Should we plug his car in the winter?

struvictory – stock.adobe.com

Germain Goyer

On Wednesday 10 January 2018 16:01

UPDATE
On Wednesday 10 January 2018 16:01

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While the end of the month of December and the beginning of the month of January have been characterized by mercury particularly low, we asked ourselves the following question : “Should we plug his car in the winter”?

By “plug into his car,” we intend to operate the engine heater in the case of a vehicle equipped with a combustion engine.

CAA-Quebec has studied the issue and conducted a study in conjunction with the energy efficiency Agency of Quebec in 2009.

We came to the conclusion that the fact of using the engine heater in cold weather allowed for a better preservation of the engine. The engine heater ensures that the engine maintains a temperature of 20°C. In the case of a vehicle which is not plugged in, motor temperature, before the start, corresponds to the ambient temperature.

On journeys of less than twenty kilometers away, CAA-Quebec has observed that a vehicle is plugged in consumes 15% less fuel than a vehicle that is not. It is a difference can not be more significant.

As soon as the mercury drops below -5°C, the beneficial effects are recognized.

In addition to accelerating the warming of interior and reduce our budget for fuel, the use of the engine block heater reduces 15 times the emission of gas pollutants (hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide).

Of course, if you do not have a garage or an electrical outlet near your parking space, you will be more perilous to plug in your car.

It is to be noted that all the vehicles are not necessarily equipped as standard with a block heater. It is an accessory that can easily be installed by your dealer.

Read also: Should we really let the engine warm up in the winter?