Temperature gauge

[bnaccs]

Does the Prius have a temperature gauge? If not how do you know the coolant temp?

[Danny Hamilton]

Originally Posted by bnaccs

Does the Prius have a temperature gauge? If not how do you know the coolant temp?

Not OEM, but aftermarket equipment is available.

Why is it that you need to know the coolant temp?

[JimboK]

Many use a ScanGauge for engine temp and other operating parameters.

[Rest]

Originally Posted by adrick71

Why is it that you need to know the coolant temp?

I can answer this for the poster.

A temperature gauge lets a driver know when the engine may overheat and allows one to shut down preventing damage. Warning or "idiot lights", do not give you enough warning nor do they let you know the engine has been running hotter than normal, to prevent damage.

I use my ScanGauge 2 to monitor the coolant temp.

[Danny Hamilton]

Originally Posted by Rest

. . . .Warning or "idiot lights", do not give you enough warning nor do they let you know the engine has been running hotter than normal, to prevent damage. . . .

I'm not yet convinced that this is true, but to each his own. You can purchase CanView or ScanGauge if you don't trust the warning lights to trigger in time.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by adrick71

. . .
Why is it that you need to know the coolant temp?

For the 2001-03, North American, Prius, 70C is a boundary between warm-up with the engine always on and 'hybrid' mode when the ICE can be off. There are some other warm-up steps such as ICE shutdown at a stop or exceeding 35 mph. However, these steps require passing through 70C and staying above 60C thereafter.

In my case, mileage until 70C is typically 30-35 MPG. After reaching 70C, it jumps to 65+ depending upon weather and driving conditions. The trick is to minimize fuel burn until it reaches 70C.

Bob Wilson

[Rest]

Originally Posted by adrick71

I'm not yet convinced that this is true, but to each his own.

I'm not sure what you mean. I used to race cars years ago and a temp gauge was very important. It even saved me one engine on my street driven vehicle, as I was able to shut down before the engine overheated and caused major damage. Granted you would have to know what the normal engine temp is for the vehicle.

Warning lights or "idiot lights", never provided enough of a safety margin, at least they never used to. Maybe things have changed with modern vehicles. Either way, I would much rather see the actual water temp myself. Just like I prefer to see the rpms of an engine. I am a numbers person and like to get as much info about my engine as possible.

[Danny Hamilton]

Originally Posted by Rest

I'm not sure what you mean. I used to race cars years ago and a temp gauge was very important. It even saved me one engine on my street driven vehicle, as I was able to shut down before the engine overheated and caused major damage. . . .

Warning lights or "idiot lights", never provided enough of a safety margin, at least they never used to. Maybe things have changed with modern vehicles. . . .

bnaccs gave no indication that he is planning to race his Prius, thus my question as to why he wanted to know the coolant temp. If he indicated that he wanted to know which stage of operation his Prius was in so he could optimize his mileage, or if he indicated that he was planning to take his Prius to the track, then he could have followed up on the suggestions of myself and others of aftermarket devices.

I understand what bwilson4web uses a temp gauge for, and I understand what someone racing a Prius might use a temp gauge for. What I was asking is why bnaccs needed to know the coolant temp.

As to what I mean. I'm not convinced that in a modern vehicle, the warning light doesn't come on in time to shut the vehicle off before damage occurs. Perhaps you are right, and by the time the warning light comes on, it's too late and your engine is trashed, but I highly doubt it. In the one street driven vehicle that the temp gauge "saved [you] one engine", I'm not convinced that a warning light couldn't have done the same. Did that car have a warning light?

[JHSmith]

Originally Posted by adrick71

I'm not yet convinced that this is true, but to each his own. You can purchase CanView or ScanGauge if you don't trust the warning lights to trigger in time.

The problem with idiot lights is that they are either on or off. They don't get brighter as temperature rises.

You don't know if the "Overtemp" is a rapid increase in temperature due to major problem (example: Loss of coolant due to broken hose) or is it just a little above the limit (example: In an Interstate parking lot during "rush hour" and not enough air flowing through radiator to cool down coolant.)

In the first case: Stop car as soon as possible and investigate. Second case: As I was taught in Driver's Ed TOO MANY years ago: Turn on heater and set interior fan on HIGH. (Hey, it works.)

Without a gauge, you aren't sure of what the temp truly is and how much weight to place on the LED.

But, as you imply, or I infer from you: To each his/her own.

BTW, my Camry Hybrid has Temp gauge, and I have SGII. Once the SG-X codes are updated to show Inverter, MG temps, etc, I'll upgrade to that. I personally prefer gauges than idiot lights.

[Rest]

Originally Posted by adrick71

As to what I mean. I'm not convinced that in a modern vehicle, the warning light doesn't come on in time to shut the vehicle off before damage occurs. Perhaps you are right, and by the time the warning light comes on, it's too late and your engine is trashed, but I highly doubt it. In the one street driven vehicle that the temp gauge "saved [you] one engine", I'm not convinced that a warning light couldn't have done the same. Did that car have a warning light?

Well I do know that a low oil idiot light did not save my engine in another vehicle I had years ago. I did not have enough time to shut off the engine before damage was already done. Since water temp idiot lights work the same way, I am totally convinced a gauge is far better.