Winter Operation - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Blueslover · 07-06-2008, 07:02 AM

Thinking of ordering a TCH this week. Just wondering, does it have the ability to start the gas engine to heat up interior in winter while parked in the driveway? Thanks

hoser · 07-06-2008, 08:57 AM

You can buy a remote start and let it run.

Tideland Prius · 07-06-2008, 09:10 PM

You can plug it into the socket (engine block heater). Cheaper, faster heat up and kinder to the environment.

cdn_tch · 07-06-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

You can plug it into the socket (engine block heater). Cheaper, faster heat up and kinder to the environment.

While the block heater will warm up the engine, and blow warm air sooner, an interior car heater will warm up the interior so it is not such a heat sink. A combination of both is best, with a timer that turns on about 90 min before they leave (at -20 or 30, less time if it is not as cold which would be the case in VA)

razol · 07-10-2008, 08:18 PM

I am not sure how you would get one with a block heater in VA. They simply do not sell them that way this far south. I expect that you might be able to order one. To answer the original question, yes the gas engine turns on when the car is cold to warm things up.

Quote:

A combination of both is best, with a timer that turns on about 90 min before they leave (at -20 or 30, less time if it is not as cold which would be the case in VA)

Warming p your car 90 minutes before leaving? Canadians are a hearty lot, God bless you all. I could never live anyplace that cold.

cdn_tch · 07-10-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razol

Warming p your car 90 minutes before leaving? Canadians are a hearty lot, God bless you all. I could never live anyplace that cold.

Sorry, you misunderstood me. Not 90 min of running time to warm up, but rather *plugged* in for 90 min. Neither heater is particularly powerful, I think the block heater is only 300w or so, so it takes a while for it to get the engine to the maximum temp. The car will start at -40, but both the car and the driver will be a lot happier if you can preheat it.

Pipemajor · 07-11-2008, 07:51 AM

I really don't think it's needed. Even on our sub-zero (F) Minnesota winter days, our TCH warms up readily. Within a few blocks of driving, we're enjoying the heat from the core.

I'd also trust the TCH system to start on a frigid day more than a conventional starter although it's more difficult to "glide" using battery when it's very cold and you don't use the ECO setting for the heater/AC.

...and you can always order heated seats.

Blueslover · 07-11-2008, 11:45 AM

Just to help clarify my original question & reason for asking it, allow me to state the following. I was told by some sales guys at different dealers that the engine wouldn't even be running unless you were driving down the road. I knew that the heat normally comes from the engine block while running, so I says to myself. "Self" how this car gonna produce heat if it ain't runnin'? Thus the question about "preheating" the interior. I was also told at another dealership that the heat/ac, power steering & several other things are electrically operated, so the car's engine wouldn't really need to be running. So who's correct? I did order one on Wed. White, alloys, JBL system, bluetooth, moon roof, leather with seat heaters, carpet mats , heated mirrors, wheel locks, no Nav. Had to pay $28,650.00 with freight incl. Feel like I got a good deal considering the current market. I know others paid the same or less with Nav, but those deals are now HISTORY. Most dealers in VA are charging msrp or 2-3 K over msrp & not having any problem getting it.

Pipemajor · 07-11-2008, 03:58 PM

When we back out of our garage, the ICE will start before we get out to the street. NiMH batteries have a fairly high self-discharge rate so if you park overnight you'll not get much distance on battery alone when starting up first time each day.

Coming home, we've been able to "glide" on battery alone as soon as we turn off the arterial road and put around at 25MPH.

In the winter, when you call for heat, the ICE will start and probably keep running. Wintertime mileage isn't great.

Tideland Prius · 07-11-2008, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueslover

Just to help clarify my original question & reason for asking it, allow me to state the following. I was told by some sales guys at different dealers that the engine wouldn't even be running unless you were driving down the road. I knew that the heat normally comes from the engine block while running, so I says to myself. "Self" how this car gonna produce heat if it ain't runnin'? Thus the question about "preheating" the interior. I was also told at another dealership that the heat/ac, power steering & several other things are electrically operated, so the car's engine wouldn't really need to be running. So who's correct? I did order one on Wed. White, alloys, JBL system, bluetooth, moon roof, leather with seat heaters, carpet mats , heated mirrors, wheel locks, no Nav. Had to pay $28,650.00 with freight incl. Feel like I got a good deal considering the current market. I know others paid the same or less with Nav, but those deals are now HISTORY. Most dealers in VA are charging msrp or 2-3 K over msrp & not having any problem getting it.

well you have two options

Run the heated seats and keep the heater off. This will allow the engine to shut off when it's sufficiently warm (though I've never tried running at anything below -5°C so I can't say. Our winters are mild)

OR

run both and the engine will continue to idle even if it's sufficiently warmed because it needs to provide heat to the cabin.

Frodo65 · 07-13-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueslover

Just to help clarify my original question & reason for asking it, allow me to state the following. I was told by some sales guys at different dealers that the engine wouldn't even be running unless you were driving down the road. I knew that the heat normally comes from the engine block while running, so I says to myself. "Self" how this car gonna produce heat if it ain't runnin'? Thus the question about "preheating" the interior. I was also told at another dealership that the heat/ac, power steering & several other things are electrically operated, so the car's engine wouldn't really need to be running. So who's correct? I did order one on Wed. White, alloys, JBL system, bluetooth, moon roof, leather with seat heaters, carpet mats , heated mirrors, wheel locks, no Nav. Had to pay $28,650.00 with freight incl. Feel like I got a good deal considering the current market. I know others paid the same or less with Nav, but those deals are now HISTORY. Most dealers in VA are charging msrp or 2-3 K over msrp & not having any problem getting it.

Once the ICE is warmed up, it'll shut off when the car is stopped. In cold temps, it takes 3-5 miles of driving to get it to the point where it starts doing this. Idling in the drive, it'll take a bit longer.

So, the typical start protocol:
Press start button, the computer shows 'ready'. The ICE will start within 20 seconds or so of the 'ready' message. The ICE will run until it reaches operating temp and the traction battery is adequately charged, at which point it'll start shutting off when the car's stopped. Keep in mind that with the ICE running in Park, you're getting 0 MPG, and polluting the air for no worthwhile purpose. A block heater will get the heat going in a much 'greener' fashion.

razol · 07-14-2008, 09:31 AM

Thar gas engine fire up always right after you start the car. If the operating temperature is within the range it like and the battery is charged. It will shut off after a minute or so. If it is cold, it keeps the gas engine on for as long as it take to warm up. In the winter this can take a while on a cold day, thus mileage in the winter is not so stellar. My mileage drops a few MPGs in the winter.