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fuel changes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by priusnewbieneedshelp, Jan 2, 2015.

  1. priusnewbieneedshelp

    priusnewbieneedshelp New Member

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    Hi everyone! I did attempt to search for an answer before posting, but some of the stickied threads have out-of-date links, so here goes:

    I have a 2005 Prius that I bought used at ~69k miles in Jan of 2014. When I first bought it, I noticed that I could go approximately 90-100 miles on the first "pip"... now it's down to 50ish miles. For some reason this is bugging me. I liked seeing that I could drive for a while without a change on the meter.

    In April I had to replace the battery. It's never really been the same since. I was getting around 350 miles to the tank, now I'm getting closer to 300 miles. I've checked my tires and alignment, fluids are good. I don't notice a difference. Driving habits the same. Weather has gotten cooler, but I noticed the change before that.

    Any ideas? Thanks everyone!
     
    #1 priusnewbieneedshelp, Jan 2, 2015
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    need more info! your car has a rubber bladder in the tank, which makes the gas gauge act funny as the weather changes. nothing you can do about it. as for you mileage, you need to measure mpg by dividing miles driven by gallons added. miles per tank is really useless due to the bladder. tell us more about the battery replacement. 12 volt? hybrid battery? cost? new? used? rebuilt?
     
    #2 bisco, Jan 2, 2015
  3. priusnewbieneedshelp

    priusnewbieneedshelp New Member

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    Sorry. I'm not sure what else. Just rattling off what I can think of.
     
    #3 priusnewbieneedshelp, Jan 2, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her now?
     
    #4 bisco, Jan 2, 2015
  5. priusnewbieneedshelp

    priusnewbieneedshelp New Member

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    #5 priusnewbieneedshelp, Jan 2, 2015
  6. priusnewbieneedshelp

    priusnewbieneedshelp New Member

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    Replacement on the hybrid battery. Rebuilt.

    Aware of the bladder tank, just basing these numbers on what was consistent before.
     
    #6 priusnewbieneedshelp, Jan 2, 2015
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it is possible you got a bad battery. happens quite frequently on the rebuilts unfortunately. does it have a warranty?
     
    #7 bisco, Jan 2, 2015
  8. priusnewbieneedshelp

    priusnewbieneedshelp New Member

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    It does. I had it checked last week and the installer said it was fine.
     
    #8 priusnewbieneedshelp, Jan 2, 2015
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Is your car a salvaged title? Why didn't you go through Toyota for a new battery?

    Winter gas has less energy compared to summer gas. That's why you see the mileage discrepancy. Also using the heater keeps the engine running longer, thus reducing your mileage. As the summer months come up, it will get better.
     
    #9 JC91006, Jan 2, 2015
  10. priusnewbieneedshelp

    priusnewbieneedshelp New Member

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    No it's not. It was out of warranty. More cost effective for me.
     
    #10 priusnewbieneedshelp, Jan 2, 2015
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It would a lot more cost effective to buy a new battery from Toyota if you only have 69k miles on the car. Your car has very low miles and it'll go many more miles. A refurbished battery will just give you headaches......something you don't really need in a car with less than 100k miles.

    You most likely could have asked Toyota for some assistance in buying the new battery since your car was about 8 years old and less than 100,000 miles.
     
    #11 JC91006, Jan 2, 2015
  12. priusnewbieneedshelp

    priusnewbieneedshelp New Member

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    Good to know, thanks. Maybe someone can help with the current issue though.
     
    #12 priusnewbieneedshelp, Jan 2, 2015
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You don't have an issue, unless it's your refurbished battery......
     
    #13 JC91006, Jan 2, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2015
  14. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    Is the 12v battery original?

    put 40psi in your tires, also are your tires LLR?
     
    #14 69shovlhed, Jan 3, 2015
  15. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    You need to STOP figuring your mileage based upon "miles per tank" because that will never be anywhere close to accurate.

    With the models that have the bladder in the tank it can be WAY off from one fill to another and it seems like the bladder won't fully expand as it gets older.

    Do you have any built-in MPG displays ? If so, has that changed drastically ??
     
    #15 Easy Rider 2, Jan 3, 2015
    uart likes this.
  16. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    Which battery was replaced last April. Was it the little 12V one or the main traction battery?
     
    #16 uart, Jan 3, 2015
  17. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    +1. Totally agree with this.
     
    #17 uart, Jan 3, 2015
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ah, the vagaries of life...
     
    #18 bisco, Jan 3, 2015
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