Can a Prius be "warmed" up as my mileage is dipping below 40mpg as the weather in No. NJ is getting cold?
block grills ebh short answer: no, warming up doesn't help. expect to get under 40 mpg in the winter if you plan on driving in your usual manner without modifying your vehicle and your trips are not just right for gaining mileage. good luck. my current tank is around 33 mpg and I have my grills blocked. But my trips are really short and very poorly set up for getting decent mileage. Even semi-short trips will show dramatic improvement, especially if temps rise to at or near 30 degrees. the defroster seems to be greedy as well, but seeing is kinda important.
All cars take an MPG hit in cold weather. It's just more obvious in a Prius. The best way to warm up any car is to drive it, gently for the first minute or two.
