Today I talk about the effects of a good warm-up on fuel economy, and how to maintain your mileage while suffering the warm-up hit that affects all vehicles.
Colder weather is starting to hit our area. I wanted to take a minute to discuss warming up your car. The best way to warm any modern automobile, especially a hybrid, is by driving it for a minute or two, not letting it sit idle in your driveway or parking spot. Idling a diesel actually allows it to lose temperature.
During warm-up, your vehicle will run in what is called Open Loop state. Open Loop is when your vehicle is running on pre-mapped mixtures and timings stored in the Engine Control computer, rather than based on feedback from the emissions control systems. Open Loop will provide adequate power and extra heat output while producing extra emissions and much lower fuel economy than normal. After the vehicle reaches operating temperature, it switches to Closed Loop operation. Closed Loop is the most efficient way for your vehicle to run, fuel economy and emissions wise.
Think twice before going with the remote starter. On a manual transmission, I have heard horror stories and recommend against it, unless the vehicle manufacturer has a dealer-installed remote-starter. Remote starters idle your vehicle during the Hot or Cold Season but they allow extra pollutants into the air. For me the potential harm to the next generation is not worth the extra minute or two of comfort in my car. In addition, the installation cost is higher than the perceived benefit to me.
Colder weather also brings a drop in mileage. Colder air is denser, which is good for performance but also increases air resistance. Your vehicle will be working extra to keep the occupants and catalytic converter(s) warm. Warming the catalytic converters and the heater core is done with energy that could otherwise be used to propel the vehicle forward. Think of it as a comfort tax. With winter also comes winter-blend gasoline, which has less energy than summer-blend gasoline.
Basic Tips:
I have a few tips for getting better fuel economy in colder weather. First, make sure that your tires are inflated to at least the pressures recommended on the placard in the driver's doorjamb. When running errands, go to your furthest destination first so that when you get there the car is already warmed up. For each trip on your way back home/to work the car is already at operating temperature and not wasting fuel in a warm-up cycle. Some people use a blanket over their windshields (front and/or rear) to stop the formation of frost and fogging. The key is to not attach the blanket to wet glass or any time savings are canceled out. If you have a garage or carport available, clean it out and use it, any extra insulation will help your vehicle be that much closer to operating temperature.
Advanced Tips:
Engine block heaters also help return some impressive numbers in hybrids, but the return on investment is debatable unless you always drive for maximum efficiency or if you enjoy seeing higher MPGs. A grill blocking like many truckers use will help retain the benefits of an engine block heater for longer and reduce the surface area from cold air to cool your radiator down, requiring more energy to be expended to warm it back up.
Feel free to ask any questions or make any comments below.
Kacey Green
for the Midlands Hybrid Club
"Promoting the spread of clean personal transportation technologies."
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