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

grill blocking

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by neilpre, Feb 20, 2016.

Tags:
  1. neilpre

    neilpre Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Amherst, MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hello,

    This is my first post as a recently purchased an '08 Prius that I'm enjoying. I have been reading some of the posts re: grill blocking. From photos, it looks as though some were done using rubber while others use the gray styrofoam-like pipe insulation. For those who have used the foam-type pipe insulation, do you find that it deteriorates easily, gets mushy, etc.? Also, any recently acquired advice about grill blocking would be appreciated. Thanks.
     
  2. Augustus88

    Augustus88 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2016
    87
    29
    0
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    First I tried to use the rubber type insulation, but found that it was too soft and had too much friction on the plastic to easily get into the grill. I went back to the store and got the black foam type pipe insulation. This was much easier to get into place. I've had the foam in place for a month and no sign of degradation yet. I've never seen gray foam pipe insulation before.

    I got the Frost King foam insulation from Lowe's. Super easy to cut and slide into place. I cut the entire section in half, then folded each half over on itself, cutting a slit where the vertical grill slats go.
     
    Woodstock74 likes this.
  3. neilpre

    neilpre Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Amherst, MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks Augustus. I had already picked up the Frost King insulation at Lowes. Since I have the dark gray Prius, it matches the color nicely. (The similar insulation at Home Depot is actually a bit lighter in color). Now much of the grill have you blocked off?
     
  4. Jim Porta

    Jim Porta Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2009
    86
    17
    0
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Warning... I may have caused the "Triangle of Death". Yesterday with one strip of grill block. It happened on I 65 in northern Kentucky. The dash lit up and cruse control quit. It was about 70 degrees. I limped about 25miles to the nearest Toyota dealer. On the way I pulled the grill block off. They read a P0A93 code. It's still an the dealer till a Prius trained tec. checks it tomorrow. I don't think I'll do any more grill blocking without being able to monitor both cooling loops temperature.
     
  5. neilpre

    neilpre Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Amherst, MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Wow, sorry to hear that. Please let us know the outcome. What are the 2 cooling loops? And will a scanGauge II monitor both at the same time?
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,478
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    ^ I wouldn't do any amount of grill blocking, once you get above 50~60 degrees Fahrenheit. Basically anytime you might remotely want to use AC for cooling; grill blocking is then completely counterproductive. Also, when grill blocking, you want to know where the inverter coolant radiator is, and avoid blocking that zone.

    I'm blocking "conservatively", using the black foam tubing, typically 50% of the larger lower grill on my third gen (inverter rad is behind the upper grill in my case).

    It lasts years, doesn't deteriorate. Get's a little squished looking is all. I leave the 4' sections full length and use a Velcro tape strip near each end to secure it.

    Once ambient temps are getting above 10C I take it off. Also, if we're doing something like going up a ski hill I'll take all grill block off, no matter the ambient temp.
     
  7. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,831
    1,825
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    The two cooling loops in your Gen2 Prius are independent:
    1. The ICE loop which is pumpedby a standard mechanical coolant pump driven by the "serpentine" belt
    2. The "Inverter" loop which cools both the power electronics and the HSD. It is driven by an electric coolant pump
    Both loop coolants should be replaced at 100k miles and then every 50k miles thereafter with the pre-mixed Toyota pink SLL coolant. I replaced both pumps at 150k miles and the serpentine belt as preventative maintenance.

    My xgauge list shows Engine coolant (both F and C), but no listing for the Inverter coolant for a Gen2 Prius (both exist for a Gen3).
    My Torque Pro lists both ICE and Inverter temps.

    JeffD
     
    #7 jdenenberg, Feb 21, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2016
  8. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    2,002
    745
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I block the upper grill when temperature drops enough that I’m pretty sure that I’m not using A/C until the next summer. Lower grill is blocked 80% when temperature stays colder than +5c/41F (here that means whole winter). In gen 2 inverter coolant loop is on bottom part of radiator so that’s where you should leave the opening.
     
  9. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    My grill is pretty much blocked all year. Every traction battery is going to eventually fail. Your traction battery may still be under warranty.

    I have the 3/8" Frost King in the lower grill secured with twist ties. I use the rubbery pipe insulation up top. Over the last almost 10 years I've lost a couple pieces from the top. I've also lost some of the protective strip covering the adhesive so some pieces have been stuck on the car.
     
  10. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,448
    3,751
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Why are you talking about the battery?

    P0A93= Inverter Cooling System Performance

    Pretty self explanatory, I think.
     
  11. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Sorry, my mistake.
     
  12. Jim Porta

    Jim Porta Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2009
    86
    17
    0
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    The P0A93 error was my fault for having the lower 1/3 of the grill blocked at 65 to 70 degrees.
    We picked up the Prius yesterday and I drove it home ( 90 miles at 70MPH) with no problem except for a very irate wife.
    The dealer charged $114 for testing. Nothing else was found after the code was reset.
    The Prius is smarter than I am. No more grill block for me.
     
  13. neilpre

    neilpre Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Amherst, MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
     
  14. neilpre

    neilpre Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Amherst, MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Mendel,

    So I'm wondering if the A/C gets used at all with the defroster blowing. (It did on the honda that I just parted with). If that's the case, it sounds as though it might make sense to not grill block if I plan to have the defroster blowing warm air.

    Any thoughts anyone?

    Thanks everyone for your responses thus far. I apologize for not getting back earlier but the original responses to my question were sent to my email but then they seemed to have stopped and so I didn't realize that the thread had continued.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,478
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'm not sure about '08. With 3rd gen, if you choose front defog button (dedicated button) AC does for sure go on. And if you choose heat/defog mode, sometimes AC goes on.

    But the main negative about grill blocking with AC running, for me, is that if you're using AC for the usual, cabin cooling reason, then it's completely counterproductive to grill block. AC works by exhausting excess heat through a big radiator in the front grill. Blocking the grill in that situation is like driving around with a foot on the brake.
     
    PeterPrius likes this.
  16. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    2,002
    745
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    A/C only cools the evaporator coil to about +1c/33F. So colder it is less the A/C will be cooling the interior and heating the condenser. With my grill blocking it’s still normal that engine is running cold when A/C is on for defrost.

    I block the upper grill when I don’t need A/C to cool. And I block the lower grill 80% when temperature stays bellow about +5c/41F. So many times I use A/C with upper grill blocked with defrost when temperature is bellow about 8c. Or use A/C with defrost when upper is completely blocked and lower is 80% blocked when temperature bellow about +5c/41F.
     
  17. neilpre

    neilpre Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Amherst, MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thank you.
     
  18. EngMarc

    EngMarc Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2016
    61
    40
    0
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
     
  19. Jim Porta

    Jim Porta Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2009
    86
    17
    0
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Old problem revisited.
    I think my error with the grill partially blocked at 70 degrees. Was an early warning of impending Inverter cooling loop pump failure. Had to have it replaced 4/28/16.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,478
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I would do no grill block above 50F. Not sure where the radiator for the inverter is on second gen, but best to avoid blocking that, at any ambient temp.