Hey i got a 05 xfire coupe

Does using the heated seats lower your gas mileage? And also, is it true that if you wash your car too much that the paint will fade?

 

Yep To Both.

Don't Ever Use The Heated Seats And Don't Ever Wash That Beautiful Car, The Paint Will Fall Off.

Duh.

 

if this is a concern buy a prius.

 

I have had a lot of vehicles over the past 14 years of my driving career, and I have only seen the paint fade while washing with hard water (including lots of minerals such as calcium) or when I cleaned it by hand using cloths or chamois. Over the last few years only use soft water and rarely use soaps. I'm no specialist or anything, but normal usage means that dust will settle on painted surfaces and probably reside there & over the years it looks faded. Here in Canada, we don't have the heat that some others get in the southern USA, but direct sun contact will obviously harm your paint the most.

As for the heated seats - it takes energy to transfer power from the engine to alternator to heated seats, so it definitely will have some effect on your fuel economy. I don't think that it will make a real noticeable difference though if you only use it now and then. I used my heated seats along with the fan for heat and noticed about 2 m/g difference compared to the warmer weather recently.

 

thanks pipes. My water here is very rough and could use a water softener but my dad won't get one. So do u think i'd be better off just getting it washed at one of those automatic washes or using the hard water here?

 

Heated Seats...Every time you turn on an electrical device in a vehicle it has an effect on gas consumption enen though it may be miniscule. The more electricity you use the harder it is to spin the aternator due to an increase in magnetic flux density. I have heard headlights can reduce gas economy by about 1% (if on all the time), but that is only about .25 miles/gallon and the headlights draw a lot of current. Remember the heated seats switch to low after 5 minutes so I doubt you could even measure a difference in MPG.

Hard water / Paint Fading ... It won't fade the paint but could leave a film on it causing it to look faded. If you dry the car after you wash it or use the "Mr Clean Autodry" system it should not concern you. The auto car-wash will do a lot more harm than hard water.

Regards
Rich Magnanti

 

don't come in here and start calling people a-holes or your *** will get roasted quick, have some respect. we don't need people like that in this forum. are you really 55?

 

I am amazed that people think that there are dumb questions. If you dont know always ask. In terms of being roasted, everyone needs to demonstrate a little more tolerence and respect for others.
As to washing the car..... dont use detergents.

 

both concerns are absurd. wash your car, use your heated seats, you paid good money to do both so do them without crapping yourself.

as for the hard water concern, if you dry your car you don't need to worry about hard water, if you love to let the water bead and dry in the sun then you're not the sharpest tool in the shed anyways so water spots are well deserved...in short, dry your car, use your heated seats, kill all those stupid RSX's that try to race you! is it just me or does every god dam RSX in the world want to give us a go....i've killed at least 12 since i've gotten the car.

 

I use them all the time, they are fantastic. Not noticed any difference in fuel economy with them on / off, but then again I didn't but the car for fuel economy so I don't pay attention to it!

 

More fuel use with heated seats??? Are you serious???

Most people don't realize how bad water effects their lives!

Hard water costs alot more than you know, it ruins pipes and fixtures appliances, in your home, clothing and we have to buy products to use like fabric softeners and hair conditioners, ody lotions, better soaps or more soaps. Not to mention health reasons chlorine is bad for your health. Ask your water supplier for their annual water report you'll be surprised at what's in it.

As for hard water ruining paint that's a Big yes depending on how hard over 5-7 grains per is considered hard if you have 2x or 3x that per that's bad! What it does to the towels or chamois you dry with is bad because the hard fine grit sticks in those fibers and scratch the paint like fine sandpaper do you see the fine lines on your paint job that's the hardness left on the drying cloth you use! To avoid the hard water get a softener or water system for your home! The best in the USA is Hague water systems. Guaranteed 25 years! Only sold by Hague dealers. Cleans water and removes all chlorine and other contaminates and hardness. They have over 8 patents on their system.

 

Dan,

Yes...more fuel with heated seats. It may be 2 drops every 5 minutes but it is more! When you turn on the lights in your house does it increase your electricity bill? There is no such thing as a free lunch or free electricity.

Do you sell, or are you a shareholder of the water softener company?

Regards
Rich M

 

if one is truly that concerned over the small loss of gas using your heated seats...the crossfire is not for you...period.

it's time to go buy a hybrid or ride your bike.

 

I don't care about the small loss of gas. The original post in the thread asked a question. I posted an answer.

 

You guys are great. This forum makes me feel like I'm at home with my family having lengthy discussions that go nowhere fast.

Viper2ko - I definitely have hard water and I've used the Mr. Clean system. It which works wonderfully except that the filter fills up after only one washing when using water from my well due to impurities in the water. In case you go to your local auto wash - don't use the brush type or it will obviously scratch your paint.

 

Every time I take the car out, I put on the fog lights. I think the car looks better with them on than not and I'm sure that uses up more energy than the seat heat does. It wouldn't be any more than if you "raced off" from a traffic light instead of pulling away normally. I'm sure that the seat heat and fuel economy isn't an issue with these cars.
We have hard water at our house too. I wash my car at home and make sure not to do it if the sun is hot and I dry it off right away and it's fine. I DO keep it in the garage when I'm not out and that saves the paint the most. The car is so small (I'm used to washing a semi-motorhome with stacking race car trailer) that it's not a big deal to wax it now and then with liquid wax. That will save your paint too. The Chrysler salesman said to wash the car with soap and water and nothing harsh because it doesn't need it. He said the clear coat is so good, that if you wash it often, you don't even need to wax it. I do anyway.
Have fun with your Crossfire, don't sweat the small stuff!

 

NO but the more people know, the less they wonder YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hard water is bad for everything you use water on have a FREE water test, then call Hague you'll be happy you did!

You can't afford not TOOOOO!!!!! If your water is harder than 7 grains per. if 15 or more a must!!!!!

 

If your water is that bad you should have at least a free Hague WATER test if they're is a dealer near you! Remember how many things water touches and you'll understand!

 

GEEZ! Hague, Hague, Hague!!! I think we know YYYYYYYYYY! Thanks Dan

We have an ozone water system that takes impurities out of the water here, but doesn't make it softer. I just can't bring myself to deal with those huge bags of salt again. Been there, done that!