getting HOT in a Prius

Even with the UV absorbant windows I did notice the car got hot. I live in El Paso and a couple weeks ago the temp was avg 100 deg. Since then I got the Huber Optik window tinting 35% (61% solar energy reflectance). They did all the windows (even the thin rectangular one below the main hatch window) and an eye brow for the from windshield. I also had dynamat extreme installed in the entire cabin (ceiling, floors, and doors) primarily for sound dampening but also insulates against heat. Since then I only need the AC on the 1st or 2nd setting to keep the car comfortable. I do not use the Auto A/C. Just have it on mentioned settings at max cold.

The first 5 min is brutal on my MPG. After that it is great even with A/C always on. On cool mornings I just have the vents open if on highway or vents open with the fan on if in city.

 

I noticed this right away. To compound things, opening a window is annoying because of the "venetian blind" effect. I either open one up a crack, or have to open multiple windows. A sunroof with a tilt open rear would help immensely.

One of the best features of my old Passat TDI was the ability to roll all windows down before you got into the car. On a hot day you could flush out the hot air to make things live-able. Seems that this would have been an easy addition on the Prius with all it's smarts.

 

Try a 6" eye brow. That is the only legal thing you can do to the windshield. I have not had a problem since the tinting and insulation install. Even if I am driving into the sun the eye brow does a good job unless it is evening (then the sun is not as strong) so does not make much of a difference.

 

Well, when I got my tinting he threw it in for free. I am sure it is not more than $10-$20 to do a 6" eye brow.

Too bad you are not closer. I have two sets of Prius floor mats I do not use. The dealer put them in but I use the all weather mats.

 

Try pointing a couple of your vents upwards ttowards the ceiling for then blast with the A/C for a few minutes.

I've found that in my black Prius, the roof gets incredibly hot and there's no air-gap or barrier between the headliner and roof. Thus, on a sunny day, the headliner is almost to hot to touch and heat seems to emenate from there for a while, even with the A/C on. In my expermination (both with this and my old Civic), turning a couple of vents upwards seems to cool the ambient temp in the car a little faster then pointing the vent's directly at me. This has helped a lot in keeping the car comfortable.

 

First, let me say that I did not inherit my father's trait of starting a hot car with A/C on full blast for a few minutes. I'm pretty sure they don't even allow that at Guantanamo.

Specific to the Prius, I remember reading near the end of last summer that the hatch can be your friend. The plan went something like
1. Park with both front windows open a crack, weather permitting.
2. Go away. (I mean this very nicely.)
3. Come back to your Prius and open the "rear door" which we call the tailgate.
4. Open both front doors if room and time - if not, skip this step.
5. Close the tailgate. If this is difficult, open the windows a bit more.

You have just exchanged lots of air in your Prius before sitting down.

FWIW, when I want to drive with windows open, it appears to be quieter if I only open the rear windows. The air doesn't care which windows are open, but my ears do.

 

I'm puzzled that you say the engine is on all the time. When AUTO A/C is on and the car needs heat, it will run the engine a lot, but if it's cooling the engine shouldn't run much more than with A/C off.

 

unless it's trying to keep the battery charged. then it runs

 

I've seen it tend to keep the ICE running for cabin cooldown as it tends to do for heat. Not right away, but at some stop-go. The battery is down a bit, but not necessarily pink when it decides to run the ICE. I guess the AC at full speed draws quite a bit, and the HV ECU knows this.

 

I have Huper Optic 30 on all the windows except the windshield. After a year I decided that I needed the windshield done.

I had a doctor write me a letter saying that due to extreme sensitivity to sunlight that I needed tint on my windshield. I have scarring that makes me more susceptible to UV damage. Works for me.

I used Huper 50 on the windshield. My local supplier didn't stock this grade so I ordered it from a dealer in Florida. My tinter installed it and cut around the inspection stickers very nicely. The manager said he shouldn't go over the bumps by the rear view mirror but the tinter did anyway and it worked just great. The heat coming through the windshield is cut in half.

The view out the windshield is great in the daytime. At night, the visibility in the headlights is fine and outside the headlights the subtle peripherals are somewhat obscured. I use polarized lenses and this causes rainbow patterns in most tints. In this light shade of huper, I get only a very light almost imperceptable rainbowing with my polarized Revos.

All in all it is sweeeeeeet!

 

temperatures peaked at 91 here today... well.. when i got off work early, my car told me it was 91 outside. I had the A/C on max.

Good idea with pointing the vents up. I don't do this since i usually use voice commands and bluetooth. I guess i can use the cell phone instead of bluetooth. As for voice commands.. they stilll work if you speak clear enough.

If it was 60's to 70's temp, i would just roll the windows down... a/c at stops... same as Dan.

 

So NOW we know how you get the awome mileage!

 

Dan- You're on to me. When I got the windshield tinted I was halfway through this last tank and sitting at 61.1 MPG. I ended the tank at 61.8 MPG.

I usually get slightly better mileage for the second half. I guess because of the reduced weight.