Stupid Prius Advice Columnist of the Day

[Tempus]

Ask the Auto Doctor

Dear Doctor: I recently purchased a new Toyota Prius. I live in California and am able to drive on the high occupancy lane because it’s a hybrid vehicle. Is there any problem with getting right onto the highway without the engine being warmed up first? Bob

Dear Bob: With any vehicle, it is always best to drive at a moderate speed until the engine has a chance to warm. I recommend letting the engine idle anywhere from one minute with temperatures 40-plus degrees Fahrenheit, to three minutes below 40 degrees.


Ok, I guess that means putting it in 'B' mode to keep it from shutting off. Now I know the real reason for the big B!

[PA]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Dec 17 2006, 10:23 AM) [snapback]363371[/snapback]</div>

Ok, I guess that means putting it in 'B' mode to keep it from shutting off. Now I know the real reason for the big B!
[/b]

No, you should be using 'W' mode for Warm up.

[Godiva]

And no mention of the need for stickers to drive the HOV lanes.

Gee. The guy must live right next to the onramp.

[Stev0]

Dear Doctor -

I was driving my brand new Prius when I noticed the engine shuts off every time I'm at a stop sign or red light! What's the matter with it? - Art


Dear Mr. Spinella -

I suggest bringing the car to the dealer ASAP so they can fix this problem; it sounds serious.

[daniel]

Unless you use the EV switch, the Prius will start the engine about 10 seconds after you power it up (or sooner if you step hard enough on the accelerator) and will continue to run it until it has gotten warm. You need not do anything special to force it to warm up. It will not shut off during this warm-up period unless you shut down the car!

The advice to let an engine get warm before driving at freeway speed is generally sound. The Prius actually wants to do this itself, as shown by the fact that (in normal weather) it will use more electricity during the first minute or so, precisely in order to warm the engine before putting a load on it. But in extremely cold weather the battery cannot deliver as much electricity, and the car will put more load on the engine.

Driving slowly for the first few minutes is good for any internal-combustion car, including the Prius. If you live right at the on-ramp, you may be out of luck, but you could still stay in the slow lane for a minute or two.

[mcbrunnhilde]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Dec 17 2006, 06:23 AM) [snapback]363371[/snapback]</div>

Ask the Auto Doctor

Dear Doctor: I recently purchased a new Toyota Prius. I live in California and am able to drive on the high occupancy lane because it’s a hybrid vehicle. Is there any problem with getting right onto the highway without the engine being warmed up first? Bob

Dear Bob: With any vehicle, it is always best to drive at a moderate speed until the engine has a chance to warm. I recommend letting the engine idle anywhere from one minute with temperatures 40-plus degrees Fahrenheit, to three minutes below 40 degrees.
[/b]

Well, the guy obviously has no clue about the Prius since I don't think it idles for that long before shutting off!!! However, I believe ken@japan has said (either here or on the Yahoo groups) that it's possible to get better mileage if you allow the car to complete the "warm-up" cycle before driving. I don't do that, but I notice that when I get it past 42 mph right away, I get better mileage in the first five minutes than when I stay at residential speeds.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Dear Mr. Obvious.
I purchased a windshield shade for my Toyota Prius. It works really well because the inside of my car stays much cooler on sunny days. Unfortunately, I can no longer see out the front of my car while I'm driving. My question is, how does this affect the cargo capacity in my Suburban?

[daniel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Dec 18 2006, 06:04 AM) [snapback]363685[/snapback]</div>

Dear Mr. Obvious.
I purchased a windshield shade for my Toyota Prius. It works really well because the inside of my car stays much cooler on sunny days. Unfortunately, I can no longer see out the front of my car while I'm driving. My question is, how does this affect the cargo capacity in my Suburban?
[/b]

No, Tony. The question should have been: "Why do they allow the importation of cars that you can't see out the windshield?"

Or maybe just a statement: "I sold my Prius to someone who seemed not to care that he couldn't see out."

[Tempus]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Dec 17 2006, 08:29 PM) [snapback]363558[/snapback]</div>

Unless you use the EV switch, the Prius will start the engine about 10 seconds after you power it up (or sooner if you step hard enough on the accelerator) and will continue to run it until it has gotten warm. You need not do anything special to force it to warm up. It will not shut off during this warm-up period unless you shut down the car!

The advice to let an engine get warm before driving at freeway speed is generally sound. The Prius actually wants to do this itself, as shown by the fact that (in normal weather) it will use more electricity during the first minute or so, precisely in order to warm the engine before putting a load on it. But in extremely cold weather the battery cannot deliver as much electricity, and the car will put more load on the engine.[/b]

Which behaviour, as far as I know, is Emissions related and has not much to do with wear and tear issues. The point is to avoid dumping HCs into the Cats until they are able to process them properly.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Dec 17 2006, 08:29 PM) [snapback]363558[/snapback]</div>

Driving slowly for the first few minutes is good for any internal-combustion car, including the Prius. If you live right at the on-ramp, you may be out of luck, but you could still stay in the slow lane for a minute or two.
[/b]

That's pretty much old-school thinking as far as I know these days. For the most part once the oil is distributed modern cars are fine to 'just drive it', and the Prius distributes the oil sooner than most due to the spin-up prior to ignition.

Besides, Vehicle Speed has only a cursory relation to Engine Speed and Load. You may well put less 'wear' on the engine by your logic, by gently getting up to cruising speed and then letting the engine loaf in (what passes in the Prius for) low gear, rather than going through a raft of slow speed stop/starts calling for repeated loading (acceleration) before getting onto the highway.

Personally, if it's even an issue these days, I believe Load Stresses would play a lot more havok with cold parts than Constant Speed Stresses. Loading and Unloading, Stress and Strain are what fatigue cold parts.

So, it could just as logically be argued that the best thing for the engine is to get onto the freeway as soon as possible and accelerate moderately to speed, then maintain constant speed until warm.

[daniel]

Moderate acceleration is always recommended, both for engine life and for mpg.