1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Operating Temps?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by jwads, Dec 6, 2011.

  1. jwads

    jwads New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2009
    63
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    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?
     
    #1 jwads, Dec 6, 2011
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,193
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    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.
     
    #2 efusco, Dec 6, 2011
  3. jwads

    jwads New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2009
    63
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    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
     
    #3 jwads, Dec 7, 2011
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    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.
     
    #4 F8L, Dec 7, 2011
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,024
    16,242
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The oil is 0W20 synthetic. And L.A.?, oh you have nothing to worry about. Wait til you encounter this:

    [​IMG]
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Dec 7, 2011
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,675
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Looking at that pic I can almost HEAR the blower.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Dec 8, 2011
  7. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I take it you weren't in Vancouver when that picture was taken:D Where were you?
     
    #7 xs650, Dec 8, 2011
  8. Qyota

    Qyota Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2011
    14
    0
    0
    Location:
    Bemidji, MN
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Y'all need to read! The OP moved from LA to OKC. Still not a super cold location, but certainly intercontinental!
     
    #8 Qyota, Dec 8, 2011
  9. jwads

    jwads New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2009
    63
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    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
     
    #9 jwads, Dec 8, 2011
  10. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2009
    532
    225
    2
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Isn't ironic that the A/C light was on, with -40 outside!?
     
    #10 pjksr02, Dec 9, 2011
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    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.
     
    #11 F8L, Dec 9, 2011
  12. Daddy Dave

    Daddy Dave Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2010
    94
    39
    0
    Location:
    Sheridan, WY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    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%.
     
    #12 Daddy Dave, Dec 9, 2011
  13. jwads

    jwads New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2009
    63
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Alright, good to know I don't need to worry about temps. Thanks
     
    #13 jwads, Dec 9, 2011
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,024
    16,242
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    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.
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, Dec 9, 2011
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,675
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    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.
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Dec 9, 2011
  16. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,123
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Funny thing is that -40 C == - 40 F. Weird.

    That's fricking cold by my standards. I've never experienced temps that low...
     
    #16 cwerdna, Dec 10, 2011
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,024
    16,242
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    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:
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Dec 12, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)