Newbie question

[jfveilleux]

Hi!
I bought for the first time an hybrid: toyota Prius. I like a lot the car. I have a toyota prius 2010 Base.

I have 2 questions for you!

When i start the car and begin to drive the car seem to warm-up. For approximatly 2 or 3 minuts, i spend approximatly 10l/100km. The gauge is at the maximum. I don't understand why? After 2 or 3 minuts, i have 3l/100km and when i break, the gauge go to 10l/100km. I'm breaking why the car do that? I don't need to spend gaz when i'm breaking during the warm-up?

The sound system sound horrible. I want to change the speakers and put a sound processor. What did you do to optimize the sound?

Now, i'm at the second tank. And i'm able to do 4.2L/100km it is good?

Also, where i'm able to find hup cap for the wheel?
Thanks

[a priori]

Originally Posted by jfveilleux

When i start the car and begin to drive the car seem to warm-up. For approximatly 2 or 3 minuts, i spend approximatly 10l/100km. The gauge is at the maximum. I don't understand why? After 2 or 3 minuts, i have 3l/100km and when i break, the gauge go to 10l/100km. I'm breaking why the car do that? I don't need to spend gaz when i'm breaking during the warm-up?

Bienvenue à notre discussion!

I'll try to address just this one question!

The engine is not going to be fully warmed in just two or three minutes if you are going from a cold start. If you had the gauge installed in any other car, you'd see something very similar. A non-hybrid car is going to idle at higher RPMs as it is warming up. Later, the car's RPMs at idle will fall to the "normal" point. Much the same is happening with your new Prius. Do not be alarmed!

[qbee42]

In other words, the engine is burning fuel simply to warm up. It will burn this fuel whether you are moving, braking, or standing still. Once it warms up the situation is different.

Tom

[jfveilleux]

Thanks you for the answers! I suppose during the winter the warm-up will be longer than the summer.

[ken1784]

The engine block heater will reduce your warm-up fuel.

Ken@Japan

[bluemonday]

Originally Posted by qbee42

In other words, the engine is burning fuel simply to warm up. It will burn this fuel whether you are moving, braking, or standing still. Once it warms up the situation is different.

Tom

I have heard this before but am not sure how to drive in response to this. Am I best off (fuel-efficiency-wise)
1) Letting the car sit and warm up for a few minutes before driving off? Perhaps especially in winter?
2) Drive off as normal for driving the Prius (ie trying to keep below the midpoint in the HSI even thought the ICE will kick on and I won't be getting those meaty MPGs I would expect in this area after the car has warmed up)?
3) Driving a bit more aggressively than normal, up into the higher ranges on the HSI (under the theory that the ICE is going to be running to warm the car up anyway)?
4) Some combination of the above?

I have a fairly short commute (about 6 miles and about 15 minutes) and while I am getting decent MPG figures from the MID (54ish), I think this warmup period is hurting me.

(This post contains a lot of parentheticals.)

[a priori]

Originally Posted by bluemonday

I have heard this before but am not sure how to drive in response to this. Am I best off (fuel-efficiency-wise)

1) Letting the car sit and warm up for a few minutes before driving off? Perhaps especially in winter?

Perhaps on a fine, warm summer's day this would be good for you, but in most other circumstances the answer is "No." I would drive off as soon as possible. The ICE is going to do what it needs to do to warm up and make certain the HV is at an appropriate state of charge. See more below.

Originally Posted by bluemonday

2) Drive off as normal for driving the Prius (ie trying to keep below the midpoint in the HSI even thought the ICE will kick on and I won't be getting those meaty MPGs I would expect in this area after the car has warmed up)?

Yes, drive while trying to stay from placing heavy loads on the ICE. This way you won't be pressing for too much power while the ICE is looking to "set everything right." The fact is you may as well start moving the car, because the ICE is running. By sitting there your MPGs are zero.

Originally Posted by bluemonday

3) Driving a bit more aggressively than normal, up into the higher ranges on the HSI (under the theory that the ICE is going to be running to warm the car up anyway)?

No, I don't see the value in this. I know it has been discussed elsewhere in the Gen2 forum, and I recall the concensus was that driving in the lower power range is going to be a bit more fuel efficient at this early stage right after start -- on a cold engine, that is.

Originally Posted by bluemonday

4) Some combination of the above?

I don't really see a combo to be had, but I believe the responses change based on the weather. The warmer the weather, the less the ICE needs to work to get things "right." This gives you a chance to operate at higher efficiencies from the get-go.

[bluemonday]

Thanks, a priori. I thought all of my answers sort of "made sense" but you obviously can't do all of them, so good to hear what others think. I'll do a bit more searching as well.

Originally Posted by jfveilleux

The sound system sound horrible. I want to change the speakers and put a sound processor. What did you do to optimize the sound?

Also, where i'm able to find hup cap for the wheel?
Thanks

jfveilleux, the sound is the subject of several threads. Maybe several dozen. Some find it fine, others find it horrible. A search for "sound system" or "stereo" should turn up some recent threads with people discussing what they've done. Obviously it can range depending on how much you want to spend. Some get new speakers and an amplifier, some get a new head unit too, etc.

I know I have seen people discuss the hub caps as well. Again, a search might be in order. Not sure where they are getting them from.

[maledyris]

Originally Posted by jfveilleux

Now, i'm at the second tank. And i'm able to do 4.2L/100km it is good?

Hey I would say that's very good! I'm on my third tank and I'm usually around 4.8L/100km. The only time where I got a bit better than you was travelling to and from Whistler mountain here in BC. It's a fairly long and fast ride which I guess ends up being pretty efficient.

[ken1784]

Originally Posted by bluemonday

1) Letting the car sit and warm up for a few minutes before driving off? Perhaps especially in winter?

Please read five stages warm up operation.

There are huge differences between the first one minute(Stage-1A) and the rest of minutes(Stage-1B ).
During Stage-1A, the engine runs only for warm up the catalyzer and it does not provide driving power. If you start your Prius during Stage-1A, Prius is driven only by the motor, so your battery charge level is going down very quickly. That is inefficient situation.

My recommendation is one minute warm up on stand still, then start your Prius after that.

Ken@Japan