# Hybrids in cold weather? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [October 30, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587 "2015-10-30T18:27:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LagunaGirl78](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lagunagirl78/32/2971_2.png) [@LagunaGirl78](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LagunaGirl78)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/1 "2015-10-30T18:27:53Z")
We have a friend who drives a Toyota Prius but it WILL NOT START on many cold Colorado mornings. We are considering buying a 2015/16 Ford Fusion Energi and need an honest answer about whether it will start in cold weather?? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/2 "2015-10-30T18:32:27Z")
> **We have a friend who drives a Toyota Prius but it WILL NOT START on many cold Colorado mornings.** I know a few people who own Hybrids…and none act like that. My brother-in-law in Upstate NY bought a new Prius back in 08. He’s never had that problem. Neighbor of mine owns a Civic hybrid now approaching 200k miles…and his doesn’t either. There’s something wrong…it’s NOT a design problem. It needs to be fixed. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/3 "2015-10-30T18:34:33Z")
Yes - honest. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/4 "2015-10-30T18:44:23Z")
If it was a design problem there would be a sticker on the hybrid stating “not for use in cold climates”. The real question is why hasn’t your friend had the car looked at. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/5 "2015-10-30T19:21:32Z")
You’re misleading yourself by using the word ‘‘hybrids’’ and thinking it’s unique for those. Your friend’s car has a problem all to itself…get that fixed…not a hybrid issue at all. My 06 Escape hybrid has been trouble free since new here in the four corners @ 6500ft. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/6 "2015-10-30T21:13:37Z")
We had a Prius at work for awhile in Minnesota. We routinely see temps well below 0. Never had a problem starting even on the coldest days. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/7 "2015-10-31T01:16:26Z")
This is another vote for getting the Prius looked at by a mechanic. This problem is related to the vehicle in and of itself. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/8 "2015-10-31T02:16:08Z")
Some hybrids have one battery to start the car, and another set of batteries to power the car. What year is the troublemaker? It is possible it needs a new starter battery. ---
**Author:** ![SteveC76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SteveC76](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveC76)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/9 "2015-10-31T11:16:50Z")
Clean the throttle body and replace the plugs, also inspect the maf and insure it is clean. Use plugs from Toyota. Fuel can also be an issue use 87 and not the higher octane fuels. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/10 "2015-10-31T17:49:20Z")
We have cold winters here and there are many Prius owners, including a lot of taxis. Never heard of a starting complaint in any weather. This is how rumors get started; ill informed deductions. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/11 "2015-10-31T17:52:46Z")
> **Use plugs from Toyota.** WHY…You can get the EXACT same plug from a good auto store or on-line for less then half the dealer price. Toyota OEM plugs are made by either Denso or NGK. > **Fuel can also be an issue use 87 and not the higher octane fuels.** Fuel is NOT going to prevent it from starting. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/12 "2015-10-31T18:17:41Z")
Also in Colorado the fuel will be 86 octane, they drop it a little for elevation. ---
**Author:** ![LagunaGirl78](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lagunagirl78/32/2971_2.png) [@LagunaGirl78](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LagunaGirl78)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/13 "2015-10-31T22:42:38Z")
WOW, thanks everyone! I will show all these posts to our Prius friend! ---
**Author:** ![SteveC76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SteveC76](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveC76)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/14 "2015-11-01T00:17:10Z")
Cold weather, and high octane fuel will cause start issues on the Prius under the right conditions, work on enough Prius cars and you will be aware of this. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/15 "2015-11-01T01:15:07Z")
> **Cold weather, and high octane fuel will cause start issues on the Prius under the right conditions, work on enough Prius cars and you will be aware of this.** How?? Explain this. ---
**Author:** ![SteveC76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SteveC76](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveC76)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/16 "2015-11-01T02:26:04Z")
Short on time right now will post it up later when I am on my PC ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/17 "2015-11-01T04:41:40Z")
I can’t imagine someone putting high octane fuel in a Prius . I might accept one not starting as easily with high octane but not starting that I don’t accept. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/18 "2015-11-01T04:45:27Z")
LagunaGirl, can you get your friend to post? There are questions I have the answers to which could provide a clue to your friend’s problems. For example, exact what does the car do when he/she tries to start it? And has the maintenance schedule been followed? How many miles on it? The best thing you could do for your friend is to have him/her join you in this discussion. The car clearly has a problem, but getting to the root of it will take some open communication with the car’s owner. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 7:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/19 "2015-11-01T07:47:23Z")
> **I might accept one not starting as easily with high octane but not starting that I don't accept.** EXACTLY…If there was this design flaw…you’d easily be able to find it with a simple google search…can’t find even one mention of it. ---
**Author:** ![SteveC76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SteveC76](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveC76)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 8:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587/20 "2015-11-01T08:53:32Z")
It’s rare but does happen, takes a few things to occur. Car has to sit long enough to allow the stored coolant to cool off first. Plugs have to be worn and some buildup on the throttle plate. The way the valve timing affects compression along with deposit flow loss can cause a no start. The engine does not have enough compression to ignite the higher octane on the cold start. I will try to see if I can find the full explanation tomorrow. It was used as a training challenge years ago, only reason I remember it is because I argued the same thing, that it is not possible. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hybrids-in-cold-weather/91587.md?page=2)