Trade in the Prius for a Hummer to save gas?

[doubleg2005]

the worst i get in the first 5 mins is still over 25... typically, though, i see something closer to 50. it's the highway speeds after the first 5-10 minutes that kill my mileage... lots of coasting and no p&g until it's warmed up.

[PriuStorm]

Originally Posted by bestmapman

Anybody who drives less then the warmup cycle, should seriously consider a bicycle. Use the Prius on bad weather days.

+1

If you really think the Hummer is doing better for your short trips, try this:

Fill both vehicles up with gas.

Use both vehicles doing your regular short errands, up the hill, down the hill, etc. After you've run about 100 miles on each vehicle, fill them back up again.

Note which vehicle takes more gallons of gas. The vehicle that took more gallons used more gas to do those errands. Use the other vehicle since it used less gas and is more fuel efficient for your driving style.

I bet the Prius wins.

[GetRdone]

Just read the instructions for the engine block heater I'm not mechanically savvy at all, and I'm a little afraid of screwing it up. Obviously I wouldn't want to have to insert and remove the engine block heater every time so I'm not sure how I'd secure it in there. It be embarrassing to drive with the wire dragging through the ground . I wish there was a mechanic in my area that specialized in Prius mods. I'm also afraid of having warranty problems if something goes wrong. Would that qualify under "tampering with the engine"?

[Sheepdog]

The dealer or probably any mechanic can install it for you. I have not tried it yet myself.

[miscrms]

Time for a road trip

Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists

Or any Toyota dealer should be able to install it as it is a genuine Toyota part. Don't be surprised if they are not even aware that it exists though. Don't think they do a lot of block heater installs in LA. Still, they should be able to look up the procedure and get it done. Tell them you are driving to Alaska next winter and need to be ready

BTW, even here in Phoenix I saw a lot of benefit out of partially blocking my grill last winter. I know of several people here who uses EBHs and see a good improvement. LA may be too mild in winter for the grill block, but the EBH should be just the ticket pretty much year round.

Rob

PS, its a one time install. The cord tucks up inside while you're driving around.

[Yak18]

Hard to believe you folks in a warm climate want to install block heaters. I had one in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was a pain to plug/unplug the car all the time. It will also run up your electric bill big time...negating your MPG savings.

[Danny Hamilton]

Originally Posted by Yak18

Hard to believe you folks in a warm climate want to install block heaters. I had one in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was a pain to plug/unplug the car all the time. It will also run up your electric bill big time...negating your MPG savings.

I don't remember which thread it was in, but the math has been done, and there is still a net savings in money (on the order of pennies or nickles per trip if I remember correctly). Even if there weren't, some would still do it to transfer their energy useage from gasoline to their local electric energy source (hydro, solar, nuclear, wind, etc).

Seems about as big of a pain as parking and unparking the car all the time.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by Yak18

Hard to believe you folks in a warm climate want to install block heaters. I had one in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was a pain to plug/unplug the car all the time. It will also run up your electric bill big time...negating your MPG savings.

You only need the block heater for 30 minutes to 1 hour before leaving. This can be handled by an ordinary power timer. But I agree that current, power plugs are an unnecessary bother.

I've been sketching out a 'smart curb' that handles the electrical connection when I park.

Bob Wilson

[dek1234]

very usefull hints in there... i never tought abot the block heater!! i am a new owner too and i am un quebec north west (Abitibi) and i was going to buy the block heater only this falls, but i think i will do that in my first oil change!!

thanks for the info.

Pierre

[dek1234]

Originally Posted by dek1234

very usefull hints in there... i never tought abot the block heater!! i am a new owner too and i am un quebec north west (Abitibi) and i was going to buy the block heater only this falls, but i think i will do that in my first oil change!!

thanks for the info.

Pierre

sorry for my bad english lol.