Car Heater (Page 5): I have noticed that it make a difference in the summer with dairy products like milk. Without refrigeration on the way home, I've noticed that milk will usually go...

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

markngolf wrote:

I lived in NC 98 - 2011. Never had a thought of refrigerating grocery items while transporting.
Mark

I have noticed that it make a difference in the summer with dairy products like milk. Without refrigeration on the way home, I've noticed that milk will usually go bad several days before the X-Date. With refrigeration, it will last several days past the X-Date.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

SteveFranz wrote:

I have noticed that it make a difference in the summer with dairy products like milk. Without refrigeration on the way home, I've noticed that milk will usually go bad several days before the X-Date. With refrigeration, it will last several days past the X-Date.

It all depends on temperature. For a short ride, you're fine. For a longer ride, a good, insulated case or a plug-in cooler are a good idea. When we took trips lasting several days, we would carry a large plug-in cooler in the trunk. At night, we'd plug it into the motel room. The food always arrived frozen. I have a smaller cooler that would hold a six-pack+. That's perfect for small amounts of food.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 wrote:

That's one way we differ.

However, someone posted on an auto forum that he didn't use the heater in the winter, so he'd get better mileage. Using the heater would make the engine cooler, so it would burn more gas. 🤣

Maybe he removed the thermostat to get better coolant circulation.

Perception.......

Carl1024 Loc: Kaneohe, HI 96744

jerryc41 wrote:

When you want the most from your car's air conditioner, you set it to Recirculate. Wouldn't the same thing work with the car's heater? Instead of heating the 20° air from outside to 70°, the heater would be maintaining the 70° air inside the car. Of, course, you could switch it to Fresh Air occasionally.

heater is used on rainy days 2 clear the windshield?

W9OD Loc: Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, you get fogged windows with the recirculating going.

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

[quote=CanisdirusI usually kept a quarter ounce taped up inside the passenger one...in case I broke down out in the middle of nowhere.[/quote]

With some papers and matches I assume.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

jerryc41 wrote:

When you want the most from your car's air conditioner, you set it to Recirculate. Wouldn't the same thing work with the car's heater? Instead of heating the 20° air from outside to 70°, the heater would be maintaining the 70° air inside the car. Of, course, you could switch it to Fresh Air occasionally.

Of course. Both hot summer when on AC and cold winter when on heater. I've been told that when you turn to recirculate some air form outside is let in so you're not totally shut off from fresh aid.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Carl1024 wrote:

heater is used on rainy days 2 clear the windshield?

Sic semper Hawaii!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

revhen wrote:

Of course. Both hot summer when on AC and cold winter when on heater. I've been told that when you turn to recirculate some air form outside is let in so you're not totally shut off from fresh aid.

Probably correct as when I put it in recirc to go past a brush fire in the summer, I still smell it inside the car, but not as strong as if the recirc was off.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I bought a 1976 Chrysler from a dealer in PA. The rear window defogger wasn't required in that state, but it was in NY. There was a grill in the rear package shelf, so I just had to buy the fan unit and install it. The wiring was already there.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jerryc41 wrote:

When you want the most from your car's air conditioner, you set it to Recirculate. Wouldn't the same thing work with the car's heater? Instead of heating the 20° air from outside to 70°, the heater would be maintaining the 70° air inside the car. Of, course, you could switch it to Fresh Air occasionally.

I run the heater in my Grand Caravan on recirculate when in heat mode but it will only do so in certain positions, then I just barely open a window if it gets too hot.

Nigel7 Loc: Worcestershire. UK.

pmorin wrote:

Yes, heated seats here in CA are a good thing, but remote start is what I use to heat up the engine and inside the car before I get in it.

As long as I can remember in the UK, on the public highway, it's illegal to leave the engine running with the car unattended, for safety reasons. On your own drive OK I guess, as long as the car's locked. Today pollution would also make it unacceptable in any circumstance.

However it is also very bad for the engine. The greatest wear to the engine is when the oil hasn't fully circulated and thinned so the quicker warm up happens the better. Left idling this takes much longer. Within the last couple of weeks I've read warnings against this and the occurrence of piston slap during that time, so it seems that even with modern oils it's still an issue.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Nigel7 wrote:

As long as I can remember in the UK, on the public... (show quote)

When a car is started by remote control it will only idle 15-20 mins. then shut off, The cars oil is full circulated within 30 sec after starting unless there is something wrong, modern oils warm or cold do have additives that help them cling to the engines parts much better than the older oils.
One of my jobs we had over 100 ford 7.3 power stroke diesels 10 of which ran 24-7 idle times were 15 to 20 mins. while waiting for the next load of passengers, except when shut off for service
and they had over 300k miles when taken out of service. The few gas burners did just as well.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Manglesphoto wrote:

When a car is started by remote control it will on... (show quote)

I suppose if it was REALLY bad for the engine, the manufacturer would recommend not using it in very cold temps.....

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

jerryc41 wrote:

It all depends on temperature. For a short ride, you're fine. For a longer ride, a good, insulated case or a plug-in cooler are a good idea. When we took trips lasting several days, we would carry a large plug-in cooler in the trunk. At night, we'd plug it into the motel room. The food always arrived frozen. I have a smaller cooler that would hold a six-pack+. That's perfect for small amounts of food.

I got my car refrigerator while we lived in Dallas. In the summertime, even a short trip would warm up the groceries. I have since moved to Durham, NC and while it's hot & humid in the summertime, it's nowhere near a bad as TX.