If the engine would be on the passenger seat, it would make only a small difference. Mainly make me warm a little bit faster. The total heat delivered by the engine for a given amount of gas will be the same. A stove is within a shell, not outside like a car engine. If you would not turn on the car blower, the engine will heat the outside air, not the passenger cabin.
It is really not rocket science. Any energy not going up the flue will end up in your home. It does not disappear. A blower will make you feel warmer faster but the total heat delivered over the burn will be the same as long as efficiency is not affected.
The engine may not be on the passenger seat but the heater core is in the cabin area.
Think of the hot water passing through the heater core. Same idea as the heat from a wood fire passing through to the flue.
I don't understand why some will not concur that the heating efficiency of a wood stove will be higher with fans on.
I hardly ever use my fans because I don't like to hear them. That said when it gets below 10f I do run them at times and they heat my house up to a warmer temp all else being equal compared to them being off.
Why do you think computers have fans..to dissipate heat,plain and simple.