Temps, grill blocking and when and which to remove

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 6 2007, 07:57 PM) [snapback]419114[/snapback]</div>

This is good information to know, thanks! I bet that you can keep at least one strip in all year long. If cars can drive uphill in Death Valley at 120F, they can do ok with a strip or two of insolation under less severe conditions you would think

 

If I may add my recent experience, driving to/from New England.

4/4 Full block speeds 50-65 MPH, outside temp 32F, terrain mostly flat at first, engine temps 196F-202F, rising with speed.
Start mountain driving through PA, temp 42F, climbing and falling road terrain, speed 55-70MPH, engine temps average 200F, max at 206F.
Stop for gas, remove 1 block on lower grill, back to same conditions above, temps down about 10 degrees F.

Coming back was a full block, even in very windy and snowy conditions the temps stayed up with the full block, only rising to the highest on long ascents.

So upper or lower seems to be good for about 10 degrees F.

Wayne

 

How can you find out those engine coolant temps? I wish the Prius had a temp gauge built in,(also a compass would be nice!) instead of the stupid snowflake when it's below 37 degrees. Do you guys have some sort of 3rd party device that gives you temp info?

Thanks in advance for the knowledge update,

Joe

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FireEngineer @ Apr 9 2007, 10:24 AM) [snapback]420260[/snapback]</div>

 

Does any of this void the warranty? Also, does Toyota have anything to say about it like "interesting" or "don't do it"?

Also, since you guys are into maxing out the mileage, anyone have an opinion on acetone? I personally believe that some of the good results people have gotten are due to dissolving fuel lines and burning them as fuel. I acknowledge I could be wrong.

Apologies if I'm being a troll or making like Moriarty with the negative vibrations.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(joe350gt @ Apr 9 2007, 09:00 PM) [snapback]420515[/snapback]</div>

Many of us have a ScanGauge.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sharkmeister @ Apr 9 2007, 09:35 PM) [snapback]420529[/snapback]</div>

I haven't asked Toyota, but if it doesn't harm the car it shouldn't affect the warranty.

I can't tell you a thing about acetone.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sharkmeister @ Apr 9 2007, 08:35 PM) [snapback]420529[/snapback]</div>

No need to apologize. Many of us are trying to decide how far to push the envelope and everyone's experiences are helpful.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(joe350gt @ Apr 9 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]420515[/snapback]</div>

A GPS unit is more useful and takes up as much space as a compass.

 

So what thickness of pipe insulation are people using? I plan to head to Home Depot soon if this cold snap continues. B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 9 2007, 11:19 PM) [snapback]420623[/snapback]</div>

Turns out there are two thicknesses...and Home Depot only had one thin stick left (3/8" thickness vs. 1/2"). The 3/8" worked better on the narrow lower one ('til I ran out), while the 1/2" thickness was nice on the upper.

Can't wait to see how it does tomorrow: HI 37F LO 27F, with wet snow. Should help a bit, though worst of winter is past.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sharkmeister @ Apr 9 2007, 08:35 PM) [snapback]420529[/snapback]</div>

Shark:

I now use the CAN View, which I believe is an outstanding product, especially for 04 and 05 Prii, which have the analog MFD and don't require an additional screen, as the newer cars would.

I experimented rather extensively with using acetone in my previous car (a G35 sedan). I noted no ill effects (that I could detect) well over a year after I terminated the experiment. I terminated the experiment after several months of of using acetone at the generally recommended dose (which I don't recall at the moment) because I saw absolutely no effect at all on my mpg. None.

I would under no circumstances even remotely consider putting acetone in a Prius with the soft fuel tank bladder. Acetone is a brutally active solvent which I've seen remove paint and varnished oil from inside an engine, very quickly (I rubbed an acetone soaked cloth in the oil filler of a varnished car -- varnish came right off). If I actually had a dream about putting acetone in a Prius, I'd call it a nightmare. . .

 

I figure on leaving the top opening blocked more or less forever.
The bottom lets the *vast* bulk of air in, toward the right places
[i.e. the inverter section of the radiator] and to me, making sure
that's happy takes priority. Then again, much depends on the air
flow path in the nose before it actually heads through the radiators.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 10 2007, 10:51 PM) [snapback]421358[/snapback]</div>

well good info to know as i thought that the lower should be removed first but only because its less effective for removing heat in the system. right now, i am in a position where the weather is too up and down. right now its 45 and rainy, Friday, it was 80 and sunny. i did remove two rows on the bottom a few weeks back and rarely see water temps above 194º so, we will keep it that way until i see 200. but without CANVIEW and using Scangauge, only have water temps to monitor. with CANVIEW, i would be more daring as MG temps can be monitored as well

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Apr 12 2007, 02:49 PM) [snapback]422203[/snapback]</div>

So far, when I was looking at them both at the same time, I never saw more than 2F degrees difference between coolant and engine temperatures. I've been just looking at coolant temperature lately.
Since getting CAN_View working about the first of the year, I've never seen the temperature above 194F myself. I do have the lower grill unblocked now though.

Dave M.