Grill Blocking Caution

Yes my experience is also that a small opening makes a big difference in temperature compared to full blocking. See this post for a graph of the data I gathered. So it should be safe as long as there is some opening in the grill, unless one drives steep mountain roads at high speed.

Assuming by water pump you meant the inverter coolant pump, yes there are quite a number of failures in gen 2 Prius. That's why I installed a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the casing of the inverter. As stated earlier if the inverter coolant system is working normally and if the grill block leaves some opening then the inverter should be fine. Too bad the ScanGague can't read the inverter or MG temperatures on gen 2 Prius. There are more expensive options such as CANView and AutoEnginuity but I am not sure if those are worthwhile investments unless you do PHEV conversion or lots of diagnostic work.

Question for all: since the MGs are in the same cooling loop as the inverter I would think the MGs should be fine if the inverter is fine, right?

 

Yes that's commonly suggested, although I doubt it would matter that much - as long as there is some opening to allow cool air to go through the grill to reach the "big chamber" in front of the radiator, both loops should get adequate cooling.

 

So maybe the solution is to fully block the top slats on the front as is being done, (maybe this helps Aero?) partially the lower, then add a chunk of cardboard, plastic, aluminum, etc. that mostly covers the top (engine) part of the rad, but leaves the inverter loop totally exposed, and then what air gets in will cool the inverter side well.

 

How do you monitor your MG2 temps? Scangauge?
Just wondering,

 

I'm not sure whether anyone has figured out how to do it with ScanGauge. A few of us, including Efusco, monitor it with CAN-View.

 

Gen 3 owner can use Scangauge X-Gauge feature. Gen 2 owner needs expensive stuff like CanView or AutoEnginuity.

 

Please take pics and let us know what you purchased and install?

 

Foam tubes (intended for pipe insulation) works well. Good luck!

 

2008 prius, livin in philadelphia, 13 mile one way commute, temps in winter 20's to 30's sometimes into the mid 40's.
from what i read i can block the upper completely all year long (but i woudl probably unblock in the summer anyway)
lower block completely, or maybe leave a small opening on the passenger, right side of the car in north america.
and remove lower blocking when temps are in the 50's to 60's...
can someone clarify if leaving a small opening in the lower grill, right side of car when sitting in it, aka passenger side? how large an opening... 3 inch gap right side only? 1 inch gap on right side only?? all slats or just lowest slat?

 

If you run the AC, I suggest you avoid blocking even the upper grille in the summer.

I usually put in my grille block in mid-October or so (though I'm a little late this year) but leave the lowest slit of the bottom grille open until winter arrives.

 

ok, sounds reasonable.
for the pipe insulation, i found 1/2 inch pipe insulation, but how thick is the foam supposed to be, mine is 1/2 inch ID 3/4 inch wall thickness...
seems pretty thick??
mine looks like this...

 

The image does not show but the number seems reasonable. As long as the foam fits snugly and doesn't fall off after a test drive you are good to go. Have fun!

 

Click the link instead:

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTb_nPbNdMxksADh2jzbkF/SIG=1240s31s6/EXP=1289272911/**http%3a//greenedmonton.ca/files/IMG_0730_thumb.jpg

And based on your pic, that should work fine for you

 

I think you'll be OK. I use an even small diameter pipe insulation -- 3/8 inch.

And not only do I use a smaller diameter foam than anyone else I've seen reported here, but I cut the foam tubes in half along the length.

On my Gen II, I use only 6 pieces -- 1 continuous piece for each slot.

For the 2 top slots, I have to cut the 36" foam length to fit.

For the 4 bottom slots, I keep the full 36" length of the foam and tuck the ends in behind the panels where the foglights would be if I had foglights. This creates a grille that's similar to the Honda Insight's top grille.

I didn't bother cutting slits or notches in the back to accommodate the vertical fins (but I might try that this winter).

Here are some pics:

[IMGLINK]http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=21042&d=1263186540[/IMGLINK]

[IMGLINK]http://priuschat.com/forums/attachments/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/20887d1262724484-what-did-you-do-your-prius-today-003.jpg[/IMGLINK]

[IMGLINK]http://priuschat.com/forums/attachments/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/20888d1262724484-what-did-you-do-your-prius-today-002.jpg[/IMGLINK]

 

Nice Grill block Boo, I love it
This year I tried something different for the lower grill on my 08- 4" black cove base from Home Depot. Allot less work too. Note that I have after market fog lamps which I just cut holes out for.

~joe

 

I basically do as Boo does. Works well. A bit cooler here, so I don't leave the bottom left open. Hal

 

that looks great, how do you attach it?

 

I'm embarrassed to say - it's just 4 cable ties, I'm thinking it's a quick in and out. I also have a ($50) billet grille I got from e- bay behind it (which is also set in with as set of cable ties too).

 

So glad I found this thread this evening. I've had the car a whole three days and will be doing the block tomorrow after a quick trip to home depot. January in Cleveland is here. Guess I'd better put the block back on the old Gen 1 insight too.
Thanks
Wayne

 

I have 100% block on bottom only and past 3 days I am getting mileage in the mid 40's and a maybe a bit less. Commute is only 9 miles and temps in the mid to upper teens. Wow!! Temps make a huge difference!!i