BMW: heat is goot!

[RACER X]

According to BMW's research, starting and running a vehicle's engine while cold is not only tough on internal components, it's also tough on your wallet. BMW says that during the first 20 minutes of driving, a cold-started engine requires 10% more fuel to operate than a warm-started engine because of higher internal friction and oil viscosity. Further, the automaker claims that every single degree Celsius that the engine is warmed prior to being started results in a 0.2% fuel economy savings (again, during the first 20 minutes of driving).

Why is this? Two-thirds of the energy from fuel becomes heat, and it takes a lot of heat to get a vehicle up to proper operating temperature. In fact, BMW says that the amount of energy required to warm up a cold engine to normal temperature is equivalent to 8kW - that's about one-third of the daily energy required by a two-person household. BMW's solution? Eliminate cold starts.

Using thermal padding around the engine compartment, a lift-up hatch that seals in heat above the engine cover, and air flaps behind the front grille that open when driving and shut closed when the vehicle is turned off, BMW says it can retain a large amount of the heat the engine has generated while running, keeping the engine warm for the next time it is started. BMW claims that overheating is not an issue with the extra insulation - in fact, components that once needed extra cooling are now separated by the engine's heat by the insulation, staying at optimal temperature in the process.

How effective is the technology? BMW's tests show that an engine running at 176 degrees Fahrenheit will retain a temperature of roughly 104 degrees after 12 hours of inactivity, versus a complete return to ambient temperature without insulation. Further studies show that BMW drivers rarely park their cars for more than 16 hours at a time, leading engineers to believe that the technology could be highly useful in practical, real-world applications.

BMW says that this technology is close to being production-ready, needing only minor tweaking to provide greater engine access for mechanics while vehicles are being serviced.

Source: BMW