Low cold weather mileage

Nope, you've already bottomed out with worse-case scenario from the engine running pretty much constantly. So, colder wouldn't make any difference.
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How long are your typical trips?

In this sort of weather I usually average 41-45 mpg, but my trips are typically 25 miles or more. Short trips will kill your mileage.

Tom

 

Have you blocked the upper grill? Cheap and easy way to reduce warm-up hit of cold weather and short drives. Also helps retain heat in cold weather. Prius gets great fuel economy because it does not waste as much energy to heat as other cars; this strategy just helps it pull this off at colder temps.

Here are a couple of links:
A Hybrid Owner’s winter survival guide - CleanMPG Forums
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...556-2010-prius-grill-blocking-strategy-3.html at post 120 for gen2 (04-09).

And check that tire pressure...

 

And don't forget to check the tire pressures whenever the temperature changes more than 20'F, or at least monthly.

 

Install an engine block heater.
That's about the only thing that would have a noticable impact on such a short commute. Combine that with 100% grill blocking and firmer tires, and if possible, don't use cabin heat.

For longer trips (especially at highway speeds), the firmer tires have a significant impact, although I would unblock some of the grill (15% or so) for longer-distance driving (over 20 miles).

 

I have a strange "problem".On the highway I get around 45 MPG,but in town no more than 30.Isn't that at odds with the EPA numbers?

 

Tell us about your typical 30 mpg drive. That is pretty low, so we may be able to give some tips to make it 35 or 40. I get 40 on my commute (in a 2010), but that is unbelievably good since it is only 1.6 miles each way, usually on cold engine.

Also, what is your tire pressure?

 

Not really. The EPA's city driving profile is likely to be a lot different than your city driving. Short trips, and lots of stop and go, will kill mileage.

Tom

 

With such a short commute in cold temps, 34mpg isn't bad - but with some of the suggestions here you might get that up to 40mpg or better (maybe). And Spring is coming, hang in there - when temps get back into the 40's and 50's, you should see a significant jump because the engine needs less time to get up to temp.

My worst was 39mpg (actual) on a highway trip in about 18F with snow tires at normal psi. My next major highway trip, I pumped up the tires and the average temp was closer to 30F, mpg went to 43.4 (10% increase). Temps have gone up to the 40's now and I got an entire tank of around-town driving to display 50.1mpg (46.8 actual), so I know there's light at the end of the tunnel. On the occasional days near 50F, I have seen mid-50's (displayed mpg), so the trend continues - I'm hoping for some 60mpg actual when conditions are more favorable.

 

Your winters are worse than mine, but your commute is 3 times as long.

My guess you can get 40 winter, 50 summer with a little work. Remember to remove some blocking as temps warm, at least for extended trips.

 

Since people seem to be expecting "EPA numbers", see http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...uth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates.html and http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-fuel-economy/14701-new-owner-want-mpg-help-read-first.html for more details about the EPA tests.

FWIW, Consumer Reports rated the 2nd gen (04 to 09) non-Touring Prius at 35/50, 44 overall. You can see how that compares at Most fuel-efficient cars w/others (the Prius IV there is a 3rd gen). An archive w/the 2nd gen listed is at ConsumerReports.org - Most fuel-efficient cars. The fuel efficiency lists at http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...s-best-worst-lists-april-2010-auto-issue.html for comparison might also be insightful.

Yes, as others have said, short drives kill your mileage. Cold weather on top of that makes things worse.

 

Yep, exactly, assuming they tracked it at all in their regular car.

Preaching to the choir, another problem is that percentage difference gets magnified on more efficient cars (e.g. 10% hit off of 50 mpg means 5 mpg less vs. 10% hit off of 20 mpg meaning 2 mpg less).

 

That's in keeping with what I get with my 2006 on a 38-mile (one-way) commute. Indeed, the hard winter this season took a toll, and I learned the hard way to put a battery tender on whilst the baby was relegated to the garage (I think between Dec. 21st and March 7th, I drove it maybe a half dozen times.)

However, I did average higher mileage when I was running the stock Goodyear tires. But since I was burning through them - to nearly bald - every year, the dealer put on Yokohamas. They're wearing better, but at a mileage price. But hey, I had lucked into the "free tires for life" promotion when I bought the car in 2006. 'Course, that means running 'em bald before the dealer will replace 'em.

 

I live in Alaska and the worst mileage I ever got (when it was around zero or a little below for a short time) was about 43 or 44 compared to 47 or 48 in the summer.

Might have been due to my snow tires being heavier (steel studded Coopers with good tread). Plus I have a heated garage, but it does have to stay outside during the day.

I've also been driving a lot slower (in the right hand lane) because of a recent accident, so maybe that's why my mileage didn't tank so badly.

 

: blows off some dust :

I'm kind of mortified at the difference in FE now that the weather has taken a dive in the mornings in Ontario. :/ In my 2-month old 2010, I was "content" at around 4.5 L/100 km (calculated).

What is the best way to "warm up"? When I go out, push start, chisel the windshield off, get in and drive 20 km to work, I roll in with 5.0-5.5 L/100 km showing on the HSI. That's really bad. I could easily keep this in the 4.0-4.5 L/100 km range, for comparison, in the warmer weather.

Should I not be powering up the car while I chisel off the ice? Should I not turn on the climate control until I hit the highway (and I know the engine's at it's operating temperature)?

I was really hoping to see some numbers lower than what I was getting in my Diesel smart (see my sig). 4.4 should certainly be achievable, and I was hoping for sub-4. Where's the VW TDI Hybrids we keep hearing about?

-Iain