How do you warm up a cold hybrid car
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 256
Likes: 140
From: Ontario
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 836
Likes: 80
From: ca
I looked it up in the manual for you 
:
■ Starting the hybrid system in an extremely cold environment When the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately -22°F [-30°C]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the temperature of the hybrid battery increases due to the outside temperature increase etc. from page 30 350h manual
When the ambient temperature is low, such as during winter driving conditions ● When starting the hybrid system, the flashing time of the "READY" indicator may be long. Leave the vehicle as it is until the "READY" indicator is steady on, as steady means the vehicle is able to move. ● When the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately -22°F [-30°C]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the temperature of the hybrid battery increases due to the outside temperature increase etc. When the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately -30°C [-22°F]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the temperature of the hybrid battery increases due to the outside temperature increase etc. from page 155 350h manual
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended: ● For the first 200 miles (300 km): Avoid sudden stops. ● For the first 1000 miles (1600 km): • Do not drive at extremely high speeds. • Avoid sudden acceleration. • Do not drive continuously in low gears. • Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods. ● For the first 500 miles (800 km): Do not tow a trailer. (vehicles with towing package) 2-2. Driving procedures 163 2Driving the vehicle from page 163 350h manual
:■ Starting the hybrid system in an extremely cold environment When the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately -22°F [-30°C]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the temperature of the hybrid battery increases due to the outside temperature increase etc. from page 30 350h manual
When the ambient temperature is low, such as during winter driving conditions ● When starting the hybrid system, the flashing time of the "READY" indicator may be long. Leave the vehicle as it is until the "READY" indicator is steady on, as steady means the vehicle is able to move. ● When the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately -22°F [-30°C]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the temperature of the hybrid battery increases due to the outside temperature increase etc. When the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately -30°C [-22°F]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the temperature of the hybrid battery increases due to the outside temperature increase etc. from page 155 350h manual
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended: ● For the first 200 miles (300 km): Avoid sudden stops. ● For the first 1000 miles (1600 km): • Do not drive at extremely high speeds. • Avoid sudden acceleration. • Do not drive continuously in low gears. • Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods. ● For the first 500 miles (800 km): Do not tow a trailer. (vehicles with towing package) 2-2. Driving procedures 163 2Driving the vehicle from page 163 350h manual
The problem is really is no way to force the engine to run to charge the battery unless you drive it which will hurt the mileage.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 836
Likes: 80
From: ca
Having the engine start up while at idle will cause the least amount of use of gas to charge the hybrid battery, but there is no way to force the engine to run.
TODAY for instance:
1. Car had not run since yesterday afternoon
2. Outside temp 80 degrees
3. Start car and unless I start to DRIVE it, engine is not running
4. Hybrid battery at 3 bars out of 8 right off but after driving with ICE running it went to 4 and then 5 bars and yet even then it would NOT go to EV, took about 3 more minutes but what I should have done is not drive those 3 minutes, should have pulled over but I was already on the road
Somewhere someone said to WARM up the car as in have the ICE (internal combustion engine) running to charge the battery so that when you start actual driving the battery is available as you will use less gas at idle vs driving...
Last edited by LiBeRtAs; Aug 20, 2022 at 02:03 PM.
10th Gear
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
From: AK
I looked it up in the manual for you :
■ Starting the hybrid system in an extremely cold environment When the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately -22°F [-30°C]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the temperature of the hybrid battery increases due to the outside temperature increase etc. from page 30 350h manual
:■ Starting the hybrid system in an extremely cold environment When the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately -22°F [-30°C]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the temperature of the hybrid battery increases due to the outside temperature increase etc. from page 30 350h manual
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,035
Likes: 856
Good Luck and I hope you can always leave in a warm NX.
YMMV,
MidCow3
10th Gear
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
From: AK
Hybrid batteries are not good when it is that cold. Below -22°F is might not start at all. An engine block heater might work. If your car starts always or starts most of the time when you leave work, then you should be able to remote start and warm your car up. Brrrrrrrr
Good Luck and I hope you can always leave in a warm NX.
YMMV,
MidCow3
Good Luck and I hope you can always leave in a warm NX.
YMMV,
MidCow3
Steve
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 408
Likes: 194
From: Il
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 408
Likes: 194
From: Il
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,035
Likes: 856
Bad Idea to Rev Up Cold Engine
No it is true. Just try it.
https://youtu.be/p-iQt_OLxgw
https://youtu.be/p-iQt_OLxgw
From the Prius Chat forum on "forced charging" : https://priuschat.com/threads/force-charging.115176/
"Force Charging (reving up the ICE while holding the brake on to prevent movement) is 'useful'
. if you need maximum battery charge and do not care about MPG. Car and Driver force charged
. the Land Speed Record Prius, no one was going to worry about MPG, they wanted maximum top
. speed. Force Charging can be used to make sure two Prius are identical for a test, both are maxed out."
It says "reving" albeit not exactly the same as flooring <stepping fully on the gas> and there is no mention of doing this to a cold engine to warm it up. What is mentioned is that it will charge the battery.
IMHO, it is never good to step fully on the gas on a cold engine.
However, what @Aegean said may have some merit to faster warm up an engine by stepping on the brake and giving the engine some RPMs ( not flooring). The NX remote start starts the ICE engine, I think this might be a much better way to warm up an engine but you are going to waste gas. Why would you do this ? (1) very cold area and you want a warm car (2) very hot area and you want a cool car.
Peace to all especially @Aegean and Good Luck in you Cold Starting Quest
YMMV,
MidCow3
P.S. - Okay you may want to take all my advice with a grain of salt. (1) I am retired and don't drive to work; my last 3 contracts were all remote also (2) I don't live in a cold area, but it can get up to 100 degrees in the summer (3) my NX is always garaged, so not too hot or too cold.
P.S.S - There are just my humble opinions and your opinions may be different and you may not agree with me and that is okay to have different opinions.
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Heat
As to the theory of warming it up first you will have more battery to drive with, if warming it up is using gas how do you force it to use gas and warm up at idle?
Theory being use less gas at idle.
Today for a 20 minute ride in town it was near impossible to keep the battery charged enough to use the battery and the mileage I got was 32 for that short drive because I can’t warm up the car if the ICE doesn’t come on.
Theory being use less gas at idle.
Today for a 20 minute ride in town it was near impossible to keep the battery charged enough to use the battery and the mileage I got was 32 for that short drive because I can’t warm up the car if the ICE doesn’t come on.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,147
Likes: 960
From: Toronto, ON
LOL, yea. I missed this thread as I was still patrolling the RX forums at this time. Force charge a hybrid? Don't forget to ask your rear seat passengers to push on the back of the front seats. Equally useful.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 287
Likes: 99
From: VA
I will try to explain force charging in simple terms. The hybrid car is in ready. The engine stops at some point. You put in D. You press the brake. Then you step on the accelerator all the way. “Floor it”. Here is the first surprise. The engine turns on but the rpm’s do not go to 6000 or something. The hybrid just turns MG1 and MG2 motors without the car moving on full generator mode just charging the HV battery. The whole process is a few minutes and stops when battery is at full bars.
Do not confuse pressing the accelerator pedal in this specific situation to work like normal ICE cars where the engine will reach high rpm’s and redline. It is completely different. I am sure 99% of hybrid owners will have no use for that Toyota special process. Some people use it just before leaving the car for several weeks to leave it with a fully charged HV battery.
Do not confuse pressing the accelerator pedal in this specific situation to work like normal ICE cars where the engine will reach high rpm’s and redline. It is completely different. I am sure 99% of hybrid owners will have no use for that Toyota special process. Some people use it just before leaving the car for several weeks to leave it with a fully charged HV battery.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,147
Likes: 960
From: Toronto, ON
It anyone is entertaining this as a good way to warm up a car in the cold weather, don't. If you feel your conditions warrant some warm up time, as other's have pointed out there are ways to make the engine continue to run at idle. Just let it do that and as soon as practical, proceed gently until the system finishes warming up to proceed with more gusto. The computer knows the temperature of all components and will make charging and operational decisions accordingly, no need to out think it.