Cold weather heat exchanger.

marcinpisz · 11-01-2009, 05:25 PM

I'm just wondering if anybody had the experience of testing out the third generation in cold weather. I'm talking about -20°C. How does the new heat exchanger in the exhaust pipe work versus the old system of a thermos for the engine coolant. Does the heater inside the cab put out more heat than the old generation and what about warm-up times. Does anybody have a preference for the old system? To me it seems that the old system would work better for people in warmer weather, but when you live in extreme weather it's probably worse than not having it as there is twice as much engine coolant for the engine to warm. I'm asking people maybe in Alaska or the Yukon.

a64pilot · 11-01-2009, 05:37 PM

I bet the new system has more to do with manufacturing economics than anything else.
I would think maybe the bigger engine may produce more heat though, but that's just a guess

Bobsprius · 11-01-2009, 05:43 PM

I can tell you all, that the heater in the new Gen III is great compared to it's previous models. I had a Gen I, so am comparing to that. It heats up rather quickly and produces warm air in a few minutes. Not HOT but warm, and by the time I get it on the highway in 10 MInutes I am turning down the temp because it's TOO hot. This was on a 28 Degree F night. I set it to high initially and then back it down.

This Heat Exchanger may be the best thing that Toyota did. So far I don't think I will be cold when the snow fly's!

And from the 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid I traded for the 2010 Prius V, I can already tell I will be much warmer. After 30 minutes in the Honda Civic I was never as warm as 10 minutes in the Prius!

Winter won't be as bad since I won't be chattering in the seat!

jamesktg · 11-01-2009, 08:01 PM

is the new heat exchanger available in the 2010 Camry or is it only available on the prius?

David Beale · 11-02-2009, 10:34 AM

The thermos is mostly useless in -20 deg weather. It cools very quickly, so that after an overnight rest it's just around freezing temp. Has very little affect on warmup.

Don't even bother trying to warm up a Prius without driving it. It takes forever. But drive a few blocks and it's toasty warm (the cabin air, that is, that's blowing out of the vents).

I don't think anyone has had -20 deg weather yet (Alaska?). We still don't have our permanent winter snow yet (yea, it's late!). Lowest I've seen so far is about -10C. But Pearl is a GII, so I'll let others describe the differences they've seen with their GIII to the above.

Bobsprius · 11-02-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesktg

is the new heat exchanger available in the 2010 Camry or is it only available on the prius?

I believe only on the Prius.

spiderman · 11-02-2009, 11:24 AM

Well it was 7F this morning, 45F in my garage. I had heat flowing in about 5 min. Saw maybe about .5 mpg off of my regular commute this morning (dry, no snow or ice, 52.5 on the monitor). Still haven't put on the studs yet as there is no snow!

**Tideland Prius** · 11-02-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesktg

is the new heat exchanger available in the 2010 Camry or is it only available on the prius?

2010 Prius, 2010 RX450h and 2010 HS250h only.

I dunno about -20°C but so far so good.

David Beale · 11-03-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

I dunno about -20°C but so far so good.

Probably later this month!

**Tideland Prius** · 11-04-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Beale

Probably later this month!

Bleh. We've had a good run so far and will have another this week!

I swear I'm the only one that went through that brutal winter of 03-04. All my friends that are here got off easy.

11-01-2009, 05:25 PM	#1
marcinpisz Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 27 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Cold weather heat exchanger. I'm just wondering if anybody had the experience of testing out the third generation in cold weather. I'm talking about -20°C. How does the new heat exchanger in the exhaust pipe work versus the old system of a thermos for the engine coolant. Does the heater inside the cab put out more heat than the old generation and what about warm-up times. Does anybody have a preference for the old system? To me it seems that the old system would work better for people in warmer weather, but when you live in extreme weather it's probably worse than not having it as there is twice as much engine coolant for the engine to warm. I'm asking people maybe in Alaska or the Yukon.

11-01-2009, 05:37 PM	#2
a64pilot Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany Ga. Posts: 732 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: N/A Thanks: 19 Thanked 45 Times in 40 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Cold weather heat exchanger. I bet the new system has more to do with manufacturing economics than anything else. I would think maybe the bigger engine may produce more heat though, but that's just a guess

11-01-2009, 05:43 PM	#3
Bobsprius BobPrius Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Buffalo Posts: 437 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 9 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Cold weather heat exchanger. I can tell you all, that the heater in the new Gen III is great compared to it's previous models. I had a Gen I, so am comparing to that. It heats up rather quickly and produces warm air in a few minutes. Not HOT but warm, and by the time I get it on the highway in 10 MInutes I am turning down the temp because it's TOO hot. This was on a 28 Degree F night. I set it to high initially and then back it down. This Heat Exchanger may be the best thing that Toyota did. So far I don't think I will be cold when the snow fly's! And from the 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid I traded for the 2010 Prius V, I can already tell I will be much warmer. After 30 minutes in the Honda Civic I was never as warm as 10 minutes in the Prius! Winter won't be as bad since I won't be chattering in the seat!

11-01-2009, 08:01 PM	#4
jamesktg Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: canada Posts: 12 My Car: 2010 Prius On Order Model: N/A Package: Base (Canada) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Cold weather heat exchanger. is the new heat exchanger available in the 2010 Camry or is it only available on the prius?

11-02-2009, 10:34 AM	#5
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 2,116 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 3 Thanked 77 Times in 58 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Cold weather heat exchanger. The thermos is mostly useless in -20 deg weather. It cools very quickly, so that after an overnight rest it's just around freezing temp. Has very little affect on warmup. Don't even bother trying to warm up a Prius without driving it. It takes forever. But drive a few blocks and it's toasty warm (the cabin air, that is, that's blowing out of the vents). I don't think anyone has had -20 deg weather yet (Alaska?). We still don't have our permanent winter snow yet (yea, it's late!). Lowest I've seen so far is about -10C. But Pearl is a GII, so I'll let others describe the differences they've seen with their GIII to the above. __________________ Edmonton Alberta "Pearl" is a 2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius.

11-02-2009, 11:24 AM	#7
spiderman Prius I am Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Alaska Posts: 540 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: Base Thanks: 120 Thanked 65 Times in 47 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Cold weather heat exchanger. Well it was 7F this morning, 45F in my garage. I had heat flowing in about 5 min. Saw maybe about .5 mpg off of my regular commute this morning (dry, no snow or ice, 52.5 on the monitor). Still haven't put on the studs yet as there is no snow!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
MPG seems impacted by heat and cold	spidey	Gen II Prius Fuel Economy	20	07-14-2009 06:02 PM
Cold weather cut out	kkayser	Gen II Prius Technical Discussion	7	03-07-2007 10:00 PM
Hows the heat in cold temps.	FishHawk	Gen II Prius Main Forum	9	11-06-2006 09:37 AM
Cold Weather and CVT	Dcnight	Gen II Prius Main Forum	23	01-22-2005 10:12 AM
Cold weather and the SOC	jfschultz	Gen II Prius Main Forum	1	12-21-2004 09:37 PM