First Morning with a Blocked Grill

[Skwyre7]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Jan 13 2007, 11:17 AM) [snapback]375139[/snapback]</div>

I'll answer for him, since we're both in Central VA. It was in the low 40s.
[/b]

Thanks, Jim.

[Rangerdavid]

Had a chance to install the insulation in my grill this afternoon, finally!! I used the "Schaefer Method" and it really looks fine!! Actually, unless you are really looking for it, you dont even notice it in the upper grill. The lower grill it is more visible, but doesn't look bad at all, even on the silver pine mica. We're getting a cold front moving in Monday, with teens and single digits and snow, so I'll have a chance to see how it goes from there....

Thanks everyone for all the help........

[Tideland Prius]

I've added it to the grille. I probably won't add it to the air dam since it can easily get to 10°C durning winter here on the west coast as per the doc's safety suggestion.

[DaveinOlyWA]

well after consistantly averaging 50-51 mpg. my last two tanks are suffering from insufferably cold weather. it just amazes me how much it takes to keep the car warm.

i took off from work yesterday, OAT 21 ºF. i drove about 5 mins before i had to run the defrost for a minute to clear the windows. by then water temp was around 140.

turn it off, drive another 5 mins. water temp is at 175º. not where i want it to be, but not bad. i ran the defrost for about 20 sec then went to split defrost heat. in about 4mins. it dropped my water temp to 155º!!

i turned off the defrost, waited until water temp got back to 175º turned split defrost/heat again. this time it took 5 mins but water temp again dropped to 155º

i began to realize that in colder climates, the gas mileage would really plummet if you like a warm car. so i let it heat up to 175º thinking my driving patterns were causing the fluctuations and left it on. pulled into my driveway at 143º...

realize, my average speeds were 25-40 mph...so no freeway. but amazing how much the heater affects the water temps...

obtw... current mileage after much colder than normal temps. 48.7 down from 51 mpg 4 days ago.

[dmckinstry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Jan 13 2007, 06:48 PM) [snapback]375339[/snapback]</div>

well after consistantly averaging 50-51 mpg. my last two tanks are suffering from insufferably cold weather. it just amazes me how much it takes to keep the car warm.

i took off from work yesterday, OAT 21 ºF. i drove about 5 mins before i had to run the defrost for a minute to clear the windows. by then water temp was around 140.

turn it off, drive another 5 mins. water temp is at 175º. not where i want it to be, but not bad. i ran the defrost for about 20 sec then went to split defrost heat. in about 4mins. it dropped my water temp to 155º!!

i turned off the defrost, waited until water temp got back to 175º turned split defrost/heat again. this time it took 5 mins but water temp again dropped to 155º

i began to realize that in colder climates, the gas mileage would really plummet if you like a warm car. so i let it heat up to 175º thinking my driving patterns were causing the fluctuations and left it on. pulled into my driveway at 143º...

realize, my average speeds were 25-40 mph...so no freeway. but amazing how much the heater affects the water temps...

obtw... current mileage after much colder than normal temps. 48.7 down from 51 mpg 4 days ago.
[/b]

The trouble in Eastern Washington is that at our current temperatures, even if the car is left cold, one has to turn on the defroster every 2-3 minutes to keep up visibility.

It's 4 F right now (probably got up to 13-14 F today, and the temperature is dropping. My mileage at this last fillup was below 44 mpg. However in the 10 miles from the gas station to home, the mileage was 68. Car already warmed up by a round trip to Spokane, and didn't go over 40 mph on the way home.

Dave M.

[Frank Hudon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Jan 13 2007, 06:48 PM) [snapback]375339[/snapback]</div>

well after consistantly averaging 50-51 mpg. my last two tanks are suffering from insufferably cold weather. it just amazes me how much it takes to keep the car warm.

i took off from work yesterday, OAT 21 ºF. i drove about 5 mins before i had to run the defrost for a minute to clear the windows. by then water temp was around 140.

turn it off, drive another 5 mins. water temp is at 175º. not where i want it to be, but not bad. i ran the defrost for about 20 sec then went to split defrost heat. in about 4mins. it dropped my water temp to 155º!!

i turned off the defrost, waited until water temp got back to 175º turned split defrost/heat again. this time it took 5 mins but water temp again dropped to 155º

i began to realize that in colder climates, the gas mileage would really plummet if you like a warm car. so i let it heat up to 175º thinking my driving patterns were causing the fluctuations and left it on. pulled into my driveway at 143º...

realize, my average speeds were 25-40 mph...so no freeway. but amazing how much the heater affects the water temps...

obtw... current mileage after much colder than normal temps. 48.7 down from 51 mpg 4 days ago.
[/b]

cold blooded little sucker isn't it. I'd hate to be Jayman as he's out to the hobby farm in -35 weather. Good thing it's 40+ miles or it'd never warm up. Nowadays I hardly ever look at the temps anymore. It just doesn't get to the temps required to turn the cooling fans on even with it totally blocked. I'll start checking the temps in March.

[SSimon]

I blocked my grill too! Thanks for the thread. I won't post pictures 'cause it's just not a pretty sight. Think little green twisty ties all over. Hopefully, the visual assault will be offset with better mileage. I'll know soon with this week's cold front.

[georgekessel]

I hate to say this but if we had a Chevy Volt this cold weather problem wouldn't affect us

There would be no need to warm up any motor

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Jan 13 2007, 09:15 PM) [snapback]375402[/snapback]</div>

cold blooded little sucker isn't it. I'd hate to be Jayman as he's out to the hobby farm in -35 weather. Good thing it's 40+ miles or it'd never warm up. Nowadays I hardly ever look at the temps anymore. It just doesn't get to the temps required to turn the cooling fans on even with it totally blocked. I'll start checking the temps in March.
[/b]

What causes it to lose more heat than other motors?

[Frank Hudon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jan 14 2007, 11:01 AM) [snapback]375525[/snapback]</div>

What causes it to lose more heat than other motors?
[/b]

My thoughts are first off the size of the ICE is really small compared to conventional autos, second all the hoses and plumbing for the heater and the coolant recovery system all exposed to the air flow thru the rad when it isn't blocked. Those two things probably account for about 30% of the heat loss. In a conventional front screw the two heater hoses are probably only a foot long then they're protectecd by being inside the heater compartement where as the Prius has hoses that go from the ICE to the coolant pump and coolant flow control valve and then the coolant transfer pump for the recovery tank and the tank, it all adds up to a lot of exposed plumbing. Now blow cold air over all of that and you have a cold blooded little sucker.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ecojosh @ Jan 14 2007, 09:40 AM) [snapback]375502[/snapback]</div>

I hate to say this but if we had a Chevy Volt this cold weather problem wouldn't affect us

There would be no need to warm up any motor
[/b]

as "there is no free lunch" what are they using for a heater in that thing? Heat is energy and it has to come from somewhere............... where?