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

Exhaust Heat Recovery optional?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by HTMLSpinnr, Apr 30, 2009.

  1. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,339
    917
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    I've spotted in more than one manual, coolant specs with and without "optional" exhaust heat recovery. Is this an optional feature not included in some models?
     
  2. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2003
    7,093
    2,100
    1,174
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    According to the documentation I have from the press event, it's a standard feature of the 2ZR-FXE, not an option.
     
  3. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2008
    963
    247
    0
    Location:
    Reading, UK
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That would be a criminal thing to remove from Prius I, but I bet it would save some money...
     
  4. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,339
    917
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Right - the fact that they go as far as to specify coolant capacities with and without the system suggests that SOMEWHERE it is an "option".
     
  5. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Maybe they will not include it in the Prius I ($21,000).
     
  6. drees

    drees Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2007
    1,782
    247
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Could be a possibility, but there's no way I'd consider a 2010 Prius without one. On short trips, your fuel economy is going to suck! But who knows, maybe it just brings down the short trip fuel economy to Gen-II levels in which case, a lot of people might consider it to save a thousand bucks.
     
  7. ronhowell

    ronhowell Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    681
    32
    0
    Location:
    Cypress, CA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Can you show us the documentation you are referring to, Rick?
    Seems strange to offer such a stripped version anywhere.
     
  8. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,339
    917
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Taken from the Owner's Manual currently available @ Techinfo.toyota.com (US residents only):

    Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
    0 Capacity
    1 Gasoline engine
    2 With an exhaust heat recovery system 7.6 qt. (7.2 L 6.3 Imp.qt.)
    3 Without exhaust heat recovery system 6.9 qt. (6.5 L 5.7 Imp.qt.)
    4 Power control unit 2.1 qt. (2.0 L 1.8 Imp.qt.)


    Coolant type

    Use either of the following:
    •“Toyota Super Long Life Coolantâ€
    •Similar high-quality ethylene glycol-based non-
    silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate
    coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technol-
    ogy
    Do not use plain water alone.
     
  9. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    1,388
    351
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Sorry to dig this one back up from the grave. I am curious too after seeing the same language in the manual. Does anyone know? Is this by model, or by region (North vs South), etc?
     
  10. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Maybe the Prius 1 which would be for fleets does not have it otherwise, afaik, all 2-5 in the US have it.
     
  11. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I know for sure that my 2012 Prius'v" level 2 has exhaust heat recovery, because they completed a recall on the system, last month.

    It's quite easy to tell if you have it. Just look under the car, and you will see a complicated stainless steel device behind the regular catalythic converter. It has a control valve and a smaller 3/4 inch diameter rubber "heater" type hose connected to it with a two eared hose clamp.

    I've seen pictures of underbodies of Prius models in Japan. They don't have this feature.
     
  12. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    1,388
    351
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Cool thanks! Not that it is super useful right now where I am at. 105*F. But should help come winter time when I needed the cabin heated.
     
  13. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I can't see why any currently made Prius in the US would not have the exhaust heat recovery system. It is more likely than not, part of the pollution control system and certification for the estimated mileage for the car.

    Recovery of the exhaust heat helps the ICE warm up faster and keeps it warm, even when the ICE is not running to keep the emission prorducts low. It's obvious that a cold engine produces more polluting products than an fully warmed up one.
     
  14. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I may be confused, but I thought it heated the engine to get better emissions, not the cabin.
     
    Jonny Zero likes this.
  15. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    1,388
    351
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    You maybe right. But the HVAC takes heat from the cooling system to heat the cabin. Having this system is adding another source of heat to the cooling system, rather than blowing it out of the tail pipe.
     
  16. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2003
    2,940
    1,359
    67
    Location:
    Yokohama, JAPAN
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    In Japan, all Gen3 Prius (lift back) come with Exhaust Heat Recovery system.
    It is optional for the Prius α (Prius v) and Aqua (Prius c) in Japan.

    Ken@Japan
     
    cwerdna likes this.
  17. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
     
  18. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,979
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    I'll have to look, but my friend with a Prius C thinks his doesn't have it.
    Pearl S has it of course.

    A bit of confusion of reasons to have it , so just remember, the faster the engine warms up, the better your mileage will be. -Side benefit- is more heat in the cabin, faster more efficient defrost etc. This may be more important than mileage here, but I haven't experienced winter with Pearl S yet. DON'T RUSH IT!! ;)
     
  19. 13Plug

    13Plug Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2008
    581
    104
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Does anyone here have or know where I can get a diagram of how the system works? I'm thinking like a Toyota Parts website. I know some coolant passes through part of the exhaust, I'm just trying to visualize it. Is there a valve or does the coolant always run through there?

    Looking forward to testing out the system when I get my Gen3 Prius. My Gen2 Prius takes a while to warm up in the winter when it's -35 LOL
     
  20. BruceInOKC

    BruceInOKC Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2009
    190
    90
    0
    Location:
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I believe the EHRS is similar in principle to the coolant thermostat, which stays closed when the coolant is cold, then it opens when the coolant is warm enough so it flows to the radiator. The valve is initially open on the EHRS so the coolant can flow by the exhaust for heating purposes, then the valve closes once it's warm enough. See the diagram below:

    Exhaust Heat Recovery System