Starting to get cold...

[Daox]

What about using a block heater James?

[tasdrouille]

My TDI will take ages to warm up in the dead of the winter if I let it idle. In the TDI community, the accepted way to do it is to lightly drive right away and put a good electrical load on the engine (lights, rear window defroster, heated seats, etc.), so when you're idling at that first light of your commute you're still helping your engine warm up.

[MetroMPG]

Very interesting chart, pm. Thanks.

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Letting the car warm up before driving moves you to the right on this chart. You never make up the fuel burned. Less engine run time (eoc, etc) moves you to the right. So don't idle it, just start it and drive away.

Did you mean "less run time moves you to the left"?

[eco_generator]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

My TDI will take ages to warm up in the dead of the winter if I let it idle.

Diesels are different, they don't run hot like gas engines. It will practically never warm up just idling.

[PaleMelanesian]

You're right, Metro. I edited the post to reflect that change.

[pugmanic]

Originally Posted by jamessw

I'm unfortunate to have to use my car extremely early in the morning or extremely late at night ( due to working shift patterns ) and now that the cold is setting in, i'm once again going to have to go through the whole ice scraping routine of getting the car ready.

I'm asking if anyone knows the best methods to efficiently heat the car up to running temperature, and get it to do a short journey ( around 5 miles ) as efficiently as possible during freezing temperatures - as I can only imagine that my fuel consumption is going to plummet these coming months.

Any advice is much appreciated, cheers!

I'd guess the best way will be a grill block. It doesn't help that the Ignis is a small light car with a small engine. Unless its working hard it won't heat up that much.

For a block heater you will need access to a driveway / garage and electrical supply, which is not practical in a lot of situations (esp in the UK). Only modern / large houses have land for driveways etc.

[jamessw]

Originally Posted by pugmanic

For a block heater you will need access to a driveway / garage and electrical supply, which is not practical in a lot of situations (esp in the UK).

You've hit the nail on the head for this solution, I have no means of powering a block heater whilst parked for work, and leaving work very late at night / very early in the morning is the problem.

[thefirebuilds]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Which is like startling your grandmother awake and making her start jogging... moderately.

Start it up, wait for the revs to settle down. At least them you have oil in all those parts you are about to put a bunch of friction onto

Nana likes to stretch her heart muscle.

[Ford Man]

I've went with a full grill block on my daily driver an '88 Escort. It still takes several miles for the thermostat to open, but I've been able to notice a huge difference in how quickly the interior of the car warms up. It hasn't effected the the temperature the engine runs at in the warmer afternoon temperatures but maybe 10 degrees warmer. I have my cooling fan on a toggle switch and have a temperature gauge and the only time it ever gets hot enough to run the fan is if I get in lots of stop and go traffic or long traffic lights.

[pugmanic]

Originally Posted by jamessw

You've hit the nail on the head for this solution, I have no means of powering a block heater whilst parked for work, and leaving work very late at night / very early in the morning is the problem.

Luckily I don't work shift any more, but I know where you are coming from. Don't forget it has its advantages as well... You don't have to sit in Rush Hour / School traffic.

I think your best option for the moment will be a lower grill block. This will not only help heating but probably help aerodynamics a little.