Gen 3 Prius Lower Grill Block - How to with Picture

Would painting the foam pieces plastidip black be okay or will the plastidip eat the foam? I ask because plastidip is so manipulative. But I don't know...what do you think? I was planning on making a vent that opens and closes. I like this idea and is much cheaper!

 

I redid the Prius tonight with the dark gray foam. I also took the license plate & frame off to do a better job on the top two rows of the lower grille. Now it looks much better. I also did a much better job sizing my pieces so that I have a very tight fit with virtually no air able to get through. I will be carefully monitoring coolant temps in the days ahead. It is cold enough here to have the upper grille blocked as well. I have done a hand test to confirm that the electronics are staying cool by popping the hood after a long enough trip to get the coolant up to 195F and touching the electronics box and electronics coolant tank to feel their temperature. Both the coolant and the box are cool to the touch even when driving for 45 minutes or more with 25+ minutes with the ICE coolant at 193-195F. This means that even with the full upper block the electric motors & their computer are staying cool.

 

Does not look the best, but in 8 years have never lost a strip of foam yet.

 

Here's another solution that is working well for me after several months. Lower grill is 100% taped, top grill is open.Tape 100% secured on all edges after numerous washes and a lot of rain.

Who will be grill blocking soon? | Page 3 | PriusChat

 

The only details that dont show are two zip ties that hold it on. Otherwise it is a piece of plywood painted with black enamel spray paint I had laying around. Several thick coats front back and sides to keep the moisture out.

It is a perfect fit but is not sealed with foam or anything and it really doesnt matter. It blocks probably 90%. It didnt cost anything and I dont have to mess with the foam.

 

I made up a grille block out of fiberglass and carbon fiber. I took the lower grill out so I could get a form fit...not realy happy with the visible finish, I figure some sanding and epoxy work over the summer will result in a better finish.

I had though about using Zeus style fasteners but ended up with the white zipties for the short term

 

I cut 3/4" black foam into pieces that fit perfectly into the little slots.
Perfectly enough that one went all the way through and is now inside!, up against the radiator.

 

I use same technique. Pics in my album space (I think)!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

No, I mean literally: small, 5" long segments, squeezed in to the little 5"x1/2" spaces.
I screwed up and one fell through. !
I wonder if this is a bad thing. !!

 

Take the very front underpanel piece off and you should be able to fish it out. 1.5" OD foam tubes are easy to work with. Two rows block the lower grill 100%. I just leave them at their 4' length, push their slits onto the grill slats, secure with velcro strips (one toward each end) that wrap around the slat and tube with an inch or two lap.

 

Velcro is A Good Idea! I use black Zip-ties which I snip and throw away each spring!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Yeah I tend to play around with 50% vs 100%, depending on the temperatures. And if we go up our local ski hill (Grouse Mountain), I'll take it all off, regardless of temps: a sustained hill climb, I don't want grill block.

So anyway, velcro strips are very good for flexibility. I get it by the roll from Lee Valley Tools, I'm sure there's lots of sources:

 

"Underpanel piece" -- what is that?

 

That is the piece under the front bumper that scrapes and gets hung up on the parking curb blocks in parking lots, I think four bolts and some plastic fasteners and it comes off.

 

Yeah, the first black plastic piece you see, below and in back of the body-coloured bumper. And that's exactly right: it goes over curb blocks easy as pie, then snags on the way back off. I've had ours off for surgery and stitches.

But when it's off: anything you've pushed through should be sitting atop it, fall out.

 

Mendel,
Thanks for that.

I'm traveling today. 8 hour drive.
Any issue in leaving it where it is for a long trip?

 

I don't think so.

 

What exactly does this do?

 

Reduces cooling, keeps engine bay warmer, accelerates warm up. I would suggest 100% lower grill block with temps solidly below freezing, and 50% from freezing to say 50F. Nothing above that.

Also nothing, regardless of temp, if you're for example going to be driving up a mountain.

 

What Mendel said. Also would add "it does very little if you live in a climate with mild winters like South Carolina"

(and for you Gen 4 readers out there - no need to thanks to the Automatic Grille Shutters on Gen 4's)