Marathons are a driving "stunt" . . . playing with your Prius for fun. My 1,000 mi tank was a Prius 'bowling trophy' like getting a perfect, 300 game or a "hole in one" in golf. There is nothing practical about the stunt that can not be learned in a carefully designed, 10 mile benchmark. I simply did 100 of the 10 mile benchmarks back-to-back. <GRINS> If you haven't noticed, I've been working hard to make sure everything needed to accomplish the same is well known and in the public domain. More importantly, something that can easily (other than being mind numbing boring!) repeated by anyone. . . . Get over it! The only skilled part, actually just applied study, was announcing what I was going to do and keeping a daily log showing my progress. Bob Wilson
Forgive my ignorance but why would you drive an additional 10 miles out of your way just to improve your MPG? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a fuel efficient car in the first place? The idea is to burn less fuel to get from A to B, doing extra laps just because you can seems to defeat the purpose for getting the car in the first place.. Not trying to be rude just trying to understand!
This answers my previous post (didn't see it until after first post). I could see it to help gain some knowledge for more efficient meaningful driving around, but not just for lack of something better to do.. Not to mention wasted miles on the ODO and wear and tear on the vehicle.. But I guess to each their own!
Not really. I already knew how to get any MPG numbers the car can deliver in different conditions using my earlier 10 mile tests: Doin' laps felt more like being in "study hall" or "detention," just as boring and pointless. But I had my iPad music, podcasts, dogs, and a chance to meditate on my sins. I know and one of the best things F8L did was to open the definition for mileage in the Top 20 table to 500 miles or more . . . not that 20 hours at 25 mph would have been that much better. But the weather has been mild and I could break it up in 14 chunks, the two weeks it took to get the 'Prius bowling trophy.' As for driving style, don't hypermile but use a simpler, lazy man's protocol, 'efficient driving.' The difference is 'efficient driving' never pulses the engine to increase the vehicle speed. The engine is only used to climb grades and sustain speed 25-27 mph on a flat using cruise control. The feet remain on the floorboard. There is only one other operating mode. On downgrades, shift into "N" and become a rolling, ballistics mass. The only instrument needed is the energy flow arrow showing power coming from the front wheel and then shift into "N". Once the speed bleeds down to the cruise control set speed, re-engage "D" and cruise control "resume." The car is back in the first mode and the feet remain on the floorboard. All engine power is handled by the cruise control No power flows from the drive wheels to the traction battery But driving around at 25-27 mph (40-43 km/h) also means very careful route planning and driving with the rear view mirrors as much as the front. It also means wasting hours each day . . . if you have the time. I do have another life but recently I've been limited due to unexpected expenses and time demands. The stunt did not cost much money, just time, . . . to contemplate my sins. The only thing I did learn, not that it is terribly useful, is the engine fuel consumption will range from ~0.60 to ~1.20 gallons per hour during the flats and climbs. Using the fuel flow, we can calculate the rest of the energy flows . . . something only a handful of engineers would value. Bob Wilson
Bob, it's one thing to know something in theory - it is another thing to have done and validated-demonstrated something in the real world. I wouldn't boo hoo what you did. It may seem tedious but often valuable and significant scientific and engineering requires tedious work and attention to detail. Demonstrating something in the real world - the proof is in the pudding as grandma might say - making the facts more believable and giving them context makes those facts more valuable - especially to outsiders and those just learning. Having a *record* of what is possible and having documentation of how it was done is valuable unto itself. In logic, understanding the the limits (domain/range) of your universe (set of valid members of your number-logical set) is so important that its a major mathematical stepping stone to prove the limits of a numeric logical system (completeness). Yes it is obvious that a Prius can't fly or swim and that it can get good MPG but how good is its fuel efficiency? When and Why it the most fuel efficient? How exactly is it done? Are equally important things to know.
Yes Bob, please don't let me take away from what you do. It's obvious that you contribute all of your findings to the public via this forum (and potentially others as well?). It's great that you do that and we are all very thankful for it. Please don't take what I said the wrong way!!
I'm looking at (not committed) to doing a similar 1,000 mile tank with our NHW11, 2003 Prius. That one is significantly more challenging as the initial testing last night revealed it won't reach it. I have to find another 4.2% just to have a chance. The car is going down for a significant, maintenance overhaul. I won't be rebuilding the engine but I do need to: de-haze the headlight covers replace the inverter coolant pump lubricants and filters through internal cleaning rework the dash and audio e.t.c. Some of the work includes adding new technology that will be important for improved performance year-round. Bob Wilson
Alright ladies and gents, it's time to update the leaderboard. The GenIII's are old news and the PriC is in it to win it! Now, I'm not completed with my tank yet. I'm hoping to get 600 miles out of it. Keep in mind, this is my MPG from a daily commute to work then/or school then/or home everyday. Once I fill up again I will be able to give a calculated number, but since we aren't going by calculated numbers on the board here I figure it's still ok to post what I've got. Who knows, I may end up breaking my own record on this same tank, we will have to see. But I'm excited and want to post my MPG's now! My techniques include ridge riding where needed, Southpaw PnG, and generous coasting where traffic and common sense permit. D'oh yeah, (I almost forgot) I'm using Ethanol Free fuel (kind of an important part..) Also, while I'm editing this, I might add that I have window deflectors (is that what they're called?) that allow you to crack your windows without letting water in. I bought them so I could leave the windows cracked and not have the car get so hot from sitting in the parking lot under the hot Florida sun. The added benefit is they seem to reduce air inside the cabin when my windows are down. I never use A/C so the windows are down all the time.. Less air in the cabin means less drag on the car, which is why I feel they help boost MPG's. Tire pressure was 44/42 (Front/Rear respectively) two weeks ago. I have a routine where I air up my tires every other tank (about every 2 weeks per tank resulting in monthly tire checks). Tires themselves are OEM, on 15" alloys. (I hate my tires.. I want some Michelin Energy Saver A/S's but they don't make in my size to my knowledge..) It's summer time in Florida, with a lot of afternoon showers that play havoc on my MPG Well, without further ado, here are pics of my HSI display and Drive Summary! Looks like the Prius C is beating the Gen III at its own game! ETA: Looks like I had some tech issues with the photos, so I am going to upload them instead of pasting them. Hopefully this works!
Oh, just noticed I've tied with kdkuhns3 for 11th place. I submit that the higher average speed should rank higher
I beat my own MPG's before filling up today. I was close to the station that sells E0 fuel and while it would have been cool to get the 600 mile tank, it would have been foolish to have to drive out of my way to fill up while I was right there today.. See attached. Indicated was 75.4, calculated was 71.8. All other stats are identical to my previous posting, I'm just updating my higher MPG's
Hi all I have been reading this forum for a while now. I thought I would add my mpg record. I achieved 79.2 MPG. This was done over two weeks doing my normal 60 mile a day commute. This is in slow moving often stop start motorway traffic, average speed as you can see from the photo is 28 mph. I did this in July, with the temp in the 100s, an unusual UK heat wave. I tried not to use the a/c too much. I have the tyres at 42/40 using 17' rims but will move to 16'. My car is 2010 Gen 3 with 36k on the clock, no mods. I have taken out the spare wheel to save weight though and have a KN filter. I use the cruise control and glide as much as possible. The rest is sensible driving, anticipating the traffic, smooth acceleration, avoiding having to brake. Happy driving! Philip
You're right Bob, I forgot about US using the wrong sized gallons Looks like I need to try harder! Happy driving! Philip
thought we were going to remove the C's from this list into their own list? Also can you please update my MPG listed in post #682 on page 35 Thanks!!
