Winter driving: plug in and save money!

[SkiBam]

This is for divas who drive in cold weather - and given we're skiers, don't we all? An article in the latest magazine from CAA Quebec (like AAA in the U.S.) touts the importance of block heaters. They compared fuel consumption in cars, some with a block heater, some without, at temperatures averaging minus 10 C and found that in the first 20 km driven, the block-heater group burned 15 percent less fuel. Even the Toyota Prius burned 15 percent less — and the more cylinders the car has, the greater the savings were. For an SUV with a V8 engine, savings were double that for small cars.

To my surprise, they recommend plugging your vehicle in when the temp drops below 0 C (32 F) — and that's not very cold! Sure, your car will probably start without much trouble at that temperature, but apparently being plugged in saves a huge amount of wear on your engine. I must confess that I've only tended to plug in when it gets really cold (down around 0 F, or minus 18 or so C), but after reading this, I think that this year I'll plug in a lot more often. The article also says the plug-in time need be no more than three hours.

 

[geargrrl]

Hmm. my garage doesn't freeze so I think I am OK.

 

[KatyPerrey]

When I first moved to Colorado years ago (20+) I didn't have a garage and my father made sure I had a "block heater" in my Ford Bronco II. At the time (and until today) I had no idea what is was, what it was used for or the benifits. All he said was to plug it in every night when the temps went below freezing and it will help with starting the car on cold mornings!

Amazing after all these years they did a study and it turns out it saves us money!!!! I guess my father was a pretty smart man when he was alive!

So go get those block heaters if your car is sitting outside and save some money!!!!!

Great job SkiBam for posting this!!!!!

 

[skiwall]

Where do you find these block heaters, and are they expensive? Is it always on your car?

Sorry... we didn't need these in Tennessee. I remember freaking out and running to my mom confused the first time I ever saw frost on my windshield. I was 17.

 

[abc]

Hmm. my garage doesn't freeze so I think I am OK.

That's very much the point.

If you have a heated garage, you really don't need it. And even if your garage isn't heated, it's often warmer than the outside. So depending on where you live and what temperature you leave home for work, it may or may not make much difference.

Also, individual situations varies. For me, I don't really use my car for commute. So my drives are always longer than an hour. So the saving of the first 15 min of driving is relatively minor. On the other hand, if you have to leave home at 6am and your daily commute is only 15 minutes, you ARE driving your car ENTIRELY within that worst window. It would make sense to get that heater. You could save a lot of money and a lot less wear and tear of the car!

 

[KatyPerrey]

Check out your local car dealer or auto parts store. They will install it (dealer) unless you have someone to install it for you. I think they run around $60+. Probably more from a dealership.

 

[pinto]

That's cold. We had a block heater in Alaska, but never in Colorado. My dad used to tell about how the little flat part where the tires rested on the ground would freeze that way, and so the tires would go "clunk-clunk" when he was driving in frigid weather. I don't know how cold it has to be for that to happen.

 

[3dogsKris]

I used to plug in my car in Idaho, sometimes even at school when it was really cold. Now I have a garage, but what about up at the mountain after a full 9 hours?

 

[Jilly]

My dad used to tell about how the little flat part where the tires rested on the ground would freeze that way, and so the tires would go "clunk-clunk" when he was driving in frigid weather

We call that "square wheels"!! It's regularly -10 C and lower mostof January and February here in Ontario and Quebec. So block heaters are usually standard equipment in cars and small trucks. We even have one in our big company truck. Idiots keep stealing the extension cord!!

It's easier on your engine and the car heater heats up faster too!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

My Subaru was a dealer-trade from Minneapolis-St Paul and came with a block heater. In that region - also most of northern WI and UP Michigan - most of the motels in recreational regions have block heater plug-ins right at the facility. Being from "farther south," I found this interesting. Large percentage of cars in northern climates DO have block heaters, and people DO plug in.

Even in garage here, I plug in at single digits - or when the stored soda-etc cans are in danger of freezing and exploding!

 

[abc]

My Subaru was a dealer-trade from Minneapolis-St Paul and came with a block heater.

It's interesting when I bought my car in Michigan. The sales guys told me dealers order cars in anticipation of what the customer wants:

-- In Florida, all cars ordered have AC. Some have rear defroster and some not. Customers are not fussy about the defroster and happy to save a few bugs.
-- In LP Michigan, all cars have rear defroster. Some have AC and some not.
-- In UP Michigan, all cars have rear defroster. Some have block heater some not. Only a small percentage will have AC!

(those were the days before butt heaters and mirror heaters. I bet now the rear defroster crowd probably wants mirror & butt heater too)

 

[MaineSkiLady]

^^ Almost hard to believe the no-AC thing, as compressor is a critical part of interior windshield defogging in most climates, including northern. Don't doubt what you were told, however. Dealer-trading is practically the only way now to get a vehicle with options required or requested - few are "made" on the line to specs anymore.

(those were the days before butt heaters and mirror heaters. I bet now the rear defroster crowd probably wants mirror & butt heater too)

Pass. Rear defroster is a big deal just about everywhere (northern) I have lived. Mirror defrost might not be so bad (think DH has it?) but seat heaters? Just another malfunction potential. DH does have this (leather seats get COLD, cloth is wayyyyy more practical and longer lasting), we both hate it. Best solution: a $100 quality sheepskin seat cover. They last for years, can be removed, washed, are warm in winter, cool in summer. No wiring, no worries. Done.

 

[pinto]

... Mirror defrost might not be so bad (think DH has it?) but seat heaters? Just another malfunction potential. DH does have this (leather seats get COLD, cloth is wayyyyy more practical and longer lasting), we both hate it. Best solution: a $100 quality sheepskin seat cover. They last for years, can be removed, washed, are warm in winter, cool in summer. No wiring, no worries. Done.

Really?? My first heated seats were in my 1985 Saab, and I have never gone (and will never go) without again. I've had them in a couple of Saabs, a Volvo, a Suburban, and my Land Cruiser. The first Saab had cloth seats.

Anyway, I've never had a malfunction. I use it even in summer (not on really hot days, I'm not totally crazy) ... it makes my back and hips feel good. I always turn it on while I'm on my way to play tennis or do something else active, where I need my muscles warm.

DH has a heated steering wheel, and I made fun of him for that. Until the first time I used his car on a cold day. That was awesome.

Maybe I should invent heated underwear, so I can have that warm cozy envelopment all the time. :D

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I'm skittish. Years and years ago, the car my mom was driving had an electric fire, originated in power seats, under hers, WHILE she was driving. Car burned to the ground. Seriously. Have never felt the same about under-seat warmth! So my opinion is obviously skewed.

Having seen more than my share of vehicle electrical malfunctions in other regards, such as master power window switches going bye-bye (NOT an easy or cheap fix), I guess I harken back to the long-gone days of manual (and still drive a stick shift) -- i.e., roll the windows done, push the door button down to lock (ever had a power door lock malfunction? Oh, that's a load of fun......AAA to the rescue), etc. Have even really truly owned cars w/no power steering! Or tranny synchros (requiring double clutching for up and down shifting). Showing my age here, obviously....

 

[pinto]

I'm skittish. Years and years ago, the car my mom was driving had an electric fire, originated in power seats, under hers, WHILE she was driving. Car burned to the ground. Seriously. Have never felt the same about under-seat warmth! So my opinion is obviously skewed.

Having seen more than my share of vehicle electrical malfunctions in other regards, such as master power window switches going bye-bye (NOT an easy or cheap fix), I guess I harken back to the long-gone days of manual (and still drive a stick shift) -- i.e., roll the windows done, push the door button down to lock (ever had a power door lock malfunction? Oh, that's a load of fun......AAA to the rescue), etc. Have even really truly owned cars w/no power steering! Or tranny synchros (requiring double clutching for up and down shifting). Showing my age here, obviously....

I do agree with the power window and lock thing. With a seat heater, though, if it stops working, so what. That's one of those things that one can live without more easily than operational windows and locks.

Misfiring and burning down the car, well, I can see where that would be an issue. But I never heard of that before, so it's probably pretty rare.

My first three cars had no power steering ... a 1963 Karmann Ghia (loved that thing -- but it burned, too, though not all the way), a 1977 Honda, and a 1983 Subaru. The Saab... hmmm, I think it had power steering, but maybe not. I actually like them without, too.

 

[abc]

Had never owned one without power steering. Driven one once, hated it. That's the end of that thought.

By the time I start buying cars based on what I LIKE to have, instead of what happens to come with the ones I can afford, power steering is a forgone conclusion.

Power door lock... well, nice but not essential. (I mostly drive alone, with no passenger)

Power window? Absolutely! Especially with the numerous toll we had to deal with around here. (though now there's EZpass...)

Mirror heater, probably nice. Only got them in my new (used) car of 2 weeks. Will see how much it helps or not. I doubt it's too big a deal.

Heated windshield: Could be a big help. Will wait to see when it snows.

Heated washer nozzle: I'm hoping that one will be a big help! I've had lot of trouble in my previous car, of not able to wash the windshield till the car fully warms up. Driving half blind for 1/2 hr isn't fun. :(

Butt heater: it comes with the "cold weather package" of my S.O.'s car. Kind of nice but not essential.

Heated steering wheel: I can see the appeal of that. But no first hand experience.

It all boils down on where the car is garaged and what time of the day one needs to use the car. I've lived mostly in apartment buildings so often no garage, heated or not. So the car is at best cold as an ice box. At worst, it can be encased in snow and ice at times! :( I could use ALL of the cold weather help as I can get!