High engine idle speed

Sounds about right to me for the cold conditions you describe.

You might also get similar things happen in hot weather where the battery fan will blow hard sometimes (sounds like a hair dryer).

You could tell the service department when you're in so they can check for any dodgy codes etc.

 

As you point out, engine speed is not directly related to wheel speed. In your case this morning, the engine was working harder to keep your car warm. Switching to ECO told it to not try so hard.

Tom

 

You won't have a code unless you have a light. I wouldn't bother. It's normal behavior (that's Toyota Tech speak ). It can also rev. if the battery is "fully" charged, as it will try to dump the excess charge by spinning the engine with the electric motor. Probably not what happened to you this time, but just for info.

Pearl will "idle" in the cold at over 1200 RPM, trying to keep warm. I think of it as "shivering". A GII but they are basically the same as the GIII.

 

I would agree that this is most likely normal cold weather behavior. Could the engine speed have been a bit lower than you estimated? Mine usually runs about 1250 or so when it's cold.

 

We had racing engine at idle with our previous 06 civic hybrid, a few times over maybe a month period. Very disconcerting: pull up to a red light, foot on brake, and rpm shot up to over 3000. Shift into neutral and it would jump another 4~5 100 rpm. This is with fully warmed up engine, just above freezing temps. Suspected buggy software, but not really sure.

 

I had the exact same thing happen to me this morning. It was 15 degrees out at the time. As someone else mentioned, the high idle speed didn't seem to transfer to the wheels at all. I'm due for an oil change in the next week or so, so I'll have them check it out.

 

I've noticed this a couple times during cold mornings (-10F or below) if I stop for coffee midway during my short 3.5-mile 30mph commute. (Yes, I do ride my bike when I can ) The ICE is "racing" when I pull into the Clark station, but when the car rolls to a halt the engine speed gradually reduces to "idle." I use 100% grill block, not that it makes much difference during my slow short commute. (ScanGuage-II arrives next week sometime.) I just figured the engine was working harder to heat itself or heat the cabin, & that I was observing a Prius cold-climate idiosyncrasy. I was not running Defrost or Max heat when it occurred. Climate control was set to 70F. I do not run Eco when it's this cold. I honestly didn't think much about it; I wasn't even troubled enough to call my dealer (EDIT: my car dealer), although I am glad the OP started a thread so I know I'm not the only one

 

I wish Toyota would include a tachometer which would take a lot of the guesswork out engine idling. Some of this discussion reinforces my decision to only operate in the ECO, but I'm just an old fuddy-duddy.

Happy Motoring,

Tom

 

I wish there was a Super Eco mode, that didn't increase engine speed or run the engine just for cabin heat at all. at the moment i keep turning the climate control off when i know i am going to stop or go very slowly. i'll wait for the heat.

 

Same here.
A "user programmable" ECO mode would be a plus. It doesn't get all that cold here, so I find myself just leaving the HVAC off when I'm on short trips.
I also wish the ICE could be shut down (without powering off) while the vehicle is in warm-up mode, but not moving. I currently have a gate that I have to manually unlock/drive through/re-lock, and then there's a stop light 200-feet beyond that.
I've actually measured an increase in tank MPG by shutting down the car while at both stops to aviod the ICE running at zero MPH.

I always drive with the car in ECO---and It's a very small savings, but still measureable.

Oh well....