Personal Best After Installing EBH!!

Installed my Engine Block Heater about 2 weeks ago and just posted my best tank yet! 671 miles at 66.3 mpg average. Finally had to fill her up tonight and could only put 10.179 gallons into the tank. I really wanted to hit the 700 mile mark but did not want to risk it. The last bar had been flashing for about 8 miles and I was getting a little nervous. I've never dared to drive more than 10 miles once the last bar starts flashing. Oh well, maybe if I cut back a little more on A/C usage, I'll get 700 miles on the next tank. Now, if I could just eliminate interstate driving from my daily commute to work, I think I could easily get 700 mile tanks every time. :lol:

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Thanks, guys! May I ask how far you've personally driven after that last bar starts flashing? I've heard as low as a few miles and as high as over 100 miles. Surely, I could push it much past 10 miles, based on my average mpg and the summer weather. I'm guessing those who are really getting 100+ miles are running mostly in electric mode that entire time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Blackbird @ Jul 20 2007, 02:54 PM) [snapback]482371[/snapback]</div>

Greetings, Paul. The Engine Block Heater (EBH) is simply a small tubular heating element that you can purchase as an aftermarket Toyota accessory. From what I understand, the Prius comes standard with this heater already installed in certain countries with colder climates. For the rest of us, it's an accessory. Anyway, you "simply" insert this heating element into an existing hole located on the engine block and then plug it into a power outlet with the supplied power cord. I said "simply" because it can actually be a bit of a challenge to install this heater... mainly because of where the hole is located on the engine block. By using this EBH to preheat the engine before your first drive of the day, the Prius will take less time to warm up to optimal operating temp... meaning the ICE (gasoline engine) may run less. The result is you may see a small improvement in fuel economy.

To see a picture of the EBH, go to the accessory shop in PriusChat. Also, I recently posted a guide on how to install the EBH in the Prius Modifications section of this Forum. It is titled, "Want to Install an Engine Block Heater yourself? This guide may Help". In addition, there are several other threads posted in this forum by members with much more knowledge about the Prius than I, with instructions/tips on installing this heater. Do a search for "EBH" or "Engine Block Heater" and you'll find a wealth of information on this subject.

Good luck & feel free to contact me with any questions.

Cheers,
Peter

 

hmm... about 43 miles. Think I'll take a can of gas with me next time and see just how far I can go. I recall reading somewhere that once you are truly out of gas, you should have several seconds to pull off the road (and add some gas) before all the warning lights go crazy on you. Hope this is correct.

 

Thanks, Chris. Wow! 230 miles?! That's just sick! No way I can get that much after the last pip starts flashing, especially with my normal driving conditions/routes. However, if there are indeed 2 gallons left, then I should be able to get around 120 miles. I'll definitely take can of gas with me next time and find out just how far I can go.

 

Thanks, Bob. That's quite a variance. Was there much difference in the driving conditions (weather, traffic, terrain, etc...) between when you got 150 versus 63?

 

Thanks, Bob. Indeed, that would have been a cruel trick! Interesting hypothesis about the guess gauge resetting itself to a different float point, after your first "run dry" attempt.

Wayne, next on my mod list is a ScanGauge II and the EV switch (from Sigma). So, the other Virginia hypermilers better watch out! Just kidding, of course. With as much interstate driving as I do, I don't think I can compete with guys like VaBeachPrius, JimboK and Skwyre7.

Hill, Yes... very additive. I do not plan on pushing it every time the last pip starts flashing. However, I do want to experiment over the next few occasions just to see for myself what to expect in terms of range for my style of driving. I'll take some extra gas with me and pull over immediately to refill when I run out. From my limited understanding of the Prius, this will not cause any harm to the hybrid system. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.