How To Improve Winter MPG's

[ptjones]

 

Posted 25 October 2015 - 09:56 AM

Now that temperatures are going down for Newbies you may have noticed your MPG's go down also. You can expect 2 MPG drop for each 10*F drop in temperature. So a temp drop from 70*F to 40*F would be a drop of 6 mpg.

 

Here is what you can do to to get some of that back without spending a lot of money.

 

1. Use some kind of Grill blocking method, Grill Covers, foam insulation or tape. Center Grill opening should be covered all year around, I have been using Grill Covers for 4 1/2 years/ 150K mi. now. I only remove the lower Grill Cover when going on long uphill grades. Worth 2-4 mpg's

Grill Cover using Clear Packing Tape

Grill Cover using Velcro attachments LEXAN Plastic

 

2. Use 50 PSI in your tires, not much difference in ride quality, but it improves mpg's and your tires wear great. I got 64k mi. on first and second set. Worth up to 1mpg.

 

3. Oil Pan Heater speeds up ICE heating and heat available for the car heater. The only Oil Pan Heater I could find small enough to fit the bottom of oil pan was a Wolverine Model 9 Oil Pan Heater which you can get on eBay. You can put one on the back of the block to have a total of 250 Watts, but enough to raise WT by 40-50*F. Worth about 2-5 mpg on short trips and you have heat almost immediately. YA! BTW I put a block heater in mine which adds about 400watts and 65*F increase in temp which is great, but it is very hard to install.

 

4. Park facing the Sun which will keep ICE and inside of car warmer. If you can use seat warmers instead of heater. Worth 1-4 mpg. Make trips during the warmest time of the day. These are kind of obvious ideas, but they are worth mentioning.

 

5. Premium Gas is worth 2 mpg in my experience, but may not be worth the additional cost. That is what I use.

 

Note: 1. The first time you start the car, cold or hot, HVB charged or not, ICE will start running when you hit 35mph to lubricate Transmission.

2. ICE wants to get to 128*F before it will operate normally. With ICE block heater and oil pan heater I have been able to get to this temperature and be in normal mode almost from the start. I think it is more efficient to use the EV to get to speed so when ICE comes on it is making significant power to move car, charge HVB and heat up up the ICE quickly.

3. When temps drop below 70*F it's time to block the top grill to keep the ICE compartment warmer. This can be done as simple as using clear packing tape from hood down to bottom of top grill or use LEXAN sheet cut to fit the opening.

4. When accelerating use two BARs on the Empower Gauge, this is where the ICE is most efficient, heats up ICE quicker and charges HVB faster.

5. Use EV from a start to 15-20mph, this gives good acceleration and is more efficient than ICE at those slow speeds. Remember you want to minimize ICE time and maximize EV time to get good gas mileage.

 

 

Paul

 

 

 

Edited October 30, 2018 by ptjones

[Texasota]

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.

[ptjones]

The whole purpose of this forum is to help FFH owners understand and solve problems with their Hybrids. Some FFH owners are interested in actual experiences and facts as opposed to just opinions. Pretty sad that when you put info out there to help you have a few members try to put down Posters for trying to help. I think the old adage applies here: " If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say Don't Say Anything At All" :)

BTW you don't have to read these Posts.

 

Paul

[colbuckshot]

Hey Paul, Thank you very much for the info. Very helpful. I have a couple questions.

 

Do you run the oil pan heater only or with the Block heater at the same time?

 

The grill blocking? So you block it pretty much year round with no issues?

 

I'm a noob to Hybrids so any help would be great.

 

Thanks,

 

Alex

[ethermion]

50 PSI in the tires becomes self correcting at some point. I didn't bother to read the rest of the post. Did he bother to install a kerosene heater like a vintage VW Bug? Does he park his car in Arizona at night to keep it warm?

[ptjones]

Hey Paul, Thank you very much for the info. Very helpful. I have a couple questions.

 

Do you run the oil pan heater only or with the Block heater at the same time?

 

The grill blocking? So you block it pretty much year round with no issues?

 

I'm a noob to Hybrids so any help would be great.

 

Thanks,

 

Alex

I use my two oil pan heaters all year around, I removed block heater when it started leaking through the plastic center piece. I use Grill Covers all year around and use ScanGaugeII to monitor WT and when it gets to 230*F I will turn on Defroster for 15 - 30 seconds to lower temps to 215*F. The faster you go the higher the WT will be. I primarily use defrost going up hills on the FWY.

 

Paul

[mmtphoto]

i'm interested in finding out how to keep my ICE warm(er) in my unheated garage here in SE Pennsylvania-since retiring, my wife's FFH is rarely used since shorter trips yield lower MPG s. The idea of a plug-in heater that keeps antifreeze warmer than ambient temps would seem to be the best route, and a heater for the oil also probably would be my second preference, the idea of blocking the radiator off would concern me since the dash gauge does not read out actual temps but gives an analogue representation of heat.

Who has actually done this, what type/brand did you install, what were your results?

50 psi in the tires? Almost lost me there, can't be good for the suspension (or my teeth fillings), so that is out. I'm not interested in hypermiling, but an ICE that runs continuously for the first 10 minutes (or less if it's a short trip) cannot get up to temp enough to allow EV mode and I can't help but think that ideally it has to get up to temp for the sake of the engine being efficient. Logically, if the water temp was already over, say 100F, a short trip in January would be more EV friendly since it did not have to deal with ambient temps below 25F.

[dogo88]

i'm interested in finding out how to keep my ICE warm(er) in my unheated garage here in SE Pennsylvania-since retiring, my wife's FFH is rarely used since shorter trips yield lower MPG s. The idea of a plug-in heater that keeps antifreeze warmer than ambient temps would seem to be the best route, and a heater for the oil also probably would be my second preference, the idea of blocking the radiator off would concern me since the dash gauge does not read out actual temps but gives an analogue representation of heat.

Who has actually done this, what type/brand did you install, what were your results?

50 psi in the tires? Almost lost me there, can't be good for the suspension (or my teeth fillings), so that is out. I'm not interested in hypermiling, but an ICE that runs continuously for the first 10 minutes (or less if it's a short trip) cannot get up to temp enough to allow EV mode and I can't help but think that ideally it has to get up to temp for the sake of the engine being efficient. Logically, if the water temp was already over, say 100F, a short trip in January would be more EV friendly since it did not have to deal with ambient temps below 25F.

 

I would suspect the electrical cost of keeping the plug-in heater running 24x7 will negate any MPG savings.

[mmtphoto]

 

I would suspect the electrical cost of keeping the plug-in heater running 24x7 will negate any MPG savings.

I'd put it on some kind of timer, 3 hours maybe, the cost to the engine not warming up sufficently might negate the extra kilowatts (only 15 cents kwh) and the potential oil slurry from not burning off condensation in the oil, actually having heat going to the mall 2 miles away...makes more sense to me under the circumstances. BTW, I don't pay the electric bill, she does :)

[ptjones]

 

I would suspect the electrical cost of keeping the plug-in heater running 24x7 will negate any MPG savings.

It might not be totally cost effective, but it is nice to have heat quickly. :) Adding Grill Covers also helps.

 

Paul

[Waldo]

So what car do you take to the mall that gets better MPGs than a cold FFH?

[ptjones]

So what car do you take to the mall that gets better MPGs than a cold FFH?

A Warm one. :)

 

Paul

[Sky14FFH]

On 3/21/2019 at 11:01 AM, ptjones said:

I use my two oil pan heaters all year around,

 

Paul

You use two oil pan heaters?  In your description I only noticed mention of the Wolverine Model 9 Oil Pan Heater off ebay.  If you don't want to use your pan heaters 24 hours while wasting energy you can always put them on timers to heat your pan/block up 45 min before driving if you consistently leave at the same time every day.  Or put them on a switch so you can turn them on when you anticipate leaving. You live in the south right?  It's amazing to me that living in such a mild to hot climate that our enormous cooling system is still not needed.  Not sure why Ford got that wrong when they are based in such a frigid climate.

[ptjones]

I usually turn oil pan heaters 2-3 hrs before I leave, they max out at 3 hrs, no reason to have them on longer. Get a ScanGaugeII and you will be amazed how cool the ICE runs. It has to be above 202*F to reach operating temps.

 

Paul

[Sky14FFH]

Yeah have the scangauge hooked up which is why it drives me nuts the engine only runs around 130-139degrees F. With the grill block it seems to be a little better now.

[ptjones]

The perfect scenario would be that you could heat up the ICE in an hour with block heater to 202*F so when you start the car it would be operating at max efficiency.

 

Paul

[Sky14FFH]

OK folks I made the grill block as directed by ptjones.  It looks pretty nice. So I have driven enough in cold weather to say the grill block works very well. It is 19 degrees today and engine got up to 130 degrees in about a mile and a half and after 4 miles it was up to 155 degrees.  It usually takes about 5 miles just to get up to 130 degrees.  Eventually it topped out at 177degrees and the heater was blowing toasty hot air.  I notice the engine is coming on less and the battery being used more.  It's not working as well as the total grill block I had done last year with soft clear plastic where I sealed it up completely and the temps got up to 212 but I can tell the car is definitely more aerodynamic.  With the Lexan block there are gaps around the left and right sides.  I might seal that up.  I used hardware that ptjones so kindly sent me for the top grill and used zip ties on the bottom grill.  Photos to come.  Since it was my first try it doesn't fit as well as the pictures above but I am generally pretty pleased with it.

Edited February 20, 2020 by Sky14FFH

[MeeLee]

From your calculations you're running your car at 100MPG!

Oil pan heater only benefits car the first few miles.
you can also use a warm air intake. Blocking air vent and using a hot air intake, is really bad for summer.

If you have a PHEV/Energi, you can use electricity to warm up the interior and batteries for better winter performance.

[Sky14FFH]

On 3/17/2021 at 11:20 AM, MeeLee said:

From your calculations you're running your car at 100MPG!

Who are you responding to?  Where?  I'm getting about 41 in the winter.  I don't think anyone is getting 100mpg.  Paul T. Jones gets the closest.

[MeeLee]

6 hours ago, Sky14FFH said:

Who are you responding to?  Where?  I'm getting about 41 in the winter.  I don't think anyone is getting 100mpg.  Paul T. Jones gets the closest.

That was meant sarcastically. 

[Sky14FFH]

7 hours ago, MeeLee said:

That was meant sarcastically. 

Maybe you're not trolling attention.  Does this forum have any serious users besides Paul T. Jones or is it all ne'er-do-wells?

[ptjones]

It would seem the Forum has lost some interest in  MPG's with low gas prices.  Now with prices going up, $2.75 here and $3 in the next month or two I think interest will be up in the future with $4 by the end of the year. Hybrids will be going up in value too.

 

Paul

[Sky14FFH]

2 hours ago, ptjones said:

It would seem the Forum has lost some interest in  MPG's with low gas prices.  Now with prices going up, $2.75 here and $3 in the next month or two I think interest will be up in the future with $4 by the end of the year. Hybrids will be going up in value too.

 

Paul

There must be people out there that are still interested in working on and modifying their cars.  Did we get the odd one out where anyone who bought a hybrid Ford isn't interested in that?  On my older car the amount of interest in tweaking it was massive and the interest in those nostalgic for it hasn't died. There was one bloke living in Colorado averaging 43mpg in it and sometimes getting over 60mpg on Ecomodder.  He had a lot less patience for static than you do and I haven't seen him on that forum in a while.  I wonder what he could do with this car.

 

Since I grew up with 88 cents/gallon, anything over $1.40 seems high to me, where they have been since this forever war began.  I distinctly recall that people made a huge ruckus back in 1991 when they spiked above $1.43 after Bush 1 attacked Iraq, stayed there briefly, then back down to the $1 level for nearly a decade.  Then they forgot all about it like a load of children in day school.  Not sure why people like wasting their money so much, but there was a study done that people hardly go anywhere (besides people like us).  I live in a sprawling city and many places I go take a 1/2 hour to go to and there are many places I'd like to go to.  I never really ever drove a car that got under 30mpg except for an Explorer and that put major restrictions on my life, so I was spoiled by cars with good fuel economy since I got my license.  Pre COVID19 high oil prices also put restrictions on where we could afford to fly. Sure was nice flying to Paris for $396 during the high season in the 90s and London for $350 during the low.   So yeah I'm not sure what's driving it - speculators, Saudis or both because it sure isn't market forces or (what I believe to be the myth of) supply and demand because I just read "inventories are 47.1 MMbbl above last year (10.4%) and are about 6% above the five-year average for this time of year." Oil, Gasoline, Distillate Inventories All Rise

It's amazing to me how short the attention span is of not just the average person and lack of ability to conceptualize the future but also that of the corporations. It seems like everyone is living in this reckless Just-in-Time and Right-Now way of thinking. 

 

Ford is absolutely nuts to be making an even bigger mistake now than they did in 2007 by not selling cars.  If I'm going to buy an SUV then I'm going to buy a Subaru and get over 30mpg so I am not sure what they are thinking.  There's this book I've been meaning to read called Clock of The Long Now By Stewart Brand that one of my mentors recommended to me.  It cites examples like how the Swedish navy ordered lumber from the forestry service 200 years ago and the forestry service responded recently that their lumber was ready.

Edited March 23, 2021 by Sky14FFH

[Cobra348]

When I was stationed at Little Rock in the '60s gas was about $.30/gallon for "white" gas.  That's what we call 91 octane today.  All of us at the base looked forward to the "gas wars" between service stations.   We'd be assured of someone going as low as a dime per gallon. ?

 

For a future vehicle, it will be a passenger car - not an SUV or pickup.  I've been eying Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry hybrids but still have half the b2b warranty left.  During that time I'll decide what I'm gonna do.

 

Meanwhile, gas prices locally will probably hit $3/gallon by month end.  I will truly enjoy hearing all the big SUV and pickup owners griping about the cost of gas.  I can see soccer moms with Escapes, etc ... but is an Escalade REALLY needed for little Johnnys rides to school?

[Waldo]

16 hours ago, Sky14FFH said:

Ford is absolutely nuts to be making an even bigger mistake now than they did in 2007 by not selling cars.  If I'm going to buy an SUV then I'm going to buy a Subaru and get over 30mpg so I am not sure what they are thinking.  There's this book I've been meaning to read called Clock of The Long Now By Stewart Brand that one of my mentors recommended to me.  It cites examples like how the Swedish navy ordered lumber from the forestry service 200 years ago and the forestry service responded recently that their lumber was ready.

 

 

Just because you don't see the future vision that Ford does, doesn't mean they're not making decisions for the long term.  What's the Swedish navy going to do with all that lumber now?  Build ships with it?  Pretty sure they stopped making ships out of wood about 100 years ago.  Thinking long term is a good thing, but if you're on the wrong path, in the long term that's going to take you much farther and farther away from reality.  Trying to hedge against short term oil spikes isn't a long term strategy.  Ford has seen the long term trend that people don't want cars, and has thus redeployed the investment they would have spent on them and poured it into BEV and automated vehicle technology; where the most likely future of transportation is going.