winter warm-up

You don't need to warm it up for driving purposes, unless you want the interior warmed up, It will kill your economy. If you want to go that way though, the answer is yes, you can let it idle - the ICE will shut itself off when it is warm, and cycle on and off until you are ready to drive.

 

It takes a lot of energy to warm up the cabin. Heated seat gives you direct heat with the least amount of energy and it delivers quicker too. I think installing seat heater make more sense than installing a remote starter.

 

Darrell installed one in his Prius using seat heater from Cartek. I found similar ones on ebay. It is one of the mod I am looking to do in the future.

 

I don't wish to cloud the issue but if the car is cold it may be OK to let it run for approximately the first minute (stage 1a) before driving off.

For approximately the first 50 seconds to 1 minute after it is started from cold the car will use the battery for propulsion unless you really put your foot in it, or unless the battery is down to 2 or 3 bars. This is done for emission control purpose to warm the ICE and catalytic converters quickly. Emissions take precedence over fuel economy.

So for that one minute when cold you will use energy from the battery which you must put back and the result may be a net loss due to conversion. Unless you park at the top of a fairly long hill it might save a marginal amount of energy and be easier on the battery to let it set and idle for the first minute.

Check out this thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-whats-better-fuel-economy-2.html#post1172791
post #14 in particular

 

I rarely used seat warmers in my last car. But I also didn't have leather either. Cloth is warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer.

I let in run for 30 sec or so and drive slow for the next 2 min.

 

This is where a plug-in vehicle can really shine. I'm not sure about the Leaf but the Volt can be programmed via a screen menu or from anywhere in the world via a smartphone/on-star to pre-condition the car before you leave. I'd bet dollars to donuts that the upcoming plug-in prius (can we call it PIP?) will do it too.

 

We call it PHV Prius. Yes, the prototype PHV Prius has that functionality if you leave it plugged in.

 

I could be wrong but I think after you start your car, if you turn the front defroster or heater on, and turn the setting all the way up, max or hi this will keep the ice running. But as they say your mileage will suffer.

 

Neg 20?
That's cold enough for me to buy the remote start, and to say to heck with the fuel economy!! You can start pinching hydrocarbon molecules when the temperature climbs 52 degrees to a nice balmy 32-degrees!!
I don't guess they make block heaters for Priuses??

 

Yes they do, I think they are available at the PriusChat shop. I haven't installed mine yet but somewhere on here are some directions I think.

Here is a link: http://priuschat.com/shop/advanced_...sid=7b189f509f16dfa7a8dcd218dc98af86&x=10&y=5

 

I think I have left the car idle while scratching thick ice on the windshield only 2-3 times last winter - I needed the warm air inside to melt it a bit - it was really rock hard!

It is illegal in most EU (if not in the whole of the EU) to keep a car standing still, parked, with the engine idling. You can get fined and it is obviously *stupid* to keep a car idling for no purpose. Keeping the engine off is good for ecological reasons, for not stinking, for safety and health issues if there are people around, for unnecessary noise, and it is quite expensive - unless, that is, somebody is paying for your fuel.
You can keep the car idling if the windshield cannot get defogged and need warm air for that - safety first.

Normally I move the car immediately after I turn it on and drive it slowly for the first 1-2 mins - then normally. Typically the Prius is very quick at getting warm and you can hear a marked difference between when the the ICE is simply idling getting warm (and the electric motor is moving the car - that is at low speeds!) and when the ICE can then actively push the car. The engine noise changes markedly.

BTW: I have driven a conventional car with diesel engine last week, a brand new car, and the water temp gauge took what it seemed "forever" to get into the "warm" area. Diesels take longer than gasoline and it was 5C, OK, but it still took what for me was *way longer* than the Prius.

 

Yes, even in CO2 emitting SUV and PU driving redneck Alberta, idling while parked is a fine-able offense. Except in winter, when it's ok to warm up the vehicle.

BUT, idling a Prius is not very efficient, remote start or not. It takes a long time to get heat out of the car when idling it. Even when it's below 0F I find it best to just drive the thing. Turn on front defrost first (to keep the windows clear) and drive. After about four blocks at reasonable speed (above 60 km/hr - 35 MPH) the heater is blowing toasty warm air. The GIII may be a bit faster, with the exhaust heat recovery system. The thermos in the GII is useless in our climate. At least in winter. Wish I could turn it off.

 

So there is a remote starter option for the GenII Prius?
Where can I get it?
Thanks

 

Might be moving from TX to a northern clime that drops to -20F on occasion in the winter...not looking forward to it, but it's going to be an experience.

 

That's cold enough for me to cower indoors with fuzzy slippers and some Baileys in my coffee. Oh, the weather outside is frightful...