Hybrid News

I don’t know if this has been posted, but I thought I would share anyway. Today, I was going up a hill and hit the top around 40mph. I let off the accelerator, and it dropped to E mode. I then shifted into neutral to see what would happen going down the other side. Imagine my surprise when it stayed in E mode even at 55 miles per hour in neutral!! I’m sure I’m not the first person to figure it out, but I thought I would post anyway. The ICE never came back on either, as I coasted up the next hill. I wonder how fast it can go in E mode, in neutral.

I have been playing with my new SGII the last couple of days trying to perfect my warmup period in these 10- and 20-degree days and on the trip home from work tonight had one of those Aha! (or duh) moments for something that I haven’t seen mentioned here.

The first 3 miles or so home (2 of which were on the freeway @ ~55mph) the FWT barely inched up to about 150-155 degrees, but without really flooring it I couldn’t get CHT above about 200-205. When I got off the freeway and started hitting the stoplights the engine revs obviously averaged lower than on the highway and the temps started dropping from there - thus couldn’t get it to go EV because I couldn’t hit that magic 153 FWT and 224 CHT combination to "trip the trigger".

Then the AHA moment hit - turn off the heater !! As soon as I did that the FWT jumped to 165 and CHT went to 235 in about 30 seconds, and I slid right into EV as expected. Obviously the heater is getting it’s heat from the engine coolant, so it’s taking away that precious heat needed in the engine to get to the first EV levels and putting it into the cabin.

Moral of the story - if you can stand the cold, keep your heater turned off until you hit the 153 FWT/224 CHT triggers to get you into the first EV. After that the minimum temps needed to hit EV goes down so you can turn the heater back on.

The article read: Honda has two cars in the pipeline that he promises will challenge Toyota’s eco-supremacy. "The real full-scale hybrid competition will start from now," Fukui says. BMW , Toyotas mini truck the A-BAT, Hyundai,and others have said there close to having new hybrids soon. Anyone know when?

Any other reports?

Cris

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0faf40

Replying to: icebluemariner (Jul 03, 2007 8:40 pm)

I just picked up my 08 FEH and to my surprise there are audio & cruise controls on the steering wheel. I guess Ford updated their production line. The brochures/website don’t mention anything about this feature as far as I know.

Can you get the message center to tell you the oil’s life?

Cris

http://www.michelin-green-meter.com/main.php?cLang=en

I came across this "cute" Website done by Michelin while registering my snow tires (discussed on previous thread). If you are not clear on what LRR tires are about, and why it is the action of the tire (flex), and not its traction that is the important parameter, watch the video in the "Green Tire Technology" tab.

Even if you already know the theory and advantages of LRR tires, there is a lot of good stuff here to explore. Also sorta fun for non techinical types.

Hi,

Why is it all hybrid owners are assumed to be ‘green’? It is a curious prejudice and I’m starting to think about how to have a little fun with this prejudice.

Saturday I went through the safety training at a local do-it-yourself auto shop and took them out for a quick inspection of my hybrid. I pointed out the inverter radiator is separate from the combined engine and refrigerant radiator and the safety instructor then started discussing the different refrigerants they are qualified to work with. The last point he brought up with, "And you know the ozone hole has disappeared."

This weekend, some of the local USENET nuts started spouting all sorts of nonsense about rain in Atlanta meaning this has not been the driest year and a couple of other global warming skeptic claims. But this nonsense has been a pattern going on for quite sometime. Mostly I ignore it having grown up in Oklahoma where small talk is about the weather including every rain shower and thunderstorm in the past five years.

I was about to post an answer to the local USENET nuts when I realized there was a larger pattern going on . . . one that also colors the responses of some car companies and dealers. They act as if the only reason for having a hybrid is because we’re trying to ’save the world’ and have Green Peace tattooed on our butts.

It was funny that the safety instructor was the first one who spotted my vanity plate, "C52MPG," and got the message. A bright fellow, I think he will be the first to understand I’m there about the technology, not saving the planet. So I’m thinking about doing a little ‘reality training’ at the auto shop.

I’ve got some maintenance coming up and I’m thinking about posting an invitation to the other car enthusiasts to join me in a short talk followed by a ‘go do’. The first one will be on hybrid transmissions, the Prius, and include my transmission oil studies. Then we’ll go to the bay, lift it up; take oil samples; and replace the transmission oil.

Future discussions and maintenance will include: tires and alignment, exhaust systems, and hybrid traction battery theory and practice. I have no illusions about any ‘road to Damascus’ conversions. I’m just interested in them ‘getting over’ the newness and getting back to basics.

As for the USENET nuts, it really comes down to how much time do I have to waste on them? If they prefer to remain ignorant and believe propaganda instead of empirical data, why not let them wallow in their own ignorance? I pretty much feel the same way about the diesel and fool cell advocates.

Comments? Thoughts?

Bob Wilson

The wheel bearing started to make noise and Ford refused to cover this under warranty when the car was 1000 miles over. To add insult to injury they wanted $845. Called Ford customer service I asked the person if he wanted the Vin # of the 5 other Ford vehicles I owned. He said he understood that I was a good loyal customer. Waited three days for him to finally call me back and say that he could not do anything for me.

If this is how Ford treats loyal customers it is no wonder they are in financial trouble ! Wheel bearing should not fail @ 37,000 miles. To add more insult I tried to schedule this for a recall with the dealer I bought it from two weeks earlier. The service person said he would call me back when he new he could get the parts. Two weeks later I read in the paper that the dealership was closing. I guess this would explain why he did not know when he could get the parts for a recall. The moron at Ford customer service suggested that I take it to the dealer I bought it from ! I had already told him they blew me off and I was not taking it to a dealership that was closing. I also told the customer service person had the original dealer not delayed me I would have had the vehicle in before 36,000 miles. There inaction and they want me to pay.

In 37,000 miles I had this vehicle services for recalls or failures 4 times, not to reliable. Once was for the battery cooler. Battery cooler failed ( A/C line corroded and lost the charge) and there was no alarm, nothing. I noticed the battery cooler fan running all the time. I guess if I had not noticed and the battery failed I would have been screwed by Ford again.

This vehicle also does not have a good resale value, I got $13,000 on trade for a vehicle that was 3 years old and had a $29,000 sticker. Bought a Chevrolet HHR and it cost 1/2 as much and gets better gas mileage.

I have a goal to tell 1000 people how Ford screwed me with this POS. To date I have told ~ 150 people, I am mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Ford has pissed off the wrong person.:angry: