http://bbc.in/2CWsJ1I With the predicted drop in temperatures in some states in the USA, eg, South Florida, and even Canada, how are the various Toyota Prius vehicles going to cope with the minus....°C/F drop? I think we might some how, hear reported cases of 1.Brake seizures, and rotor problems 2. Maybe more engine tear and wear on the ICE because of the enormous energy needed to start them up? 3. HV batteries maybe deplete more, and takes time to recharge back? . . . N... What do you think are the issues you might encounter, if you were in those states, or in Canada? Have you being in a similar situation before? What were your experiences? Dxta
While temperatures may be recordbreaking for specific dates in particular places, they are not at all unprecedented for the general region. People have been driving in and dealing with these conditions for as long as driving has existed. Most of the Prius issues in severe cold are the same as on other cars. The coldest I've personally dealt with was -46F (-43C) (actual thermometer reading, not the over-hyped wind chill numbers) a quarter century ago while visiting in Montana. It was not at all a Happy Honda, but it still operated, as did most of the vehicles operated by locals more accustomed to serious cold. My spouse previously encountered colder in Wyoming.
Didn't own Gen2, but Gen3 never had winter problem down to subzero temp. My current Prime is less efficient for heating up in cold, but so far other than lost mpg, no mechanical problem. Only car problem I had in past twenty years living in snow belt was dead 12v battery. That's about it.
I owned my Gen 2 2008 for ten years and always liked how dependable it was in cold weather. The heater and A/C were not one of it's strong points though. lol We haven't had the cold winters that I remember back in the 80's, -22 F. I am familiar with wind chill from my job. I worked on overhead cranes in a steel mill right on Lake Michigan. I remember trying to pull a dip stick out of a very cold gearbox one day and it took two hands. The gear oil looked like tar.
top of mt washington was tied for the second coldest place in the u/s yesterday. it was -5 when i got up this morning, and my unheated attached garage has dropped to 30 degrees for the first time in the 14 years we've been here. i think it is the lengthy stretch that makes it so unusual.
No problem with my Gen 3. Again, it's not unprecedented. I wrote this in 2009. Extreme Cold Weather Performance | PriusChat
If the gear oil looked like tar, then it isn't idle to drive such a car during such a period, considering the risks. Except, maybe the car warms up, and the so-called tar, gets melted before driving.
