North Carolina MPG

LOL - You are definitely from the Raleigh/Durham area. It has been a while since I have heard Crapital Blvd !!

 

I'll say it again, please answer the questions at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-answer-these-questions-esp-if-youre-new.html.

As for what you say your Scion xB got, how did you arrive at this number?

 

I can see where the Glenwood/Crabtree area could be tough on gas mileage.

Have you driven your car on a 50 to 100 mile trip, or further, since you have had it? If not, try this and you should see what mileage that you can get when driving other than short trips.

Try to limit your highway speed to under 70 mph if you can. Once you get over 70 the highway mileage can drop to the 40-45 mpg range.

 

please read up on the EPA test

Since we know nothing about your trip lengths, please read http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...uth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates.html about the EPA tests and compare their driving cycle, trip lengths, test methodology (driving it on a dyno, not on a road; measuring tailpipe emissions, not fuel usage, etc.) vs. your drives.

Please also see http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...-fuel-economy/best-and-worst-fuel-economy.htm and http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...st-city-highway-mpg/best-city-highway-mpg.htm.

50+ mpg may be impossible given your trip lengths (which is unknown), traffic patterns and terrain. Since you're complaining about your mileage, please provide us enough info so that we can help (see earlier requests for you to answer my questionnaire).

Newness and "hype" have no relationship to how it will do vs. EPA mileage estimates.

 

froSTED,

The 1200 mile trip at reasonable highway speeds should give you a good idea of what mpg the Prius is capable of. Let us know your mileage when you return.

I have had mine up to about 85 mph when passing on I-40. It was very stable and solid at that speed. It is surprising how much kick it has even at that speed when passing.

Dwight

 

Re: please read up on the EPA test

froSTED,

Most of the others here on PC from NC are getting the EPA estimate and better. Once again, your situation appears to be based on your particular driving pattern and driving style.

When you complete your 1200 mile trip, post back and let us know what you get. Chances are that you will be able to match or exceed EPA estimates considering that you pay attention to speed limits, etc.

Yes extreme cold and extreme heat impact your mpg like on any other vehicle. With the Prius, you are still getting better mpg than most any other car on the road.

Dwight

 

I live in sw va and have the hill problem. How ever my 2005 computed to 49.7 lifetime even though mostly short trips LOVED IT. Now having wrecked it I bought a 2006 65000 miles with all the bells and whistles you can get I can only get 39.7 mpg. Tires pumped to 48/46 . Has new or nearly new oem tires. Hope it is new tires causing the low mpg. I have removed over fill on oil and cleaned the throttle body What else can I do?

 

Re: please read up on the EPA test

See the above links that I quoted. There are specific temps and temp ranges for the EPA test. There are not really any turns as they do it on a dyno (rollers). Any turns would be to keep the wheels on the rollers.

As for hills, unfortunately, the link to the EPA PDF at http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...omes-up-realistic-fuel-economy-estimates.html is busted now. :| From http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/regulations.htm, I did find http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/420r06017.pdf (Final Technical Support Document) that's only 179 pages. It says:

Nope, it's definitely not a on per-state basis.

Also, if you read the article that I linked to, you'll see that they don't measure actual fuel consumption either but rather tailpipe emissions.

 

Nah, merely a transplant . I apparently didn't get the memo about moving into Cary though...

Ditto on the area being a killer (crabtree and surrounding hills). The best advice I could offer is:

• Yeah it's hot, but... try going with 79-81F on auto A/C. It still blows cold, but the fan doesn't blow at gale force wind speeds, which seems to really suck juice.
• Don't be too concerned with being "with" the pack. Most people treat the 35-55 MPH limits on those roads as suggestions... ya'll are still going to end up sitting at most of the same lights together, but you'll use less fuel if you scoot along at your own pace (personally, I've not been honked at or flipped off doing this)
• On those downhills, try and go into an engine off coast, then fire the engine back up for the uphill portion.

 

Re: please read up on the EPA test

The EPA numbers are for comparing one car to another. Basically that is it and for that purpose they are fine. Imagine the confusion with 50 different EPA numbers for every car. Even then you would need summer and winter numbers for most states.

 

I just saw this thread, and you are kidding, right?? dude, I live in Boone, not just hills, mountains. Everywhere. I'm half way through a 53 mpg tank right now. Last tank was 54.1 mpg. I don't get down to 40 even in the winter time.

Have you checked your tire pressure, and all the usual items that can suck mileage?

Just a heads up, but if your mileage is really that bad in Raleigh, somethings wrong.



RD

 

I agre with you. I do drive on some larger hills going on my 40 trip to work. I flow with traffic(means i almost always have to get the bar into and almost full in the power area when i take off). i pretty much driv like everyone else on the road, besides i don't speed.

 

froSTED,

Glad to see you were able to get "normal" Prius mpg on your trip. You even beat the EPA estimates !! It is nice to be able to get this kind of mpg with the AC going full time.

This should show you that there is nothing wrong with your car and what the car is capable of doing. Your issue in Raleigh has to be with your driving pattern with short trips and lots of stop and go. Try going for longer trips around town, belt line, etc. and I would expect to see you get closer to what you were able to get on your long trip.

Dwight

 

I'm in the same area (generally-speaking) as froSTed, so I am interested in hearing about his/her experiences in driving a Prius in this area. I'm in Cary though. I think it's possible the Town of Cary outlawed hills. ;-).

froSTed you should feel great that you are not contributing to pollution at a minimum. I'm (still) driving my '98 Saab 900, and around town I get a whopping 19mpg/city and 26mpg/hwy.

 

Same thought. I live in in Raleigh and from time to time drive to Charleston, WV, which covers quite a few hills. Mileage goes up and down during a trip but never goes below 50 with average 70-75 mph.
Trips do vary: Raleigh to Winston-Salem average 50. Winston-Salem to Raleigh 55.
I cannot figure how anyone can get markedly lower except with very short trips or speeds over 90.