Warming up the TB

willn513

Original poster
Member
Dec 4, 2011
918
Tis the season for colder weather here in beautiful SW Ohio. I like the idea of winter, but in reality I can't stand being out in the cold. I hate it in fact.

So I am definitely guilty of having a remote starter on my ride- and boy do I use it. I would say on average I start and warm up my TrailBlazer almost every morning before leaving for my 35-40 minute commute. I enjoy creature comforts, and hopping into a toasty/defrosted ride is precisely why I bought the remote starter.

I would say my avg mpgs have dropped noticeably from about 17-18 to 14-15. My question is this: how many of you guys are experiencing this as well? It's certainly a trade-off I'm willing to make since I am a grade A pansy when it comes to being cold.

Also- spare me the lectures about the negative effects of warming up MY vehicle (environmentally or otherwise)

Anyone else with me on this?
 

gmac310

Member
Dec 4, 2011
174
I've noticed the same thing. Seems like the I6s like to be driven and not standing idling in the driveway.
 

tbuckalew14

Member
Nov 20, 2011
380
At most I'll start mine up if the dog wants to go out before I leave. Otherwise I just start up and go. If I had a remote start, I would def. let it warm up for about 10 min. I would love to see 15mpg in the winter...I barely get that in the summer. No matter what mpg saving things i've done, I always end up with about 12 mpg in the winter and 14-15 in the summer.
 

RayVoy

Member
Nov 20, 2011
939
Guilty as charged.

I use the remote start on cold mornings (ever day this week), not so much for the engine heat, but to warm up those damn leather seats, brrrr. :rotfl::rotfl:
 

am-radio

Member
Apr 24, 2012
178
RayVoy said:
Guilty as charged.

I use the remote start on cold mornings (ever day this week), not so much for the engine heat, but to warm up those damn leather seats, brrrr. :rotfl::rotfl:

Your leather seats turn on when you start your vehicle with your remote starter? Mine shut off every time I shut the truck off.
 

Boricua SS

Member
Nov 20, 2011
3,080
Ohio
i have 3 differnet motors that explain why you should let a vehcile warm up :rotfl::crackup:

never drive a vehicle cold... and MPG's always drop off forf winter months... no biggie bro.. just drive it and enjoy the warmth lol
 

willn513

Original poster
Member
Dec 4, 2011
918
am-radio said:
Your leather seats turn on when you start your vehicle with your remote starter? Mine shut off every time I shut the truck off.

Some of the aftermarket setups trigger auxiliary functions (ie: seats, rear defrost, etc). Man I wish I had heated leather... Poor LessStuff LS models :crackup:
 

blazinlow89

Member
Jan 25, 2012
2,088
willn513 said:
Some of the aftermarket setups trigger auxiliary functions (ie: seats, rear defrost, etc). Man I wish I had heated leather... Poor LessStuff LS models :crackup:

Nothing wrong with an LS. Mine didn't even have cruise control.

So far the only thing that does not work with my RS without the key are the wipers, AC, heat, radio, rear defrost all work. I plan to add heated seats when I get the extra cash flow though. I have some automatic window modules I want to install when it gets warmer, or I have the spare time. I need to get in touch with MAY03 though to see if he had a chance to figure out the wiring for them, that guy is awesome with these trucks.

As for letting the truck warm up, I usually start it 5 min before I leave. Otherwise it sounds like a pissed off diesel engine. Once warm though she purrs.
 

seanpooh

Member
Jan 24, 2012
461
I already have heated seat but I think having the heated steering wheel would be much better. I hate popsicle fingers. If only I waited another year for GM to release that option...

I autostart my vehicle every time I'm going to hop in and drive. Either in the house to warm it up or walking to it within a 5000ft range, I'll start her up.

Maybe my ignition switch will last a bit longer?
 

TollKeeper

Supporting Donor
Member
Dec 3, 2011
8,248
Brighton, CO
I need to get a remote start installed on the wifes truck... I hate those morning when she wakes me up to go start up her car, and wipe the snow off..

I finnally got sick of it, and cleaned out the garage 3 weeks ago.. She knows not to bother me now. If she forgets to park in the garage, thats her problem.. LET ME SLEEP!
 

willn513

Original poster
Member
Dec 4, 2011
918
seanpooh said:
I already have heated seat but I think having the heated steering wheel would be much better. I hate popsicle fingers. If only I waited another year for GM to release that option...

My dads 04 DeVille has a heated steering wheel and man is it nice...

I never knew this was an option on our GMT's.
 

Denali n DOO

Member
May 22, 2012
5,596
willn513 said:
My dads 04 DeVille has a heated steering wheel and man is it nice...

I never knew this was an option on our GMT's.

Ya, the wood grain part of my Denali wheel gets real cold and stays cold for a while, a heated wheel would have been an awesome option :thumbsup:
 

mrphoenix80

Member
Jan 1, 2013
251
willn513 said:
I would say my avg mpgs have dropped noticeably from about 17-18 to 14-15. My question is this: how many of you guys are experiencing this as well? It's certainly a trade-off I'm willing to make since I am a grade A pansy when it comes to being cold.

0 MPH = 0 MPG So for all the time you spend at idle you are burning fuel that is not moving you down the road.:biggrin:

Having said that my remote start is awsome. Really glad I have one right now with the single digit temps here.
 

Jkust

Member
Dec 4, 2011
946
Even though it'll be colder here than anywhere else in the country any given day, I'm not really a warmer-uper. The other day it got way below zero and so I warmed it up in the garage and clicked the seats on for probably like 20 minutes since I was going to have passengers. I had just reset the DIC a mile from the house the night before when I got gas. It took forever for the mileage on the DIC to recover from the warm up.
As for leather seats, I won't own a car without them especially since in town here we are close to everything only the seats have time to heat up and really keep you from freezing. It's not a coincidence why I've owned 2 Rainiers and a 9-7x since I love options and a warm butt. So far I've never had an option on any of the three 360's stop working but my minivan's drivers heated seat lasted only 100,000 miles.
I'd have loved to see the next generation upgrades in our trucks...not the over the top stuff on the cars now days but just a few needed improvements.
 

hockeyman

Member
Aug 26, 2012
726
tbuckalew14 said:
I always end up with about 12 mpg in the winter and 14-15 in the summer.

Same with me. Although, I'm getting about 10-11 mpg's during this winter! :mad:

Once the warmer weather comes around, I'm going to replace both Oxygen Sensors. In the past few months, I removed and thoroughly cleaned the Throttle Body, installed new spark plugs, new the fuel filter, new air filter, seafoamed the intake, and changed all fluids (except the coolant). I've also been running all 4 of my tires at 33 psi.
 

RayVoy

Member
Nov 20, 2011
939
am-radio said:
Your leather seats turn on when you start your vehicle with your remote starter? Mine shut off every time I shut the truck off.
Sorry, talking about the Avalanche (no longer have the Envoy) which has factory remote-start. If it's cold, both front seat heaters turn on along with the defrost, if it's real cold, the blower motor waits for a little heat from the HVAC before turning on.

The Envoy had cloth seats, so I never bothered to start it and let it warm. My wife (Saturn Astra) has heated cloth seats, but no remote-start and she will start it, turn on the seat and go back inside.
 

Denali n DOO

Member
May 22, 2012
5,596
RayVoy said:
Sorry, talking about the Avalanche (no longer have the Envoy) which has factory remote-start. If it's cold, both front seat heaters turn on along with the defrost, if it's real cold, the blower motor waits for a little heat from the HVAC before turning on.

The Envoy had cloth seats, so I never bothered to start it and let it warm. My wife (Saturn Astra) has heated cloth seats, but no remote-start and she will start it, turn on the seat and go back inside.

Ha Ha that's funny :rotfl:, I just replied to a thread this morning saying a bad ass starter would also turn on the heated seats and the rear defroster. So this does exist already, cool!!!
 

mrphoenix80

Member
Jan 1, 2013
251
Gm sells this remote start for most new trucks and cars as an accessory add on. You have to check your RPO's and see if it is ready (AP8 or AP3 one is ready and the other is installed can't remember which is which). The install is not hard just a reprogram to activate it and 2 new fobs. No cuting and no splicing!:yes: Too Bad the Envoys and T/Bs are to old a platform for this:mad:
 

gmcman

Member
Dec 12, 2011
4,663
mrphoenix80 said:
0 MPH = 0 MPG So for all the time you spend at idle you are burning fuel that is not moving you down the road.:biggrin:

Bingo


How many times do you remote start the engine per fillup? How long does it run? After this past week I'm really serious about getting one.
 

sawicksted

Member
Dec 7, 2011
366
gmcman said:
Bingo


How many times do you remote start the engine per fillup? How long does it run? After this past week I'm really serious about getting one.

It has been -30C every day for the last 2 weeks here....MPG never mind that......Warm butt - priceless!!!:biggrin:
 
Dec 4, 2011
520
I wouldn't be without my remote start. We get many days of -30 C so although I don't believe in letting it warm up for a long time, it is good to let it run for 5-10 min just to get the synthetic oil flowing and warmed.

My seat heater needs to be started manually so for Christmas I got an electric Milwaukee Jacket. The jacket keeps me warm on my way to the truck. Ahh what a decadent age we live in. :rotfl:

M12 :crazy: :thumbsup:
 

willn513

Original poster
Member
Dec 4, 2011
918
RedEnvoyDenali said:
for Christmas I got an electric Milwaukee Jacket. The jacket keeps me warm on my way to the truck. Ahh what a decadent age we live in. :rotfl:

M12 :crazy: :thumbsup:

Awesome. Pure awesome.
 

tblazerdude

Member
Dec 4, 2011
321
hockeyman said:
Same with me. Although, I'm getting about 10-11 mpg's during this winter! :mad:

Once the warmer weather comes around, I'm going to replace both Oxygen Sensors. In the past few months, I removed and thoroughly cleaned the Throttle Body, installed new spark plugs, new the fuel filter, new air filter, seafoamed the intake, and changed all fluids (except the coolant). I've also been running all 4 of my tires at 33 psi.

hockey man why did you choose 33 psi? you wont see any mpg gain @33psi. Try 41.5 in the front and 38.5 in the rear. That's what I run. of course, check your side wall to make sure this is appropriate. After replacing my O2 sensors (use AC delco) I saw a gain of around 1 mpg.
 

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