Is the Prius a “clean†car?

My oil looks as clean when it's time for an oil change as it did when it was put in.

 

I think that's what AT-PZEV is supposed to mean.

Just the fact that it doesn't run the engine at slow/no speed is a big help.
Normal cars pollute horribly when idling.

Some people dis hybrids for the batteries, but NiMH is the cleanest of all current rechargeable
battery technologies, producing nothing seriously toxic. They are large enough to be well worth
recycling anyway -- nickel is valuable.

 

My car's oil was apparently overfilled, and so I took a bunch out. This was with about 1000 miles on the car. The oil on the dipstick looked "clean", but the oil in the jar where I put the extra oil definitely did not look clean.

I've read so many differing opinions on this, I just can't get excited about it one way or the other.

-Roger

 

Hi rogerSC

Same experience. I just removed ~½ qt to lower the oil level to about ¼" below the "full" pip. After ~2,000 miles, the oil was darker than I expected but not what I'd call "dirty." Reason: Hope for a little increase in MPG's. I'm using Mobil-1 5W30 and plan to put in 3 qts only next change, then top up to my preferred level, ~ half way between "add" and "full."

 

Clean tailpipe at 79k. Don't perform this test on conventional cars unless you have a wet-wipe handy.

 

Foxy is only two months old so she hasn't had an emissions test yet.

Has anyone out in Prius Chat land had an emissions test?

 

I am interested in emission checks on a Prius. We just got our first Prius Last Thursday, a 2005, white, package #6 little honey. Our county in New Mexico requires emission checks, so when re-registration time rolls around, we will have to get it emission certified. All the emission stations though put a sensor in the tailpipe of a conventional internal combustion vehicle to measure the levels. Without a dynomometer to put the Prius through high speed paces, how will they measure the emissions if the gas engine does not run at idle speeds when sitting still? Anyone experience the re-registration process where they require this type of emissions certification, please provide a clue to new Prius lovers on what to expect. Thank you.

 

There's a way to get the ICE to run, a subtle dance with buttons. I don't have the thread, you might do a search for "ICE emission testing". Here, they just know a late model Prius (what other kind are there?) is good to go.

 

Out here in MA, the emissions test has moved to OBDII testing (no more idle testing probes!). No check engine light, no problem.

 

In California, hybrids are exempt from smog checks for re-registration. You might want to check with your DMV to see if hybrids are exempt in your area.

 

In California hybrids are exempt only temporarily. I believe, that is until 2008. I have this info at work and am not there right now so I could be off a year. However, starting this year, all new cars are exempt from testing for 7 years.

 

You can turn the heater to Max Heat to get the ICE to run. If you just want to run the ICE momentarily, just step on the gas pedal and it will start up.

 

After going to the DMV site, it looks like a lot more cars will be exempt from smog checks.

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/StdPage.asp?Bo...eck/doineed.htm