Re-introduction here

[UFO]

I just traded in my VW TDI, and am working on titling my 1989 Toyota 4x4 to sell. I have purchased a new (to me) 2017 Chevy Colorado with the baby "max" diesel, same engine as the Jeep CRD I had in years past. I am consolidating vehicles since I have short commute now and still need a vehicle for road trips and towing.

No mods yet, still in stock form, but I have pumped up the tires and am planning to install a catch can to keep oil out of the intake. It seems easy enough to get 30mpg with this 6000 lb vehicle, but the cold snap we just had in Denver dropped that below 20mpg with my short trips. I think an engine heater would be a solid mod to save fuel. I am also planning to get a hard tonneau cover for the bed (short bed), not sure if that will have a good aerodynamic effect or not.

I've updated my garage and will start logging mileage as soon as I finish my first tank of fuel. I was originally planning to get a small EV, but that will have to wait. My wife is going to inherit my mother's 2015 Prius C, that is a fuel sipper, so I may get a chance to hypermile that thing. It's a different kind of thing altogether.

[redpoint5]

Diesels take forever to warm up, so not a great short commuter vehicle unless you install that engine heater like you said. Course, you already know this.

[oil pan 4]

Yes GM said back in 2007 or 2008 that putting a tonneau cover on the hybrid Silverado gave a 6% boost in fuel economy.

You probably want to get at least 1,000w of engine heaters.
I think two 600w works best that way you can step the power level up or down as needed.