Driving with the headlights always on

[rep308]

I am a new owner of a 2008 Prius package 2, non HID lights. I've always driven with my head lights on all the time as a safety precaution and all that it has caused me is to buy new head lights more often. Should I be concerned about doing this in my new Prius? I just think it is safer to be seen.

[holy_crap]

I have been driving with my headlights on too. I like the fact that when you turn off the car and open the driver's door the lights automatically shut off. I am looking into a DRL solution for my yellow turn signals instead of my headlights.

[jayman]

Non HID all you will end up doing is replacing the halogen bulbs more often. That's DIY although a bit of a hassle

For HID Prius owners, do NOT run the headlights all the time. The bulbs/igniters are *very* expensive to replace. Cars and SUV's here with HID, such as Range Rover, Mercedes, Lexus, all use dedicated DRL bulbs

[seasalsa]

I ave driven with my lights on since day one with my Prius.

I replaced the left bulb at about 20k and the right at about 25k. I used regular bulbs rather than Silver stars.

I now have about 70k on my car with no further outages.

Changing the bulbs can be a hassle as mentioned above: primarily because you have to feel what you are doing rather than being able to see. I found that a small mirror helped some.

[JimboK]

The standard headlights draw somewhere in neighborhood of 5 amps. (Not sure whether HIDs draw more.) That's a small drain on the battery, relatively speaking, but it will require a wee bit of engine power to replenish it. Though the actual impact on fuel economy is almost certainly insignificant, it is in part for that reason that some who are obsessed with FE choose not to run headlights in the day. Won't say who those someones are.

[qbee42]

Plus the photons exiting the headlamps create a small amount of thrust in an undesirable direction (just for those really obsessing about mileage).

Tom

[hyo silver]

Yeah, but don't the red photons out the back create even more thrust? Hmmm...that means the brakes aren't as effective as they could be...

[Boo]

Originally Posted by seasalsa

I ave driven with my lights on since day one with my Prius.

I replaced the left bulb at about 20k and the right at about 25k. I used regular bulbs rather than Silver stars.

I now have about 70k on my car with no further outages.

Changing the bulbs can be a hassle as mentioned above: primarily because you have to feel what you are doing rather than being able to see. I found that a small mirror helped some.

Hi SeaSalsa,

That's good to know about the expected longevity of the OEM halogen bulbs when they're constantly on (20-25k).

So what replacement bulbs did you use that have so far given you 40-45k and are still going strong?

Is the light at least as bright as the OEM's?

* * * * *

Hi rep308,

FYI, when your OEM bulbs burn out, I think you should consider not replacing them with OEM bulbs from your Toyota dealer. I hear that Toyota charges $45-$50 for one OEM halogen bulb (plus labor). You can do better in all regards going outside OEM halogens.

[Hemi4Prius]

So the general consensus here is *not* to leave the HID headlights on all the time, correct? I have the HIDs and I don't want to replace them before I have to. Thanks for the advice!! I've been leaving them on all the time, but I think now I'll only use them at night.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by Hemi4Prius

So the general consensus here is *not* to leave the HID headlights on all the time, correct? I have the HIDs and I don't want to replace them before I have to. Thanks for the advice!! I've been leaving them on all the time, but I think now I'll only use them at night.

Yes, I think that's true. And in part because of the high replacement cost of the OEM HID bulbs (I hear Toyota dealers charge around $350 for each bulb alone -- installation is extra).

But I believe I've read elsewhere on PriusChat about some members modifying their OEM halogen fog lights so that they can turn them on independently of the HIDs; and by so doing, they're able to use the fog lights as daytime running lights, as well as having better performance of the fog lights in fog (no reflective glare-back from the HIDs).