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Boy this car likes the warmth I Blocked front grille to experiment

Discussion in 'Prius c Fuel Economy' started by hoarybat, Oct 25, 2012.

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  1. hoarybat

    hoarybat Junior Member

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    I am sure others have experimented with other C's with this but after some extreme hypermiling to work RT almost 14 miles RT to work and another stretch of 24 RT stretches,s (I know not a lot of miles) in my PC2 and finally getting some cooler temps here in NewEngland I checked my mileage.

    Summer: 3 trips outside air temps mid 80's: 99 mpg 95 mpg 97 mpg

    Early fall ... temps mid 70's 81 79 82

    Yesterday without modification. temp. 54 62 mpg 64 and 63

    (Modification see below) temp. 54 72 mpg 73 and 72

    I realize other things are affected by the warmth which may increase mileage but the engine turns on a lot less obviously when it is warm out even when the battery is charged. I also had no lights or heater on or A/C when I did these seasonal tests and prewarmed the engine (a few seconds) before starting every RT. I am sure if I had put more miles the difference would have been less as a percentage but blocking the grille must have had an effect as seen. I used kitchen bags taped to bottom and under hood. My wife's (lead foot) mileage mostly highway some back roads has gone from 54mpg to 49. Still very good for her. HERE ARE THE GARBAGE BAGS:

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 hoarybat, Oct 25, 2012
  2. chicagoaficionado

    chicagoaficionado Junior Member

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    Pics don's show up! RE-upload
     
    #2 chicagoaficionado, Oct 25, 2012
  3. hoarybat

    hoarybat Junior Member

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    Attached Files:

    #3 hoarybat, Oct 25, 2012
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  4. GSW

    GSW PRIUS POWER

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    I have a Gen III and was wondering if Toyota placed the inverter in another location on the C? On the Gen III your not suppose to cover up the inverter which resides in the upper open part of the grill. Just checking, I may be off base with the C.
     
    #4 GSW, Oct 25, 2012
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    You drove it like that? :p

    Take that crap off and go to Home Depot for pipe insulation. LOL
     
    #5 F8L, Oct 25, 2012
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  6. napmaster

    napmaster Junior Member

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    lol I can't believe you drove it like that. :sick:
     
    #6 napmaster, Oct 26, 2012
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  7. rjdriver

    rjdriver Active Member

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    very stylish :)

    But interesting result.
     
    #7 rjdriver, Oct 26, 2012
  8. hoarybat

    hoarybat Junior Member

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    LOL only for one day. I'm an engineer so it is function over fashion. Yes I've been planning on using dark grey pipe insulation which matches our color perfectly but before buying I wanted to confirm that blocking would increase mileage. Somehow I now have to slip in the insulation without telling wifey. She frowns upon my experiments! Thanks all...
     
    #8 hoarybat, Oct 26, 2012
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  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    If you slip it in and tuck the edges she may never notice. ;)

    [​IMG]
     
    #9 F8L, Oct 26, 2012
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  10. rjdriver

    rjdriver Active Member

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    Now that actually makes a nice contrast with your paint color. Hmm........I wonder if they make the stuff in red.....?
     
    #10 rjdriver, Oct 26, 2012
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    There is always PlastiDip. ;)
     
    #11 F8L, Oct 26, 2012
  12. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Nice expedient proof of principle test!

    It would be a really good idea to monitor important temperatures with a ScangaugeII, Torque App on an Android device or some other OBD-II monitoring device.
     
    #12 xs650, Oct 26, 2012
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  13. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    You'd be pulled over in a heart beat in my neck of the woods for covering up the license plate like that. Get some pipe insulation ASAP!

    For those wanting some bright color contrast, may I suggest water noodles. Probably get them pretty cheap right now in the off-season. :)
     
    #13 fotomoto, Oct 26, 2012
  14. cmstlist

    cmstlist Member

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    Soo... the grille is there to vent. Aren't there circumstances where this will cause overheating and bad consequences?
     
    #14 cmstlist, Oct 27, 2012
  15. Revan86

    Revan86 Animal nerd and alt car guy

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    Have mine blocked, was unseasonably worm the other day. About 75+ drove on highway and engine temp did not go higher than when it is 40.
     
    #15 Revan86, Oct 27, 2012
  16. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Yes, that's why it's done during cool to cold weather and you should be watching temperatures when you do it.
     
    #16 xs650, Oct 27, 2012
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    With the regular Prius one guru cautions against full block of the upper, since the inverter radiator is there. Until you know what's what I'd be inclined to keep some open on both top and bottom. The inverter radiator would be full width but with short vert. dimensions, say around 4".
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Oct 27, 2012
  18. Revan86

    Revan86 Animal nerd and alt car guy

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    What do base this claim on. I don't mean that to should argumentive, just asking.
     
    #18 Revan86, Oct 27, 2012
  19. RocMills

    RocMills Active Member

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    So the photo displayed by F8L, the red car with the dark piping... is that sufficient grill blocking? As it seems a block heater will not suit my needs, I'm looking for alternatives. Is that just wedged in there? If not, what sort of adhesive was used?
     
    #19 RocMills, Oct 29, 2012
  20. photogrl13

    photogrl13 Member

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    I blocked mine off today as an experiment. Went for a drive afterwards and noticed a dramatic improvement in the temp inside the car :) I just spent $3 for 3 pieces of pipe insulation...the smallest size they had. I cut slits for the vertical pieces and just slid it into the crevices. The area behind the bottom of the license plate is open as it was difficult to get to and I figured it needs some air. It is easily removable if I have any problems.
    IMG_2431.jpg ​
    IMG_2430.jpg ​
     
    #20 photogrl13, Oct 29, 2012
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