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here it is, my 2006 ranger! load it up, I am hitting the road. :)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SgtjTrnHJeI/AAAAAAAACpY/DTjnJEwwl-w/s400/ranger+3.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SgtjZKT37QI/AAAAAAAACpo/bveQMYsjOds/s400/ranger+1.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SgtjTnhprnI/AAAAAAAACpg/tzAWl4WQTyc/s400/ranger+2.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SgtjTaShS-I/AAAAAAAACpQ/ddpcAk4oDT0/s400/ranger+4.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SgtjTToi_WI/AAAAAAAACpI/k8n6ZE8wpmQ/s400/ranger+6.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SgtjTE-Hu4I/AAAAAAAACpA/NLmBNo-f9m4/s400/ranger+5.jpg

After driving it for a week now I can say I am not missing the old van! haha ;)

Mpg so far:


http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/cha2964.png

LOOKIN'GOOD!

Now just make sure your raw numbers always stay above mine from now on. :D

Lookin' good, Michael!! :thumbs_up:

Nice, Clean, and a topper!
a good buy!

Thanks guys!
This site really influenced my decision to get another Ranger!
this good mileage will really help me when the summer gas prices hit!

Ricardo, i will give it my best shot! I seem to remember you getting some pretty amazing numbers last summer though!

The topper was free, i just needed to do a little work on it. i can't use a pickup without a topper so that saved me around 500 clams!

that looks really good, micheal. and very clean! good luck with it.

now to put a boat tail on that thing, just kidding. Looks good.

Driving with load! :D

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/Sg1f7dorVkI/AAAAAAAACqg/cRebDK-odFo/s400/dwl.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/Sg1f7a8hi2I/AAAAAAAACqY/hzFEWaIuBGI/s400/dwl2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/Sg1fy_wj7wI/AAAAAAAACqQ/-XJH7YuuKyc/s400/dwl3.jpg


This one, though not filled up to the top was the heaviest. these beastly boxes were packed with labels. total weight around 700 pounds! I delivered them from Brooklyn park to Bloomington, around 23 miles in rush hour traffic. My scangauge gave me 39 mpg for that haul, which turned out to be 36 after calibration. Still, i beat the EPA of a new Yaris subcompact (32) while hauling this stuff!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/Sg1fygAvStI/AAAAAAAACqI/NI8lKCgRAZY/s400/dwl4.jpg

My tomtom GPS. this helps save fuel too, takes me right up to obscure adresses, a lot less putzing around trying to find houses!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/Sg1fykP0gEI/AAAAAAAACqA/_T4c6Or-TFw/s400/tomtom.jpg

I can't haul like the big guys, but I still get by! :)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/Sg1fymtYUeI/AAAAAAAACp4/kPg4FgCNS_k/s400/dock.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/Sg1fyX4jiFI/AAAAAAAACpw/yU2Ji7WdjzQ/s400/lake.jpg

Great work and fantastic pictures, Michael! :)

Beautiful truck and I loved the pictures. How did you create the post? Specifically, how did you upload the pictures into the message? I want to do that on my new acquisition also. What file size are the pictures?

Jim, it is recommended that you upload the pictures to the CleanMPG gallery (click the "Gallery" link in the green menu to the left, then select the "Upload Photos" link directly above the Search entry box on the right). To embed them, click on the thumbnails of your images in the gallery and you'll see full sized renderings of them with two lines of code underneath that you can copy. One already has the [img] tags, the other is just the raw URL to the picture displayed.

Just paste those into the body of your post and you're good to go!

I recommend sizing them at around 320x240 so that they aren't overly large for the post.

Beautiful truck and I loved the pictures. How did you create the post? Specifically, how did you upload the pictures into the message? I want to do that on my new acquisition also. What file size are the pictures?

Thanks jimepting! :)
I just copied them from my blog. I right click the photo i want to post, go to "properties" and copy the url, then paste on the forum with image tags, and I have my pic post!

It's all good! The 2.3L late model Rangers can get good mpg.

My 00 Ranger is a slug that thinks its a F-150 with the 2.5L engine. The MPG just sucks in my truck. But it will haul! Like I said. It thinks its a F-150. :) It spends most of it's time nowdays parked in the back yard under the pecan tree's.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showgallery.php/cat/543

Nice looking truck psyshack. i wonder why it gets poor mpg? mine does good even when hauling a heavy load. The only time it does poorly is on the highway driving into a nasty cold headwind of over 20 mph!
But you are doing the best thing for mpg by only using your truck for hauling, and driving something else for other stuff.

I am hauling stuff every day M-F so I am glad for the good FE !

I am getting the loads that are a bit too small for the big guys! :D

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/ShNqT8QWnbI/AAAAAAAACrI/LUfLbm15DOQ/s400/truckin+4.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/ShNqoPD1c-I/AAAAAAAACrQ/tmujG0wtTdE/s400/truckin+3.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/ShNqTjRbAjI/AAAAAAAACrA/Ev3YB0RyvjU/s400/truckin+7.jpg

Getting fruity with this sweet tasting load, and still beating a yaris EPA :p

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/ShNqTRg12FI/AAAAAAAACq4/EE-CgfP877Q/s400/truckin+6.jpg

My cargo bar, stops the dreaded "box slide" ;)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/ShNqSyxkiAI/AAAAAAAACqw/G7J6PGdHJgs/s400/truckin+2.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/ShNqSqHEccI/AAAAAAAACqo/ufr-mIHvT-4/s400/truckin1.jpg

Sweet setup, Michael! :thumbs_up:

I decided I am going to blog about some of my adventures out on the road as a courier. Stories, pictures, miles, MPG, ect... here.

6-1
I had two fills today. that may sound like a nightmare to most with rising gas prices, but for me it means big $$$
My first fill mon morn. was 15.13 gallons, 529 miles. then they sent me on a run to Bagley MN on a rush delivery, a great payer, but not so good for MPG, I could not putz around.
On the interstate I could do very little for hypermiling except i did 5 mph under the 70 mph speed limit. i just wont do 70 mph sustained ( though i did step on it occasionally when someone came up on me a bit fast in the right lane!) and grabed a distance draft when I could. they were easier to find at 65 than they are at my usual 50-55 mph hehe.
Thanks to that, no wind, and the good gearing and efficient motor, I was still able to keep it at 32 mpg!
On the way back, there was no hurry, work was done and I was just headed home empty.
I even stopped to chat with a friend who was fishing from shore on mile lacs, and watched him land a big bass. (pics post later) I took state and county highways 50-55 mph DWL and coasting through small towns getting around 36 mpg to salvage a decent tank.
532.4miles using 15.63 gallons

Here is that bass my friend caught on mille lacs from shore

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SiX4cZn8VLI/AAAAAAAACyo/9JGRy6ErDG0/s400/maas+monster+toadie.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SiX4OV6QphI/AAAAAAAACyY/Ivff4ZCCjlY/s400/mt+on+the+water.jpg

:eek:I don't know why my scangauge recorded such a high speed, I don't ever come even close to that!:confused::eyebrow:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/crazysg.jpg

It has been slow going for couriers downtown!
lots of construction, no where to park!
Here I am at my favorite parking spot in front of the IDS tower.
it is a no parking zone but if your vehicle has a commercial vehicle permit you can!
I ended up getting out and walking four blocks to two different buildings to get packages...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/downtown.jpg

Added 5 tanks today to my log. my last two were below par. had some tough driving I guess :rolleyes: i am going to have to work at it to make my goal of beating my van average by 10 mpg.
i am already over 4000 miles.

a rare shot of all three of my vehicles together. the van is enjoying its vacation collecting tree seeds!:rolleyes::D The Sultan of slow is just about ready for summer driving. i just need to get the timing set so it runs better, and I have ordered a MPGuino for it that should be here in a few days, then i will be sippin fuel big time. i will be doing a blog for that car too once i get it cleaned up and take some pics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/mythreecars.jpg


nice evening sunset

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/sunset-12.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/ShNqSqHEccI/AAAAAAAACqo/ufr-mIHvT-4/s400/truckin1.jpg
The first think I thought when I saw this picture was.......


Howie Mandel look a like.

Yikes! I didn't recognize the name had to google it LOL mabye a little resemblence, funny last summer i shaved my head and had the same ghotee too!:eek:

It has been worse though. here is a pic from when I was 18 and got my first car. can you say Napoleon Dynamite? :o:o

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/firstcar.jpg

Nice shorts. Feel free to call/PM me if you need/want help with the MPGuino.

Thanks Nevyn! I just got it in the mail today. :)

i thought we were supposed to adjust our driving speeds and following distance in rainy weather! I guess we havn't had rain for quite a while and everyone forgot!:rolleyes:


1/100th of a second following distance at 60 mph in the rain, GULP! :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/tailgatin.jpg

More close following lemmings

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/sidemirror.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/mirrorrear.jpg

is that I 35 E? I think I know where you were it was :D

Close! it is I 394 westbound out of downtown. I got a couple of pics today of a couple of dingalings illegally merging onto 35 E I should be posting soon....

Here is a little 35E action for you Jason :D northbound out of St Paul.

We will call this the "Minnesota Merge"! :Banane39:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/minnesotamerge.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/MM2.jpg

If you want to see more crazy drivers on Minnesota roads check out this blog:

http://dalethetruckdriver.blogspot.com/

If you want to see more crazy drivers on Minnesota roads check out this blog:

... or take a ride with Michael, Laurie, or Sean. ;)

Holy moly, you know times are tough when Lord Vader has to carpool! :eek::rolleyes::D


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/darthvader.jpg

Why Michael you got someone who knows how to merge there. I used to live in Superior WI and would be in the cities a few time during the year. From the merge picture you posted, the last time I was there that would have had 3 people trying to merge in the same spot with one idot trying to just drive down the sholder looking for a 1" gap that they can just pull their nose into. :rolleyes:. We tried to avoid driving through there from 3-7 in the after noon and 6-9 in the mornings. I had to spend a few weeks down there during training on occasion, usually in the Edina area. So, yeah I know what you are talking about with the traffic. :eek:

Traffic is really pretty easy here in the cities. I drive around 10 hours a day around the metro area and rarely have a problem getting around. i almost never have to stop and i tend to let lots of cars merge in front of me and that sometimes will break up a traffic jam. the problem with those above is it is illegal to to switch lanes over a double solid white line.

Ranger fuel economy update!

Had my first 50 mpg trip today! 10 miles from bloomington to minneapolis, everything came together perfect. Hot weather, a tailwind, all highway with most in a 45 mph construction zone. Mostly DWL and nice on glides. when i got close to the downtown exit i saw I was getting close and shut off the ice for the last glide into town to the first stoplight to get me over! :D
Actually the scangauge reported 49.2 mpg, but i have it set to report about 1.5 mpg low to push me a bit harder ;)

I am entering 3 more tanks to my log. the first one is pathetic again( for me ;) ), but the last two are above 36 mpg, an improvement!
For those two tanks i preety much abandoned trying to use defco and did a lot more glides out of gear. I also used fas alot more, whenever i anticipate more than a 7 second idle, off it goes.

Hi Michael:

___I love your blog and daily grind with the unusual... Darth onboard, that was a great pic!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks Wayne! yeah i could not believe my eyes when i saw lord Vader himself in that oldsmobile! i am lucky I had a camera ready for that one!
i got a friend out that way who is part wookie, so I called to warn him that DV might be headed his way!! :D
I also plan to blog about hypermiling my Mitsubishi Mirage this year if i can get er on the road again! poor little car! :p

That would be me! A fishing buddy up north reported getting some nice fish and has a boat he could use that a friend left there for the week. so i made my way up there for some fishing action.
The only "catch" ( other than the fish) was that he doesn't have a vehicle. we would have to use my ranger!:eek: Well that is an mpg geeks worst nightmare I bet, but i couldn't resist an opportunity for a great outing, so up I went, if I end up with a bad tank i can live with that.
Well we got it hooked up and rolling. it was heavy and i had to shift later than usual, but once I got it going it seemed to move along pretty good.
We hit two different lakes for about 40 miles of boat towing, i mainly DWL around 40 mph and grabbed a glide when i could. worst trip was 31 mpg the best was 33, so i averaged 32 mpg pulling that boat! i was worried about nothing!
If i would have had to go on a fast highway it would have been bad though I bet! These roads were easy hypermiling roads. on the way home without the boat on, i did a six mile segment of P&G 45-30 mph on one of the roads i towed the boat and got 55 mpg!
I also ended up getting a decent tank over 37 mpg thanks mainly to a 120 mile 43.5 mpg P&G trip from Palisade MN, where i stayed for fishin' to big lake to visit Dad for fathers day.

fishin buddy CK getting it hooked up

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/hookinitup.jpg

getting gas (for the boat ;) )

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/gassinup.jpg

Launch time!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/launch.jpg

had to get my leaky tire fixed today! I thought it fixed itself at first. I backed off some on the PSI from 60 to around 48, it didn't seem to make a difference in my fuel use, but the leak seemed to stop. I checked it every day and it was not going down any, so i was thinking too high pressure was causing it?
well today I was struggling to get decent fe on what seemed like it should be a great fe day, hot dry roads and light breezes, plus decent routes, i barely got above 34 mpg, and i noticed I was getting alot more tire squeel around tight corners, plus more than usual difficulty getting up to speed on steep on ramps
I thought mabye its the heat, but i better check the tires. well something distracted me so I didnt. then i stopped at the store, and when i came out and was waling toward my truck i could see it was noticably low. Got out my gauge and checked...20 psi!:eek:
I can't belive i drove on it like that today! the heat must have cooked my brain! oh well I made it safely to the shop and they found the culprit quickly...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/nail.jpg

They could tell it had been in there for a while because the end that was sticking out of the tire was flattened and poilished smooth from hitting the road a zillion times! I just can't figure out why it stopped leaking for a few days???

Added another tank today over 36 mpg, not bad considering 170 miles out of the 530 were with an almost flat tire! just think what i could have had if i was more careful checking my tires!

added another tank today burned 14.88 gallons going 550.6 miles for 37 mpg.
could have been my first 38, but the 30 mph winds took a big bite out of my fe today

It sure was good to be back on the road again today after a week off!
here are some pics from a while ago of some traffic waves heading out of the metro on I94

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/jam1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/jam2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/jam3.jpg

looks like heading in was a fun ride too!:p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/jam4.jpg



Busting through the quagemire!:rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/v/NITYaMhLtUo&hl=en&fs=1&

Nice work, Michael! :D:thumbs_up:

Thanks Sean! i like this even better than hypermiling, though it is in a way saving gas for other people when I bust up a jam, or let people merge easily.
here is another one from today on N bound MN100 in st louis park...

Today I was in the right lane and encountered a jam that was clogging all three lanes on MN100 northbound everyone was too close to the others bumper.
I came in with that big space in front and prevented more cars from feeding into the jam in the right lane, and soon as I got up to it it had disintigrated and the right lane became the fastest lane!
then I came upon a merge point where people were bunching up again making it hard for merging and causing a new jam. I got this part on the video below.
I let around ten cars merge in front of me, and poof! the jam was gone!:woot:
I am not saying everyone has to leave room for ten cars, but if everyone did for one or two cars, traffic jams would be much less common!:flag:


http://www.youtube.com/v/yQKJY7wrS2k&hl=en&fs=1&

I had a full pickup load today, got everything loaded up to the gills, even had to put some boxes in the cab, then i couldn't find any room for my cart. had to leave it to pick up later !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/more.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/load.jpg

I had a full pickup load today, got everything loaded up to the gills, even had to put some boxes in the cab, then i couldn't find any room for my cart. had to leave it to pick up later !

I can't see the pics (blocked here at work), but I can just imagine it. And believe that a lot of people would have "needed" a full sized truck for it.

I can't see the pics (blocked here at work), but I can just imagine it. And believe that a lot of people would have "needed" a full sized truck for it.

They really should have called for a large pickup or a van. 2 more of those boxes and i wouldnt have been able to take it. they were lucky.with work scarce i cant afford to turn down any runs so i got creative in squeezing them all in under my topper. I had to turn down a good paying run last week when they sent me to pick up at a shipping place and they had a huge roll of bubble wrap that no way would even come close to fitting, I had to call dispatch and tell them to send a van :(

I added 5 more tanks. my mileage is down a bit. believe it or not, that is a good thing:eek: why? because that means we are getting busier, more work means more time down town, and less time to putz around :)
I have been taking my time to top off at each fill, the result is I can get more miles per tank!

610 miles! whoo hooo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/610.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/tank.jpg

WOW burn a whole tank just to get from Minneapolis to Duluth? yikes!
mabye they meant round trip? still terrible! only around 240 miles :eek:

Wow 1 tank to Duluth and another back ???

How is the northland eh!!! ;) Is the lake still a beauty coming over thomson hill? That is a good ride down with DFCO. Not so good on the way back up;)

yah, yabetchya!;)

after I made a delivery I saw these piggy back beetles in their flowers and had to get some shots! :)

Hey, can I get a ride?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SpMntErVCEI/AAAAAAAADKY/ZBObikRv0LQ/s400/on+a+flower.jpg


Climb aboard!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SpMnsnHVtqI/AAAAAAAADKQ/J7qTvCCCTc0/s400/climb+aboard.jpg



Wheeeeeeeeeeee!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bVefDirc0ps/SpMnrxVmJ3I/AAAAAAAADKI/Ku3TM1beJwc/s400/funny+bugs.jpg

One big load, over 1000 pounds!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/fullload.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/boxes.jpg

this load, rain , and hills were hard on the fe!
beat the epa, but just barely at 27.5 mpg
guess I got a preview of what my scangauge will look like everyday when old man winter comes to town! :eek:

Well I finally got around to updating my tanks after almost a year of slacking:eek:
and it aint pretty. I had over a half dozen tanks fall below epa this winter:( it was painful to see, but I am glad I wrote down my miles and fuel consumption for almost every tank, because I knew some day I would want to calculate and see!:rolleyes:;)
Even though my numbers are not impressive, especially since busness has picked up pretty good, it is still a good idea to keep it updated, every tank above epa is fuel saved that gets added on to the total for all the members here, soooooo........


http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/cha2964.png

Your mileage, compared to anyone else doing a similar job, is outstanding! You are to be commended for right-sizing the tool for the job.

Thanks Andrew!, I agree, just that I know I can do alittle better. It is that balance I try to keep between saving fuel and getting runs done quickly. I am on call so the sooner I get empty the sooner I can get more work. I could get over 40 but it would kill biz, and burn me out too! But if I logged my tanks every month it would help keep my from sliding too far.
I try to think about it this way, I do burn alot of fuel doing this, but if I were to quit, they would have to dispatch other pickups to get what I would have, that use twice as much gas, so I guess in a way I am conserving by driving all day! ;)

added a tank today, best so far this summer at over 33 mpg. it did help that I went on a nice leisurly cruise to my Dad's 100 miles round trip at 38+ mpg ;)

Do you have an EBH for it for the winter? Might be a nice helper...

No EBH in this one. I had one in my last vehicle but rarely used it, because I didn't want to get up at 4 am to plug it in!

Michael, an electronic timer works nicely for me. I picked up one for a reasonable price over at Walmart. ;)

Good idea Sean! :thumbs_up: thanks for the tip

I don't really know anything about EBH's so any information that could be passed along would be great. I live in Buffalo so it would definitely get use through roughly half the year! I drive an 02 Olds Alero GX 4spAT if that info is needed.

I don't really know anything about EBH's so any information that could be passed along would be great. I live in Buffalo so it would definitely get use through roughly half the year! I drive an 02 Olds Alero GX 4spAT if that info is needed.

I don't know too much, it worked good for me in my previous vehicle, my coolant would be up around 50 degrees right awaty in the morning even in the winter here in Minne- so- cold!

MT

Block heater
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search

A typical block heater cord.A block heater is an electric heater that heats the engine of a car to ease starting in cold weather. They are connected to normal AC power overnight or before driving, via regular power plugs that are fed through a vehicle's grille. This allows easier starting in cold temperatures, by keeping the coolant warm. Heaters are also available for motor oil so that warm oil can quickly circulate and warm the engine during startup. The rapid heat circulation caused by block heaters also aids the initial vaporization of fuel in the engine; because of this effect, block heaters reduce pollution, as poor fuel vaporization causes much higher emissions.

Research by the Agricultural Engineering Department of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada has shown that operating a block heater for longer than four hours prior to starting a vehicle is a waste of energy. It was found that coolant temperature increased by almost 20 Celsius degrees in that period, regardless of the initial temperature (4 tests were run at ambient temperatures ranging from -11 to -29 degrees); continued use of the heater for a further one or two, or more, hours achieved a mere 2 or 3 more degrees as conditions stabilized. Engine oil temperature was found to increase over these periods by just 5 Celsius degrees.[1]

Block heaters are widely used in many northern U.S. states, and are very common in regions with colder climates like Canada and Scandinavia. In colder climates block heaters are often standard equipment in new vehicles. In extremely cold climates, electrical outlets are sometimes found in public or private parking lots, especially in multi-storey car parks. Some parking lots cycle the power on for 20 minutes and off for 20 minutes, in order to reduce electricity costs.

Block heaters are usually inserted into a freeze plug manufacturing hole in the cylinder block, heating the metal, coolant and oil. These can be installed at the factory, or by any qualified automotive service center. A block heater can even be installed by the handy do-it-yourselfer. Another variation is an in-line heater, connected to a coolant hose.

There are many alternatives to a block heater that have some of the same benefits. A particularly simple option is to buy an after market heater that is attached to the oil pan, sometimes with magnets. Also, one can even get a heated dipstick. Another alternative to block heaters is a battery warmer, which keeps just the battery warm. This maintains the efficiency of the battery, which is highly dependent on temperature, and is cheaper than heating the entire engine block. Heated blankets are available for the entire engine area, as well. A standard timer switch can be used with any of these heaters, so that it does not have to be left on all the time. This can help lower the electrical costs of owning and using a block heater.

Andrew Freeman, a North Dakotan, invented the headbolt heater in 1947 and received a patent for it on November 8, 1949.[2] Before the block heater was invented, people utilized various means of warming engines before starting them, such as pouring hot water on the engine block or draining the engine's oil for storage inside overnight. Some even shoveled hot coals underneath their vehicle's engine to achieve the same effect.

During the dawn of aviation in pre-war Northern Canada, aviators flew with flight engineers who were responsible for preparing the radial engines for shutdown and startup in order to mitigate the effects of sub-zero temperatures. The flight engineer was responsible for draining the oil into buckets at night, and pre-heating both the engine and the buckets of oil using a blanket wrapped around the engine and a device known as a blow pot, essentially, a kerosene jet-heater used several hours prior to flight.[3]

Some cars, such as the second generation Toyota Prius pump hot coolant from the cooling system into a 3 litre insulated thermos-style reservoir at shutdown, where it stays warm for up to 3 days.[4]

[edit] References
1.^ http://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_home/home_comfort/block_heaters.pdf
2.^ Dakota Datebook
3.^ Harbour Publishing - Bent Props & Blow Pots
4.^ In praise of the lowly block heater

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs098.ash2/38219_1565941951363_1319824968_1526908_5589097_n.jpg

Day to night in 10 minutes as a storm rolls in over SB I35 just south of downtown Minneapolis.

Added 4 tanks

535 mi- 16.7 gal= 32 mpg

458.6- 13.96= 32.8 mpg

457- 15= 30.1

504.8- 15.19= 33.2

Time for a break from the daily grind, going up to fishin' camp for next week! :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/leavin.jpg

35W leaving Minneapolis

So where would you buy an engine block heater? Is this something that would be a standard item in any auto parts store? Is there a benefit to using it year round or just whenever the temperature is below a set value

I am not sure, you could try a parts store, or look on line. there might be a benifit if you have a short commute and your engine doesnt warm up all the way otherwise. it would then bring up your mpg quite a bit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/stormranger-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/storms5-1.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/stormranger4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/ranger1-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/grainbelt1www.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/nightranger.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/ranger1w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/bigandlittletruckwww.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/niteranger.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/mt%20pilgrims%20pics/arangerdeadend.jpg

Great shots! I especially like the one at the dock next to the big rig.

That truck is amazingly clean and straight and shiny and dent-free. How do you manage that?!

Great shots! I especially like the one at the dock next to the big rig.

That truck is amazingly clean and straight and shiny and dent-free. How do you manage that?!

By hypermiling. :cool::p:p:p:D

Thanks guys!
part luck, part skill, and perhaps some help from above? :D
just keepin it between the lines! up to 170,000 miles, just broken in! :)

nice! amazing how many packages you can fit in there...

thanks for the comments! well, it survived another winter, no dents yet! that could change this summer as I am into storm spotting now and might find some hail stones, eeek!
getting close to 200,000 miles too :)

a couple of shots ice driving

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/truck3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/truck1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/truck.jpg

Storm spotting for fun, to sell pictures, or for work? I wish I could be out there, but alas, my still incomplete thesis is keeping me here! :p

Storm spotting for fun, to sell pictures, or for work? I wish I could be out there, but alas, my still incomplete thesis is keeping me here! :p

Mostly a hobby, plus I do like to take pics, just learned how to do lightning pics, not for $$ though. plus it is good to have people to spot since radar cannot detect everything, so if we see something severe we can call and report it. They have free classes to learn what to look for and what to report, and what not too....

Yeah, I'm a certified storm spotter (and a bachelor's in meteorology, going on masters) down here, but there isn't much to spot with all these trees! :p I mainly call in damage reports for my area, and go chasing every once in a while. Haven't actually seen a tornado yet though...

Arkansas was the place to be today... Vilonia, AK took a really hard hit, reports coming in of pavement ripped up, vast devestation... most of the town is literally gone. :ccry: And it's not even over, with more watches and warnings popping up.

yeah they are getting hit hard.
I should be happy for the boring weather we have so far this year. we had the most tornadoes of all the states last year. I never seen one either, but now I know where to look, so who knows?
Do you do ham radio, or use another form of reporting there?

I don't have a radio operator's license, but I am a volunteer fire fighter, so I have my department radio (it's nice to not have to call 911 when you are 911 ;)), and I have the phone number for the NWS office here in Tallahassee to directly call in reports.

It was pretty busy up there last year. ;) Alabama set a new one day record, 41 separate confirmed touchdowns on 4/15.

I don't have a radio operator's license, but I am a volunteer fire fighter, so I have my department radio (it's nice to not have to call 911 when you are 911 ;)), and I have the phone number for the NWS office here in Tallahassee to directly call in reports.

It was pretty busy up there last year. ;) Alabama set a new one day record, 41 separate confirmed touchdowns on 4/15.

wow, thats really cool! keep up the good work, and stay safe :)

Hello cleanMPG! The ol Ranger still going strong at 300,000 Miles! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/1a.jpg

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Impressive! Highway miles can add up fast!

Very nice!! I sold my '00 Ranger a year ago and was just under 100K. Great little trucks!!

How does coolant temp reach 238 degs F ? Is that , uh , safe ?

How does coolant temp reach 238 degs F ? Is that , uh , safe ?

Um no, i had some dirt clogging the radiator. got er fixed now lol, it was making some funny noises when it maxed out at 265 degrees ol. also at 250,000 miles I added some oil and forgot to put on the oil cap. well it started making strange clicking sounds. Opened the hood and there was oil everywhere, except in the motor! well, topped it off and got the cap on, no issues since, guess I got lucky eh? tough little truck for sure!:rolleyes:

Michael , I just visited your website. You have just about the best job in the world !

Loved the pics of the eagle catching a fish.

Thanks! it is pretty cool, as long as you don't mind not making much money! here is a cool shot I got last night on an ice road crossing a nearby lake!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Cyberfish8/1ie.jpg