Hi guys,<br><br>Do you guys know if, like some older conventional cars, there is a need to warm up the Prius in the morning before driving it?<br><br>Also, will there be a problem for the Prius to operate under the 100+ F degree weather?

Hi YoYo:<br><br>No need to warm it up. Just drive it.<br>After experiencing a long hot Southern California summer, I have had no problems in 100 degree weather. But I'd recommend using the A/C!<br><br>-Michael<br>CA "01 Prius"

I live in the Chicago area. The weather hasn't been that cold since we bought the Prius but I go as soon as the "ready light" comes on. I would like to see Toyota offer a block heater for cold climates. On short trips of ten minutes or less in heavy stop-and-go traffic we get less than 20 mpg because the gas engine keeps running until it reaches a certain temperature. I think a block heater would help increase the mileage in cold weather.

Toyota does make a block heater for the Prius. To my recollection it doesn't do anything for the catalytic converter (which is what is being warmed up in your first 5-10min or so when you get low MPG because your engine is running, so that you can keep the SULEV status).<br><br>As for running the engine before driving, there's no need to do it. An idling car gets 0 MPG, and produces emissions. An engine tends to warm up more quickly and efficiently when it is under load (driving).<br><br>The Prius warms up quickly enough (only a few minutes worth of driving for me). As long as you have a READY light, you are fine. (In really cold temperatures, you may have to wait a few extra seconds for the light, but...)<br><br>As for hot temperatures, I don't recall it getting much over 90 here in MA last summer, so I don't know what it'll be like. I suspect that the AC use will bring your MPG down a bit. (AC condensor is run by the engine.)

Thanks for the info. It's amazing what Dealers don't know about the Prius. Mine said there was no block heater available. I'll double check.

In Canada the block heater is supposedly an accessory that can be bought with the car, like a CD player or floor mats...<br><br>Both the block heater and the mud guards/flaps are elusive, but they do exist. I do believe that someone over on the Group ordered one recently, only to find that they're on backorder right now...<br><br>Try some of these Parts Departments if your local dealer comes up empty. (You might even find a better deal through them than locally!)<br><a href=

Last summer I drove my Prius on I-40 between Kingman,AZ and Barstow, CA with the temperature guage readin 115-120 degrees, AC on 70 degrees driving at 85 mph with about 750 lbs people and luggage. No overheating. Outside temps were reported at 125-30 degrees but toyota guage has max of 120 degrees.