grill block success

[dmafanp]

so i had a partial grill block on my vehicle and i didnt notice much of a mpg improvement then i added the full grill block and my mpg jumped at least 30 % from 20 mpg on a daily commute to 30 mpg on a daily commute ,, it gets cold where i live and my engine temps are stable ,, also less noise from the engine in the cabin. i also have a block heater each time i use it i save 40 cents, adding up to 1 dollar avg savings for 3 days or 100 dollars in savings during the winter months.

[Cobb]

This thread is worthless without photos.

[dmafanp]

Originally Posted by Cobb

This thread is worthless without photos.

sorry here it is, partial block was just one tube full block is both. [IMG]http:/[/IMG]

[Xist]

It is weird that it did not post a larger image. You went from 20 MPG to 30 MPG? That is a 50% improvement and should be a huge deal, I just wonder what else attributed to the increase. I doubt that the grill block accounted for even 30%, especially since you had 0% with a 50% block. Also, that is technically a 100% lower block. Your upper is still open and you might try blocking that, people do not seem to have problems with 100% upper and lower blocks, at least unless it is warm out.

How much of a difference does the block heater make by itself and how much from the grill block? Did you change your driving techniques? Also, I really do not know how putting insulation in the front of your engine compartment makes the back quieter.

I hope that I do not come across as a meanie, I am glad that you are on the site, participating, trying to improve your mileage, and sharing your experiences with us. I think the foam insulation looks pretty good and that most people would never notice. The colors match pretty well. However, I might expect a 5% mileage increase, from 20-21, not 50%, from 20-30.

Good luck, I hope you continued success.

[dmafanp]

well what happened was the temperature dropped to -15 deg celcius and i was pulling 21 mpg out of a daily commute i felt i needed to get at least epa 25, so i put on the grill block and 25 was achieved, then the temperature dropped again to minus -25 so i started plugging in the block heater and my start up temperature was 55 deg celcius enabeling me to pull another 5 mpg acheiving 30 mpg, i attribute 2 factors to my success ,, the end of the week my fuel tank was low better for FE in terms of weight, and keeping my drive slightly slower while it was minus 25, the thicker air is harder to push through,, less turbulance in the engine bay can attribute to a quieter ride

[mcrews]

You really need to aba test. There are too many variables. And the weight of the gas is not that big a deal

[Xist]

Originally Posted by mcrews

You really need to aba test. There are too many variables. And the weight of the gas is not that big a deal

Gas weighs about six pounds per gallon (seven Imperial) and with your fifteen-gallon tank, that totals ninety pounds.

A decade ago, when I had my Prelude, I read a post by a guy that said he never filled his tank above one-quarter, because that was like carrying around an extra person that you do not need.

Sure, a 67.5-pound person.

[Jakins]

Are those foam fun noodles?

[user removed]

One thing we need to recognise is that a lot of members here have to drive in temperatures that others never see. 25C below is around 45F below freezing, so about -13 Farenheit.

I saw a 20% drop in mileage here in eastern Va when we had temps down into the single digits Farenheit. Had they gone down another 25 degrees, I would have been in the same scenario as the OP. Only seen those kinds of temperatures once at a ski resort in 1966, 17 below with chill factors close to 40 below.

If you look at the OP's fuel log he has a few tanks at over 40 MPG, so when he saw 20, added a grille block and started using a block heater. Even with both of those mods, his mileage, at 30MPG is still far below the 40 where he has peaked.

Only a small percentage of us on this forum see a 50% loss in mileage due to winter temps.

I am not trying to argue that the claim of a 50% increase in mileage is due only to a grille block and it might have been better to explain this in the original post. I would guess that most of the improvement wasdue to the grille block, but the block heater use would be significant, especially if his commute is fairly short.

Success, however it is obtained is still better mileage. Instrumentation that provides instant feedback is great but the real goal is to lower fuel consumption.

Congratulations on your success.

regards
Mech

[Cobb]

I believe his claims and thats a nice looking vw and matching grill block.

Those are pipe insulation you can buy at the hardware store.

I find my insight crashes its mpg when temp falls below the temp water freezes.