Another new HyTi owner checking in

[ptek]

My first post, just saying "Hi" and testing my Fuelly signature.

 

I picked up a 2014 FF HyTi on Dec 30th. Bought it with 17 miles, currently at 68. That will change rapidly as I commute about 90 miles per day.

 

The color is Deep Impact Blue with Soft Ceramic Leather interior. Options include moonroof, nav, heated/cooled seats with power passenger seat, heated steering wheel, rear inflatable seatbelts, all weather floor mats. The Driver Assist package would have been nice to have, and I could have easily given up the moonroof. I found it very hard to find any HyTi Fusions in deep impact blue. It seems to be a rare combination. Mine was at a dealer 25 miles away. After I bought mine, I found another about 300 miles away.

 

With the sub-zero weather this past week, the heated steering wheel is my favorite option so far. I'm getting an indicated 30 mpg so far. I've only made a few <10 mile trips. That and the colder weather don't help the number. Looking forward to my longer commute and warmer temperatures.

 

I've been reading the forum over the past week, trying to pickup mpg hints and learn what issues others are having. I've already ordered a tire and rim to make up a full-size spare per the "Spare tire for fusion hybrid" thread.

 

Pete

[GrySql]

Welcome to the Forum and congratulations on your purchase!

You're already doing well by finding the spare tire solutions we've come up with, there is a ton of useful info here and sometimes it's hard to find.

If you haven't already, take a look at the first three 'pinned' posts in the Welcome forum.

Actually, each separate Forum subject may have 'pinned' info, it's always a good first look for a new member.

 

We have a lot of snow belt members that work real hard at keeping us informed of the severe cold issues and maximizing the mpg's of the FFH in winter.

Take your time and read up and search around, but don't be afraid to ask questions, we don't bite - well, most of us don't. :)

 

In addition, the Forum has just had two Ford Customer Service Rep's join us, Ashley and Kim. They help with problems that need an extra bit of attention.

Enjoy.

[corncobs]

Hi Pete congrats on your new commuter car you will appreciate the comfort of the FFH on a 90 mile drive each day.

 

Just as GrySql said welcome to the forum and enjoy the information you can find.

[inco]

Welcome Pete. Soon I will sharing my thoughts on my FFH as I understand I might get to see it next week. But look at you, situated there in the cold and with all schools in Minnesota closed today, you will have a chance to offer and share some real severe cold driving conditions. That storm is headed our way tonight and let's hope (for my sake anyway) that it loses some of it's intensity. -40 anyone?

[dalesky]

Welcome to another Minnesnowtan! from an ex one, now stationed in South Cackalacky, where today I woke up to 65deg. Just to make you feel better tho, I am traveling to Mpls. on the 21st until the 26th. Staying downtown, and renting a car during that time. Historically the coldest week of the Winter, so there's that to look forward to.

The car will take a big hit during the severe cold, but it will still be better than a non-hybrid. In warmer weather you will love the mileage, and may be amazed, as I have been. I can only get 42-43 on the freeways, but, around town I easily get in the mid 40's, and often the high 40's. Hang in there this Winter! and Welcome

[FordService]

My first post, just saying "Hi" and testing my Fuelly signature.

 

I picked up a 2014 FF HyTi on Dec 30th. Bought it with 17 miles, currently at 68. That will change rapidly as I commute about 90 miles per day....

 

Pete

 

Congrats on the new car, Pete! I'm here if you need any help with anything. :)

 

Ashley

[Ted Swing]

Welcome, Pete. You started at a tough time of year to get good MPG numbers (even here in Phoenix my MPG has taken a hit), but I'm sure with help you'll get there.

 

Welcome to another Minnesnowtan! from an ex one, now stationed in South Cackalacky, where today I woke up to 65deg. Just to make you feel better tho, I am traveling to Mpls. on the 21st until the 26th. Staying downtown, and renting a car during that time. Historically the coldest week of the Winter, so there's that to look forward to.

The car will take a big hit during the severe cold, but it will still be better than a non-hybrid. In warmer weather you will love the mileage, and may be amazed, as I have been. I can only get 42-43 on the freeways, but, around town I easily get in the mid 40's, and often the high 40's. Hang in there this Winter! and Welcome

 

It seems like this forums are full of Minnesotans! I grew up in Duluth, though I don't miss it much at this time of year.

[hybridbear]

Welcome & congrats!! Our last tank was down under 40 MPG and that's common in winter. The bitter cold is terrible. Use the Block Heater as much as possible. It makes a big difference!! It will get the coolant temp about 40-45C warmer than the air temp. This reduces warm up time and really improves fuel efficiency!

[acdii]

It is 6* at the north pole, heatwave compared to what we are getting! Enjoy the car!

[ptek]

Thanks for all the great welcome messages!

 

This morning the air temp on my drive was about -20F. The garage temp was about 0 F The car was able to enter EV mode after about 7 miles and got 31.1 mpg on the way to work with mostly rural highway and freeway driving.

 

On the way home this evening, the car started out at -13F. It didn't enter EV mode until 40 minutes into the commute, even though the temp gauge was right in the middle. Still got 32 mpg. Those numbers are about the same as my old Grand Prix delivered during the summer months. I figure this should be about the worst case and will improve with rising temperatures and as I learn to drive for better fuel efficiency.

 

I'll put the block heater on a timer overnight and see how well it helps tomorrow morning.

 

Thanks again,

Pete

[hybridbear]

Thanks for all the great welcome messages!

 

This morning the air temp on my drive was about -20F. The garage temp was about 0 F The car was able to enter EV mode after about 7 miles and got 31.1 mpg on the way to work with mostly rural highway and freeway driving.

 

On the way home this evening, the car started out at -13F. It didn't enter EV mode until 40 minutes into the commute, even though the temp gauge was right in the middle. Still got 32 mpg. Those numbers are about the same as my old Grand Prix delivered during the summer months. I figure this should be about the worst case and will improve with rising temperatures and as I learn to drive for better fuel efficiency.

 

I'll put the block heater on a timer overnight and see how well it helps tomorrow morning.

 

Thanks again,

Pete

The block heater takes about 3 hours to warm up the coolant to max temp, per Ford. It's a nice freebie for those of us in the frozen north of MN.

[inco]

In Canada the block heater is not a freebie on the SE at least. Right now it would come in handy as it's -39 with the wind chill - 24 C. We are getting what Minnesota had yesterday.

 

Pete, thanks for sharing your experience here. This way I'll have a good idea what to expect and not be alarmed.

[acdii]

The block heater takes about 3 hours to warm up the coolant to max temp, per Ford. It's a nice freebie for those of us in the frozen north of MN.

boo hisss I didnt get one, and it is just as cold here!

[dalesky]

Welcome, Pete. You started at a tough time of year to get good MPG numbers (even here in Phoenix my MPG has taken a hit), but I'm sure with help you'll get there.

 

 

It seems like this forums are full of Minnesotans! I grew up in Duluth, though I don't miss it much at this time of year.

Duluth to Scottsdale- now that's what I call a move!

It used to be "stay frosty my friend" now it's "how hot was it today?"

[dalesky]

The block heater takes about 3 hours to warm up the coolant to max temp, per Ford. It's a nice freebie for those of us in the frozen north of MN.

Definitely use a timer. Many years ago, in MN, I used one, and had it on all night. When the electric bill came that month there was a significant jump in use and cost.

[ptek]

I normally leave at 8AM, so last night I put the block heater on a timer and set it to turn on at 5AM. I hooked it up through a Kill-A-Watt power monitor. This morning, I checked it just after 7, and the Kill-A-Watt showed it had been on for 6 minutes. I either messed up when setting the timer's time, or the cold garage slowed down the timer motor. Since the heater was only on for 1 hour, I didn't notice much difference. I'll make sure I have the timer set correctly and try again tomorrow.

 

The Kill-A-Watt showed the heater was drawing 430 watts. The Owner's Manual states the heater draws 400 to 1000 watts. I wonder if the power draw is temperature dependent? When testing the timer last night, I did notice it took a few seconds after the timer came on before the heater started drawing power, so the heater may have some smarts to it.

[tr7driver]

Where is the plug for the block heater? the book says its by the fog lamp but not photo to point me in the right direction.

[hybridbear]

Where is the plug for the block heater? the book says its by the fog lamp but not photo to point me in the right direction.

Illinois cars don't have it. It comes standard equipment on Ford cars/trucks at no charge in the following states: AK, WY, MT, ND, SD, MN, WI

 

See this post for more info...

[inco]

Another pity Canada thing. To get one we have to pay. I wonder how they decide these things?

[ptek]

Where is the plug for the block heater? the book says its by the fog lamp but not photo to point me in the right direction.

It is near the driver's side fog lamp. Look for a round black flip-up cap.

 

I had the block heater plugged in for 2h 50m before leaving this morning. I used ET mode to check the coolant temp and it was 27 C. The garage and car temp was 8 F. The Kill-A-Watt meter registered 430 watts and 1.23 kWh total used. At my electric rate of $0.11 per kWh, it cost $0.135. I don't have enough seat time and experience to notice how much the warmer engine helps. I have been getting 36 mpg the past 2 days - today with the block heater on for 3 hours, and yesterday with the block heater on for only an hour. I also got 36 mpg driving home from work with no block heater pre-warming.

 

One mildly alarming thing - I had a yellow wrench "Powertrain Fault" light when I turned the car on. I cycled it off and on again, but still had the light. It drove normally and I didn't notice anything unusual on my drive to work. Leaving from work, the engine was cold and the yellow wrench light was out. I noticed in post #7 of the other thread linked by hybridbear, larryh mentioned the CEL light came on. I wonder if he meant the yellow wrench light? I'll ask the dealer about it.

[jeff_h]

One mildly alarming thing - I had a yellow wrench "Powertrain Fault" light when I turned the car on. I cycled it off and on again, but still had the light. It drove normally and I didn't notice anything unusual on my drive to work. Leaving from work, the engine was cold and the yellow wrench light was out. I noticed in post #7 of the other thread linked by hybridbear, larryh mentioned the CEL light came on. I wonder if he meant the yellow wrench light? I'll ask the dealer about it.

 

When you saw that light come on, did you run a VHR while it was on?

[hybridbear]

It is near the driver's side fog lamp. Look for a round black flip-up cap.

 

I had the block heater plugged in for 2h 50m before leaving this morning. I used ET mode to check the coolant temp and it was 27 C. The garage and car temp was 8 F. The Kill-A-Watt meter registered 430 watts and 1.23 kWh total used. At my electric rate of $0.11 per kWh, it cost $0.135. I don't have enough seat time and experience to notice how much the warmer engine helps. I have been getting 36 mpg the past 2 days - today with the block heater on for 3 hours, and yesterday with the block heater on for only an hour. I also got 36 mpg driving home from work with no block heater pre-warming.

 

One mildly alarming thing - I had a yellow wrench "Powertrain Fault" light when I turned the car on. I cycled it off and on again, but still had the light. It drove normally and I didn't notice anything unusual on my drive to work. Leaving from work, the engine was cold and the yellow wrench light was out. I noticed in post #7 of the other thread linked by hybridbear, larryh mentioned the CEL light came on. I wonder if he meant the yellow wrench light? I'll ask the dealer about it.

See this thread about the wrench: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/8074-dtc-p1a18-p1a19-p0aee-p0bcd-when-using-engine-block-heater-under-investigation/

 

The block heater might use more electricity than the amount you save in gas, but it also leads you to be more comfortable as you get heat much sooner when you use the block heater to warm up coolant before starting.

 

I'd try perhaps one day letting the EBH run 4 hours to see how much more electricity is used & if the coolant gets any warmer. I typically find that the coolant ends up 40-50C above ambient from the block heater. If you watch the coolant temp in ET mode, you'll find it as soon as the engine turns on and the coolant starts circulating the temperature drops substantially. The 40-50C above ambient is only the coolant that's being heated. Once it starts flowing it cools off.

Edited January 9, 2014 by hybridbear

[ptek]

Thanks for the wrench light info, hybridbear! It's a little freaky to see a fault light on a 300 mile car, but it sounds like it isn't anything serious.

 

jeff_h, I didn't run a VHR. I don't have a cell phone and my understanding is that I can't do a VHR without one.

 

Pete

[acdii]

Thanks for the wrench light info, hybridbear! It's a little freaky to see a fault light on a 300 mile car, but it sounds like it isn't anything serious.

 

jeff_h, I didn't run a VHR. I don't have a cell phone and my understanding is that I can't do a VHR without one.

 

Pete

Oh the Hugemanity, How can you survive without a CELL PHONE!!!! It can't be possible!! OMG!!! :) /sarcasm

 

 

At least the CEL on yours happens to be a software glitch with the block heater. Wild guess is the sensors are seeing a discrepancy between temps that it shouldn't because of the warm coolant in the block and not anywhere else, and is just something that didn't get programmed correctly. Better than having 4 spark plugs foul at 4500 miles and setting a hard CEL and the car sputtering while trying to accelerate.

[dalesky]

Off topic, but related-- I bought a new VW Rabbit years ago. I was planning on driving it from Minneapolis to Bismark ND, 2 days before Christmas to be with family.

We started out on a clear, sunny morning, with an actual temp of -30 degrees. We got about 5 miles, and the car died. On a Sunday. Prior to the invention of cell phones.

We called friends to come and get us, and the dealer Monday morning. Turns out that they forgot to put on a device that allowed exhaust heat to warm the fuel system and the fuel froze.

It was known as a cold weather kit. DUH! We were in Minnesota in the Winter.

Once they put the kit on everything was fine from then on.