]

Our trucks have to idle to run the hydraulics for the bucket lift. Our trucks run a tremendous number of hours/mile. It is easier to exchange the filter when it starts to cause problems. They clean and reuse the filters. The main issue is the failure to complete a filter cleaning drive cycle. Most of work is in town and the drivers are concerned with the task at hand not maintaining their trucks. That is why I have a job!

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by me and my metro

The main issue is the failure to complete a filter cleaning drive cycle.

That's exactly what DPF cleaner prevents. I used to have to drive around just waiting for the cycle to finish, and the last one I did took a full 200km on the highway for the light to go out! After that I bought DPF cleaner in bulk and haven't seen that light since

I can't imagine DPF cleaning being a pleasant job.

[me and my metro]

What brand do you use? I probably can get my guys to add some when they fuel up. Especially if it will make their trucks run better.

[oldtamiyaphile]

It's a local brand, but I'd imagine as a trucking company you'd be able to buy it in big drums for pennies on the dollar.

At a parts store DPF cleaner costs $20/quart for a single (van sized) dose, at a tractor supply it's $120/gal (which is cheap enough for my use). But for a truck you'd want it cheaper still. You can probably halve those prices for the US equivalent.

It's something the company should look into for sure.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Apart from the previously-mentioned defrosting issue in colder weather, the only other circumstance that would make me consider keeping a car idling a little after the start would be to not overstress the valvetrain before the oil starts to flow.

Originally Posted by niky

I'd heard Cummins (or Caterpillar?) injects the extra fuel post-cylinder, straight into the exhaust. I still don't understand why other makers don't do this. Doesn't even have to be one of those fancy high-pressure piezo injectors... could be done with a regular old-tech injector.

Blame it on the bean-counters.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Why waste the electricity?

Electric power is alot cheaper than gasoline and far more effective in this application.

Why try to drive a vehicle when you can't see where it's going?

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Electric power is alot cheaper than gasoline and far more effective in this application.

But the heat from gasoline is free (if you warm up while driving, instead of idling), while a large fraction of the electricity you use for block heating is wasted, if your goal is simply a clear windshield.