Why is the internal combustion engine running?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by bikersmurf, Nov 14, 2008.

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  1. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    Because your not in stage 4.

    In order for stage 4 to happen:
    1) Your engine coolant temp must be 70c or higher
    2) Your engine must be running
    3) You must be going at a speed below 7mph for 10 seconds with the engine running (and you must not be hitting the gas)

    If all the above conditions are correct, then the engine will stop and you'll be in stage 4.


    The prius will exhibit stage 4-like symptoms when your at speeds above 35mph.
     
    #21 Bob64, Nov 16, 2008
  2. bikersmurf

    bikersmurf Junior Member

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    I thank those of you who have actually carefully read the Information I have provided and tried to help.

    As I read more responses I can actually begin to feel brain cell death. It has become apparent that I am wasting my time looking for answers here.:rockon:
     
    #22 bikersmurf, Nov 17, 2008
  3. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Sorry, how could we spell it out any more explicitly? Taking the
    initiative to learn is a two-way street.
    .
    _H*
     
    #23 hobbit, Nov 17, 2008
  4. toxicity

    toxicity A/C Hog

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    Yeah, no its a total waste of time talking to people who have owned Prius' for several years and can/have achieved double the EPA fuel economy or more. Maybe you should go ask your questions on a Jeep forum.
     
    #24 toxicity, Nov 18, 2008
  5. bikersmurf

    bikersmurf Junior Member

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    Toxicity this question has never actually been answered! And, many of the questions even you have asked were answered in the original post. Even factoring in the cold weather etc. a 50% increase in fuel consumption is unexplainable. 35 miles per US gallon (for full tank) is sad for a Prius when I've seen as high as 58 miles per US gallon (for a tank).

    I'm not an Idiot! I have a background in Mechanical engineering, Computers, electronics, mechanics, and fabrication. If I could I'd read Toyota's manuals myself I would. What I'm frustrated about are questions like has it passed the 5000 mile mark? When I've already stated it has over 11,000 km on it.
     
    #25 bikersmurf, Nov 18, 2008
  6. bikersmurf

    bikersmurf Junior Member

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    I know a lot about how the car should work but is not. Believe it or not I've read and understand the responses.

    What I've yet to see an explanation as to why the car is working better after two days of testing than in the three months before. The dealership is insisting that everything is operating within normal range and nothing was repaired.

    I presented one theory but no one even answered the actual question.:mad:
     
    #26 bikersmurf, Nov 18, 2008
  7. toxicity

    toxicity A/C Hog

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    I'm sorry, but I asked the 5,000 mile question because I'm too lazy to convert to kilometres. I lived in the UK for several years, they are technically metric there, however they still use miles. So I've never had to use them.

    Best I can say for your situation is that you passed that mark, and therefore the fuel economy got better.

    Same thing happened to me. One day, I'm getting 36mpg. Next day, I was getting 50. Nothing changed. Not the weather, not my driving style, nothing. I did pump up the tires the day before, but immediately after I had done that, I did a lot of driving that day and the fuel economy was still crap.

    The next day though, everything changed. So I'm assuming the same happened to you.

    The "break in" is different for everybody. My Prius is a salvage; technically I didn't get the "break in" until around 13,000 miles; however the car was in an accident at 7,000 miles and so I assume a lot of things were replaced prior to putting it back on the market. Thus, 5,200 miles after it had been rebuilt, when it started getting great fuel economy, I had surmised that the new components were now broken in.

    Enjoy your car! If its comfortable for you, and you are now getting your decent fuel economy, then it will be one of the best cars you have ever owned.
     
    #27 toxicity, Nov 18, 2008
  8. bikersmurf

    bikersmurf Junior Member

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    Fuel economy was better before 3500 miles. It has been getting worse since then till we've had a marginal, and I do mean marginal, after 7000 miles. Hopefully it will continue, time will tell for sure.

    Maybe the oil level is high... I'll have to check it.
     
    #28 bikersmurf, Nov 19, 2008
  9. toxicity

    toxicity A/C Hog

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    Sorry if this is parrot-like repeating, but if its suddenly gotten worse, its probably because you are almost certainly using heat a lot more. Its cold, no ones blaming you, its just that the ICE has to run a lot to produce the heat most people desire.

    In addition I think colder temperatures affect the tire pressure negatively; I'm not sure, but I think you have to pump up your tires 2-3 psi above normal in order to get the same effect. I have mine at 40psi front and back. See if that changes it.

    Can you give a monthly timeline of when everything happened? Like, good mileage - June; worse, November; better, January, or something like that.
     
    #29 toxicity, Nov 19, 2008
  10. bikersmurf

    bikersmurf Junior Member

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    Monthly Timeline:
    Averages per tank as best I can remember

    may -june 4.8-5/100 km (Apx 45-50) mpg us
    july 5.2-5.4/100km using more A/C
    aug 5.1/100km
    sept 6.1-6.7/100 km using heat very rarely (? 40 mpg)
    oct 6.5-6.9/100 km (? 35 mpg)
    average temp when driving apx 68 f outside.
    nov (before trip to dealership) 6.7-7.0/100 km
    (after "nothing" was done at dealership) 6.0-6.1/100km
    average temp outside now 50-60 f.

    After systems were "checked" by dealership there was a markerd improvement overnight. Fuel economy is better now than since the beginning of sept.

    Do prius use a conventional Thermostat?
     
    #30 bikersmurf, Nov 20, 2008
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