Energy Conservation Project Monitoring Gas Consumption During Winter Months Michael Bauzon ED 630

The Questions How many miles do you drive per week? How helpful is an engine block heater in aiding your car’s warm-up? How much gas and money could you save per Winter using an engine block heater?

How many miles do you drive per week?

How helpful is an engine block heater in aiding your car’s warm-up?

How much gas and money could you save per Winter using an engine block heater?

Methodology What is your rate of gas consumption for the vehicle you drive? How long do you let your car idle in the morning? How many miles do you get from a full tank? How much money do you spend idling your engine?

What is your rate of gas consumption for the vehicle you drive?

How long do you let your car idle in the morning?

How many miles do you get from a full tank?

How much money do you spend idling your engine?

Data Collection Data Recorded Miles per full tank Gallons used for that particular tank; measured by filling up every time. Weekly mileage Timeline 2 full tanks of gas 1 full tank using block heater to aid in warming up the vehicle (1998 Ford Escort) 1 full tank without block heater

Data Recorded

Miles per full tank

Gallons used for that particular tank; measured by filling up every time.

Weekly mileage

Timeline

2 full tanks of gas

1 full tank using block heater to aid in warming up the vehicle (1998 Ford Escort)

1 full tank without block heater

Data Collection Errors Oil prices fluctuated during weeks of data collection Nighttime temperatures not consistent, nor do they reflect extreme situations of January and February Is the pump consistent every time it stops when you’ve filled up?

Oil prices fluctuated during weeks of data collection

Nighttime temperatures not consistent, nor do they reflect extreme situations of January and February

Is the pump consistent every time it stops when you’ve filled up?

Data Analysis Full tank MPG with block heater (lasted 5 days): 24.9 mpg Full tank MPG without block heater (barely lasted 5 days): 22.7 mpg Approximate weekly mileage: 321 miles Gallons used per week using block heater and remote starter: 12.9 gal Gallons of gas used per week warming up without block heater: 14.1 gal Gallons of gas saved per week using block heater: 1.2 gal Projected dollar amount saved per week using block heater (at $3.49/gal): $4.19 Projected dollar amount saved per winter (October-April) using block heater: $117.26 Projected gallons of gas saved per winter (October-April) using block heater: 30.8 gal Vehicle Winter MPG without block heater Winter MPG with block heater 1998 Ford Excort (4-cyl) 22.3 24.9 2000 Toyota Tacoma (6-cyl) 15.7 N/A 2002 Honda CBR600 F4i 41 (Spring/Summer) N/A

Conclusion The use of a block heater in aiding your vehicle’s warm-up saves gas and money This experiment was done on a 4-cylinder car…imagine the possibilities of savings on bigger engines The amount of money we save using the block heater is roughly the same as having a block heater installed Block heater + remote start = savings and convenience

The use of a block heater in aiding your vehicle’s warm-up saves gas and money

This experiment was done on a 4-cylinder car…imagine the possibilities of savings on bigger engines

The amount of money we save using the block heater is roughly the same as having a block heater installed

Block heater + remote start = savings and convenience

Gas Saving Strategies Carpool Have a block heater installed Consider garaging your vehicle(clear out all the junk in the garage!!) Note the time it takes to get your car to a good running temperature, then be consistent. Don’t idle your engine unnecessarily

Carpool

Have a block heater installed

Consider garaging your vehicle(clear out all the junk in the garage!!)

Note the time it takes to get your car to a good running temperature, then be consistent. Don’t idle your engine unnecessarily

Further Study… Is it worth the time, effort, and/or money to have your garage cleared out to fit your vehicle? What are some carpool options available to you? In the Spring and Summer months, what are reasonable ways you can conserve fuel?

Is it worth the time, effort, and/or money to have your garage cleared out to fit your vehicle?

What are some carpool options available to you?

In the Spring and Summer months, what are reasonable ways you can conserve fuel?

Citations Clipart taken from the following sources: gas and money: http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2264472/GasMoneyClipArt-main_Full.jpg attendant: http://www.clipartheaven.com/clipart/occupations/cartoons_(a_-_l)/gas_station_attendant_2.gif gas pump: http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/UNC/UNC191/u19148531.jpg fuel gauge: http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_images_n300/0006-0407-3010-0718_gas_gauge.jpg

Clipart taken from the following sources:

gas and money: http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2264472/GasMoneyClipArt-main_Full.jpg

attendant: http://www.clipartheaven.com/clipart/occupations/cartoons_(a_-_l)/gas_station_attendant_2.gif

gas pump: http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/UNC/UNC191/u19148531.jpg

fuel gauge: http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_images_n300/0006-0407-3010-0718_gas_gauge.jpg