Is there a minimum temperature it must be outside for the Prius to start? I've moved to OKC from CA, and as it is much colder here, I am wondering if there is anything I need to know or change due to the cold?
An engine block heater will help reduce the impact of the cold on your fuel economy. Other than that, just get in and drive...it's just a car.
Ya, my fuel MPG is taking it in the shorts cause I've got the heat on so much..glad to know nothing special about the oil or anything
You're in LA. You don't need the heater! : p Try turning the heater temp down some and dress warmer. This may reduce the mpg hit. Or at least keep the heater off until you hit the freeway. Also remember to check your tire pressure. We often forget to do so when the temperature drops. I was almost 10psi lower than expected when temps dropped from high 90s to mid 50s in the span of a couple months. Now my mornings start off at 30°-40° so tire pressure is even lower.
The oil is 0W20 synthetic. And L.A.?, oh you have nothing to worry about. Wait til you encounter this:
Y'all need to read! The OP moved from LA to OKC. Still not a super cold location, but certainly intercontinental!
Ya, glad you caught that. I am in Oklahoma, NOT LA. A cold loation for sure for someone who grew up in Socal his whole life
In most places A/C is heating and cooling. I'm not sure why we assume A/C is supposed to mean cooling only. Air Conditioning could go either way. I blame the Romans.
My 2010 Prius w/40k miles doesn't care how cold or hot it is. It always starts the same. We regularly see -10 and usually -25F here in Sheridan, WY. Gas mileage drops at least 20%.
A friend commented "at those temps, A/C might actually be warmer!" But seriously, A/C doesn't mean cold air. It's conditioned air. In the winter, the A/C will run to dry out the air so that your windows won't fog up.
On Hondas at least, AC will not run below some ambient temp, around zero Centigrade I think. You can push the switch, but nothing happens.
Funny thing is that -40 C == - 40 F. Weird. That's fricking cold by my standards. I've never experienced temps that low...
I think it's 3°C for Toyota but even then, it has to work below those temps because if you try to recirculate at -20°C without the A/C button on, it will fog up quickly. You need A/C to run in cold temps to keep the air from saturating from all the moisture from your nose/mouth. cwerdna, yes it's a number we can all agree on! :shocked:
