Reduce Your Electrical Load, Save Gas

[GasSavers_JoeBob]

Originally Posted by spotaneagle

it depends on the car, and the type of paint used on the car, keep in mind a lincoln has alot more air in it to heat, and material than a 2300 lb plastic car, cold tends to keep steel cold no matter what climate you are in, alot more steel tends to stay alot colder, plus the amount of sunlight that hits your interior thats darks, plus alot more door area to seal, I guarantee my car is alot more air tight than your lincoln, Refute that

Your car may be more airtight...I have no way of knowing. I know that I didn't hear much wind noise when the windows were up, and that all the weatherstripping is still in good condition, so I figure it is probably just about as airtight as it ever has been.

[thecheese429]

Originally Posted by theholycow

I can't speak for Jay, but I used to be in the roofing business. On a New England summer day it's possible to cook your lunch by placing it on the roof mid-morning....

Here in Texas (north TX, none the less) we can do that on a concrete sidewalk!

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by thecheese429

Here in Texas (north TX, none the less) we can do that on a concrete sidewalk!

As mentioned earlier, I do not doubt that the roof of a parked vehicle will get hot. What I am saying is when outside temps are low enough to need heat (IE under 60 degrees), that any heating the roof may recieve from the sun would be cancelled out by the 55 MPH (or more) wind going over the roof. A moving vehicle cannot be effectively heated in cold weather by simply painting the roof dark.

[JanGeo]

Most of us working commuting stiffs leave for work early in the morning and drive home in the dark so the solar heating effect is NILL. What part of the world do you live in spotaneagle? Put a good radiator block on your car and you can have plenty of heat in 10 F temperatures plus keep the tranny and front differential nice and warm.

[thecheese429]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

As mentioned earlier, I do not doubt that the roof of a parked vehicle will get hot. What I am saying is when outside temps are low enough to need heat (IE under 60 degrees), that any heating the roof may recieve from the sun would be cancelled out by the 55 MPH (or more) wind going over the roof. A moving vehicle cannot be effectively heated in cold weather by simply painting the roof dark.

I didn't mean anything about actual MPG or temp. change when driving. Here in the south in the summer if a car is completely closed it will easily go above 100F. So, in theory, one could paint the roof WHITE and not use the AC. The back of my truck, even if closed up completely in the summer, doesn't really get that warm at all. I would assume that it has something to do with it being fibreglass, but I also believe it has to do with the white colour. With a sniveling underpowered 4 banger like mine, a VERY noticeable drop in power comes from using the AC (which is why I don't really use it)