1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2010 Prius Grill Blocking strategy

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by ken1784, May 31, 2009.

  1. magnumrtawd

    magnumrtawd Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    305
    71
    0
    Location:
    Toledo,Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I have grill blocked on a 08 & 2010.Under 5 mi. trips. Didn't see much of a difference.
    35 to 40 avg. 10 below to 30 degrees. 40 to 50 mpg in the summer.
    I kinda think if those excellent engineers at Toyota thought it was necessary they would have built shutters into the grills.
     
  2. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    851
    187
    0
    Location:
    TN, USA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    so edit the table below and give us your version.

     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I leave upper unblocked regardless of temp. I'm on west coast, if it were the interior I might revisit that, do 50% below freezing, but anyway. Below 0C I'll block lower 100%. From 0C to 10C I'll block lower 50%. Above 10C I leave it open.
     
  4. Pijoto

    Pijoto Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    199
    151
    0
    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It's that time of the year again, after not choosing to block my grill during the first winter I owned my Prius last year, and suffering some horrendous MPG drops for months, going to give it a go this year. Since Texas has such large swings in Temps, even in the Winter, decided to go with no Upper blocking and 75% lower grill blocking, using super strong Gorilla Duct Tape. So far, so good, in mid 40s lower temps this morning during my work commute, MPG's were just as good as when temps are in their 60-70s; as opposed to normally loosing 10% MPG in these temps with no grill blocking.

    IMG_20161201_090420.jpg
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm at 50% lower grille blocking. Might have to go to 75% soon.
     
  6. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2004
    1,711
    654
    0
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I used pipe insulation that has a slit on the side, trimmed it to length, and pushed it onto the grill bars. Worked well and stayed in place the entire winter.
     
  7. Pijoto

    Pijoto Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    199
    151
    0
    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'll have to check in to see how well the Gorilla Tape holds up in a storm, but I like the look of the black tape better, certainly more inconspicuous than pipe insulation.

    You're in Canada, I assume it's cold enough up there by now for 100% complete blocking :eek:
     
  8. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2004
    1,711
    654
    0
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I used a dark grey insulation, it wasn't that noticeable and no adhesive to clean off in the spring.
     
    Pijoto likes this.
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah I use grey foam pipe insulation with zip ties. They're usually tight enough for the first year but afterwards, they become squished and may fly out at highway speeds so the zip ties keep them there.

    lol. It's been balmy in the prairies in Oct and early Nov with record breaking temps, it's been mild southern Ontario with a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow. Heck, it's been above normal in the Arctic too.

    That will change next week.
     
    Pijoto likes this.
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    To play it safe, I leave the upper grill open; the inverter coolant radiator's in behind there. With the lower grill, from around 8C down to 0C I'll block 50%, if it's persistently below 0C I'll block it 100%. If we're doing something like a run up Mount Seymour, I do NO blocking, just pull it all off. Once I start with the lower grill block I'll also seal up better, the gap between hood and fender.

    I'm using foam plumbing pipe insulattion, the stuff with O.D. of 1.5", and a longitudinal slit. On the lower grill I don't bother to shorten it, just use the full 3' length, either one or two, depending on temp (per above). I secure it with a Velcro tape strip at both ends, easier to work with than zip-ties, and easy to take off and/or reuse. Here's the current setup, just one tube in (50%):

    upload_2016-12-1_12-57-1.png

    And here's a pic, using the same foam insulation, just pushed onto the seam at hood/fender junction. No need for tape here:

    upload_2016-12-1_12-57-46.png
     
    #490 Mendel Leisk, Dec 1, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2016
    Tideland Prius and Pijoto like this.
  11. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Now that I have a Gen 3, I've just reused my Gen 1 stair-tread solution, only flipped so the holes are up (in Gen 1, the inverter radiator was down).

    [​IMG]

    I slip it behind the grille from above, just ahead of the radiator. Inconspicuous.

    -Chap
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  12. John Molani

    John Molani New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    4
    4
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four

    Ken what material or steps did you take in blocking it?

    Also do you have pictures? I'm presuming the upper portion is the small slit between the hood and front bumper?

    Thakns
    John
     
  13. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2003
    2,940
    1,359
    67
    Location:
    Yokohama, JAPAN
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I use a V shaped formed rubber.

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    PacificCornhusker and SteveSco like this.
  14. Threej

    Threej Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2018
    97
    99
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I know I'm late to the game here, but what is meant by 50% blocking of the upper grill?
    A) Block all of the left (facing the engine), but none of the right.
    B) Block the bottom half of both the left and right. (or the top)
    C) Block the inside half of both the left and right. (or the outiside)

    I'm a bit confused. Thanks!
     
  15. Pil

    Pil Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2018
    6
    3
    0
    Location:
    Fairbanks, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Reporting in from Fairbanks Alaska. I just covered 100% of the lower grill and can already tell its making a difference. Temps are regularly -20 or -30 here. Car has a very hard time warming up, especially when I need that heat for my windshield and keeping me warm. Has anyone else noticed that Prius does a terrible job at defrosting in cold weather?
     
    Mendel Leisk and Grit like this.
  16. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    your engine temp is what's drawn into the cabin as heat. if engine temp isn’t warm, the air coming in to the cabin won’t be warm which will affect defrosting also. When I drive lower speed with ICE on, my engine temp drops to 188F when heater on high. I drive with lower grill blocks all year long depending on distance and duration of drives.
     
  17. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Here's a video I filmed 8 years ago with my 2010. It shows coolant temp (heat from the engine) and the opportunities it provides for engine off. On that day, I would have had the grille 80% blocked. I only did full blocking during the extremes of Minnesota winter.

     
  18. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
    250
    57
    2
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Can someone tell me what is the normal operating temperature? When does the thermostat open? When do the fans turn on? I've got a 2010 with 178.5k on it. My new route is about 8 miles. There is currently a part where I hop onto a service road but I'm looking to cut that out. There is a route with what looks like all 45 mph speed limits. I plan to P&G a lot more. I just got myself a scan gauge 2. I took it for a 8~ mile drive on some faster roads. My engine was already somewhat warm. It wasn't until about 75% of the drive that it hit 190F. Also it was about 57F out. Earlier in the morning, it was a 42F windy rain. Thinking about doing some grill blocking. I hope if its usable, it will benefit engine life in my short, currently cold drives.
     
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    When I was using scanguage I'd often see temps level out around 150~170 F. Especially in winter. The thermostat I'd guesstimate opens around 180~190 F? It could be the fans are quiet, must be: I've never heard them come on, even with the AC, when they for sure would be running.

    About the one time I reliably can run it up to 190~200 F is doing a sustained hill-climb, saying going up Mount Seymour. I would recommend to pull off all grill block if doing something like that, regardless of time of year.
     
    Higgins909 likes this.
  20. Maarten28

    Maarten28 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    414
    222
    1
    Location:
    Netherlands
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    195 F is where the engine wants to be. The thermostat will start to open at 180 F.
     
    Raytheeagle and fuzzy1 like this.