Temps, grill blocking and when and which to remove

[Frank Hudon]

well had the wife's Prius out today and with the temps in the low 70's and the whole thing blocked off I decided to try what I believe to be the sequence for removal of the blocks. Driving around had the ICE and the thermos both in the 95 97C range so pulled over and took out the upper blocks and for the rest on the drive, about an hour in mixed traffic had the temps of both the ICE and the thermos in the 85-87 range which is where the thermostat starts to open. So will leave the lower grill blocked till the ICE temps get into the low 90's. As the inverter section of the rad has the openings in the belly pan if it gets to hot just unblocking the upper is sufficent to keep the temps in the normal range. If the temps spike up I might consider taking out the lower block but at this time all looks normal. And I did one good hill with the uppers out and the temps never exceded 87C

[coonbutt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 6 2007, 07:57 PM) [snapback]419114[/snapback]</div>

well had the wife's Prius out today and with the temps in the low 70's and the whole thing blocked off I decided to try what I believe to be the sequence for removal of the blocks. Driving around had the ICE and the thermos both in the 95 97C range so pulled over and took out the upper blocks and for the rest on the drive, about an hour in mixed traffic had the temps of both the ICE and the thermos in the 85-87 range which is where the thermostat starts to open. So will leave the lower grill blocked till the ICE temps get into the low 90's. As the inverter section of the rad has the openings in the belly pan if it gets to hot just unblocking the upper is sufficent to keep the temps in the normal range. If the temps spike up I might consider taking out the lower block but at this time all looks normal. And I did one good hill with the uppers out and the temps never exceded 87C
[/b]

This is good information to know, thanks! I bet that you can keep at least one strip in all year long. If cars can drive uphill in Death Valley at 120F, they can do ok with a strip or two of insolation under less severe conditions you would think

[Tideland Prius]

So you take the top out first before the bottom???? huh? I thought the bottom comes out first.

[Frank Hudon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 6 2007, 10:28 PM) [snapback]419230[/snapback]</div>

So you take the top out first before the bottom???? huh? I thought the bottom comes out first.
[/b]

if figured that out this winter when I couldn't get the temps up to more than about 67-72C by not having the upper's blocked, as soon as I blocked the uppers the temps were in the mid 80's all the time and the mileage went up almost 1 liter per hundred. So I'm saying bottom in first in the fall then the tops and then come spring tops out first followed by the bottom.

[FireEngineer]

If I may add my recent experience, driving to/from New England.

4/4 Full block speeds 50-65 MPH, outside temp 32F, terrain mostly flat at first, engine temps 196F-202F, rising with speed.
Start mountain driving through PA, temp 42F, climbing and falling road terrain, speed 55-70MPH, engine temps average 200F, max at 206F.
Stop for gas, remove 1 block on lower grill, back to same conditions above, temps down about 10 degrees F.

Coming back was a full block, even in very windy and snowy conditions the temps stayed up with the full block, only rising to the highest on long ascents.

So upper or lower seems to be good for about 10 degrees F.

Wayne

[joe350gt]

How can you find out those engine coolant temps? I wish the Prius had a temp gauge built in,(also a compass would be nice!) instead of the stupid snowflake when it's below 37 degrees. Do you guys have some sort of 3rd party device that gives you temp info?

Thanks in advance for the knowledge update,

Joe

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FireEngineer @ Apr 9 2007, 10:24 AM) [snapback]420260[/snapback]</div>

If I may add my recent experience, driving to/from New England.

4/4 Full block speeds 50-65 MPH, outside temp 32F, terrain mostly flat at first, engine temps 196F-202F, rising with speed.
Start mountain driving through PA, temp 42F, climbing and falling road terrain, speed 55-70MPH, engine temps average 200F, max at 206F.
Stop for gas, remove 1 block on lower grill, back to same conditions above, temps down about 10 degrees F.

Coming back was a full block, even in very windy and snowy conditions the temps stayed up with the full block, only rising to the highest on long ascents.

So upper or lower seems to be good for about 10 degrees F.

Wayne
[/b]

[sharkmeister]

Does any of this void the warranty? Also, does Toyota have anything to say about it like "interesting" or "don't do it"?

Also, since you guys are into maxing out the mileage, anyone have an opinion on acetone? I personally believe that some of the good results people have gotten are due to dissolving fuel lines and burning them as fuel. I acknowledge I could be wrong.

Apologies if I'm being a troll or making like Moriarty with the negative vibrations.

[JimboK]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(joe350gt @ Apr 9 2007, 09:00 PM) [snapback]420515[/snapback]</div>

Do you guys have some sort of 3rd party device that gives you temp info? [/b]

Many of us have a ScanGauge.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sharkmeister @ Apr 9 2007, 09:35 PM) [snapback]420529[/snapback]</div>

Does any of this void the warranty? Also, does Toyota have anything to say about it like "interesting" or "don't do it"?

Also, since you guys are into maxing out the mileage, anyone have an opinion on acetone? [/b]

I haven't asked Toyota, but if it doesn't harm the car it shouldn't affect the warranty.

I can't tell you a thing about acetone.

[Frank Hudon]

I use CAN-view on the 2k4 and I use the Mini Scanner on the 2k3 and monitor the temps of the ICE and the MG's and the Inverter for the MG's. Also Toyota doesn't comment on anything we do with the car. Have a look at the thread on the fuel tank dissection and then decide if you want to pour acetone on the liner and chance damageing it.

[JimN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sharkmeister @ Apr 9 2007, 08:35 PM) [snapback]420529[/snapback]</div>

Apologies if I'm being a troll or making like Moriarty with the negative vibrations.
[/b]

No need to apologize. Many of us are trying to decide how far to push the envelope and everyone's experiences are helpful.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(joe350gt @ Apr 9 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]420515[/snapback]</div>

How can you find out those engine coolant temps? I wish the Prius had a temp gauge built in,(also a compass would be nice!) instead of the stupid snowflake when it's below 37 degrees. Do you guys have some sort of 3rd party device that gives you temp info?

Thanks in advance for the knowledge update,

Joe
[/b]

A GPS unit is more useful and takes up as much space as a compass.