ptjones

Driven both cars I don't think there is more than 2mpg actual difference in FE and probably less on the HYW. In City driving the CMAX may get better MPG's. IMO :) Paul

This is Great, I know what you mean driving my wife's Explorer I just can't stop Hypermiling. LOL I think I have talked to 15 dealers and all they are interested in is selling cars, not learning much about them to help customers out. They apparently feel it's FORD's job to tell customers what to do. ;) Paul

hybridbear, Thanks for the input and you've got me thinking that an oil pan heater might be useful on the HVB to keep it warm as well as the ICE. I wonder what is the optimum operating temp. for HVB? :) Paul

My wife has the Explorer with the ECO boost 2L 4cylinder and have managed to close to 30mpg with on FWY. :) Paul

I looked up spec. for CMAX and FFH height 63.9"/58.2" and width 72"/72.9" and lenght173.6"/191.8". FFH weighs 15lbs more. So CMAX is 5.7" taller and pushing more air. :) Paul

I don't hate you, I was in Phoenix a week and an half ago. Ever noticed during the winter when it's harm in the Southwest, It's Cold in the East. LOL :drop: :) Paul

Highs in the 30's today, our friends to the north keep sending their cold weather down here. I keep telling them we don't need it, but apparently they think we do. LOL Tomorrow 56* Rain Monday down to 9* snow Yuck! Burr! What can you do. LOL Time to install oil pan heater. :) Paul

Why didn't insurance cover it? Sorry to see you go, but 4WD is nice in snow country. :) Paul

I just got one from FORD but it's to cold to install yet unless I use my wife's hair dryer. LOL :) Paul

I thought I read somewhere that the new transmission was from the Energi? :) Paul

Jus we should be thanking you for testing the grill covers to the limit (geting the over heating message and then what to do). Now we know thanks to you. LOL No harm and the CMAX goes on. :yahoo: Paul

It would be nice if someone made aero solid light weight wheels so you wouldn't have to make wheel covers. :) Paul

I spent the afternoon running errands about 50mi OT 37*F and averaged about 48mpg going 35-55mph with the whole front of car taped up. Top temp was 215*F at 55mph after an half an hour and turned heater on to drop to 210*F. Max intake air temp about 90*F. :) Paul

Did you try covering your grills yet?

Today tested the cooling system by driving 50mi out and then back on Fwy 50 to 70mph. I started with the whole front end and hood taped up, no air leaks, OT 49*F. It took 25mi to get to 200*F and kept climbing to 230*F up hill and 220*F down hill. Turned heater on and lost 15*F to start and then settled on 5*F. On the the way back I took tape off hood and head lights. This made no noticeable difference in temps. Next I took tape off top grill and saw a 5*F drop in temp. So with both center and bottom grills taped off temps were 215*-225*F after 25mi with 50*F OT on the Fwy. Paul

I would cover the hood too. Can you use the power off the panel while your driving? Cost maybe offset by convenience of having a cool car during the summer. Paul

Didn't someone say the CVT was the same that is in the Energi? So It should have the same MPG as Energi in Hybrid Mode? :) Paul

I inadvertently got similar results when a piece of magnetic tape came off between the hatch and turn signal light and ended up on bumper instead of blowing away. :) Paul

I don't think anyone has gotten more than 1mpg, I think I got about one MPG. :) Paul

Grill Covers = 2 to 4mpg better. :) EV percentage in general goes down as your speed goes up. that why city MPG is better than HWY :) Paul

Personally IMO I can't see how they can get more than one mile per gallon with new improvements. The improvements we have been doing are a lot more than the slight changes they say their doing. :) Paul

I backed into my daughters freestyle when when the car was pretty new and scratched it up. Figured I'd fix it while the car was being worked on. One of the problems of the backup camera is it is hard to see dark objects at night. :) BTW last night I covered the hole front end of MadMax with carpet tape to seal up any air leaks which helped, but didn't solve cool temps. problem. Only made it to 192degrees on Fwy 8mi. speeds up to 80mph and no heater. OT was 38degrees going and 33degrees coming back, may put oil pan heater on to insulate oil pan. You can't do very good job of putting on carpet tape by yourself, it would take at least 2 or 3 people to do good job. My wife was embarrassed to go in the car last night. LOL :) Paul

The gang is back together. :yahoo: It was mainly replacing parts and painting. I have more pics of the individual pieces and I ordered the Helm CMAX CD shop manual. Going home to my warm garage to put carpet tape over the front of MadMax to seal up all the air leaks.LOL Center Grill Cover is bent up some from collision with deer. Ouch! It still takes a long time for ICE to warm up. :) Thanks and yes it is SARIS three holder bike rack :) Paul

Finally got MadMax back from the body shop after 6 long weeks! Would never know a buck bounced off the front of the car wrapping itself around the front fender. Fortunately I didn't have the physical problems Jus had with his accident and am happy he and Maxine have reunited to ring in the New Year together! Here are photos before, during and after for those who wonder what a C-Max looks like torn apart: Total cost including rental car exceeded $7,500! So far so good...car drives fine and getting good fuel mileage. It would appear that they did not disconnect the battery but they did ruin my fuel mileage from about 45mpg down to 34.4mpg :rant:! I have managed to get it back up to 40.6mpg so I expect to finish out 44-45mpg on this tank. I reinstalled the old covers while I work on a new improved design. Happy New Year! I've really enjoyed participating on this Forum and the camaraderie we all share here. Here's to more excitement and information in 2014 :rockon: Paul