Quote:
Originally Posted by notout86
These cars get up to operating temperature fairly slowly. I doubt that the fuel figures published take this into account. I'm looking for a way to get it to warm up more rapidly and thus reduce fuel consumption, without any downside. Any ideas?
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Heated garage? An engine block heater? Except both require energy to run plus the initial investment. Downside being a heated garage is wasted once you open the door. An engine block heater has to be plugged in somewhere.
Do you have solar panels? That is you only real option if you want no downsides, except the cost, but many people would consider that not to be a downside given it is the green option. Assuming the panels are made locally and are also made using green energy.
There are way too many variables in regular day-to-day driving that can contribute or detract to overall fuel economy. Any method we come up with would be negated the second you pull out into traffic, accelerate, then hit a red* light the second you reach speed. The effort for such minute improvements is simply not worth the time or cost, sadly. At least not until the world goes full Mad Max.
I think you are better of just trying to focus on coasting to stops and modulating your acceleration and shifts, plus use cruise control everywhere! That is the best most of us can do given our present circumstances.