Serious Prius Question
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
Serious Prius Question
I'm not throwing any rocks here. I was just wondering about how the Prius performed in the recent cold snap. ( We had pretty much below zero for 4 or 5 days -- lows were around -20F)
Wondering what the heater did to the mileage -- and how well it worked. Also wondering how well the basic drive train held up.
I'm pretty sure that there are a few Prius owners here -- hopefully one or two in the Great White North.
And again, I'm just genuinely curious.
Will really be interested in how all electric vehicles stand up to these extremes.
Wondering what the heater did to the mileage -- and how well it worked. Also wondering how well the basic drive train held up.
I'm pretty sure that there are a few Prius owners here -- hopefully one or two in the Great White North.
And again, I'm just genuinely curious.
Will really be interested in how all electric vehicles stand up to these extremes.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
My mother in law has one and it performed flawlessly here in the -10 and below we've had here in NW ohio the last few days. I think the heater in her prius is better than the one in my olds. It also uses the traction motor to start the engine, so it starts right up. The HV battery seems to last a bit longer in the cold than a standard car battery. Her mileage is no worse than it ever is in the winter. The gas engine did make some noise though, but that's just toyota's in general. They get noisy in the cold.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
A 100% battery electric vehicle may not be a good for extreme cold, but the Prius is a hybrid with a 1.5L gasoline engine that produces waste heat like any other, so I dont think there would be a problem with the heater. As for the electric part of it, batteries have lower capacity, but motor windings and wiring conduct better (lower resistance) in the cold.
Jim
Jim
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,982
Likes: 1
From: Clearwater, Fl
my o6 ranger has been sluggish to start the 3 mornings here in fla that were about 35 degrees in the morning....................but i thought that would apply to all makes and models
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
It's got some top end noise, it's likely the timing chain guides. These engines are notorious for this.. Well that and it DOES have ~80k miles on it now. Maybe even closer to 90k now that I think about it.. All she's had done is normal maintenance, that and she had to have the hood ornament replaced 'cuz she rear ended someone.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Our Prius did just fine in our last cold snap (-15*). The heater tends to fade sometimes since the engine shuts off at stoplights and when coasting. 95% of the time the heater works just fine. Have to turn it down a lot, in fact.
It starts right up when powered on. As was mentioned earlier, the engine is started by the Traction Battery. There is much juice in it, and you won't hear a sluggish turn-over. The small 12v battery just powers odds & ends. It doesn't have anything to do with the starter.
I didn't notice any noise that any other engine doesn't make at -15*.
It starts right up when powered on. As was mentioned earlier, the engine is started by the Traction Battery. There is much juice in it, and you won't hear a sluggish turn-over. The small 12v battery just powers odds & ends. It doesn't have anything to do with the starter.
I didn't notice any noise that any other engine doesn't make at -15*.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
My car even needing an oil change is quiet except for a very small exhaust leak. Her prius and my wifes rebadged corola (read prizm) both have a TERRIBLE noise in the engine. They still run and the prizm gets 37mpg with an auto...
