Overnight stay at a rest area in Winter

In early January I spent a fairly cold night in a rest-area along I-90 in eastern Montana, temp around 15 degrees. I didn't leave the car running, simply shut it down, wrapped myself in a blanket, and went to sleep. It was fine except for the incredible noise coming from all of the diesel trucks parked their with their engines running all night.

 

Just remember to hit the little switch under the dash to turn off the SOK? so that people cannot simply open your door because your keys are in the car with you.

I have an inflatable twin-sized matress from Coleman, blankets and a special pillow I keep in the Prius for just these sorts of occassions.

 

I did this on the way back from FL last january; ambient temps
about 18 degrees as I headed up into the south carolina foothills.
The engine starting and stopping a little more frequently than
I anticipated was a little disconcerting, but I quickly got
used to it and with the intermittent operation likely burned
way less fuel than the trucks idling all around me too.
.
_H*

 

You'd be surprised a diesel at idle burns very little fuel. A gas engine will run at a constant air/fuel ratio even at idle... where a diesel engine injects just enough fuel to the compressed air to keep it going often approaching and exceeding 100:1. I believe a gas engine is in the 14:1 range....

Mike

 

You're right about diesel engines using little fuel when idling. That's the main reason virtually any large stand alone generator is diesel powered, they'll idle forever at 100:1 air to fuel ratio. Gasoline engines use a 14.7:1 ratio at all times (unless it's out of tune, more common on carburetor cars).

 

Mind if I ask: What switch under dash? What is SOK?

thanks.

 

I was trying to refer to the "Smart Key" remote control system. If you lock your doors but have the smart key inside the car with you it is probable that a stranger could walk up and unlock your door as if he had the keys in his pocket. There is a small black button on the botton the dash under the steering column that turns this feature off. I could be wrong but I believe this is what I've read on here. I've been using this button when I go on long trips and such so I don't wear my 12v battery down as well.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

I'm just wondering, if a stranger could just walk up and unlock the door, why would you have a lock button inside? Isn't that scary to know that you are not safe in your car with the doors locked.

Am I not understanding something?

 

the sensors can distinguish key inside car vs key outside car. and, if your car is running and locked, the doors can't be opened from the outside. i used to try to open the hatch all the time with the car running, keys in the front seat. i had to go back and hit the unlock button on the door until i learned this

 

It can? Wow, nice to know. I can now sleep without being paranoid. Well, not true, I've watched too many detective shows where people get murdered and it's messed me up for life. lol

 

sure, there's a sensor in the center console that detects key inside car. the door sensors detect outside the car. if the center console unit detects a key, then it's inside the car and the doors won't unlock from the outside. also won't lock from the outside!

we've slept at many a rest area, never a concern about someone getting into the car without busting a window. also, window tint helps quite a bit at night with visibility into the car.

btw, that is just my general non-technical description. DH fell back asleep

 

Yes, diesels are frugal at idle, but most trucks still go through
a gallon an hour to stay idling. This is why many truckers are
installing small generators to power onboard stuff instead...
burning maybe 2 gallons overnight instead of 8 or 10.
.
_H*

 

H

Also, idling is bad for modern turbodiesel motors, causes "wetstacking." Wetstacking is when a diesel motor is operated at no load and dead idle. Combustion temps are decreased, combustion becomes very inefficient, and unburned fuel is introduced into the exhaust system.

This forms a residue in the valve area and even the entire exhaust system. If severe enough, valves can bend and destroy the motor

Many fleets and especially the Military have fairly strict anti-idle policies

COLD WEATHER PROBLEMS OF DIESEL ENGINES

A lot of diesel operators have ill-conceived and often Urban Legend ideas about diesel motors. Some will leave their motor idling all the time, in the belief it's *good* for the motor. Of course, they either can't understand or don't care about the emissions produced, the harm to the motor, etc

A diesel motor is made to WORK, so either work it or shut it off. It's reasonable to do a brief warmup, say 5-10 mins max in bitter cold temps.

If they're worried about keeping warm in winter, or about starting the motor in cold temps with no power source to plug in, there are diesel operated coolant heaters out there. Two brands I know of are Espar and ProHeat. A unit suitable for a highway tractor like a Kenworth will use around 0.4 litres of diesel per hour of operation

Technology - Coolant Heater

Teleflex Power Systems - Idle Reduction & Power Management Solutions

Teleflex/Carrier also have an APU that is seeing increased use in locomotive engines and HD truck engines. With the APU, you not only charge the batteries, but in winter you warm the coolant. In summer you also have A/C from a separate cooling system

Teleflex Power Systems - Idle Reduction & Power Management Solutions

Teleflex Power Systems - Rail Solutions

http://www.trucktrailer.carrier.com/Files/TruckTrailer/Local/US-en/trucktrailer/comfortpro.pdf

With diesel becoming more expensive, I really have to wonder about some drivers who insist on idling all the time, or who insist on speeding by at +20 over the limit

jay

 

Typically what can happen with these diesel engines is the fuel isn't completely combusted (as said), then it does two things. 1) The fuel can wash past the piston and contaminate the oil. 2) The fuel will create a carbon deposit on the piston.

Typically what's done to combat this is trying to keep the exhaust gas temperature above about 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be done with a high-idle option or manually engaging an exhaust brake (if equipped). Typically both options are deployed. The exhaust brake is basically a flapper valve that closes off most of the exhaust. This restrictions creates back pressure and therefore heat.

Mike

 

Don't try this at ambient temps below 0F or -18C. Prius coolant will cool down to about 40C and the interior fans won't run. But at -16C Pearl used 1 l/hr for a 3 hour interval and kept me toasty warm (I was providing communication for the Edmonton Hypothermic half marathon in early spring). Not a lot of fuel, but it wrecked my average for that tank.

 

Wow, I love this Espar heater. I wish this was available on cars... it would be a big success in Canada for sure.

 

Yeah, I've read a couple of guys over at the turbo diesel register have them in their Dodge Cummins trucks and they love them.

Mike

 

Interesting. But everything runs fine at -40 say when you're driving ?

What if you have a 300-1000w heater in the car, run by an inverter on the 12v ?

 

The car is fine if you're driving, though last winter wasn't really cold, so I was only able to get experience at -30C (it stayed toasty warm inside). It doesn't cool off enough to stop the interior fans for about 10 min of idling, so you're ok at lights etc. Be aware, both front grills were totally blocked. If they aren't, I think you would be cold, based on local reports from other Prius owners.

The two 400W heaters already in the car do nothing that I can tell, so I doubt a 1000W extra one would be enough. I have a 115V 1500W interior heater, but I haven't tried it in Pearl (Pearl sleeps in an unheated garage, but the ground keeps it about 20C above ambient in cold weather, so the lowest I've seen is -10C or so in the garage). I don't bother with the block heater either, as I can't predict when I'll be using the car. The interior heater warmed up a short wheel base Land Cruiser I used to have to about freezing inside when it was -30C outside (but of course, the vehicle was not moving - and was not in the garage).

Winter is FUN! It's hard to imagine what summer is like in the depths of winter. It's also hard to imagine how insects can survive over winter, but they do!