Prius Engine HP upgrades

JBJAG · 11-11-2005, 07:07 PM

Well I'm a newbie - with a brand new 2005 Silver Pkg 6 Prius in my driveway -

6 miles on the odometer - I was skeptical at first...... took a test drive and was immediaetly sold on the little beauty.

The things bloody amazing !! (and yes I am English)

Anway whilst browsing the Ebay offerings of Prius accessories I came accross numerous performance enhancers suposedly promising even more horsepower or even better fuel ecomomy MPG -

has anyone tried any of these gizmos ? and do they work ?

here are a few links to the various ebay pages - you'll need to copy and paste the entire link to check out the auctions -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

oh and one last question - I'd like to move up to fully synthetic oil - can I do that immediately before I put any miles on the engine - or should I break the car in for 500 miles first ?

cheers all

James

Bill Lumbergh · 11-11-2005, 07:24 PM

Some details regarding the items you linked to.....

The first attempts to coax the incoming air to swirl, which is supposed to improve its density. Once the air has passed over the throttle plate it wil no longer be swirling, and even less so once it has dispersed into the intake manifold runners. If the vortex generator is installed immediately prior to the airflow meter (on vehicles equipped with one), the possibility of poor performance exists due to the turbulence created. Airflow meters rely on smooth airflow over the hotwire, which is why they often include an air horn.

Have you ever seen the factory install one of these? There's a reason why they don't.

The second item is even more hack. It adds ressitance to the intake air temperature sensor (on vehicles equipped with one), which causes the ECU to think the incoming air is colder than it actually is. This causes the engine to inject more fuel. Not only would this likely trip and engine fault for excessive fuel richness, but it would probably reduce mileage and performance.

About the only thing I've considered for my Prius is a K&N filter to reduce engine pumping losses through the restrictive paper filter.

Lastly, give your engine about a thousand miles to break in fully. I waited about 6000 until I did it on mine.

JBJAG · 11-11-2005, 07:31 PM

Thanx for the heads up -

where did you get your K&N air filter from - I can't seem to find one for a Prius ?

cheers

James

tripp · 11-11-2005, 07:43 PM

James,

Congrats on the new car. Very cool. If you're looking to squeak out some more MPG the cheapest way is to increase your tyre pressure a bit. There's quite a bit of info on that around here. Just try searching on it.

Bill Lumbergh · 11-12-2005, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JBJAG@Nov 11 2005, 08:31 PM
Thanx for the heads up -

where did you get your K&N air filter from - I can't seem to find one for a Prius ?

cheers

James

[snapback]154365[/snapback]

I have yet to find a K&N filter........it just happens to be the one mod I seriously considered.

ceric · 11-12-2005, 05:24 AM

Intake and exhaust are always the starting points to enhance horse power. Best bang for buck. Engine breathing has been blocked by design for tranquility. Unblock the breathing as much as you feel comfortable, 5-10% hp increase could be achieved.
There is no K&N air filter for Prius yet.

jamarimutt · 11-12-2005, 06:14 AM

The use of dyno vs. syth oil has been discussed extensively in this forum, and no one has been able to show convincingly that the latter would offer any advantage in the Prius engine, which redlines at 5000 rpm (when the computer decides that it should), produces 76 hp, and never overheats, because in a traffic jam it's off most of the time. The advantage of synthetic oil for the Prius engine is psychological... you want the "best" for your new car because you treat it as if it were a loved one (the advertisers know it).

habel · 11-12-2005, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamarimutt@Nov 12 2005, 01:14 PM
The use of dyno vs. syth oil has been discussed extensively in this forum, and no one has been able to show convincingly that the latter would offer any advantage in the Prius engine, which redlines at 5000 rpm (when the computer decides that it should), produces 76 hp, and never overheats, because in a traffic jam it's off most of the time. The advantage of synthetic oil for the Prius engine is psychological... you want the "best" for your new car because you treat it as if it were a loved one (the advertisers know it).

[snapback]154542[/snapback]

While that may be true in many places - in COLD areas it makes a significant difference. Normal oils just turns into slow moving "syrup" until the engine reaches it's normal running temp. In these conditions synth. oils will definately reduce engine wear and -resistance.

Henrik

DHonzik · 11-12-2005, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JBJAG@Nov 11 2005, 06:07 PM
Anway whilst browsing the Ebay offerings of Prius accessories I came accross numerous performance enhancers suposedly promising even more horsepower or even better fuel ecomomy MPG -

has anyone tried any of these gizmos ? and do they work ?

[snapback]154350[/snapback]

No....No, they don't work.....the EPA has tested many different types of gas saving devices like the one on EBay...see for yourself

Gas Saving and Emission Reduction Devices Evaluation

Gas Saving Device: They Still Don't Work

"Gas-Saving" Products: Fact or Fuelishness?

Quote:

Originally posted by JBJAG@Nov 11 2005, 06:07 PM
oh and one last question - I'd like to move up to fully synthetic oil - can I do that immediately before I put any miles on the engine - or should I break the car in for 500 miles first ?

cheers all

James

[snapback]154350[/snapback]

It should be alright to switch over now....since some cars already come with synthetic oil from the get go... I recommend AMSOIL 0W-30 with Mobil 1 5W-30 as my second choice.

windstrings · 11-12-2005, 09:37 AM

I agree.. almost everything that really works is quickly adopted by the manufacturers... unless its over several hundred dollars...
My mechanic who works on airplanes, racecars, boats , you name it.. has tried those and also denys thier help..
The only people I have ever seen sware by them of the ones selling them and those who also did many other improvements at the same time so they were unable to pinpoint what really improved thier performance and gas mileage because they didn't do one at a time and then test.
I also see those funky little electronic capacitors or whatever they are you attach to the 12V side thats supposed to improve gas mileage...thats really funny since the car doesn't even run off of 12V!

11-11-2005, 07:07 PM	#1
JBJAG Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Santa Clarita, CA Posts: 35 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Well I'm a newbie - with a brand new 2005 Silver Pkg 6 Prius in my driveway - 6 miles on the odometer - I was skeptical at first...... took a test drive and was immediaetly sold on the little beauty. The things bloody amazing !! (and yes I am English) Anway whilst browsing the Ebay offerings of Prius accessories I came accross numerous performance enhancers suposedly promising even more horsepower or even better fuel ecomomy MPG - has anyone tried any of these gizmos ? and do they work ? here are a few links to the various ebay pages - you'll need to copy and paste the entire link to check out the auctions - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT oh and one last question - I'd like to move up to fully synthetic oil - can I do that immediately before I put any miles on the engine - or should I break the car in for 500 miles first ? cheers all James __________________ 2005 Prius - Pkg 7 - Silver 2004 Mitsubishi Montero Limited - Pewter 1995 Jaguar XJS 6.0L V12 Convertible - Red Mica 1974 Jensen Healey - BRG

11-11-2005, 07:24 PM	#2
Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The 09836 area Posts: 533 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 1	Some details regarding the items you linked to..... The first attempts to coax the incoming air to swirl, which is supposed to improve its density. Once the air has passed over the throttle plate it wil no longer be swirling, and even less so once it has dispersed into the intake manifold runners. If the vortex generator is installed immediately prior to the airflow meter (on vehicles equipped with one), the possibility of poor performance exists due to the turbulence created. Airflow meters rely on smooth airflow over the hotwire, which is why they often include an air horn. Have you ever seen the factory install one of these? There's a reason why they don't. The second item is even more hack. It adds ressitance to the intake air temperature sensor (on vehicles equipped with one), which causes the ECU to think the incoming air is colder than it actually is. This causes the engine to inject more fuel. Not only would this likely trip and engine fault for excessive fuel richness, but it would probably reduce mileage and performance. About the only thing I've considered for my Prius is a K&N filter to reduce engine pumping losses through the restrictive paper filter. Lastly, give your engine about a thousand miles to break in fully. I waited about 6000 until I did it on mine. __________________

11-12-2005, 09:37 AM	#10
windstrings Certified Prius Breeder Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 5,288 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 2 Thanked 79 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 4	I agree.. almost everything that really works is quickly adopted by the manufacturers... unless its over several hundred dollars... My mechanic who works on airplanes, racecars, boats , you name it.. has tried those and also denys thier help.. The only people I have ever seen sware by them of the ones selling them and those who also did many other improvements at the same time so they were unable to pinpoint what really improved thier performance and gas mileage because they didn't do one at a time and then test. I also see those funky little electronic capacitors or whatever they are you attach to the 12V side thats supposed to improve gas mileage...thats really funny since the car doesn't even run off of 12V! __________________ Alan ________________________ 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic IV with Bisque leather...."My Blue Baby" And my "other" cars...... 2006 Barcelona Red Prius Pkg #8 with Bisque leather.... Yea Baby, Yea! "The Hot Tamale" 2006 Silver Pine Mica Pkg#8 with Bisque leather.... "The Mint Julip" 2006 Mods so far: 1. Coastal EV switch 2. BT stiffening Plate 3.Zaino "the works" 4. Heat Shield "from Canvas Works" 5. Magnetic Oil plugs - Yes they work and you want them! 6. Speed sensor now switched!

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11-11-2005, 07:31 PM	#3
JBJAG Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Santa Clarita, CA Posts: 35 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Thanx for the heads up - where did you get your K&N air filter from - I can't seem to find one for a Prius ? cheers James

11-11-2005, 07:43 PM	#4
tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,323 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 6	James, Congrats on the new car. Very cool. If you're looking to squeak out some more MPG the cheapest way is to increase your tyre pressure a bit. There's quite a bit of info on that around here. Just try searching on it.

11-12-2005, 05:24 AM	#6
ceric Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 1,040 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 0	Intake and exhaust are always the starting points to enhance horse power. Best bang for buck. Engine breathing has been blocked by design for tranquility. Unblock the breathing as much as you feel comfortable, 5-10% hp increase could be achieved. There is no K&N air filter for Prius yet.

11-12-2005, 06:14 AM	#7
jamarimutt Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 986 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	The use of dyno vs. syth oil has been discussed extensively in this forum, and no one has been able to show convincingly that the latter would offer any advantage in the Prius engine, which redlines at 5000 rpm (when the computer decides that it should), produces 76 hp, and never overheats, because in a traffic jam it's off most of the time. The advantage of synthetic oil for the Prius engine is psychological... you want the "best" for your new car because you treat it as if it were a loved one (the advertisers know it).