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2018 HyCam amateur review and ongoing blog

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by CamryDriver, Jan 22, 2018.

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  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Well when you push the Start button (assume it works thus), is there a few seconds grace before engine starts? That's your ticket to ride: slam it into gear, move a bit, shut it down, within that window. Repeat as needed. If the window is say 15 seconds, that's enough to be practical.
     
    #41 Mendel Leisk, Jan 27, 2018
  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    For my Gen 4, you cannot always put in EV mode. I notice they do not say how long you have before the engine starts.

    upload_2018-1-27_16-53-8.png

    upload_2018-1-27_16-53-30.png
     
    #42 Prodigyplace, Jan 27, 2018
  3. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    According to Tire Rack:

    "The engine and driveline is estimated to consume 80% of the fuel, while the remainder is used to overcome inertia, wind resistance, converted into heat by the brakes or consumed when the vehicle is idling."
     
    #43 amped, Jan 27, 2018
  4. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    Well, yes of course. Even the newest most efficient hybrids are only claiming 40% engine efficiency so at least 60% of the available energy in a unit of fuel is wasted by the engine, but that isn't really what I meant. I was talking about the variable factors one has some degree of control over, not the fact that an engine is not 100% efficient...

    I was driving relatively slowly taking advantage of the off hours of my commute and coasting engine off. The LRR tires had a huge impact on how far and how fast I could glide in neutral with the engine off. The slower speeds lowered the importance of wind resistance and must have greatly increased the importance of LLR tires.
     
    #44 CamryDriver, Jan 27, 2018
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Test it. Basically: start the car, and sit, counting in your head. How long does it take before the engine kicks in? If you counted to 15, reliably, maybe treat 10 as your cut off. This'll be enough to move the car from the garage to adjacent driveway for washing, as an example.
     
    #45 Mendel Leisk, Jan 27, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2018
  6. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    I didn't understand from post #41 that you're focused on lower speeds.

    Still, the Tire Rack data is interesting considering that all models of the new Camry have about the same Cd while the EPA fuel economy estimates between power units vary by almost 100%. I'm not sure if the TR estimate applies to alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles though.
     
    #46 amped, Jan 27, 2018
  7. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    This seems to vary to a great degree. On the high end one time the car got out of the parking lot before the ICE kicked in. On the low end, maybe especially when it is cold outside the engine kicks on very quickly, in just a few seconds.

    The silly thing assumes you want to warm up the car as quickly as possible, which would be a good assumption if you were actually going somewhere. The assumption is not so great if you just want the car in or out of the garage.

    This is particularly annoying since there actually is an EV button. If there was no button you might just say that the things the car does automatically are correct the majority of the time and let it go, but there is a button that does almost nothing and that is annoying.
     
    #47 CamryDriver, Jan 27, 2018
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    is this your first toyota hybrid?
     
    #48 bisco, Jan 27, 2018
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i can never get our '13 hycam out of the garage before the engine starts, unless it was driven earlier in the day, or it is mid summer.
     
    #49 bisco, Jan 27, 2018
  10. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Answered in post 11
     
    #50 Prodigyplace, Jan 27, 2018
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ah, time to read the o/m. i know, it's 7,000 pages.:unsure:
     
    #51 bisco, Jan 27, 2018
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  12. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    You sure it’s not 6,999 pages:whistle:?
     
    #52 Raytheeagle, Jan 27, 2018
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if only...
     
    #53 bisco, Jan 27, 2018
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  14. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    First Toyota ever. Never had an HSD (or other similar system) powered vehicle. I'm kinda purposely avoiding giving too much information about previous vehicles. My reason for being here is the HyCam, not the old stuff that is in the past and further removed from the focus of PriusChat. Heck I already feel a little like a redheaded stepchild driving a Camry instead of a Prius.
     
    #54 CamryDriver, Jan 27, 2018
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    #55 Mendel Leisk, Jan 27, 2018
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    mendel lives in a very mild climate. i have never found his engine on times to be accurate here, but i am jealous.:cool:
     
    #56 bisco, Jan 27, 2018
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  17. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    Shhh! I know, having won SCCA sports car championships and SCORE events in what some would call wretchedly excessive fuel consuming and polluting vehicles, not that I care especially while watching the 24 Hours of Daytona underway now.

    These days I've throttled back to instructing at HPDE events.
     
    #57 amped, Jan 27, 2018
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  18. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    #58 Prodigyplace, Jan 28, 2018
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  19. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    Looks like we can't edit (the original post) after a time limit. I've got another complaint. The hood has a weird lip or shelf by the windshield that catches sunlight and reflects it into your eyes. On the Camry the hood is bent down for the last few centimeters. It looks a little odd but the big problem is that the shelf catches the sunlight. This is worse because my car is bright white...

    camry glare shrunk.jpg
     
    #59 CamryDriver, Jan 28, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
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  20. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Maybe a different air filter or (groan) a cold air intake might change it enough.

    I don't think so. Knowing where someone is coming from helps eliminate unnecessary communication (see above) and/or confusion. Unless one is going to be an @ss about it, folks here actually want to hear about other hybrids and experiences. (y)

    Adding relevant vehicles to your signature via your account page is an easy, one time thing.
     
    #60 fotomoto, Jan 28, 2018
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