Grill blocking on the C

^ Velcro tape is good for holding tubing on. The wrap around kind that sticks to itself. I'd never NOT use it.

 

Do you have pic for your setup? I use zip tie to hold them right now and so far seems ok on my Sienna. The sienna's grill is like bee nest so I can't use those tube on. Use Velcro tape may not secure tight enough when I driving on the highway.

 

I used zip ties at first. Very secure, but not convenient for removal or adjustment. Here's the tape I'm using, holds securely, and I've re-used strips for multiple years, still ok:


Velcro® Plant Tie - Lee Valley Tools


I use the tubing for 3/4" diameter piping, it has an OD of about 1.5".

 

I see. Thank you for your pic. Will see if I can come up some idea next winter.

 

I use black twist ties to hold the tubes in place.

 

time to take the blocking off..

 

Hah- you're lucky, it's still 36F here today with some snow/sleet, so I'm keeping the grill blocking for now.


For future reference, I use the pipe insulation as well, but I actually squeeze them down and fit it between the slats. If you measure correctly where the verticle pieces of plastic stick out and use a marker to mark the spots on the tubes. Then cut half way through the piece (be careful not to full cut through) at those spots. Then you can squeeze the pipe insulation to fit each area, and the cut piece fit around the verticle pieces. You don't have to use any Velcro it stays in place and won't move and I think it looks better. You can pull the piece out when your done (carefully) for use the next year. I've reused the same pieces for 3 years on my Prius v, and my standard Prius this winter. (I'm assuming the Prius c has a similiar grill to the other two)

I have some pictures from another posting below so you can see what I mean, if your interested in doing his next year.

 

I did the same as your described here, what happened is the foam gets harder at -20 and start to fall inside the grill. I have to take the grill off to get those pieces out. So, I think use zip tie is good idea. Maybe the wind is not that strong in your place. But in Canada, no.

 

Yah, we usually don't get more than a day or two below 0F, but we do have temps that are sustained in the teens for some long periods of time. I could see where it could harden the pipe insulation at those temps. I doubt wind is much different, unless you drive really fast, I do 65 MPH on a daily basis. I could see the wind catching the pipe insulation if the part with the original slit was facing forward.

Did you cut the pipe insulation into small 5in pieces (or so) to fit into each spot separately? Or did you keep it as one long 3ft (or so) piece? If its one long piece, with some slits to fit around the verticle pieces I'm not sure how it would fall through.

Either way good luck next year with your grill blocking.

 

Yes. I cut the form into small 5in pieces. And yes. If u keep it longer, it may lock it self in the place baz of the grill. But it may much difficulties to do it at beginning. I decide to use zip tie in this winter.

 

I used full width pieces with vertical cuts to clear the vertical slats in the grille. I ran it through car washes and 80-90 mph on the freeway never had a problem. Temps only down to about zero degrees here though. Clear improvement in gas mileage.


iPhone ?

 

80-90mph..... U r lucky and no speeding ticket? double lucky guy

 

The speed limits is 80 mph in southern Utah. It's hard to get a ticket unless you go over ninety or have California plates.


iPhone ?

 

Why would I get ticket with CA plate in Utah?

I don't think you can drive legally 80 mph in CA with Utah plate. Someone corrects me if I'm wrong.

 

What I was saying is you are more likely to get stopped speeding in Utah with California plates. It was just a joke. They typically don't stop people doing 10 over, that part was not a joke. The speed limit in several parts of Utah is really 80 that part is fact as well.


iPhone ?

 

I read this thread because I was thinking about how long it takes the C to warm up in cold weather.

Then, I just remembered that I installed a coroplas blocker behind the grill on my 2009 Ford Escape (when it was new).
It covers about 80% of the radiator. My memory sux. I keep forgetting to remove the block in the summer..
But it never over-heats.. I use a ScanGauge II to keep an eye on water and ATF temperatures.

 

How's your mileage if u goes up to 70-80mpg? I just took the blocking off today.
I will check next couple weeks to see if i need to block the top raw or not.

 

Below 80 not too bad, 80 and above especially in the hills it drops below 40. In a head wind I think it went as low as 32.

 

Put my pipe blocker this year with Velcro tape; let the winter begin....

Will change to snow tire once the snow is coming....

 

You can put in 50%, in Fall conditions.