Mileage in Oregon

12 volt battery? short(er) trips?

 

I'm skeptical about his gas comment too. But previous experience with another brand taught me that the service reps are really in no position to diagnose the majority of MPG complaints on any car, nor take the considerable time and effort needed teach drivers how to do better.

Try this: Fuel economy complaints/queries? Please copy, paste & answer these questions, esp. if you're new

 

Any chance it has been raining?

You would be surprised how much energy it takes to move all that water off the roadway. "Spray' is gas mileage lost.

 

I live in Forest Grove and work 15 miles away in hillsboro, most of my commute is country road ~50mph. For the summer, I was up to 51+ calculated. Since October, my mileage is gone to mid-40's. When it is dry, I am 47'ish, even in the cold, but when it rains, it drops pretty quick. I don't have a true number on a rain trip yet, but guessing it is closer to 40.
-Don

 

I have 2012 and get 53 mpg summer and am now getting 52-45 mpg with the "winter" fuel.

That is interesting as the week I got 45 mpg lots of rain and wind. I only commute three days a week and those three days were storm'in. This week, cold, winter fuel but seeing 52 mpg.

 

Tire pressure needs to come up a bit if weather allows. FR-40 / RR-38. This makes a big mpg difference on dry payment.

 

"13V" makes me think you're measuring the voltage with an analog meter, with a sweeping needle? A digital meter multimeter displaying 1/100ths of a volt is better. A battery in good shape should be above 12.6V, say around 12.75V. All that said, your battery likely is still ok, but worth checking.

I'd concur raising your tire pressures will help.

My main suspect: the short trips.

 

I agree many small things, tire inflation, rain, set heat to 65 if you can stand it and set fan speed to low setting or as low as possible. Speed kills MPG, go as slow as safety will allow. Short trips is probably the biggest thing for you but can't change that! Your Mileage will improve! Enjoy!

 

Double post sorry!

 

My Gen3 Prius experience is that anything above 12.6V is very unlikely, generally it will be lower. Mine often shows 12.2V. A number of folks reported no problem at 11.8-11.9V, consistent with the scale displayed in Post #16 of only 36-37 average mpg?

If the engine / hybrid system is turned on, the voltage will jump to the mid 13s to low 14s, but that is the inverter output, not the real battery voltage.

 

On the advice about high pressure tires, no heat or defrost etc.,

I drive fairly normally, heat set at 70 with defrost full blast in AM, tires to recommended inflation rate and get the 54 mpg high summer to 45 mpg low winter. No need to be uncomfortable or unsafe. You should be getting similar mpg.

 

We live in Oregon and have over 88,000 miles on our Prius. Winter with rain, wind, and temps in the 40's,
will lower your MPG more than any other vehicle on a percentage basis.

In summer we consistently obtain 51-53 mpg, sometimes more, in winter 45-48 mpg is the rule. When it
rains, the headlights are on, the windshield wipers are on, the heater / defroster is on, and you plowing through
rain soaked / flooded roads.

 

winter fuel is a formulation for lower pollution in cold weather, costs a few mpg's.

 

Some folks block the radiator air in the winter to make the cooling less efficient hence the ICE runs less to keep up the temperature. I would imagine the cold water spray from the road would have the opposite effect (ie more cooling) so more ICE running and less mileage. I notice the difference here (-3 to 4 mpg) in colder wet weather.

 

Good point, and the water also keeps the tires cooler which results in lower pressure than on dry roads and stiffer rubber because it's cold. It's a lose, lose, lose situation.

 

wind, rain, road spray, along with heater fan, light, radio, and colder weather, have alot to do with poor mileage.
I keep my tires pressure 42front 40 rear, I have also block off the bottom part of the air intake ( just one row) not all three. I drive mostly i-5 from woodburn to salem 55 to 60 mph with light, heater, fan on low. I average summer time 57-60 mpg winter 52-49 mpg. I also went with Michlen lrr tires this summer and they increase my mileage 2 to 4 mpg. I also when I able to traffic flow ( coast as far as I can )