Moving from California to a Freezing Snowy Area, Advice?

When I lived in WA, I blocked my grille w/pipe insulation that you can buy at a hardware store. There are plenty of threads you should be able to find via Google searches like grille blocking siteriuschat.com.

I've never had snow tires but then again, in WA, it didn't snow much. For MN, I'm pretty sure you'll want snow tires. Whatever you spend on snow tires will pay for itself in not getting into an accident.

You might want to consider an engine block heater as well (I don't have one), so that the ICE is more warmed up, yielding better FE and less wait time for the cabin heater to provide heat.

 

This wil be my 12th winter in Minnesota, where you learn to appreciate the design of Prius really quick. It's ability to cope with the lower temperature so much better than traditional vehicles really wins you over. Then of course when spring arrives, you get the thrill of MPG climbing back up again.

As for grille blocking, I did mine a few days ago. 99 cents and 30 minutes is all it took. I just use a marker on the plastic to transfer a mark onto foam pipe insulation, then slice out a little section to press in for a nice fit. Effective, yet surprisingly subtle...


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You know, people DIE from that cold, save yourself man, stay here!!!

Having grown up in Wisconsin, I think your gonna need a...
1 Block heater
2 Engine oil warmer
3 Hopefully you will have a heated garage....
4 Lots of anti-frese.
5 Both radiator and windshield.
6 Really WARM clothing!
7 Glove heaters...

For God sake, last chance, save yourself!!!

 

Get some winter tires with dedicated wheels for them. I'm using my stock wheels for winter tires (Michelin X-Ice 2) and will be buying summer wheels (and probably tires) in the spring. Some tire stores will store your tires / wheels for you (for a price) and do the swap.

You'll want a long handled ice scraper with a snow brush on the other end. Also get some winter floor mats to catch the melting junk from your boots. The Weathertech custom cut liners are great, but industrial. I bought the Toyota winter mats and will see how those work this year.

Some folks like to have light driving gloves and some wear sweaters or waist length "car coats" when driving. I dump my coat in the rear seat and never wear a coat when driving. Cars always warm up within a few minutes and I find it much more comfortable to drive without wearing added bulk.

I haven't thought about a grille cover yet, as I don't think we have as much cold here in southern lower MI. Unfortunately, there is no temp gauge to monitor. Hmm...

 

Blizzaks work well in the snow , grill blocking helps, but its all not a big deal when you get used to it. Besides it pretty and not boring like CA. Just avoid Lake Wobegone if you can.....

 

Welcome to Minnesota!
Some of this may be overboard.
Good tires are a must. However, we have found that a good set of all season tires work just fine for city streets.
This brings up another point, where in MN? There is a difference between car needs in rural and urban/suburban areas.
Also, street parking, garage or heated garage? I have never had a block heater (and never missed it). Never did any grill blocking either, but many people do.
The long handled ice scraper is a must!
Likewise I would recommend lots of layering for warmth. It is amazing how warm a t-shirt, shirt, and sweater can be compared to a single article of really heavy clothing.

And while starting on ice is necessary, it is far easier to start on ice than stop. Watch the speed

 

Oh! Get your 12v battery tested and replaced if it isn't strong. Far easier to do this now than have a dead battery at work.

 

Have you even driven in ice and snow before? First piece of advice is avoid it if possible - hard to do when you need to get to work/school, etc. So next best is to learn how to drive appropriately in this type of weather. All other tips given here are excellent, especially about ice scraper, snow brush and good pair of gloves when you have to clear the car off. Grill block is a great idea - I live in SC and block my lower grill during coldest months - not for more heat - but to keep my mpg's up.

 

First advice is to meet with a good shrink and see how nuts you are to move to Minnesota I am stuck in that ugly state until I can convince my wife to move south. I absolutely hate the bugs, cold air, snow, jacked gas prices, taxes up the wahoo, a-hole drivers, and more I am sitting near Sacramento right now enjoying the warmth until I have to back to the Arctic Zone MN Yes those ice tires work excellent no question. Only buy them from the Tire Rack or your gonna get bent on the price or some cheesy brand. We run those tires every winter. You can drive like a bat out of hell on snow/ice covered roads with them. However, we own separate winter vehicles and summer only vehicles because MN puts so much raw salt on the roads that it destroys a vehicle way too soon. I'd store your Prius and drive a SUV in the snow/salt, so your Prius stays perfect A Prius is way too nice of a car to put it through salt.

Mike

 

I use the pipe insulation for a grille block as well. I took the 3/4" insulation, and made little cuts to accommodate the vertical slats in the grille. Then I slip a cable tie (black ones - white looks tacky, I did it 2 yrs ago lol) through the grille to make a C shape and slide the insulation in. Tighten down the cable tie, and good to go. I use 2 per piece of insulation, and only use 2 pieces of insulation. It takes maybe 15-20 mins the first time, as you need to cut the insulation, etc. Removal is 5 minutes (3 to find the darn scissors or wire cutters, which I use, 1 to cut each cable tie, and 1 to remove the insulation and toss it in the garage or somewhere). The next year, installation is much easier, as you just re-use what you did the previous year.

If you go with winter/snow tires, it appears that Michelin makes an LRR tire for this. I second what others say about a dedicated set of wheels for them. I'm running my 3rd winter (and probably final one) on Bridgestone Blizzaks and have been very happy with them. Check out TireRack.com and you might find some good deals on wheel/tire combos right now. Unfortunately, you have to pay shipping, too. Or talk to a local tire shop, see what they have to offer as well.

 

No really... tell us how you really feel about MN! LOL

 

Wonder what part of MN he is moving to? The WX is very different across the state. I live 35 miles north of Minneapolis and it gets 10f colder there than the big city temps. I can't wait to get the heck out of there, serious Been living there for 46 years now and tired of that state.

Mike

 

Snake, good luck with your adjustments..

If you have never driven in Ice and Snow it's going to be an adjustment... May want to take the advice of people suggesting snow tires. As for the Prius driving, it's no worse than any other passenger car I have driven in the Snow. We had one of the worst winters last season and the Prius did JUST FINE. But I've been driving in this (crap) weather for 40 years (gulp) and it's getting easier with the cars that have the abs breaks and traction control... I have not bought Snow Tires for over 25 years and have not had an accident due to snow / ice. Nor has my wife...


In your toyota manual there should be some tips on winter driving.
Check in this section for some tips.

 

Q: Why did so many Scandinavians move to Minnesota?

A: Because they liked the weather.

 

Because we have crazy wives that like to live in that state. If I wasn't married, there would be no way in hell that I would live in MN

Mike

 

Hi Snake,
I put an IBH in my 2010. It is not too bad. I bought it from PriusChat and it had good instructions.

You do need to remove the windshield wipers and the tray under them. This enables you to find and loosen a cable harness bolt and move it to the side so that you can get the IBH into its hole. Then just put it all back together the way it came apart.

Enjoy,
Dan

 

Great winter memories, with Prius...

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Ha, that's interesting. I live in Chicago and can't convince my wife to move farther north, otherwise I'd be back in Minnesota.

I grew up on a farm in the northern part of the state (same county as International Falls). I loved the seasons, the actual white snow in winter and the green of the firs and spruces, not the grey/brown you get all winter in so much of the rest of the country. We had to feed the sheep no matter the weather, so we'd haul the oats and hay and sometimes water buckets, even at -40. It's no big deal if you're dressed for it, I just didn't like it if was windy when it was below zero. I'd go snowshoeing and snowmobiling and skiing all winter. (You do know that jet skis, inline skates and waterskis were all invented in the MN/WI area by people that wanted to continue their winter sports in the summer, right?)

But for the OP's original question, most people are blowing it out of proportion. Good tires are important, snow tires would probably be helpful, especially if you're not comfortable with driving in snow. I wouldn't get them, but then I grew up in the stuff, and I enjoy a challenge every now and then.

Blocking the grill and adding an engine block heater will help with getting the car warmer a little sooner and slight increase in mpg, but it's not needed for the car to operate. You might want to have a small shovel in the car, in case you do get stuck or there's a drift in your way when you leave the parking lot. That depends on how rural the area is.

Installing an engine block heater is not super easy, but doable with some patience. The biggest problem is not being able to see what you're working on I was told. I went to a Prius meeting in Milwaukee when they were installing them (FireEngineer was there I think), it was a $10 or $20 donation to the club and $60 for the EBH itself I think, and they did it for me. Not sure if the Twin Cities have any such option.