Using the Block Heater = MPG Went Up.

[101Volts]

While I was working on the Caravan my Dad noticed a plug in the engine. We found it's for an oil pan heater and until this year we didn't know it was even installed in the van and our neighbor who we bought the van from didn't know about it either. I used it today (29-May-2014) and it bumped the fWT up to 132ish once the van was started (Maybe this temperature goes higher when the plug is in longer?) and I heard fluids going through the engine unlike I ever had before. This made a significant difference on the MPGs down the road, Close to 13 miles to a grocery store. I was getting higher on average than I was used to on a cold start! So I'm going to be using this heater more often. I'm happy and thankful the van already had this installed before we even bought it. Now the winter MPGs have gone up with the use of this nifty gadget!

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by 101Volts

While I was working on the Caravan my Dad noticed a plug in the engine. We found it's for an oil pan heater and until this year we didn't know it was even installed in the van and our neighbor who we bought the van from didn't know about it either. I used it today (29-May-2014) and it bumped the fWT up to 132ish once the van was started (Maybe this temperature goes higher when the plug is in longer?) and I heard fluids going through the engine unlike I ever had before. This made a significant difference on the MPGs down the road, Close to 13 miles to a grocery store. I was getting higher on average than I was used to on a cold start! So I'm going to be using this heater more often. I'm happy and thankful the van already had this installed before we even bought it. Now the winter MPGs have gone up with the use of this nifty gadget!

Is it winter in Pennsylvania?

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by mikeyjd

Is it winter in Pennsylvania?

So far this year they haven't really had anything BUT winter (ha,ha).

[101Volts]

Originally Posted by mikeyjd

Is it winter in Pennsylvania?

Yes, When it is. (Honestly.) Though at the end of May 2014 it is warm.

[gone-ot]

FACT -- in effect, you're trading electrical power (to heater) for gasoline consumption during what would've been the engine-warm-up period (typically about 1/2-hour driving). And, since electricity costs MUCH less than GASOLINE, it's a win-win situation.

[101Volts]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

So far this year they haven't really had anything BUT winter (ha,ha).

It warmed up a few weeks ago but yeah, My Dad was talking about how it's been cold for longer than usual.

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

FACT -- in effect, you're trading electrical power (to heater) for gasoline consumption during what would've been the engine-warm-up period (typically about 1/2-hour driving). And, since electricity costs MUCH less than GASOLINE, it's a win-win situation.

It has its effect. I plugged it in for a little more than two hours on 31/May/2014 and the fWT was close to 114 fWT when the van was turned on close to 7:40 AM. It was at 132ish before, But the van was already close to 92 fWT on the earlier warm-up.

I've also seen the fWT upon start-up at 166 fWT according to the gauge, Then upon driving it the temperature would go down to 155ish and then go back up.