Thanks, winter.

[Weather Spotter]

We are all here for different reasons and we all place a different value on a comfortable car. I see your point about the low miles making a pay back lengthily.

A grill block is a good place to start, the block heater is a nice one too

You might look into a little electric heater (space heater) that can run off the same timer as the block heater. That will keep you warm, frost free interior windows, and still get good MPG.

[Frank Lee]

Grille blocks work just as well when they are BEHIND the grille...

[endurance]

My grill block is lower only and I've had no problems thus far. I'm sure as summer rolls around I'll find it covers too much surface area, but in the meantime, my engine runs comfortably between 187-207F once it's warmed up. I've only seen it above 220F once, and it turned around at about 224F. If it was always running over 215 I might be concerned, but right now it's perfect.

[Weather Spotter]

I have my upper grill blocked all year around. My lower grill I can open and close from the drivers seat. Right now it stays closed until I am on the freeway for 15+ miles, then I open half of the lower grill and it cools right off.

Give it a try and see if you like it.

[endurance]

Hmmm, not that much higher than normal for my engine. Normal before the grill block was 187-197F. Essentially, it's only running about 10F warmer, mostly when I'm climbing (I have a 1600' climb to my home in about 8 miles).

[endurance]

I'm lovin' life at the moment. This is the first house I've had with a garage that I could use ever and every morning, even without hooking up a block heater yet, I'm starting with the engine at 53-55F and clear windows. It's heaven. Add the fact that I only started EOC'ing in the last few weeks, as the temps were getting lower and the snow tires went on and my mileage hasn't actually dropped off at all. On the contrary, I'm starting to set new records going to work and round trip averages (but my uphill return leg after sitting in a cold parking lot are dropping some).

Couple that with only one snowy commute so far, as the storms are staying in the high country, not down here on the front range, and life is good. I have a long drive over the weekend with quite a bit of mountain driving (lots of DFCO and EOC) so the next tank just might be epic... or the roads could be an icy mess with a wicked headwind and I'm unable to coast...

[endurance]

It sure seems like you like everything about the way you run your car. Glad you have it dialed in just how you like it.

[Frank Lee]

Temps attained from block heaters pretty much level off after an hour, thus an hour- hour anna half is all they need to be plugged in.

[endurance]

Originally Posted by ZOMGVTEK

It takes closer to 2 - 2.5 hours before theres minimal if any gains on my engine and trans. Its a V6 bolted to a big slushbox auto. Maybie on a I4 with a manual trans it takes a hour or so on a 400W heater. After a hour the back half of my engine is still cool and the front is warm. After 2-3 hours my transmission is noticeably warmer than before as well.

Have you thought about adding a pad-style heater to the tranny pan or a magnetic heater to the transmission?

[brucey]

Welp, I just got 27 avg highway driving through some light snow. I'm pretty OK with that, really.

However, I decided to save my LRR tires for summer and go with dedicated snow tires (and wheels) so I'm sure the average will be much lower until I can get the snow tires off.