Our rough cold engine start problems

I'll try the additive. Are there preferred brands available in the states? I had my first cold soak this morning and got a rattle on start up for the first time (27 F), not the rumble I was used to now and then. It is pretty hot down there I hear, so probably not cold related in your case.

 

Welcome aboard and enjoy the ride. Hope that fixes it for ya.

 

Sounds like an unrelated issue with similar symptoms. Could you have had fuel contamination? Were you forced to fill up somewhere that you would normally avoid etc?

The existing rough start issue seems to occur when the car has been left for a number of days in cold (mostly below 0c/32f) conditions. Some think it is an oil starvation issue and others that it's to do with the car being shut down previously half way through its warm up cycle. Also the car will cure/shake itself to running normally after about 5-20 seconds. It has happened to me a couple times in 63k miles (101k km) and is almost impossible to show the dealers.

Check the following link and two videos;

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...s-rough-cold-start-issue-being-corrected.html

 

Hi Trev, I had the same problem with the same solution. They weren't blocked but there was some other problem. They replaced the whole rail plus the injectors. That was at approx 20,000kms and I'm now at a trouble free 110,000kms. I've always used 98 octane premium. More expensive but I beleive it's worth it. By the way if you want extended warranty you can get it before 90,000kms (I think.) Ring around the dealers for the best price. I got my local dealer to give it to me for $1150 after I told him what the city dealers were willing to offer.

 

Good move mate!!

 

Why is there an injector issue in Australia but not in Europe or America, even the RHD UK/Irish models? Is it because of the switch to 10% ethanol? We're only 5% max ethanol in the UK still. Or do the Aussie dealers know something the rest of the world doesn't?

I also think that using super unleaded 98 ron is overkill. The Prius is designed to run on regular 91 RON unleaded (not available in Europe) and our American forum friends object to using Premium 95 RON unleaded because of the extra cost. I use 95 Premium unleaded as it's the lowest available here as super 98 ron is way too expensive to consider and won't make any difference to performance. (98 RON £1.45 a litre/US$8.00 a US gallon).

So stick with a good quality 95 RON petrol from a station or brand you trust.

 

Hi Grumpy, I had the/a problem with the injectors and I never touch ethanol. The reason I use 98 is because it has cleaners (here in Aus) that the other octanes don't have and is less environmrntally toxic. When the dealers changed my plugs they were astounded as to the excellent condition they were in.

 

Am I right that similar topic are valid only for US martket vehicles? Maybe low octane gas is a root of problem. I didnt heard about the issue on EU models. Correct me, if I'm wrong.

 

Is the octane really different? My understanding is that the U.S. and Canada use R+M/2 while Europe, Australia, and most of the rest of the world uses the ROM method of rating octane. We use 87 octane IAW the U.S & Canadian owner's manuals. 87 octane by our system would be about 91 octane in Europe.