Camry HybridDiscussion area for the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving Americas favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
Almost ten days after my move from my Prius to a TCH, I finally broke down and re-activated my TIS subscription. The question I'm looking to answer is whether the TCH has a hot coolant storage tank, as the Prius does. In the Prius, on shut-down, the system pumps about 3L of hot coolant into a special heavily insulated tank, that's located in the driver's side "chin" area of the car. When you next start, it pumps this hot coolant into the ICE's head and upper block, drastically shortening warm-up time, thus increasing overall efficiency.
Well, I've inspected my new TCH, and I've examined the cooling system info in TIS, but I see no sign of the hot coolant tank in this vehicle. Or if it's there, it's well hidden and/or called something else.
Anyone know if Toyota deleted this feature from the TCH, and if so, why?
According to the specs, the TCH has "Thermal coolant storage" - it's just not clear where exactly it is located.
I know that my TCH goes from totally cold to (appearently) totally warmed up in about 2 minutes - so I sya it must be doing the same thing as the Prius!
To my knowledge, the TCH (and all other Toyota/Lexus hybrids) do not have the coolant thermos. It was probably deleted because of extra expense and to make the car more normal. (Most people aren't used to having their car make a high pitched noise during startup/shut down)
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2010 Prius Technology Package (Cdn)
OEM Cargo Mat, OEM All-Weather Mat, LED ext/int lights, 5000K HID, OEM Fogs, Euro Mudguards
Where did you see that info? I've been back on TIS (Toyota's online tech info service where you can get all the service pubs, bulletins, etc), and I could not see any indication of the use of the "thermos" like they do in the Prius. There's a good argument in favor of a simpler system, but since it does such a good job bring the Prius to op temps nearly instantly, you'd think they'd install the same in the other economy oriented hybrids.
To my knowledge, the TCH (and all other Toyota/Lexus hybrids) do not have the coolant thermos. It was probably deleted because of extra expense and to make the car more normal. (Most people aren't used to having their car make a high pitched noise during startup/shut down)
But I'd gotten used to the hum associated with the filling of the thermos! In addition to scouring TIS, I've inspected the car pretty carefully too. I'll be the first to admit when I've missed something, but so far, it ain't where it is in the Prius, nor is it anywhere where I can see it...
But if the TCH does not have "Thermo Coolant Storage" (like the Prius) as this source states, then the TCH has some other way of making the engine go from full cold (overnight) to indicated "Normal hot operating temp" in approximately 90-110 seconds!
I have now timed this 3 times - it appears to totally warm up in 2 minutes (or slightly less). In my other (non-hybrid) car, the temp gage never even starts to move off of "Cold" in the first 2 minutes and it takes perhaps 5-8 minutes to fully warm up (and that is in hot Florida)!
Hey guys, how about you test your TCH's and see how long it takes them to warm up?
Like everything about this remarkable car, this is very interesting!
- The TCH's engine bay is pretty tight so perhaps that'll help it warm faster? (and on the flipside, a good cooling system will keep it from overheating)
- The TCH doesn't have extra slits for the hybrid system like the HiHy or RX
- Or maybe the 2AZ just gives off too much heat lol.
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2010 Prius Technology Package (Cdn)
OEM Cargo Mat, OEM All-Weather Mat, LED ext/int lights, 5000K HID, OEM Fogs, Euro Mudguards
- The TCH's engine bay is pretty tight so perhaps that'll help it warm faster? (and on the flipside, a good cooling system will keep it from overheating)
- The TCH doesn't have extra slits for the hybrid system like the HiHy or RX
- Or maybe the 2AZ just gives off too much heat lol.
My impression is that it's sort of an odd engine compartment. It's very dense in some places, and almost wide open in others. The gas flow in the 2AZ is the reverse of that of the 1NZ in the Prius, that is, the intake runners are between the firewall and the block, and the exhaust is up front, with a fairly big cat right there as it turns down. They, not surprisingly, leave lotsa room around the cat and its heat shield. From that fairly open well of space you get a pretty good view into nooks and crannies you can't see in a Prius or a V-6 Camry. There might yet be a thermos to find in there, but at this point, I'm doubting it, especially since there's no cool whirring sound like there is in the Prius right after shutdown.
I don't have access to a TCH so I won't be able to check or fiddle around but anyway, that's my understanding. I'm sure Toyota has other ways to do the same thing (like how they've found a substitute for the bladder)
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2010 Prius Technology Package (Cdn)
OEM Cargo Mat, OEM All-Weather Mat, LED ext/int lights, 5000K HID, OEM Fogs, Euro Mudguards
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In addition to scouring TIS, I've inspected the car pretty carefully too. I'll be the first to admit when I've missed something, but so far, it ain't where it is in the Prius, nor is it anywhere where I can see it...
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