Short trippers unite!

[MTXA]

Originally Posted by sustainable sam

I am a fellow xa driver. Did you get the block heater from the dealer? What did it cost?

I also have a short commute at 2.5 miles each way. I have an 80% grill block mobil1 synthetic oil and try to time lights. It has been in the 20s here so the commute has been brutal currently 23 mpg or so in the xa.

I bought it on Amazon. It cost $51.98 delivered. Here is the description: Phillips Zerostart Heaters 3100129 Eng Htr,400w,120v,Cartridge

I'm going to try to get my crankcase condensation problem under control before I switch to synthetic oils. I'm getting some milkshake under the oil filler cap. I hope to cure it with the block and pan heaters and a PCV system cleaning.

[Miller88]

Originally Posted by brucepick

We don't know how they tested the thermostat. "Hey Larry, take this out and see if you get any heat!". Possible.

Use a ScanGauge or UltraGauge to show engine coolant temp digitally. You will see exactly what is going on. If driving with pretty steady load on engine (highway, 50-55 mph or more), you will see temp drop several degrees when tstat opens. And of course you'll see what temp it later stabilizes at.

Of course it will behave differently any time it idles, moving or still, and if you EOC.

Leave the cabin heat off for your tests. It bleeds heat off the system even if tstat is still closed.

If you didn't already, you might be able to hide some grill block where it won't easily be seen. But I'd never use grill block without a digital temp gauge always on display. Avoid nasty surprises that way.

My Focus has a gauge cluster diag mode which has a digital thermometer. Usually on the way to work (on midly warm days), I can watch it build up to about 90, then drop down to 85C.

I did have a complete lower grille block in and it helped a lot. The problem is

1) on long highway trips, the car would not be able to coo itself properly ... but it was PERFECT for commuting to work.

2) I took it off to go back to the dealer for some work this week. It was too cold to

[MTXA]

My block heater arrived today. I installed it at work during my lunch break and it took 35 minutes. Plugged it in for two hours before my shift ended. When I left work, my shop temperature was 70F, IAT read 74.5F, and coolant temp was reading 120F. When I arrived home the IAT was reading 45.2F and coolant temp was at 165F at an ambient 25F. My short range trip reading indicated 29.1 mpg for a solid +3 mpg increase.

[wmjinman]

Good job!!!

I'm watching intently, as I think an engine heater will be one of my next mods...

[MTXA]

I want to get my intake air temperature up to 70F - 80F using wasted heat. I can think of three ways to try this; use a heat riser off the exhaust, mount a heater core in my airbox, or move the airbox snorkel directly in front of the radiator

[brucepick]

I'm green with envy over your success.

My pretzel-path heater project has only reached a max of about 105ºF, but often has maxed at abut 60 due to air in the system. I just burped it again today...

Your installation - in addition to being quick to do - should continue to give excellent results over the long haul.

[MTXA]

I grabbed the following information from the 2009 U.S. Census on average work commuting times. From the same chart, 86.1% drove a motor vehicle and 76.1% drove alone. Of those that commuted under 14 minutes, we find potentially 27.3% of all commuters could be considered short trippers. For a point of reference, my commute of a mile & 1/2 averages seven minutes.

Travel Time to Work - 2009 US Census
Less than 10 minutes 13.4%
10 to 14 minutes . 13.9%
15 to 19 minutes . 15.0%
20 to 24 minutes . 14.1%
25 to 29 minutes . 5.8%
30 to 34 minutes . 12.9%
35 to 44 minutes . 6.0%
45 to 59 minutes . 7.1%
60 to 89 minutes . 5.2%
90 or more minutes. 2.3%
Mean travel time to work (minutes). 25.1

www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf

[rajadaja]

I work from home, so I may go several days without driving at all. Most errands are fairly short distances. It just occurred to me that the short-haulers could more easily keep their fuel tanks fairly empty to reduce weight. Alternatively,they might also be able to time their fill ups to take advantage of the days and locations that happen to have the best gas prices (buy on the dips?)
I once walked a 1 1/2 mile commute for about a year. I had good sidewalks so I actually read several books during my commute. It can actually be a nice way to start your shift and a good way to reduce stress

Also, a 3-5 mile bicycle commute helped me keep my own weight steady for 7 years!

If the commute is really short, perhaps removing things like spare tires and unused seats is more doable than usual? I have never done anything so extreme myself. I guess you have to be ok with storing more in the garage

Also, for short trips, it is easier to do without climate control by adjusting clothing and carrying a hot or cold drink to work. Don't doubt the little things! If you've ever eaten a bowl of hot oatmeal just before getting in the car in TX during the summer, get ready to sweat!

[oil pan 4]

From 2002 to 2011 I had a 7 minute drive to work. It was nice.

[MTXA]

Today I ordered a 125w oil pan heater. My plan is to stop using the oil pan heater when the daytime temps reach 70F and continue using the block heater for shorter periods of time decided by the amount of time it takes to pre-heat to 120F.

I also stuffed the upper grill openings with pipe insulation. The lower grill is going to require some study to make a serviceable block. A longer term plan is to have a custom made full nose bra that can be opened up as needed for cooling. My goal isn't so much for aero as it is heat retention.

I also bought a used copy of Automobile aerodynamics: Theory and practice for road and track ISBN-13 978-0850456653. I bought it for one dollar, so I may have to skip a few lunches this week to keep my budget from crashing. It is a move in the direction of making me less ignorant.

Chris D. posted a thread http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...lla-24747.html on making a warm air intake. I like this approach for the simplicity and low buck for gain ratio. The OE header heat shield on the 1NZFE engine in my Scion removes with four bolts. My plan of attack is to make a permanent steel riser on the heat shield and a permanent receptacle on the air filter housing that can be capped off when warm weather finally returns here.