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Prius v in Winter

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by beachgeek, Mar 1, 2022.

  1. beachgeek

    beachgeek Member

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    My 2013 Prius v has lived in Florida its entire life. Unfortunately, we are preparing to move to the cold and snowy north. Anything different about "winterizing" a hybrid? Anything special about driving in winter weather? I have new tires and don't think I will get snow tires. It's rural and I seriously doubt they plow the local roads too well. Would investing in rubberized mats for the "floors" be wise?
     
  2. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Short answer: no.

    We have driven our 2012 v Five in northern winters since new. When it was still on the OEM A20 tires, we had a really alarming drive back in a blinding snow storm, along I-95, that caused me to buy new 17" rims TPMS and Dunlop M3 Winter tires. Used them two winters thereafter. Upon replacing the A20 with new Continental LRR TrueContact all-season tires, we never used the winter tires again, and we sold off the 17" rims with TPMS and Dunlops.

    Moral: if you have good all-season tires, you probably won't need winter tires. Mats aren't a bad idea, but why not just clear your shoes before entering the car?
     
  3. slowmachine

    slowmachine Member

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    We have Weathertech floor liners in all of our cars. We have actual snow tires for one car, and “all weather” snow-rated all-season tires for the other two. Remote start is nice if you park outside, to warm the car before you get into it.
     
  4. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Check BOTH coolant levels/quality/concentration...

    Husky Liners are good as well, at least before they supposedly made a poor modification....

    REVVL V+ 5G ?
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Second the snow tires, preferably on separate rims. Try to do them without TPMS sensors, if legally possible in your area. Look into getting the block heater as well, and maybe an 12 volt battery charger, if your usage is sporadic. For the latter, either external or on-board, depending on your situation.
     
  6. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Depends on how far up you're moving. Further up than DC / Northern Virginia, winter driving starts getting way different than FL driving. First snow fall in particular, every year it seems.....
    It also depends on how much you want to winterize. Some don't bother doing anything special to or with their cars in the winter, except let them idle to warm up and / or deice the windshield. And that one habit is going to be really noticeable on the mpg gauge.
     
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Like most cars, driving on ice is dicey and not recommended. If your going to a place that only has light snow once every few years then you are ok. So ice may keep you home at times.
     
  8. beachgeek

    beachgeek Member

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    I lived in the cold, snowy northland (WAY north of VA) for many years before moving south. I swore I'd never return. This area is rural so I don't think standing in snow, cleaning my feet, before getting in will do it. :-/ In those olden days, I always had snow tires. Rather a PITA but necessary. These days I will have alternatives to going out if it is bad - Amazon, grocery delivery, forget it until the weather clears. I was thinking more along the lines of coolants and such. Presumably, the local guy will know but I want to know the generalities so they don't sell me a bill of goods.
     
  9. beachgeek

    beachgeek Member

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    Are TPMS sensors the things I just got replaced because they always said my tires were low? People convinced me I could have a dangerously low tire and not know it if they weren't working. In olden days I always checked the tires before going anywhere but not for years now. I do own a battery charger, plug in, and have looked at the more portables ones but I don't know much about it, haven't had to do it for years.
     
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  10. beachgeek

    beachgeek Member

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    When you sit and warm up the vehicle does that run down the hybrid battery or just the regular battery? have been told not to sit and let the motor idle very long in general.
     
    vvillovv likes this.
  11. slowmachine

    slowmachine Member

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    If you put it in Park, it will charge the battery while it keeps you warm and safe. I warm it at idle and sit in it at idle without a second thought. Just last night, I did exactly that for about 30 minutes in 15F outside temperatures. The ICE will run as frequently as required to maintain Toyota's minimum operating temperature. If you turn on the front defroster, the engine will run continuously. Fuel consumption doesn't even register on my list of concerns when the outside temperature is low enough to be a threat to health and safety. Even with this type of winter usage, and many short trips, my 2010 is averaging about 43 MPG according to the GOM.
     
  12. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    The Prime doesn't use either battery when the engine (ICE) is running in PARK. The traction pack battery usage can be tracked on multiple screens of both the MID (multi informational display) youtu.be/df22q_SgGkg
    and the MFD (multi function display) 7" or 11" screens
    It's also a good preemptive measure to check the 12 volt battery once a month (winter months) or at very least the first few times the temps drop below freezing in the fall as the computer systems have the biggest changes as ambient outside temps drop in the fall, at least from what I've seen happen.

    and a look at the 2023 expected refresh and changes start here youtu.be/_n2r7ON4Hxk
    just noticed - nothing special needed.
    can do all sorts of things like grill block (which I do religiously) - block heater - turn on the traction pack heater function found in the car settings screen of the MID ( recommended ) - but all those things are not essential in the winter, especially if not driving the car in inclement weather.

    I'm also a beach lover - surfer and was an ocean lifeguard for a couple years before college.
     
    #13 vvillovv, Mar 5, 2022
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2022
  13. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    @jerrymildred might have a few excellent recommendations for preparing a Prius for travel from FL to the frigid northern climates. ;)
     
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  14. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Nothing special to preparing the hybrid. But for all cars, if you're going from FL to the north and it's very cold where you're going, you'll want to replace your crappy Florida windshield washer fluid with stuff that won't turn into a block of ice. Or dump plenty of alcohol in the washer fluid tank. Whichever is cheaper for you.
     
    slowmachine and vvillovv like this.
  15. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    If you're "religious" about using Toyota coolant get the red concentrate and add it to top off the levels.

    REVVL V+ 5G ?
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That stuff would come in handy if for any reason you needed to do a water flush. You'll never get all the water out, and it's nigh impossible to achieve a 50% mix with the pre--mix. The only downside to the concentrate: I believe they recommend to change more often; the interval's maybe 1/2 of the pre-mix. But it can get you out of a jam.

    Addendum: found this:

    https://garagedreams.net/products/toyota-red-vs-pink-coolant-which-is-better

    Also, seems to be discontinued, hard to find. Here's description:

    Toyota Genuine Fluid C0009-00119 Long Life Coolant - 1 Gallon Red Pure Concentrate
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Mar 5, 2022
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2022
  17. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    I had a discussion on a Sienna forum with someone concerned about the difference. I did not look really hard I confess but there is no Toyota pink concentrate so far. (Someone feel free to prove me wrong). The difference being pink and red use a different carboxylic acid. Pink being only sold as 50/50 Toyota can quality control the purity of the water and hence the longevity. With red they don't trust us to use distilled water which hence shorter interval. (Still unproven theory that I'm holding onto until someone finds me pink Toyota concentrate).....

    REVVL V+ 5G ?
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The link I posted describes some differences in the chemistry of the two.
     
  19. beachgeek

    beachgeek Member

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    Thanks everyone.