1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

10% Fuel Economy improvement

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Micnbrb, Jun 14, 2010.

  1. Micnbrb

    Micnbrb New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I just discovered a way to go from 43 to 50 MPG (I know, more than 10%). Using the cruise control and the graph showing MPG you click up the speed 1 MPH at a time on the down hills when the graph shows 75MPG and click down the speed on the up hills when it drops to 25 MPH. This shouldn't de done in heavy traffic because it involves varying the speed between 5 to 20 MPH and it involves looking at the graph when you should be watching the road.
    After a while you learn to anticipate the changes and you don't have to watch the graph as much. If the hills are too long or steep it obviously doesn't work well. It's best to vary the speed the most on the steeper part of the hills. Some times if the down hills are steep enough you just click off the cruise control and coast. Have fun, let me know how youv'e done.
    Mike F
     
    #1 Micnbrb, Jun 14, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Can you review MPG vs MPH in the above post? I suspect 25 MPH is supposed to be 25 MPG, but what do I know?

    Oh and :welcome: to Prius Chat! (now if I only had any hills in the Delta)
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Jun 14, 2010
  3. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2005
    4,089
    468
    0
    Location:
    Bahstahn
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You're far better off doing this with your foot than the CC,
    as it applies more integrated body kinesthetics and better
    prediction of what's coming up ahead, and is overall safer since
    you're not fighting with some little hand control.
    .
    But what you're doing is essentially constant-power driving,
    and yes, it's much more efficient over rolling terrain.
    .
    _H*
     
    #3 hobbit, Jun 14, 2010
  4. Micnbrb

    Micnbrb New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi Hobbit
    Thanks for the feedback. I find the CC better because the 1 MPH incriments gives more subtle control. We have a lot of gentle hills here in Westchester. Of course if I've got a semi coming up behind I'll hit the pedal and MOVE. Maybe because I'm a guitar player and carpenter I'm used to doing things with my hands. Anyway you can also think of it as training until the ideas become more ingrained and natural. I never thought my wife would complain about me going too slow! It's all new to me. I'm learnin'
     
    #4 Micnbrb, Jun 14, 2010
  5. Micnbrb

    Micnbrb New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You are right! It's 25 MPG. All I checked for was misspellings. I'l new and I'll use that excuse for as many miles as i can get out of it. Now I'm gonna try to learn about pulse and glide.
     
    #5 Micnbrb, Jun 14, 2010
  6. exuaflag

    exuaflag New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2010
    12
    0
    1
    Location:
    Birmingham. AL
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thanks Mike:cheer2: I'll try this today:)
     
    #6 exuaflag, Aug 5, 2010
  7. exuaflag

    exuaflag New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2010
    12
    0
    1
    Location:
    Birmingham. AL
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Speaking of cruise control. How many mile should the car have on it before I engage the cruise control?
     
    #7 exuaflag, Aug 5, 2010
  8. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    192
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Doesn't matter.

    just don't buy it and set cruise for 50mph and drive on a trip. You should vary your speed for 500 of so miles.
     
    #8 adamace1, Aug 5, 2010
  9. zonie911

    zonie911 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    585
    21
    0
    Location:
    Nashville, Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Same as my dealership guy told me, 500 to 750ish.
     
    #9 zonie911, Aug 6, 2010
  10. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,075
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Oh course this advice only applies for flat roads. The Prius engine speed is entirely independent of the car's speed, so cruise control doesn't directly force the engine to run at a constant speed as it would with conventional cars.

    Mostly you don't have to worry about break-in with the Prius. Try not to floor it, and avoid panic stops. That's about it.

    Tom
     
    #10 qbee42, Aug 6, 2010
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,024
    16,242
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    200 miles (300km) IIRC.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Aug 11, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)