Winter blues

orenf · 10-05-2007, 05:38 PM

About a week ago temperatures dropped from mid 50's/60's to high 40's/low 50's.

My MPG dropped from ~54 to mid 40's. I had a "non-hybrid-friendly" weekend - lots of short rides, due to rain and cold, resulting in 42MPG. I'm slowly working my way up again, but I seriously doubt I'll make it to 50. The tipping point seems to have been 55 degrees. One day all was well, the next day the gas engine was engaged as soon as I turned the car on, for longer, even during long stretches of regen. No to mention stretches of gas engine on when idle (am I better off turning the car off, and starting it again when the light changes?).

So... combination of cold weather, and more short trips (as a result of cold/wet weather) = less than spectacular MPG.

--- Oren

**Tideland Prius** · 10-05-2007, 06:06 PM

already? oye. My last tank was 4.2L/100km (57mpg). I'm currently sitting at 4.3L/100km (55mpg) down from 4.6L/100km (51mpg) this morning.

Take advantage of today and Monday. The weekend rain will put a damp on our mileage.

ACORNBLUES · 10-05-2007, 07:06 PM

Do you have the option of plugging in an EBH at home? Have you tried stuffing your grill?

Neicy · 10-05-2007, 08:17 PM

I got my EBH in on Monday, and started using it right away. It really helps. My top grill is already blocked, but since I got my SGII yesterday I feel more comfortable blocking the upper part of the lower grill as soon as this hot spell is over. Keep checking tire pressures since they drop in colder weather - I think 1 lb for every 10 degrees or so. I was also burdened with mostly short trips this week - only 52.2 for this tank fill. If you're not already doing these little tweaks you might want to add them. Only 5 more months until spring ( I hate winter ).

paprius4030 · 10-05-2007, 09:03 PM

Damn cold weather, I'm trading in for an 08 so I don't have to look at that damn snowflake light LOL.

iluvmacs · 10-05-2007, 09:43 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(orenf @ Oct 5 2007, 04:38 PM) [snapback]521951[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

About a week ago temperatures dropped from mid 50's/60's to high 40's/low 50's.

My MPG dropped from ~54 to mid 40's. I had a "non-hybrid-friendly" weekend - lots of short rides, due to rain and cold, resulting in 42MPG. I'm slowly working my way up again, but I seriously doubt I'll make it to 50. The tipping point seems to have been 55 degrees. One day all was well, the next day the gas engine was engaged as soon as I turned the car on, for longer, even during long stretches of regen. No to mention stretches of gas engine on when idle (am I better off turning the car off, and starting it again when the light changes?).

So... combination of cold weather, and more short trips (as a result of cold/wet weather) = less than spectacular MPG.

--- Oren
[/b]

Same story for me last winter here in Wisconsin. I was able to stay above 45 or so (for a full tank) until it was below zero Fahrenheit. I certainly wouldn't turn the engine off and back on when you're stopped... for one thing, the engine is trying to get warm so it's more efficient (do you really want to fight with that?), and you'd also put yourself through another stage-1 warmup on that restart, which pulls a ton of power out of your battery while the engine basically just idles (search for the engine stages here if you're really interested in that sort of thing).

Bill Lumbergh · 10-06-2007, 11:10 PM

Tell me about it. Temps suddenly dropped into the 30s at night here and the weather forecast is predicting 20s by the end of the week. As of October 1st I fully blocked the radiator openings and started using the EBH. Yesterday I installed my snow wheels/tires. In the first couple minutes of the drive I could already tell I had more rolling resistance.

David Beale · 10-07-2007, 11:48 AM

When I got my new winter capable tires last week I reset the mileage meter. Now I'm struggling to keep it under 4.9 l/100 km. Got both grills blocked, and I park in a well insulated unheated garage (currently about 10C in there), but I don't drive every day, so after the first overnight the coolant temp now falls to 40C or lower, and after the second overnight of no use, it's down to ambient. I didn't realize how much the anti-Prius (2001 Pathfinder) heated my garage! The Prius doesn't heat it much at all. I don't use the block heater, as I can't really predict when I'm going to use the car, and I'm too cheap to leave it plugged in all the time.

The downside of not spending much on fuel.

**Tideland Prius** · 10-08-2007, 02:38 AM

Crap... the weekend rain + short trips + one highway trip took a toll on my mileage.

My upper grille is already blocked. Went fro 4.2L/100km to 4.9L/100km. Temps are 10-15°C (give or take a few degrees)

10-05-2007, 05:38 PM	#1
orenf Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 78 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	About a week ago temperatures dropped from mid 50's/60's to high 40's/low 50's. My MPG dropped from ~54 to mid 40's. I had a "non-hybrid-friendly" weekend - lots of short rides, due to rain and cold, resulting in 42MPG. I'm slowly working my way up again, but I seriously doubt I'll make it to 50. The tipping point seems to have been 55 degrees. One day all was well, the next day the gas engine was engaged as soon as I turned the car on, for longer, even during long stretches of regen. No to mention stretches of gas engine on when idle (am I better off turning the car off, and starting it again when the light changes?). So... combination of cold weather, and more short trips (as a result of cold/wet weather) = less than spectacular MPG. --- Oren __________________ Join me on LinkedIn - View My Profile Visit my blog - all about importing a Prius to Canada

10-05-2007, 08:17 PM	#4
Neicy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wakefield, MA. Posts: 774 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: G Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	I got my EBH in on Monday, and started using it right away. It really helps. My top grill is already blocked, but since I got my SGII yesterday I feel more comfortable blocking the upper part of the lower grill as soon as this hot spell is over. Keep checking tire pressures since they drop in colder weather - I think 1 lb for every 10 degrees or so. I was also burdened with mostly short trips this week - only 52.2 for this tank fill. If you're not already doing these little tweaks you might want to add them. Only 5 more months until spring ( I hate winter ). __________________ Neicy 2007 Silver Metallic Touring Pkg #2 priuschat.com decal F52/R50 Front Side Window Deflectors Touring Emblem from Avalon Partial Grill Block EBH Repaired 4/06/08 by hobbit 2 Scangauge IIs v 3.15 with X-gauge

10-07-2007, 11:48 AM	#8
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,438 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	When I got my new winter capable tires last week I reset the mileage meter. Now I'm struggling to keep it under 4.9 l/100 km. Got both grills blocked, and I park in a well insulated unheated garage (currently about 10C in there), but I don't drive every day, so after the first overnight the coolant temp now falls to 40C or lower, and after the second overnight of no use, it's down to ambient. I didn't realize how much the anti-Prius (2001 Pathfinder) heated my garage! The Prius doesn't heat it much at all. I don't use the block heater, as I can't really predict when I'm going to use the car, and I'm too cheap to leave it plugged in all the time. The downside of not spending much on fuel. __________________ Edmonton Alberta "Pearl" is a 2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius.

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10-05-2007, 06:06 PM	#2
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,562 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	already? oye. My last tank was 4.2L/100km (57mpg). I'm currently sitting at 4.3L/100km (55mpg) down from 4.6L/100km (51mpg) this morning. Take advantage of today and Monday. The weekend rain will put a damp on our mileage.

10-05-2007, 07:06 PM	#3
ACORNBLUES Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 86 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Do you have the option of plugging in an EBH at home? Have you tried stuffing your grill?

10-05-2007, 09:03 PM	#5
paprius4030 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pocono's, Pa. Posts: 1,013 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Damn cold weather, I'm trading in for an 08 so I don't have to look at that damn snowflake light LOL.

10-06-2007, 11:10 PM	#7
Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Marysville, CA Posts: 509 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Tell me about it. Temps suddenly dropped into the 30s at night here and the weather forecast is predicting 20s by the end of the week. As of October 1st I fully blocked the radiator openings and started using the EBH. Yesterday I installed my snow wheels/tires. In the first couple minutes of the drive I could already tell I had more rolling resistance.

10-08-2007, 02:38 AM	#9
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,562 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Crap... the weekend rain + short trips + one highway trip took a toll on my mileage. My upper grille is already blocked. Went fro 4.2L/100km to 4.9L/100km. Temps are 10-15°C (give or take a few degrees)