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Does a 2001 Prius need to be warmed up b4 freeway driving?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by ragnarkar, Oct 17, 2011.

  1. ragnarkar

    ragnarkar Junior Member

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    2001 Prius
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    Since I live literally next to the freeway, would it be a problem if I accelerated to 65 on a cold engine right from the start? Keep in mind this is an older Prius and my apartment exit is adjacent to the nearest freeway onramp.
     
  2. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Will it do it? Yes.
    Is it bad for longevity of the engine and the battery compared to a gentle warmup? Yes.

    I would say give it at least the ~50 seconds to leave stage 1 before going up the ramp. If you do that as habit, but occasionally go straight up the ramp if you are in a hurry, it's not going to make much difference.
     
  3. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    If it's at all practical, drive to the next on-ramp before entering the freeway. A few extra minutes warmup while driving gently will help your engine life.
     
  4. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Living in southern CA, your definition of "cold" is a complete non-issue.

    I live in MN, where it gets drastically colder... and never had any trouble, despite also living next to a highway. Even when seeing this:

    [​IMG]
    .
     
  5. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    I just had to look up what -13F was in C, -25! that is cold!!
     
  6. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i know i own a genII... and this is for a genI...

    i tow with my genII... to the point that if it's warm out or if i'm going N instead of S with a small incline it will partly drain the battery since the car uses mainly electricity to run during stage 1. as Flaninacupboard said... a warmup isn't all the bad. any time i do a warmup on my genII... my gas mileage is more predictable and i always have a more stable battery when i do a warmup. yes.. it may pollute more sitting there for warmup... but a person smoking a cigarette (possibly me) probably does more damage to the earth than a simple warmup (gross comparison... but really.. it doesn't seem all that bad to do a warmup)
     
  7. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    They were having a heat wave.
     
  8. jhknight

    jhknight Junior Member

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    I have a 2002 Prius and I also wonder what you consider "cold" in CA being in MN. I have driven the 2002 in -25F weather and there is a blue light that corresponds to a cold hybrid battery and I believe that while that blue light is on you're supposed to take it somewhat easy? I also saw the neffarious "turtle" light one cold morning - but only once- which ironically appeared after a full hour warm-up on one of those sub-arctic mornings which is supposed to indicate a battery that is overheated ?? and you are supposed to drive under 30 mph until the turtle goes away.