Hyper milers assemble. Looking for winter insulation ideas

I got my first hybrid this summer and the cold season is about to start. I come from a hypermiling background where I had a full belly pan Yaris and was able to get 50mpg+







Now that the temperatures have started dropping, I monitor the engine's temperature with my scan gauge and seeing it drop 10-20 degrees when you start coasting in EV is alarming and explains why these head gaskets fail so often. The best solution I can think of would be some kind of shutter grille that closes when you are in EV mode but it hasn't been cold enough for me to start messing with grill block-offs. For now, I started with insulating the top of the engine and so far, it seems to be helping hold in the heat. No issues with overheating but my intake temperatures are still a little too cold for my liking. I will try to route my intake so it picks up air from the exhaust like I did on my yaris but this will be more challenging since the engine bay is much tighter.

 

Luxury Prius, it's a CT200h. I don't know why the forum doesn't have it as an option to select on my profile yet you can put Tesla or Leaf..

 

The CT's engine bay is pretty well sealed. I only had to add a rubber strip on the headlight where the fresh air for the intake comes in. I may look into a block heater but what I use is an oil pan heater that sticks on the bottom of the pan since I don't really mind not having heat but I like the idea of having warm oil for the engine on cold start up.

Getting up to temperature isn't really what worries me, it's keeping that temperature up and not having it drastically drop every time EV mode turns on.

 

I've also started using the B mode when I first take off on a cold day. If I keep it in D, the engine will keep shutting off when I get to a stop sign even though it's stone cold. I like the fact that in B mode, the engine will stay running and warm things up faster.

 

Driving a hybrid is so much work lol. I keep the heat off for now and just use my heated seat because it affects how fast the engine gets up to temp. It does keep the engine running longer but it still shuts off, maybe its not cold enough outside yet? Putting it in B mode seems to be a sure way to keep the engine on but maybe once it gets colder outside, leaving the heat on will be enough to keep the engine running.

 

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I wasn't serious obviously and I enjoy the challenge. I'd just like to keep my engine healthy during the cold periods and not need a head gasket every 150k. If it comes to that then so be it but I'm just experimenting here.

 

Turned the heat on today and the engine did stay on a little longer but it still shuts off at the first red light when the coolant hasn't even reached 55F. Leaving it in B really did the trick but now I'm worried the extra load is doing more harm than good. Engine braking a stone cold engine doesn't feel right.

 

Thank you, a block heater is what I need. I tried looking for one with the part number you gave but there is nothing for PU140-00905 on Toyota websites and Amayama. All I could find was for part PK5A4-08J14

Toyota Block Heater - Prius PK5A4-08J14 – Jackson's Toyota

PK5A4-89J16 - Block Heater Brantford Toyota Parts

 

QUOTE="Mendel Leisk, post: 3496308, member: 69191"]Yeah part no for the one we had installed in 2010 was different from the part I got through local dealership, just a few years back.

Second link you posted is significantly cheaper. I'd note the two part no's, then phone a nearby-to-you dealership parts department. Let them figure out the correct/current part, check against the noted numbers but go with their recommendation. Price around $90 is the usual.[/QUOTE]


Looks like Toyota and Lexus have discontinued the block heater and they can't get it for me. I'm going to keep using the stick-on pads on the bottom of the oil pan for the oil and as for the coolant, I will try this Termo lower radiator hose heater. It probably won't be as good as the oem block heater but it will be better than nothing.