By now, some of you have had to deal with frosty mornings - I will soon.
Since we are interested in increasing fuel economy, avoiding the defrost mode is a good thing, as the air conditioner engages to dry the air.
The first thing I can think of is obviously keeping the windshield clean. The next thing is possibly using defogging products such as Rain-X - maybe ammonia would do the same thing. The last common sense thing that comes to mind is keep the car in a heated garage when possible.
Rain-X is intended to be used on the exterior windshield. They sell a different product aptly named Fog-X which is intended to be used on the interior of the windshield. I used Fog-X on my 1988 Civic that had no heater and I wasn't real pleased with the ease of properly applying it to the inside of the windshield. It's very difficult to properly apply since you can barely get your hands up to the end of the windshield in the first place and if you smudge the Fog-X off with your hand while trying to apply it, then of course you have to do that section over again. Huge, huge pain in the butt!
By now, some of you have had to deal with frosty mornings - I will soon.
Since we are interested in increasing fuel economy, avoiding the defrost mode is a good thing, as the air conditioner engages to dry the air.
The first thing I can think of is obviously keeping the windshield clean. The next thing is possibly using defogging products sucy as Rain-X - maybe ammonia would do the same thing. The last common sense thing that comes to mind is keep the car in a heated garage when possible.
I have also found that Rain-X works great in reducing the time needed to scrape the frost off the outside of the windshield and side windows. Keeps the defrost mode down to a minimum. Also have used Fog-X. Works ok but under heavy fogging conditions it tends to make the inside of the windshield very wet. There are generic brands of rain-x, some are called hard surface protectants and work just as good but cheaper and are heavy on the acetone/acetate. Also, some window cleaners have an anti-fog ingredient (great for bathroom mirrors) and good for inside car window surfaces. Heavy on the ammonia...
In below freezing temp's, I don't think the A/C engages. Don't have the manual with me in the office to check.
I dont know if this is the time or place to say this or not, and i dont want to make anyone mad at me , but here goes. Ill tell you the truth, i bought my prius because gas prices were on the rise and i was driving a Pacifica that gets 17 mpg. I drive about 200 miles a day,(just had my 5000 mile service done after 1 moth) and i am so greatfull to be getting 45-50 mpg per tank, that i wouldnt worry about defrosters or tire pressures or coasting when in heavy traffic or anything. I am Amazed that everyone worries so much about tenths of mpg, that they will sacrafice comfort or even safety, to get it. Now dont get me wrong, of course i want as high gas milage as i can get and yes i do things too. But come on people if your car is cold for god sake warm it up. for a few min the 1/10 of an ounce of gas your going to use isnt worth sitting up all night with a slide rule. im sorry if i offended anyone going for world record in fuel economy with their hybrid, Im just greatfull to be seeing more than 17 mpg no matter what! well thanks for letting me rant on. Dean
The extra 10% MPG some of us strive for does seem a bit out there, but you must understand: it is an obsession. Just hope you do not come down with it.
As for comfort, I have to disagree with you. Burning fuel instead of wearing a sweater/jacket and gloves is embarrassing. Cold in the morning ? Five minutes of exercise does wonders.
R2-E2, 2G Prius.
Highway/City/Husband/Wife MPG: 56.5, as of 12/2005, 26K miles
Jac Nasser, Ford President: "We are planning to launch a hybrid version of
this car [P2000] within this year [1998]. We will also make FCEV available in
2004."
A clean absorbent cloth first thing, to collect as much moisture/ice as possible from the windshield.
After that, I think it depends on local humidity inside and outside the car. I have been playing with recirc off, cool air directed to the windshield in my low humidity climate, but have still not sorted out the best way yet. The heater/defogger is a an MPG waster. I'm glad chuck brought up the topic.
R2-E2, 2G Prius.
Highway/City/Husband/Wife MPG: 56.5, as of 12/2005, 26K miles
Jac Nasser, Ford President: "We are planning to launch a hybrid version of
this car [P2000] within this year [1998]. We will also make FCEV available in
2004."
Leads to one of my themes - Americans as a whole have become larger, leading to larger vehicles.
off topic but the statement reminds me of a drawing i did one time based on a photo i took of 5 rather large people sitting on stools at the state fair, eating some kind of fried on a stick junk. i called it "the great american profile"...
as for the obsession, i have caught it somewhat.
even having an unheated garage helps. our garage was built about 1918, and if i drove a bigger car, it would not fit into it.
I dont know if this is the time or place to say this or not, and i dont want to make anyone mad at me , but here goes. Ill tell you the truth, i bought my prius because gas prices were on the rise and i was driving a Pacifica that gets 17 mpg. I drive about 200 miles a day,(just had my 5000 mile service done after 1 moth) and i am so greatfull to be getting 45-50 mpg per tank, that i wouldnt worry about defrosters or tire pressures or coasting when in heavy traffic or anything. I am Amazed that everyone worries so much about tenths of mpg, that they will sacrafice comfort or even safety, to get it. Now dont get me wrong, of course i want as high gas milage as i can get and yes i do things too. But come on people if your car is cold for god sake warm it up. for a few min the 1/10 of an ounce of gas your going to use isnt worth sitting up all night with a slide rule. im sorry if i offended anyone going for world record in fuel economy with their hybrid, Im just greatfull to be seeing more than 17 mpg no matter what! well thanks for letting me rant on. Dean
No offense taken here Dean. Some of us, including myself, like to play the mileage game because it's so much fun and each time we get behind the wheel, its like playing a real life video game.... I avg about 50mpg but don't do any of the things like FAS or N coasting and still manage to get good FE. I just drive a little different than when I had a non hybrid. All of this coming from a die hard electrical engineer with a zeal for details...
Reducing Usage of the Defrost
I avg about 50mpg but don't do any of the things like FAS or N coasting and still manage to get good FE. I just drive a little different than when I had a non hybrid. All of this coming from a die hard electrical engineer with a zeal for details...
