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Cold weather got me down!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Iowa gal, Nov 30, 2015.

?
  1. Yes

    2 vote(s)
    14.3%
  2. No

    12 vote(s)
    85.7%
  1. Iowa gal

    Iowa gal New Member

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    I am learning SO MUCH!! Thanks to all.

    First, I agree that my Prius is dealing with two separate issues: the engine and the 12 volt battery.
    I am pretty sure that the engine has not had new spark plugs, etc. And the battery is the original. I just switched dealers for service and this confirms for me that they were not doing a good job taking car of my car!

    However, the new dealer/service provider, was not very clear on the phone as to what was happening with the engine. I didn't press for details because they had it worse for snow and ice that we did! And they only had one tech working.

    Since I haven't picked up the car yet, I think I will call them to make sure they have checked the engine replaced spark plugs, etc.

    Also, I am considering filling my 5 gallon gas can with the highest octane gas and putting it in my gas tank for the 80 mile drive home. Would this be a good idea?


    Oh, yes! I knew that! Silly, me.

    I don't really know that. Ethanol is so big here in Iowa. There is an ethanol plant just 20 miles from where I live. I am not really clear on all the different mixes.
    I know now that whatever the savings, I will make sure I have a high octane gas in my Prius all winter!
     
  2. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Directionally E15 could be cheaper because, in order to meet EPA's goals to maximize ethanol blending, now mandated slightly above 10% on average, companies need to charge more for E0 and less for E15 to try to meet their ethanol blending targets.

    Personally, I do not feel E15 is cleaner burning. The rationale for E15 is to boost renewables. As far as I know, Reformulated Gasoline (that probably 50% or more of USA Prius owners use) is still an E10 formulation. So it gets into more rural areas where E15 may be an option, as well as E0 (whereas I think it's only the bigger oil companies that are forced to meet the ethanol blending, smaller oil cos. may be allowed to do some E0 without penalty).



    Merged.



    But Prius only needs Regular octane gasoline. You want to see if you can get Regular E10.
    If Regular E10 is not available, you could consider mid-grade or premium E10.
     
    #22 wjtracy, Dec 2, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 2, 2015
  3. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    " Generally speaking, the problem with gasoline over time is that as the molecular bonds break, the octane rating falls to the point where the gasoline is no longer able to produce the energy required for effective internal combustion. Some devices, like two-stroke generators, don’t need octane rich fuel. Others, like modern car engines, will knock badly with even a slight reduction in fuel quality. What this means to you is that the clock is ticking on gasoline – it’s degrading right now in the fuel tank of your car. It’s not unusual for highly refined premium gasoline to lose significant amounts of octane within even 90 days, and low grade gasoline to lose octane within 6 months. If you are intent on preserving fuel, then use gasoline stabilizer such as Sta-Bil, which slows the rate of chemical bond breakdown, giving you up to a couple of years of life increase on your gasoline."

    BION
    StarCaller
     
  4. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    No. It's like a bar that advertises cheaper booze...but waters down the hooch.

    Pure gas costs more, but you get more power and better MPG...never mind there's no loss in energy in making pure gas compared to harvesting and refining corn to make ethanol to blend into gas to make E10 and E15.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Iowa gal, I'd just stick with regular gas. No advantage to filling with premium.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    87 octane, period. no more than e10.Why do you continue to post back to back bisco?how many miles on her? you should base your regular maintenance on the toyota manual, not what the dealer 'recommends', not on the weather, and not on the last non hybrid you owned.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    If you want any "benefit," use Seafoam or B-12 Chemtool in the tank. It does way more to clean fuel systems of issues than higher octane gas will.
     
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'm so confused.
    Has the battery been replaced?
    Is it the original?

    If it's the original? Then I'm going with 99% of all the problems you've had with cold weather starts are because you need a new 12 volt battery.

    Probably doesn't have anything to do with your gasoline choice, even though I would just start using regular 87 octane gasoline.
     
  9. DaveyJones

    DaveyJones New Member

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    Not really equipped to answer this but some things that have helped me is wrapping the engine with newspaper and then a little dishcloth to stop the frost from settling in. You can also get a battery heater from most department stores, I think even Wal-Mart might sell them for cheap.
     
    bisco likes this.
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i used to do the newspaper trick, but now that i read the news on line, my laptop just doesn't cut it.