Winter is officially here in New England. There is snow on the ground, temperatures are chilly, and I have to start my car five minutes before I actually have to go somewhere. It gets the engine heated up, and I won’t be freezing on my way to my destination. Alas, I know its no good for the environment, letting my engine spew out emissions like that. But it is worse for your car to just jump in and drive off at a time when the oil is thick and hasn’t had a chance to lube the engine properly.
Or at least that is what I thought. But according to Ford, pre-warming your car can reduce emissions by heating the catalyst under light engine loads in the driveway rather than on the road.
I’ll be upfront when I say I am a big Blue Oval fan. Their green, fuel-efficient initiatives are also translating into a lot more sales, the new Mustang looks sharp (and gets 30 MPG in V6 form) and every little bit helps. Ford claims that by pre-heating the catalyst via a remote start system (that the buyer obviously has to pay for), hydrocarbons, nitrous oxide, and CO emissions can be reduced by up to 75%. Or you could, you know, trudge out to your car like the rest of us and just turn your car on.
The point is, for years, we’ve been told that idling a car in the winter is bad. Many hypermilers turn off their cars at long red lights to save fuel. Ford says that when the catalyst is properly warmed up, 99% of emissions come out as less harmful gases. The Blue Oval is now offering factory-installed remote starters, moving away from dealership-installed devices. This is obviously part of a ploy to get people to buy more remote starters, and it would be nice to see some actual numbers with a press release rather than broad statements.
But hey, at least I’ll feel a little less guilty when I warm up my Jeep tomorrow morning. Read on for the full press release.
Source: Ford | Image: Fourwheeler.com
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About Christopher DeMorro
I use an antiquated technique called a garage.
I use an antiquated technique called a garage.
Use a electric enginblockheater with a timer as most people in Sweden.
Use a electric enginblockheater with a timer as most people in Sweden.
Use a electric enginblockheater with a timer as most people in Sweden.
Even if this is true, you’re still spewing C02 into the atmosphere. Catch 22, I suppose…
Even if this is true, you’re still spewing C02 into the atmosphere. Catch 22, I suppose…
Well everytime you take a breath you spew out CO2 too. And not everyone can have a garage…or fills them with other cars. My Jeep spends its nights outside.
Well everytime you take a breath you spew out CO2 too. And not everyone can have a garage…or fills them with other cars. My Jeep spends its nights outside.
Well everytime you take a breath you spew out CO2 too. And not everyone can have a garage…or fills them with other cars. My Jeep spends its nights outside.
Well everytime you take a breath you spew out CO2 too. And not everyone can have a garage…or fills them with other cars. My Jeep spends its nights outside.
Well everytime you take a breath you spew out CO2 too. And not everyone can have a garage…or fills them with other cars. My Jeep spends its nights outside.
Seems like the best of both worlds would be to have a preheater
(e.g. electric coils like a toaster) inside the catalytic converter. Instead of running your engine to heat the CC, you
can either plug it in or have it run off the battery 5 minutes before you leave. It could be set up to start with a remote as well (presumably with a green button).
Seems like the best of both worlds would be to have a preheater
(e.g. electric coils like a toaster) inside the catalytic converter. Instead of running your engine to heat the CC, you
can either plug it in or have it run off the battery 5 minutes before you leave. It could be set up to start with a remote as well (presumably with a green button).
According to this study, idling the engine may be better for the catalytic converter, but it seems like such a waste of fuel – to run an entire engine just to warm up the catalytic converter. I wish all cars in cold climates had block heaters but then it only works if you have a plug. One option that is also quite common outside the US and solves both of the above problems is a small engine heater that warms the coolant by burning a bit of the fuel. That way you won’t have to have a plug, it doesn’t burn near as much fuel as running the entire engine, and it still warms things up for reduced emissions.
According to this study, idling the engine may be better for the catalytic converter, but it seems like such a waste of fuel – to run an entire engine just to warm up the catalytic converter. I wish all cars in cold climates had block heaters but then it only works if you have a plug. One option that is also quite common outside the US and solves both of the above problems is a small engine heater that warms the coolant by burning a bit of the fuel. That way you won’t have to have a plug, it doesn’t burn near as much fuel as running the entire engine, and it still warms things up for reduced emissions.
According to this study, idling the engine may be better for the catalytic converter, but it seems like such a waste of fuel – to run an entire engine just to warm up the catalytic converter. I wish all cars in cold climates had block heaters but then it only works if you have a plug. One option that is also quite common outside the US and solves both of the above problems is a small engine heater that warms the coolant by burning a bit of the fuel. That way you won’t have to have a plug, it doesn’t burn near as much fuel as running the entire engine, and it still warms things up for reduced emissions.
According to this study, idling the engine may be better for the catalytic converter, but it seems like such a waste of fuel – to run an entire engine just to warm up the catalytic converter. I wish all cars in cold climates had block heaters but then it only works if you have a plug. One option that is also quite common outside the US and solves both of the above problems is a small engine heater that warms the coolant by burning a bit of the fuel. That way you won’t have to have a plug, it doesn’t burn near as much fuel as running the entire engine, and it still warms things up for reduced emissions.
According to this study, idling the engine may be better for the catalytic converter, but it seems like such a waste of fuel – to run an entire engine just to warm up the catalytic converter. I wish all cars in cold climates had block heaters but then it only works if you have a plug. One option that is also quite common outside the US and solves both of the above problems is a small engine heater that warms the coolant by burning a bit of the fuel. That way you won’t have to have a plug, it doesn’t burn near as much fuel as running the entire engine, and it still warms things up for reduced emissions.
Well, I think its time for me to buy an electric car.Global warming is quite alarming with the huge icebergs floating in different parts of the ocean.So aside from using biodegradable cleaning solutions, I think I need to change my car to an eco-friendly one too!Great blog, thanks for sharing!
Well, I think its time for me to buy an electric car.Global warming is quite alarming with the huge icebergs floating in different parts of the ocean.So aside from using biodegradable cleaning solutions, I think I need to change my car to an eco-friendly one too!Great blog, thanks for sharing!
Well, I think its time for me to buy an electric car.Global warming is quite alarming with the huge icebergs floating in different parts of the ocean.So aside from using biodegradable cleaning solutions, I think I need to change my car to an eco-friendly one too!Great blog, thanks for sharing!
@Christopher DeMorro
…Except breathing is essential to life, idling your car is not. I would think someone who writes for Gas2.0 would know that…
Oh, and I don’t have a garage either…
@Christopher DeMorro
…Except breathing is essential to life, idling your car is not. I would think someone who writes for Gas2.0 would know that…
Oh, and I don’t have a garage either…
@Christopher DeMorro
…Except breathing is essential to life, idling your car is not. I would think someone who writes for Gas2.0 would know that…
Oh, and I don’t have a garage either…
@Christopher DeMorro
…Except breathing is essential to life, idling your car is not. I would think someone who writes for Gas2.0 would know that…
Oh, and I don’t have a garage either…