Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

Hi Miles;

Except for the temperature transition tables and the amount of blocking foam you use, there should be no difference between your HI-II and the cars referenced in the article. In fact, most of this stuff applies quite well to any other modern car too, if you are willing to ignore the hybrid specific stuff.

With this said, your car does have a unique temperature transition table that is definietly not shared with the HCH-II. While the number of stages/states remains the same, the temperature thresholds have been moved around a bit (for the better), so ... If you block your front grille, pay good attention to the Outside Air Temperature as that is the one that shows the greatest improvement.
In other words, the HI-II will perform better than the HCH-II at lower temps ;)

Cheers;

MSantos

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

MSantos,

I'm considering getting the Rain X Anti Fog, but I've read a lot of reviews that claim that it doesn't work or it worsens the situation. Is there something that they are not doing to allow this product to work? How has your experiences been with it?

Jess

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

I tried it once and it was horrible. It was worse than a foggy window. The defogger did not work at all on removing it and I had to wipe off the condensation.

The regular Rain X on the other hand is one product that really works. Dont even need to use the wipers in the rain 99% of the time.


I'm wondering if anyone has use the sno shields? I know it will work on preventing ice but what about fogging? I'm thinking about getting one.

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

Hi Jess and Jay;

In my experience, the anti-fog Rain-X product is a bit tricky to apply and it took me a couple of tries to get it just right. First, we have to make sure we apply it in a heated garage and then we have to make sure that we completely wipe off any excess. Doing so multiple times will help a fair bit and I usually only have to do it once every winter.

One side effect of the product is that even though it does help prevent fogging, it also promotes water beading via condensation when the interior humidity is just too high.

In other words: Instead of allowing the tiny water particles to remain in suspension on the windshield (fog), the product actually promotes the formation of larger beads which may slide down the glass (not good). I avoid this by maintaining a good amount of strategic air circulation inside the cabin.

Yes, the regular Rain-X is a far more tolerant product but it too needs to be applied under the proper conditions and the right way to offer maximum benefit. I apply both in multiple coats just before the arrival of the sub-freezing temps.

Cheers;

MSantos

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

I think I'm going to pass on it. I have some Rejx though that I'll reapply to the windshield. I have the week off, so maybe I'll just do the whole car. :D

Thanks you!

Jess

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

I live in the Washington DC area and talked to my Honda dealer about installing an engine block heater in my HCH II hybrid. He said it would have no impact in warming up the engine faster in the winter. He claimed that the HCH II does not circulate the engine coolant until the engine is warmed up so heating up coolant prior to starting it is useless. He also said that partially blocking the engine grill would not help either. He had never heard of any HCH II hybrid owner in my area installing an engine block heater of blocking the grill.

Confused?

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

Hi dhilldiner;

I guess I should be confused, but sadly this is not the first time I learn of deficient and unfortunate statements by some dealers.

I am sorry to say this, but the dealer is not only wrong on most counts but they also fail one of the most basic elementary tests... and short of telling you that you avoid this dealer at all costs, I would at least suggest you watch them carefully whenever you service your vehicle at their location. Personally, I would seek a second opinion from an alternate dealer. For me, a smarter and more informed answer would seal the deal.

While I am an ardent supporter of good dealers and the good service and value they often offer to hybrid owners, I have nothing but contempt for those who fail this miserably.

Cheers;


MSantos

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

Block heater is not heating the radiator's coolant, but rather the engine block (hence the name).

Hybrids are even more able to benefit from EBH and grill blocking than conventional cars, since they better exploit the warm engine.

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

Use of the block heater for a couple of hours results in at least the top of the radiator being warm to the touch, in my experience. That's one of the feedbacks I use to verify it's working.

There is a mechanical valve in the coolant line, referred to as a thermostat, that prevents flow of coolant through the radiator until the temp has risen, essentially to speed engine warm-up.

But as mentioned by ksstathead, the coolant being heated by the block heater is within the engine area, literally at the coolant drain bolt location on the engine. With convection currents, the warming coolant warms the entire engine and any coolant in connecting hoses upstream of the thermostat.

Re: A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide
 

Excellent article and very interesting. The general information regarding block heaters and grill blocks is of course useful to all, but I'm wondering if there is a source of the operating modes and temperature transition charts for the Insight 1. I think I have been able to spot some transitions by watching the SGII water temp and the FCD, but I'm wondering if anyone has written down the complete and accurate tables?