Outside Temperature range -22F min.

It's probably reading internally in Celsius, so the lower range is -30C. Sorry, you aren't going to be able to adjust the range.

 

-22F, -40F....What the difference? It's WAY colder than you care to know!!!

Hmm...if it is below -22F, do you do things differently than if it were -20F?

 

I wanted an inside temp measurement (so I could evaluate the climate control system). So I purchased a "National Geographic" inside/outside temp display. Stuck it on the dash using velcro. Cost a whole $10! I haven't yet routed the outside sensor as finding a hole on the passenger side is a little tricky. Anyway, it would solve your problem, and would be more accurate than the car temp reading, as it's taken just ahead of the rad., depending, of course, on where you put the sensor.

 

Dang. You know you're in trouble when the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales match up.

 

I have not found the Prius to have any sort of "disadvantage" starting in extremely cold conditions. If anything, it has an advantage due to the fact the large 200 volt NiMH traction battery is what actually turns over the motor. In temps of -40, with conventional cars or trucks barely able to turn over, the Prius should start

That said, what are you using for a motor oil? A conventional 5W-30 only has to be "good" to -30 C or -22 F. Any colder, you had better use a synthetic 5W-30, preferably a synthetic 0W-30 or 0W-20

I've covered the topic of oil quality and viscosity on other threads. The only reason I started using synthetic oils 25 years ago was to ensure the car would actually start at -40

 

At least at 110F I can still work all day as long as long as I keep moisture intake up to 3 to 5 litres a day. You can keep the cold weather.

How do you cope with ice and snow at those temperatures? I keep hearing(reading) the Prius is uncontrollable and wont move because of traction control if there is a cube of ice on the road anywhere within 3 miles. Then when it does move is skids uncontrollably and is impossible to drive.

 

Ick, maybe *you* can work in +110 F, I sure can't. I used to live in St George, UT and Mesquite, NV, so I'm well aware of what hot dry temps are. I couldn't get out of there fast enough!

At least in most cold conditions, the better you dress up and the harder you work, the warmer you stay. I have no problem working outside unless the temps are colder than -30 C

I think the part about the Prius being "uncontrollable" is a bit of a stretch. With proper studded winter tires, my Prius is a great winter car on ice and snow, up to 3-4 inches. Then the low ground clearance conspires against you and the car stops moving

Not sure if I can comment on the Prius being more or less stable than any other front wheel drive car out there. Some Prius owners have commented on jittery highway tracking, mine was borderline until a proper alignment and zero point calibration.

If you want to see "uncontrollable" check out anybody in a rear wheel drive truck or car attempting to drive on slushy or icy roads. The nice person end is swaying all over the place.

For some reason most of these idiots are in "performance" cars and trucks. Beats me how somebody can spend upwards of $35,000 on a vehicle but can't "afford" 4 studded snow tires. When they're waving their arms alongside the road, I just drive on by. Let Darwin's Law work as nature intended

 

I was thinking of the variable valve timing. If the oil is too sluggish, that could very well affect starting and cold operation. There are quite a few Prius around here, and I'm sure Winnipeg experiences winter temps similar to Fairbanks.

No huge issue of them not starting, at least none that I have heard of. I really don't care what you drive, if the temps are consistently colder than -30 C, you had better use a quality synthetic oil and had better plug it in

At -40, there are plenty of open hoods waiting for a jump start, no matter if brand new or an old clunk. Once a -40 cold snap hits, there are also a rash of blown front seals. That happens because somebody has actually managed to get the car started, but the oil was so thick the pressure went sky high and blew out the seal

As far as burning used oil, that is popular around here, especially on farms and some service shops. There really isn't anything "special" in synthetic motor oils - esters, PAO's, etc - that would constitute a special hazard over ordinary oils

That said, many jurisdictions are banning used oil heaters. Normal byproducts of combustion introduce some pretty nasty heavy metals and acids, which contribute to air pollution

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With all that said, what did the dealer say about the starting issue?

 

That sounds just like how my 2004 Prius behaves. I run 4 studded winter tires, the Goodyear Nordic from Canadian Tire. Same tire as the Goodyear Ultra Grip 500 sold in Europe.

If you click on "Profile" you get a movie about the tire

Goodyear Eur-Winter Tire-UltraGrip 500

On ice, hardpack snow, and rutted/slushy snow up to about 4 inches, my Prius is quite good thanks to the studded tires. Once deeper than 5 inches, forget about it. The wheels refuse to turn

Interesting how some Toyota models have such a sensitive traction control. My 2007 FJ Cruiser has VSC and Trac, and it works very well. If a rear tire spins, it applies the brake to that wheel.

It never kills all the power, allows minor wheelspin, and is never annoying. I run studless Toyo Open Country G-02 Plus winter tires on the FJ, and they work very well. On glare ice a studded tire will work better, my Prius can still stop faster on glare ice

 

3rd person i know of who claims that 2007 or newer Toyota's with VSC do fine in snow and ice... me thinks, that Toyota heard our complaints and made adjustments. i wonder if one were to goto their Toyota dealer, could they make this request... gotta be software control program update i would think?

now i have a 2006 and it actually did pretty good in snow last year but very limited opportunities so not really able to make any strong conclusions. my 2004 struggled on even the slightest of slopes if it was icy out.

 

Again, Winnipeg gets as cold as Fairbanks, and that doesn't seem to be the issue here. Mind you, at -40 to -50 F, *any* vehicle will have issues. At the very least, I would be using a synthetic 0W-30 or even a 0W-20

Locally, Duffy's Taxi uses a huge number of Prius as taxicabs, around 120 at last count, with few cold weather issues. Like any car or truck, they will barely crank at -40 with conventional 5W-30

I've even noticed some private snowplow operators try to start their diesel powered vehicles at -40 while using a 15W-40. Yeah, good luck

 

My northern brothers! You have nothing but my admiration for your hardiness. I start becoming an icicle at 32 and cannot imagine negative temperatures.......