Blocking the grill works, look at this.

Now get an engine block heater and watch your overall milage go up.

Wayne

 

Good question!! This Saturday some people (OK, me and another gentleman) from the Milwaukee Hybrid Group are doing a mass block heater install (5 so far) that the individuals ordered from Jesse at Metro Toyota. If you order one quickly maybe Jesse can get it to you and you can go up for an install.

Wayne

 

Jesse Wright
Internet Parts Sales
Metro Toyota
Cleveland, Ohio
1.877.885.2900
[email protected]
www.metrotpn.com

Contact Bradlee Fons at [email protected]. Info so far is the group install is set for Saturday the 10th starting at 9AM up in Pewaukee.

If you contact Jesse by today, maybe he can ship to you by Friday.

Wayne

 

Is wheather in the mid 30 and 40 low enough to justify a block heater? I have been reading about blocking the radiator can help with the first few miles in temps as high as 50, but I thingk I would feel more comfortable with the blcok heater.

I have been seriously considering putting a 1500 watt space heater in the cabin of each of my cars that I could plug in 15 minutes before I go out so that the car will be toasty warm when I get in.

 

Will a block heater help? Yes!

Can you justify it...it depends on what you are looking for. The block heater will help get you heat to the cabin right away, it will help reduce emissions at start-up, it increase your first 5 minute MPG on the consumption screen and therefore your overall MPG.

Wayne

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Feb 28 2007, 10:13 PM) [snapback]398311[/snapback]</div>

Don't forget, of course, that any energy you use preheating the vehicle by any means is still energy consumption. Weigh the cost of that against the savings in fuel, both in dollars and in carbon.

Grill blocking uses NO energy/carbon (well, maybe in the foam manufacturing) and seems to provide good benefit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(garbageman @ Mar 1 2007, 01:08 PM) [snapback]398569[/snapback]</div>

And the insulation costs next to nothing--$7 tops. Great ROI.

 

I live in the San Francisco bay area. Last month with morning temps in the low 40s I was only getting about 39 MPG. I blocked the grill and mileage climbed to about 42 MPG. Then, I took a trip up over Donner summit 3 weeks ago with skis on the top and 4 people in the car. Now, I'm averaging a little better then 46 MPG. I think it's a combination of slightly higher average temperatures and I broke in the ICE with that 9500 foot climb with 1000 LBS of people and another 500LBS of ski gear for 4. I just hit 10,000 miles on an 06 I bought in August. Woo hoo, I'm getting close to the magical 50 MPG.
-Paul R. Haller- :lol: :lol: