Updated OEM 4th gen Block Heater installed with metrics

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by BJFons, Nov 29, 2017.

  1. BJFons

    BJFons Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2006
    23
    9
    0
    Location:
    Jackson, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I received the new updated Toyota OEM part number PU140-00913-1 electric block heater for the 4th gen and finally got it installed. Here are some of the initial metrics on how it can help with fuel economy.

    At an ambient garage temp of 40 degrees, the EBH will elevate water temp to 89 degrees after 1 hour, 101 degrees at 2 hours and 110 degrees at 3 hours and then nothing more beyond that. With that boost, it takes only 3 minutes of driving to get to operating temp of 150 degrees and gives you instant EV mode as well. Prior to the EBH it would take 12-15 minutes of driving to get up to 150 degrees, no EV at all and during that time you are not in full hybrid mode.

    Since install and with outside temps of about 50, I got 81.9, 87.2 and 84.3 while before the install I struggled to get 80 mpg.
     
    #1 BJFons, Nov 29, 2017
    RCO and Mendel Leisk like this.
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    My seat-of-pants observations with 3rd gen are similar: I'd typically aim for 2 hours use, and with ScanGauge was seeing coolant temps 20~25C above ambient. Within a minute or two of start-up it seems to jump fast too, as things get more homogenized?
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Nov 29, 2017
    RCO likes this.
  3. BJFons

    BJFons Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2006
    23
    9
    0
    Location:
    Jackson, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Yup Mendel, very similar metrics to the 2nd and 3rd gen with the exception that the 2nd was easy to install on a jack, the 3rd from a jack or lift and from the top and the 4th even harder than the 3rd.
    Recommend to have it factory install which is hard to do in the US but should be easier in Canada.
     
    #3 BJFons, Nov 29, 2017
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Maybe they factory-install for prairie market? I had to get it installed, by dealership at time of car purchase, payed through the nose too. :rolleyes:

    So did you install yourself? Take wipers off??
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Nov 29, 2017
  5. BJFons

    BJFons Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2006
    23
    9
    0
    Location:
    Jackson, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    No, our installers had issue with some obstructions preventing them from pushing the unit in. Two local dealers refused to install but a dealer about 60 miles away agreed to give it a shot. It took them almost 2 hours to install because they had never done one for a 4th gen. The had to remove upper cowling and lower shields to have access from top and bottom. Placed the unit near the block and pushed it in from the top.
    I had the plug placed near the driver's wiper as to to mess with the shutter system. After install, the dealer said an install would be 1-1.5 hour job, so about $200 and we sell the EBH for $45 through D$W. Our D$W installers are looking at modifying the $35 install donation they've previously asked for. So $220-$250 at a dealer, probably half that price to our D$W members.
     
    #5 BJFons, Nov 29, 2017
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I wonder if the shutter could be slightly clipped at a corner, to run the cord through. Of course then if you tuck back through the grill to be out of the way while driving, it might still foul. Hmm.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Nov 29, 2017
  7. BJFons

    BJFons Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2006
    23
    9
    0
    Location:
    Jackson, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    We've have been installing plugs near the windshield for many years, even before the shutter system because it keeps the plug cleaner and is easier to plug in and is easier to see to make sure you unplug before leaving. We also recommend the use of a timer for a 2-3 hour period prior to leaving.
     
    #7 BJFons, Nov 29, 2017
    Mendel Leisk and RCO like this.
  8. andrewpable

    andrewpable Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2018
    24
    11
    0
    Location:
    Naperville, il
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Sorry to bring up old threads, but I am having a very tough time finding an engine block heater for a gen 4 (2017) prius, could anyone help me out?
     
    #8 andrewpable, Jan 6, 2021
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Tried dealerships?
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Jan 6, 2021
  10. andrewpable

    andrewpable Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2018
    24
    11
    0
    Location:
    Naperville, il
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I tried searching the Toyota parts sites and googling, but couldn't find anything from Toyota. I could try calling dealerships. I just figured maybe people knew how to find them online. I had heard that Canada might be a good place as well but the only model I could find there didn't match the model listed in this or other threads. I also saw that prius chat has some for sale but they don't list one for gen 4 and the model number doesn't seem to match ones I've seen before.
     
    #10 andrewpable, Jan 6, 2021
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah give dealership parts department a phone call.

    I concur, the block heater is readily available from Canadian dealerships, but not the States. And our winters here are a LOT milder than say Fargo, North Dakota.

    Just got one in the last year (old one fritzed after 10 years steady use). They did have to order it in.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Jan 6, 2021
  12. andrewpable

    andrewpable Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2018
    24
    11
    0
    Location:
    Naperville, il
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Sounds good, I'll give that a shot thanks!
     
    #12 andrewpable, Jan 6, 2021
  13. BJFons

    BJFons Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2006
    23
    9
    0
    Location:
    Jackson, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Andrew, here is my original post on EBH for 4th gen Prii.

    I received the new updated Toyota OEM part number PU140-00913-1 electric block heater for the 4th gen and finally got it installed. Here are some of the initial metrics on how it can help with fuel economy.

    At an ambient garage temp of 40 degrees, the EBH will elevate water temp to 89 degrees after 1 hour, 101 degrees at 2 hours and 110 degrees at 3 hours and then nothing more beyond that. With that boost, it takes only 3/5 minutes of driving to get to operating temp of 150/170 degrees and gives you instant EV mode as well. Prior to the EBH it would take 12-15 minutes of driving to get up to 150 degrees, no EV at all and during that time you are not in full hybrid mode.

    I use my EBH all year round just to give me an edge, and my current lifetime mileage is 84.3 on my 2017 Prius Three. Most dealers will probably not have one and will tell you you don't need it but that's old thinking. By the way all EBH are made in Canada since EBH's are mandatory in may parts of Canada. An EBH works!
     
    #13 BJFons, Jan 6, 2021
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  14. andrewpable

    andrewpable Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2018
    24
    11
    0
    Location:
    Naperville, il
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for the reply! That was the vibe I was seeing after a lot of googling, could you point me to where you got yours? Also I read some stuff about that one being ~200w vs the old ones 400w can you comment on that at all?
     
    #14 andrewpable, Jan 6, 2021
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    @BJFons did you install yourself? If so, I’d be interested to know how that went. 3rd gen is a pain: various conduits and brackets are right where the block heater needs to be, just prior to pushing it in. It would be SO much easier if they factory installed in all cars.
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Jan 6, 2021
  16. andrewpable

    andrewpable Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2018
    24
    11
    0
    Location:
    Naperville, il
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    From what I found, the trick for gen 4 is to go from underneath, but I haven't found any good pictures or videos of the process for gen 4.
     
    #16 andrewpable, Jan 6, 2021
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  17. BJFons

    BJFons Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2006
    23
    9
    0
    Location:
    Jackson, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Andrew, our EBH installers would not volunteer to instal for our D$W members because of the difficulty. I had Smart Toyota install mine for about $200 several years ago. They said it took almost 1.5 hours to install with 2 persons needed. They had to install from the top and the bottom. Very burdensome but I believe well worth the price. The 1-2-and 3rd gen could be installed by a single mechanic in about 20-25 minutes with a floor jack, however this 4th gen EBH needs a lift.

    Drive $mart Wisconsin bought EBH's from Metro Toyota out of Cleveland. and paid about $45 each and we sold them to our members for about $60 with a $25 donation to our mechanics to install. But that was for Gen 1 - 2 - 3 Prii EBH installations. I don't know about the watt difference but Jesse could answer that for you.

    You can try calling Jesse and get what his price is. Metro gets all their EBH from Canada. They went to the new model EBH because there were some shorts of the cord on the previous model EBH.


    Jesse Wright

    Internet Parts Sales

    Metro Toyota

    Cleveland, OH

    216.898.2900 Direct

    1.855.846.2578 Toll Free
     
    #17 BJFons, Jan 6, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2021
    andrewpable and Mendel Leisk like this.
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The corner where block heater goes in is VERY crowded in 4th gen. Having 12 volt battery back in that corner doesn’t help I’m sure. FWIW 3rd gen was a handful too. One tip if you DIY: don’t apply the heat transfer grease till you’ve managed to dri-fit (but don’t click it home). Then back it almost out, apply the lube (probably Braille method), then push it back in.
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Jan 6, 2021
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)